Pakistan's journey to build a digital public infrastructure (DPI) began in March 2000 with the establishment of NADRA, the National Database and Registration Authority. The Gates Foundation defines DPI as follows: "DPI is a digital network that enables countries to safely and efficiently deliver economic opportunities and social services to all residents. DPI can be compared to roads, which form a physical network that connects people and provides access to a huge range of goods and services...... strong DPI has three foundational systems—identity, payments, and data exchange—that together can make life easier in important ways".
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Digital Public Infrastructure. Source: World Economic Forum |
Transformational Impact:
An article recently published on the World Economic Forum website sheds light on how Pakistan's digital public infrastructure is transforming lives in rural Pakistan. Here's how it begins:
"On a scorching day with temperatures soaring to 42 degrees, Manzoora, a mother from the flood-stricken district of Shaheed Benazirabad, rural Sindh, Pakistan, made a significant leap: she withdrew cash from her own bank account for the very first time. This milestone was made possible through a mobile cash transfer programme initiated by the Sindh government, which partnered with digital service providers to empower citizens like Manzoora. This is just one example of how DPI is changing the lives of millions of Pakistanis".
An earlier UNDP report titled "DigitAll: What happens when women of Pakistan get access to digital and tech tools? A lot!" written by Javeria Masood has also described the socioeconomic impact of technology in Pakistan in the following words:
"The world as we know it has been and is rapidly changing. Technology has proven to be one of the biggest enablers of change. There has been a significant emphasis on digital training, tech education, and freelancing in the last several years especially during the pandemic, through initiatives from the government, private and development sectors. Covid-19 acted as a big disrupter and accelerated the digital uptake many folds. In Pakistan, we saw the highest number of digital wallets, online services, internet-based services and adaptability out of need and demand".
Digital Identity:
NADRA launched Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) the same year it was established. It uses biometric data and personal information to confirm the identity of the cardholder as a citizen of Pakistan. The CNIC card is used across the country for voting in elections, opening bank accounts, issuing passports, getting driver's licenses, registering marriages and divorces, completing real estate transactions, participating in social safety net programs like Benazir Income Support, obtaining mobile phone numbers/sims, purchasing tickets for airlines and railways, etc etc.
The introduction of CNIC was a "foundational change, positioning Pakistan among a select group of nations equipped to manage comprehensive digital identities for over 240 million citizens", according to the World Economic Forum. Within four years of launching the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) – a social protection initiative to alleviate poverty – CNIC issuance to adults increased by 72%.
Pakistan Instant Payment System. Source: State Bank of Pakistan |
Payments:
Digital identity enables payments from the government to citizens as well as financial transactions among individuals, businesses and government entities. The introduction of RAAST, an instant low-cost payment system launched in 2021 by the State Bank of Pakistan, has spurred digital payments in the country. It seamlessly and securely connects government entities, a variety of banks, including microfinance banks (MFBs), electronic money institutions (EMIs) and State Bank authorized payment service providers (PSPs).
QR Codes:
This year, the State Bank of Pakistan has launched P2M (Person to Merchant) services. These allow people with electronic wallets in their mobile phones to pay for goods and services using merchants' QR codes. “The P2M service will enable payment acceptance by businesses using quick response (QR) codes, Raast Alias, IBAN and request to pay (RTP),” the Central Bank said in an announcement.
"All REs (regulated entities) shall enable…capabilities for processing P2M transactions via their delivery channels including mobile apps, internet banking portals and USSD channels (where applicable) by March 01, 2024." The central bank asked Raast merchant service providers (MSPs) to ensure that customers are not charged any fee on their purchases, by merchants or third parties.
"MSPs may…charge a reasonable fee from merchants for the services provided; however, they are encouraged to initially waive off such charges to promote merchant adoption."
RAAST Uptake:
Raast, the State Bank of Pakistan's Instant Payment System, is playing an important role in facilitating free, convenient and secure real-time transactions across the country, according to a report published by the State Bank of Pakistan. During Q3 of FY24, Raast processed 140 million transactions totaling Rs. 3,437 billion.
Digital transactions took center stage in Pakistan's financial landscape during Q3 FY 2023-24, capturing a commanding 83% of 844 million total retail payments processed by Banks and Electronic Money Institutions (EMIs), while the remaining 17% were Over-the-Counter (OTC) transactions at banks’ branches, reports Mettis Global.
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Pakistan National Socioeconomic Registry. Source: Maintains |
National Socioeconomic Registry:
The National Socio-economic Registry has been created . It will be regularly updated to keep it current and deliver services to the Pakistanis most in need. The effort started in earnest in 2020 to hand out Rs. 12,000 per family to 3 million most affected by the COVID19 lockdown. Here's how a Pakistani government website describes the digital registry architecture:
"The Cognitive API architecture for Ehsaas’ National Socio-Economic Registry 2021 is one of the six main pillars of ‘One Window Ehsaas’. With the survey, which is building the registry currently 90.5% complete nationwide, Ehsaas is firming up its plans to open data sharing and data access services for all executing agencies under the Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Division (PASSD). Data sharing will be done through the Cognitive API Architecture approach. The deployment of Ehsaas API architecture for data sharing will allow executing agencies to access data from the unified registry in real-time to validate beneficiary information. This will empower them to ascertain eligibility of potential beneficiaries".
DPI Future Plans:
In future, Pakistan is set to launch several ambitious DPI initiatives, including expanding the RAAST payment system, implementing a nationwide digital health records system, and launching a blockchain-based land registry. These projects promise to drive efficiency and transparency across multiple sectors, positioning Pakistan as a pioneer in the global digital landscape, according to a report by the World Economic Forum.
Related Links:
Riaz Haq
Pakistan Welcomes Starlink. But Can It Deliver on Its Promise? – The Diplomat
https://thediplomat.com/2025/03/pakistan-welcomes-starlink-but-can-...
Starlink could help close the urban-rural internet access gap — if the rollout is inclusive, affordable, and thoughtfully managed.
In Pakistan, the digital divide is not merely a technological issue; it is an economic and social barrier. While the country has over 142 million broadband subscriptions, nearly 99 percent are mobile-based, and fixed broadband penetration remains under 1 percent. Still, the economic potential is hard to ignore. Pakistan’s digital economy is steadily expanding – IT exports hit $3.2 billion in fiscal year 2024 – and more than 1.5 million freelancers are already contributing to global platforms from across the country. But most of that growth is happening in big cities.
In rural Pakistan, untapped talent remains offline, not by choice, but because the infrastructure simply isn’t there. Starlink could help close that gap – if the rollout is inclusive and thoughtfully managed. Starlink could empower a new generation of freelancers, online entrepreneurs, and remote workers in smaller towns and villages, provided access is widespread and affordable. The small and medium enterprise (SME) sector, which contributes nearly 40 percent of GDP and employs over 80 percent of Pakistan’s non-agricultural workforce, could benefit from stable, high-speed internet to adopt digital tools, cloud platforms, and e-commerce models.
Education stands to gain even more. Pakistan has over 22 millionout-of-school children, with the highest concentrations in regions that also suffer from poor internet access. Less than 15 percent of public schools nationwide are connected to the internet – and in rural areas, that number drops below 10 percent. In Balochistan, for instance, 65 percent of school-age children are out of school. During the COVID-19 pandemic, only a small percentage of rural households could access any form of digital learning. Starlink can change this equation by enabling digital classrooms, national curriculum portals, and virtual teacher training in regions where qualified educators are scarce or security risks prevent regular school attendance. Especially for girls in conservative areas, home-based online education could offer a culturally acceptable and practical solution to improve literacy and life outcomes.
The healthcare sector, too, is poised for transformation. Telemedicine has long been touted as a solution for Pakistan’s rural health deserts, but without broadband, its reach has remained limited. With Starlink, remote clinics in places like Chitral, Dera Bugti, or Tharparkar could finally access diagnostic platforms, connect with specialists in urban hospitals, and digitize patient records. This could reduce maternal mortality, improve early disease detection, and allow real-time responses to outbreaks – all without the need for new brick-and-mortar hospitals.
Yet the promise of Starlink is constrained by its cost. At present, Starlink’s projected pricing in Pakistan is approximately 35,000 Pakistani rupees per month (around $120), plus 110,000 rupees (around $375) in equipment costs. For perspective, the average rural household in Pakistan earns between 20,000–30,000 rupees per month. A typical 10 Mbps unlimited home broadband package costs around 1,500–2,000 rupees ($5-7) – affordable to urban middle-class households but often out of reach for rural families.
Mar 29
Riaz Haq
Pakistan eyes expansion of digital wallet coverage
https://coingeek.com/pakistan-eyes-expansion-of-digital-wallet-cove...
A digital wallet project that the Pakistani government initiated two months ago has been a massive success, closing the gender gap and reaching citizens with disability, the country’s prime minister says.
PM Shehbaz Sharif commissioned the distribution of the Ramazan Relief Package in early April, partly via digital wallets for the first time. The Rs 20 billion ($71 million) initiative was overseen by the IT & Telecommunications Ministry and sought to make welfare and aid distribution “efficient, transparent, and respectful.” It aligned with the Digital Nation Pakistan Bill, which was passed by parliament in January and seeks to transition Pakistan into a digitally empowered nation.
Speaking at a recent event, Sharif lauded the success of digital wallets in boosting efficiency and transparency in fund transfers.
“Through digital wallets, 79% of the funds in the relief program were transferred seamlessly and transparently,” the PM stated.
Starting 2026, all welfare distribution will be done via digital means, he added.
According to local outlets, over 900,000 Pakistanis received aid through their newly created digital wallets and conducted nearly 2 million transactions. Significantly, a sizable portion of the users were women, which the PM says plays a role in reducing the gender gap in the program. Over 2,500 disabled people also used the digital wallets, further underscoring the initiative’s importance in promoting diversity and inclusion.
“This is more than a one-time relief package. It’s about fostering long-term digital habits that empower individuals and integrate them into the formal economy,” commented IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja.
Pakistan is undergoing a digital payment transformation. In the last three months of 2024, retail digital payments grew 12%, according to data from the central bank. Pakistanis made over three billion transactions worth Rs154 trillion ($554 billion).
This growth is attracting global giants. In March, Google Wallet (NASDAQ: GOOGL) announced its entry into the Pakistani market, partnering with half a dozen local banks to allow cardholders to make payments via the app.
“The launch of Google Wallet is a solid testament to Pakistan’s rising digital payments adoption and will serve as a signal to other global payment solutions about the market’s potential,” commented Mutaher Khan, whose Data Darbar provides market intelligence in the country.
However, the market still faces significant challenges. One of these is the country’s massive undocumented economy, which the government reckons is as big as the formal economy. Operators in this cash-based market operate beyond the scope of the government and pay no taxes; this makes digital payments a direct threat as they would expose the market.
Jun 8
Riaz Haq
Pakistan hits 200 million telecom subscribers, with 150 million broadband users - Profit by Pakistan Today
https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2025/06/20/pakistan-hits-200-mi...
To mark the milestone, mobile operators offer 2GB free data and 200 on-net minutes to all users, valid for 24 hours on June 20, 2025
Pakistan has reached a historic milestone in its digital growth, with the number of telecom subscribers surpassing 200 million, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced. This includes 150 million broadband subscribers and more than 2 million Fiber To The Home (FTTH) users.
The PTA described the achievement as a testament to the country’s accelerated digital progress and their ongoing commitment to inclusive connectivity. As part of the celebration, the PTA, in collaboration with mobile network operators such as Jazz, Telenor, Ufone, Zong, and SCO, is offering all mobile users a special promotion: 2GB of free data and 200 on-net minutes, valid for 24 hours on Friday, June 20, 2025. To avail of this offer, subscribers can dial *2200#.
The PTA also emphasized its efforts to promote digital inclusion, particularly for female students. Alongside telecom companies like PTCL, Transworld, Nayatel, Cybernet, and Wateen, PTA is deploying free Wi-Fi hotspots at selected universities recognized by the Higher Education Commission (HEC), with a special focus on women-only institutions. This initiative aims to improve access to online learning resources for students across the country.
Additionally, mobile phone manufacturers have donated 200 locally assembled smartphones, which will be distributed to female SIM card holders across Pakistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan via computerized balloting.
The number of telecom subscribers has now reached 200 million, with teledensity slightly decreasing from 81.4% in June 2023 to 81.21% in June 2025. However, broadband penetration has seen considerable growth, rising from 53.6% in June 2023 to 60.8% by June 2025.
During the event, IT and Telecom Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja confirmed that Pakistan is moving forward with plans to launch 5G internet services, with work already underway.
Jun 25