Pakistan Digital Banking Growth Hits Rs68trn in Q1CY26
Pakistan’s digital banking growth Pakistan continues to rise at a steady pace. In Q1CY26, digital transactions reached 3.4 billion. Their total value stood at Rs68 trillion.
This surge shows a clear shift toward cashless payments. More people now prefer digital channels for daily transactions.
Rising Adoption of Digital Payments
The State Bank of Pakistan shared this data in its latest report. It covers the period from January to March 2026. The findings highlight rapid adoption of electronic banking tools. For example, Raast person to person transactions reached 664 million. This marks a 10 percent increase. Their value hit Rs18.9 trillion during the quarter. Meanwhile, Raast P2M payments also grew fast. They increased to 55.9 million transactions. This shows growing trust in digital systems.
Majority Transactions Go Digital
Retail payments reached 3.7 billion transactions overall. Their total value stood at Rs168.8 trillion. Notably, 92 percent of these payments were digital. People used mobile apps, internet banking, and ATMs. In addition, POS systems and e-commerce platforms supported this growth. As a result, digital channels now dominate the payment landscape. Retail transactions also rose by 9 percent compared to last quarter. This steady increase reflects changing consumer habits.
Role of Banks and Agents
Traditional banking still plays a role in this transition. Around 20,232 bank branches offered over the counter services. These included deposits, withdrawals, and bill payments. Branches processed 128 million transactions. Their value reached Rs99.5 trillion. At the same time, banking agents handled 155 million transactions worth Rs1.1 trillion. Therefore, both digital and physical channels continue to support users. This balanced system improves access for everyone.
A More Inclusive Financial Future
Pakistan is moving toward a more inclusive financial system. Digital tools are making payments faster and easier. In addition, they help bring more people into formal banking.
However, challenges remain in awareness and access. Even so, the overall trend remains positive. As a result, digital banking will likely grow further in the coming months.
