Pakistan to End Cheque Payments Under Asaan Assignment Accounts From November 15

The federal government has announced that cheque-based payments under the Asaan Assignment Accounts (AAA) system will be discontinued from November 15, with all transactions under the system shifting to the Raast digital payment network starting November 16. The decision was announced during a high-level meeting on promoting a cashless economy chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday.

Officials told the meeting that payments through Asaan Assignment Accounts across the country will be processed exclusively through Raast once the new arrangement takes effect. Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) responsible for handling these payments have already been trained to implement the digital system, according to the announcement.

The government is also accelerating the digitization of payments across federal and provincial departments, with most institutions expected to complete the transition by December 2026. The meeting was further informed that all payments under the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) are already being made through digital wallets.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the relevant ministries and departments to set clear targets and deadlines for expanding digital payments. He also stressed that technical difficulties, consumer issues and inadequate internet connectivity must be addressed to ensure wider adoption of electronic payment systems.

The shift is part of the government's broader plan to reduce reliance on cash and promote electronic payments across the country. The move toward Raast, Pakistan's state-backed instant payment network, is expected to affect a large number of government transactions currently handled through cheques.

The announcement signals a further step in the digitization of public-sector financial operations, with officials framing the transition as a way to make payments more efficient and traceable. Details on how the change will be implemented at the departmental level are expected to emerge as the November deadlines approach.