Pakistan’s Digital Leap: Rs. 20B Aid Program

Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications, Shaza Khawaja, has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative aimed at fostering an inclusive digital economy in Pakistan. This Rs. 20 billion program focuses on providing targeted subsidies through digital wallets, marking a significant step towards integrating underserved populations into the formal financial system.

IT Minister Shaza Fatima credited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for enabling the launch of a major digital aid initiative, aligned with the “Digital Nation Pakistan Bill.” The program promotes financial inclusion through the distribution of aid via digital wallets, resulting in over 900,000 wallets and 1.9 million digital transactions, including bill payments, loans, and insurance. Shaza emphasized its transformative impact, especially for underserved groups, noting that over 823,000 women and 2,500 differently-abled individuals participated. She thanked key stakeholders and highlighted the establishment of a control room that received 2 million public queries. A third-party audit has been ordered to ensure transparency and accountability.