KARACHI: Pakistan is set to roll out a fully cashless payment system at airports across the country, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) announced on Monday, marking a major step in the government’s broader push toward economic digitisation and transparency.
Under the new model, all airport transactions, from retail and dining outlets to service counters, will shift to digital platforms approved by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). The PAA said vendors and service providers operating at airports must adopt SBP-licensed digital systems or face fines for non-compliance.
“Passengers will soon be able to make payments through QR codes and other contactless methods, ensuring convenience, transparency, and modern financial practices,” the PAA said in a statement. “While cash payments will remain an option during the transition phase, passengers are encouraged to use digital methods.”
The initiative’s first phase will be implemented at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore, and Islamabad International Airport, with a second phase expanding to Faisalabad, Multan, and Sialkot airports.
Officials said the move aims to modernise airport operations, reduce risks related to cash handling, and promote efficiency through digital records and faster transactions. Authorities also expect the system to curb tax evasion and improve transparency, key goals in Islamabad’s ongoing efforts to formalise Pakistan’s largely cash-based economy.
Pakistan, a country of over 240 million people, has long struggled with low tax compliance and a vast informal economy where many transactions go unrecorded. The SBP has introduced several reforms in recent years to encourage electronic payments, including the Raast digital payment platform and the Merchant Onboarding Framework, which mandates banks and payment providers to equip merchants with QR code and Point-of-Sale systems.
The PAA’s cashless initiative aligns with the federal government’s Digital Pakistan strategy, which aims to enhance governance, reduce corruption, and promote financial inclusion by expanding access to secure, traceable payment systems.
Officials say the airport digitisation model could later be replicated at other public facilities to strengthen Pakistan’s transition toward a cashless economy.