Digitised payments

This letter refers to the editorial ‘Pro-people Punjab?’ (June 18, 2025). According to the editorial, the Punjab government has not spared any opportunity to emphasize the ‘pro-people’ nature of its Rs5.335 trillion budget. One particular aspect of this budget which is quite laudable is the Punjab government’s push towards digital payments by ‘mandating that all service providers must accept digital payments through debit or credit cards, mobile wallets, digital banking, or QR codes’. This is a very important initiative.

I am hopeful that the Punjab government will follow through on this decision in the months and years ahead with diligence and extra effort. Also, the network providers must render excellent internet and digital services all across the province and a sufficient number of payment accepting devices must be imported, readily available and distributed amongst the traders and service providers to facilitate this objective. It is also recommended that all digital payments should be taxed at half the rate of cash or cash-based payments in order to encourage swifter compliance in this regard.

Abbas R Siddiqi

Lahore