PM briefs Gates Foundation team about cashless economy

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said the government wanted women receiving financial assistance to get payments directly and securely through digital channels, as the country moves towards a cashless economy.

Speaking to a Gates Foundation delegation, including Kalpana Kochhar and Anita Zaidi, the PM said expanding digital payments would improve transparency and help ensure public assistance reached intended beneficiaries without delay or wastage.

He said a cashless economy would be a key component of the government’s governance reform agenda, alongside food security, maternal and newborn health, poverty reduction and efforts to tackle climate change.

Sharif said the proposed “Cashless Pakistan” initiative was aimed at making transactions easier for ordinary citizens while improving the efficiency and transparency of government systems.

He said cooperation with the Gates Foundation had contributed to the growth of digital payments and stressed that women receiving government assistance should be able to access their funds directly, securely and with dignity.

The prime minister expressed a desire to work with the foundation on measures to expand women’s financial inclusion and strengthen their economic empowerment.

He also appreciated the foundation’s support for Pakistan in polio eradication, healthcare, nutrition, financial inclusion and assistance to vulnerable communities.

Sharif reiterated the government’s commitment to eradicating polio, saying the national programme had the highest-level government backing.

The meeting also discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation between Pakistan and the Gates Foundation.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026