The government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has officially launched a province-wide QR-based digital payment platform as part of a broader effort to transition to a fully cashless economy. This move aims to modernize financial transactions, increase transparency, and reduce reliance on physical currency across public and private sectors.
Khyber Pass Card
At the heart of the initiative is a comprehensive plan to create a seamless digital payment ecosystem. All types of businesses—ranging from street vendors to major commercial outlets—are now required to implement QR code-based systems to facilitate cashless payments. Public transport services and commercial centers are also included in this digital shift.
Recognizing the challenges in remote and underconnected areas, the system is designed to function without internet connectivity. A detailed registration and data collection drive will cover all business types down to the village level, ensuring widespread access to the digital payment infrastructure.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has officially approved its Digital Payments and Fintech Strategy for 2025–30, introducing the ‘Khyber Pass Card’ as a key step toward establishing a province-wide cashless economy.
As part of this new strategy, all government-related payments will be fully digitized. Citizens will have access to a unified and secure payment platform designed to simplify digital transactions. The Khyber Pass Card—a digital identification tool based on QR codes—will enable residents to use government services and make payments electronically.
Jointly crafted by the KP Information Technology Board and the provincial finance department, the strategy outlines a roadmap for fully transitioning to digital public payments. Key features include easy access to online transactions, faster processing, real-time tracking of payments, transparent data dashboards, and strong collaboration between public institutions and private fintech companies. The plan also places emphasis on increasing financial literacy and awareness throughout the population.
Progress on implementation is already underway. The government has connected the ‘Paymer’ system with One Link, bringing departments such as Home and Excise onboard. Since April 2024, this integration has facilitated the collection of over 1.3 billion rupees through digital transactions.
To enhance transparency and accountability, legal recognition has been granted to digital receipts. Each receipt will feature a QR code or unique transaction ID, allowing for easy online verification.
The overarching goal of the initiative is to build a dependable and inclusive infrastructure that supports digital payments in both public and private sectors. The Khyber Pass Card program, managed by the KP IT Board, is scheduled to roll out over a three-year period and will be executed by a specialized team of 25 members.