KARACHI: The number of digital transactions recorded under the central bank’s Go Cashless campaign increased more than sevenfold during Eidul Azha this year, reflecting the growing acceptance of digital payments in cattle markets, a statement said on Friday.
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) launched a nationwide ‘Go Cashless’ campaign during Eidul Azha 2026. The volume of transactions conducted through digital channels and instruments rose from approximately 65,000 in 2025 to 481,000 transactions this year, while the value of payments surged from Rs4.6 billion to Rs34 billion. Around 12,500 new accounts for cattle farmers and allied service providers were opened during the activity.
“Building on the success of similar initiatives undertaken in 2024 and 2025, the campaign was significantly expanded in 2026, with coverage increasing from 54 cattle markets in 2025 to 123 markets across Pakistan,” the SBP said.
“Under the campaign, 22 participating banks established dedicated camps and kiosks in the assigned cattle markets to facilitate seamless digital transactions for buyers and sellers,” it added.
These banks onboarded cattle sellers, transporters, and allied service providers onto digital channels through real-time biometric verification conducted within the markets and provided them with QR codes to enable the receipt of digital payments. In addition, mobile banking vans were deployed in selected cattle markets, equipped with ATMs, cash counters, and cash deposit machines (CDMs) to provide on-site banking services. The availability of cash counters and CDMs enabled merchants to conveniently deposit surplus cash directly into the banking system, thereby reducing the circulation of physical currency and supporting a more digitized payments environment.
Teams from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) were also deployed in these markets on a round-the-clock basis to facilitate the banks and their staff and resolve any issues. To facilitate cattle merchants and support high-value transactions, SBP introduced temporary enhancements to transaction limits from May 14, 2026 to June 5, 2026. Further, the SBP also led an extensive nationwide awareness and outreach drive for the campaign, encompassing television, radio, print and social media platforms, alongside banks’ awareness activities.
“This growth reflects increasing public confidence in digital payment channels and demonstrates the effectiveness of the SBP’s efforts to digitise traditionally cash-intensive sectors of the economy,” the SBP said. “The success of the initiative has strengthened trust in digital financial services and laid a strong foundation for the sustained adoption of secure, efficient, and inclusive digital payment solutions in seasonal and high-volume markets across Pakistan.”
