Cheque payments under the government’s Asaan Assignment Accounts system will end on November 15, 2026, and from November 16 all such payments will be made only through the Raast digital payment system, as Pakistan accelerates its move towards a cashless economy.
What happened?
The decision was announced at a high-level meeting on the cashless economy chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday, November 6, 2026. Officials told the meeting that most federal and provincial government institutions are expected to complete the digitisation of their payments by December 2026.
Key details
- Payments under Asaan Assignment Accounts will be processed exclusively through Raast from November 16, 2026, after cheque payments stop on November 15.
- Drawing and disbursing officers have already been trained to operate the new system.
- All payments under the Benazir Income Support Programme are already being made entirely through digital wallets.
- The prime minister directed officials to prepare a clear roadmap, with timelines and targets, for a fully digital payment system across the country.
- Work is also under way on a payment mechanism for areas without internet connectivity, alongside efforts to expand internet access nationwide.
- A public awareness campaign will encourage electricity and gas consumers to pay utility bills through the QR codes printed on their bills.
What it means for people in Pakistan
Government payments will reach recipients faster and more transparently once they move to Raast, and people who receive government support, including BISP payments, will increasingly get their money directly into digital wallets. The shift also means fewer trips to offices and banks to collect or deposit cheques.
