Pakistan's National Information Technology Board (NITB) is planning to expand digital payment options across government service platforms, potentially making it easier for citizens to pay taxes, utility bills, licence fees, certificate charges and application fees online.

The initiative aims to connect government platforms to a unified digital payment system supporting multiple payment methods, including Raast, QR codes, debit and credit cards, interbank transfers and branchless banking services.

According to a request for proposals reported by PhoneWorld, NITB is inviting eligible banks and fintech companies to provide the technology needed to integrate these payment channels into government services. The proposal also includes payment confirmation, automated reconciliation, refunds, transaction reporting and security requirements.

What Is NITB's Digital Payment Integration Plan?

The National Information Technology Board is working toward a more connected digital payment experience for public services.

At present, the payment methods available to citizens can differ from one government platform or department to another. A unified integration system could help participating departments offer several payment options through a more consistent process.

Under the proposed arrangement, citizens could use supported digital channels to pay for government services without depending entirely on cash payments or physical visits to payment counters.

The planned coverage includes taxes, utility bills, licences, certificates and application-related fees. However, the tender does not identify which services will be integrated first or provide a confirmed implementation schedule.

Which Digital Payment Methods Will Be Supported?

The proposed system is expected to support several payment channels so citizens can choose from the options available to them.

1. Raast Payments

Raast is Pakistan's instant payment system operated under the State Bank of Pakistan. It supports digital transfers and merchant payments through participating financial institutions.

Its integration could make it easier for citizens to pay participating government departments electronically.

2. QR Code Payments

QR codes allow users to initiate payments by scanning a code with a compatible banking or payment application.

The State Bank of Pakistan supports Raast-based person-to-merchant payments through QR codes, among other methods. A government payment integration could extend this type of convenience to participating public services.

3. Debit and Credit Cards

The proposed system also includes debit and credit card payments, giving users another option for paying eligible government charges online.

The availability of individual card types will depend on the final implementation and participating payment providers.

4. Interbank Fund Transfers

Interbank fund transfers, commonly known as IBFT, allow money to move between accounts held at different banks.

Including this channel could provide another route for citizens to pay government fees electronically.

5. Branchless Banking Agents

The proposal includes branchless banking agents, which could provide an alternative for people who prefer assisted transactions instead of completing every payment through an online application.

6. Request to Pay

The proposed system also includes Request to Pay (RTP). This facility allows a payment request to be sent to a payer, who can then approve the transaction.

Together, these options are intended to give participating government platforms access to a wider range of digital payment methods.

How Could the New System Help Citizens?

A unified payment integration could simplify several routine interactions with government departments.

Faster online payments: Citizens could pay eligible fees electronically instead of relying on manual payment processes.

More payment choices: Support for multiple channels could make it easier for people to use their preferred banking or payment service.

Improved transaction tracking: Automated reconciliation and payment confirmations could help departments match payments with the correct applications or records.

Easier access to public services: Digital payments could reduce the need for physical visits when the relevant service and application process are available online.

Better payment records: Electronic transaction records could help citizens and government departments verify whether a payment has been completed.

These are potential benefits of the proposed system. Their actual impact will depend on how the integration is implemented and which services adopt it.

NITB Sets Security and Data Protection Requirements

Security is a major part of the proposed payment arrangement because the system would handle financial transactions and government-service payments.

According to the reported tender requirements, the selected provider must implement several safeguards.

These include:

• Multi-factor authentication
• Data encryption
• Fraud detection and transaction monitoring
• Compliance monitoring related to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing
• Periodic vulnerability assessments
• Penetration testing
• Technical support and operational monitoring

The tender also requires transaction data to be hosted within Pakistan. Payment providers must support secure processing and appropriate controls for managing financial transactions.

These requirements are intended to reduce security risks, although no payment system can eliminate every possible threat.

Government Payments Must Be Settled Into Designated Accounts

Another important requirement concerns the handling of collected funds.

Under the reported tender terms, payments must be settled into accounts identified by NITB rather than being retained in provider-owned settlement accounts.

The system must also support automated reconciliation, reporting dashboards, refunds and the handling of payment disputes and chargebacks.

These capabilities could help government departments track incoming payments and manage problems when transactions fail, are disputed or require reversal.

Which Banks and Fintech Companies Can Apply?

NITB has invited eligible scheduled banks and fintech companies to submit proposals for the project.

According to the reported requirements, applicants must meet relevant registration and licensing conditions, demonstrate experience in online payment integration or digital banking, and show previous integrations with major clients.

The tender also calls for recognised security certifications, including PCI DSS for payment-card security and ISO 27001 or an equivalent information security certification. Applicants must also have an existing or committed integration with Raast.

The procurement process uses a single-stage, two-envelope approach. Technical proposals are assessed first, while financial proposals are considered for bidders that pass the technical evaluation.

Will Government Services Become Fully Cashless?

The proposed integration could contribute to Pakistan's broader transition toward digital public services, but it does not by itself mean that all government payments will immediately become cashless.

Pakistan has already been pursuing wider digital payment adoption through its Cashless Pakistan initiative. In July 2026, the government reported that active digital-payment merchants had exceeded two million and annual digital transactions had risen to 11.3 billion. The government has also been working to expand the digitisation of public-sector payments.

Connecting government platforms to more payment channels could support that direction. However, the extent of the change will depend on adoption by departments, technical readiness and the payment options made available to users.

When Will the NITB Digital Payment System Launch?

NITB has not provided a confirmed public launch date in the reported tender.

The document also does not specify a target number of users, projected transaction volumes or the order in which government platforms will be integrated.

This means citizens should not assume that every government service will immediately offer Raast QR payments or all the other proposed channels.

Further details about the selected provider, implementation schedule and participating departments will be needed to establish when users can access the new payment options.

What This Means for Pakistan's Digital Future

NITB's proposed digital payment integration could make government services more convenient by bringing several payment methods into a more consistent system.

Support for Raast, QR codes, cards, bank transfers and branchless banking could give citizens more flexibility when paying government fees. Security controls, transaction reconciliation and designated settlement accounts are also important parts of the plan.

For now, the initiative remains a procurement and integration plan rather than a confirmed nationwide launch. The next important developments will be the selection of a payment provider, the implementation schedule and confirmation of which government services will support the system.