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Digital transactions to ensure transparent economy: PM
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday stressed implementing the digital transaction system across the country, saying it was vital to bring transparency to the economy.
He was chairing a weekly meeting on cashless and digital economy at the Prime Minister's House.
On the occasion, the prime minister emphasized the need to facilitate payments between citizens and businesses and to raise awareness about the use of digital systems.
He instructed the committees formed for the cashless economy to work closely with all stakeholders to present doable recommendations.
During the meeting, the prime minister was briefed that following the previous meeting, the Digital Payments Innovation and Adoption Committee, the Digital Public Infrastructure Committee, and the Government Payments Committee had been established.
A detailed briefing was given in the meeting with respect to the committee's proposals and strategies regarding the digitization of the economy.
It was informed that the State Bank of Pakistan was developing a strategy to simplify and ease digital payment methods for merchants.
A simplified package will be introduced to encourage and include small businesses in digital payments.
The target is to increase the number of mobile app users for digital payments from 95 million to 120 million, and the number of merchants using QR codes will be increased from 0.9 million to 2 million.
The total volume of digital payments is aimed to increase from Rs 7.5 billion to Rs 12 billion. The prime minister directed that all these targets should be doubled.
The meeting was further informed that the "Digital National Pakistan" project for the digital economy had been initiated. The Islamabad City mobile application has so far recorded 1.3 million downloads, offering 15 services.
Through the Islamabad City App, Rs 15.5 billion has been collected under ICT Excise and Taxation, the meeting was informed.
Work is progressing rapidly on the completion of the Digital Pakistan ID project, while E-stamping facilities will also be launched in Islamabad soon.
The meeting was further informed that efforts were underway to provide Wi-Fi internet services across Islamabad, particularly in hospitals, educational institutions, government offices, parks, and metro bus lines.
The prime minister instructed that all these facilities should also be introduced in all federal areas, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Information Technology and Telecom Shaza Fatima, Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, Prime Minister's Advisor Dr. Tauqir Shah, Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani, and other senior government officials.
Polio case
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, stressing accelerated efforts to eradicate polio from the country, on Thursday expressed the resolve that despite all challenges and difficulties, the government, with the support of international, provincial, and local teams, will soon achieve the goal of a polio-free Pakistan.
"We are committed to protect every child in Pakistan from this crippling disease and achieve a polio-free Pakistan," the prime minister said while chairing a meeting of the Anti-Polio Task Force here.
He stressed the need for full dedication and seriousness to ensure that every child across the country receives multiple doses of the polio vaccine and remains protected.
The prime minister acknowledged significant progress in the fight against polio due to the dedication of frontline workers, the commitment of the government of Pakistan, and support from the partners.
He praised the efforts and cooperation of provincial governments, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and law enforcement agencies in the anti-polio campaign.
"The safety of polio workers is our top priority," he said adding that all stakeholders, including provincial governments, must unite and intensify their efforts to eradicate polio.
The prime minister expressed gratitude to all partners supporting the government in its polio eradication efforts.
He extended special thanks to Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, for his comprehensive support of Pakistan's polio eradication efforts.
The prime minister also appreciated the vital and commendable role of the Gates Foundation and all partners in the anti-polio campaign in Pakistan.
During the briefing, it was informed in the meeting that specific polio campaigns were being designed for each district in Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, based on the unique challenges faced in each area, to ensure complete eradication of the polio virus.
The anti-polio campaign in Pakistan is not only targeting polio cases among children but also working to eliminate the virus's environmental presence.
The meeting was attended by the chair of the Anti-Polio Oversight Board, Dr. Christopher Elias, who is also the President of the Global Development Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Besides members of the Board Dr. Hanan Balkhy — Regional Director, World Health Organization (WHO), Sanjay Wijesekera — Regional Director, UNICEF, Dr. Ziad Memish — Representative of KS Relief, Saudi Arabia, Mike McGovern — Rotary International and Aziz Memon, Trustee, Rotary International also attended the meeting.
Minister for National Health Services Syed Mustafa Kamal, Minister of State for National Health Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath, PM's Focal Person on Polio Eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq, Chief Secretaries from all four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Chief Commissioner of Islamabad Capital Territory, National Coordinator for Polio Eradication and other senior government officials were also present in the meeting.
