The State Bank of Pakistan in Rawalpindi has launched a focused drive to enable cashless livestock transactions by ensuring the presence of bank stalls and representatives across 13 major markets. The initiative aims to build digital awareness among buyers and traders and to register them for online payments so animal sales can be completed digitally.
Markets covered under the program include Tench Bhatta in Rawalpindi, Chakri Road, Rawat, Gujar Khan, Wah Cantt, Taxila, Kahuta, Chakwal, Talagang, Dina, Dhodial, Kallar Syedan and Pachnand. In Tench Bhatta market banks have established ground-level booths and stalls to provide immediate support and resolve obstacles that arise during digital payments, helping users complete transactions on the spot.
Acting on the slogan Go Cashless, the State Bank’s campaign highlights that neither buyers nor traders need to carry large sums of cash, reducing exposure to theft, robbery and the risk of counterfeit notes. Buyers, traders and service providers in the markets are being onboarded to digital payment systems to make trade more secure and transparent.
Under directions from the State Bank Rawalpindi, district and cantonment administrations have provided free space to banks for their on-site activities. More than 10 banks and fintech firms are active in these livestock markets, working to promote digital payments and to educate market participants about secure transaction options.
Bank teams are not only registering traders but are also bringing related service providers into the digital ecosystem, including animal feed shops and refreshment stalls. The presence of bank staff and fintech agents aims to remove technical barriers and provide real-time assistance so digital transactions can proceed smoothly.
In areas such as Gilgit Baltistan, where formal livestock markets are not established, the State Bank is supporting individual-level digital onboarding for traders to extend the reach of cashless solutions. Market visitors have welcomed the move, saying they now feel safer coming to markets without worrying about counterfeit notes or theft, and both buyers and sellers report increasingly accepting and preferring digital payments.
The State Bank says this effort will strengthen the digital economy locally while also helping to curb cash-related crimes. By fostering a practical ecosystem for Cashless Livestock transactions, the initiative seeks to make livestock trade safer, more transparent and better integrated into Pakistan’s broader digital payments landscape.
