ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s finance minister has met senior executives of payments giant Visa to discuss advancing digital payments, financial inclusion and broader economic reforms as the government accelerates its digitization agenda, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency reported on Thursday.
The meeting comes as Pakistan seeks to modernize its largely cash-based economy, widen access to formal financial services and improve transparency in government transactions under an International Monetary Fund-supported reform program. Digital payments are viewed by policymakers as a key lever to expand financial inclusion, improve tax documentation and support small and nano businesses.
The government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has stepped up efforts to digitize public finances and payment systems as part of wider economic stabilization and reform measures, including restructuring state-owned enterprises, improving energy-sector governance and accelerating privatization. Officials say digitalization is being driven at the highest political level to ensure coordination across government institutions.
“Both sides exchanged views on the acceleration of Pakistan’s digital transformation, with particular emphasis on digital infrastructure, payment systems, and the digitization of government payments,” the APP news agency reported, citing the finance ministry.
