The State Bank of Pakistan, on Friday, began a nationwide “Go Cashless” campaign in preparation for Eid ul Azha 2026, aimed at promoting secure and convenient digital payment platforms within cattle markets across the country.
The central bank indicated that this initiative is part of a larger strategy to reduce dependence on cash and to speed up the digitisation of Pakistan’s payment ecosystem.
Building upon previous campaigns, the initiative for 2026 has been considerably expanded, increasing its reach from 54 cattle markets last year to 96 markets across the nation this year.
During the campaign, 22 participating banks will set up dedicated camps and kiosks at designated cattle markets to facilitate digital payments for both buyers and sellers.
These banks will onboard cattle sellers, transporters, and related service providers onto digital payment platforms through the establishment of accounts and the implementation of QR code-based payment solutions.
The SBP also announced temporary relaxations on transaction and account balance limits from May 14 to June 5, 2026, to accommodate higher transaction volumes during Eid ul Azha.
Furthermore, mobile banking vans, ATMs, and cash deposit machines will be deployed, where feasible, to improve access to financial services in and around cattle markets.
SBP has urged the public to use mobile banking applications, branchless banking wallets, Raast-enabled services, and QR code payments for transactions related to Eid, emphasising that digital payments provide greater convenience and security while mitigating the risks associated with carrying cash.
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