5,000 Traders Register for Digital Payments in Islamabad

News Desk 

Islamabad: More than 5,000 shopkeepers and merchants in the federal capital have registered for digital payments through the Raast QR code system, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) announced on Friday as part of its initiative to transform Islamabad into a cashless city.

The progress was shared during a review meeting at CDA Headquarters chaired by CDA Chairman and Chief Commissioner Islamabad Muhammad Ali Randhawa. Senior CDA officials, representatives of banks, telecom companies, and the district administration attended the session.

Officials informed the meeting that QR code-based transactions are already operational in the weekly bazaars of Sectors H-9 and G-6. The registration of traders is now being expanded to all major markets, shopping malls, rural areas, and Class III markets.

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Cashless payments have also been introduced at CDA’s One Window Facilitation Center, metro buses, and electric feeder buses.

Randhawa emphasized that broad participation from traders is key to the success of the initiative.

“CDA and the district administration are playing the role of facilitators, but it is essential that traders come onboard and guide customers on using digital payments,” he said.

He also directed banks and telecom companies to extend incentives and provide on-ground support to encourage wider adoption among shopkeepers.

To speed up digital connectivity, the CDA has abolished Right of Way (ROW) charges for fiber optic installations. A central dashboard is also being used to track real-time registration and adoption data from banks.

Randhawa reiterated that the long-term goal is to make Islamabad “a fully cashless and digitized city” with faster, transparent, and secure transactions.