{
  "id": 1596155,
  "title": "Govt to highlight Z-Wallet initiative on cashless economy soon: Tarar",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/govt-to-highlight-z-wallet-initiative-on-cashless-economy-soon-tarar",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-18T00:07:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Recorder",
    "slug": "business-recorder",
    "url": "https://www.brecorder.com/news/40435262/govt-to-highlight-z-wallet-initiative-on-cashless-economy-soon-tarar"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar announced that the government will showcase the recently introduced Z-Wallet initiative during the upcoming high-level meeting on the cashless economy. The Z-Wallet, a collaborative effort between Zindigi, Zong, and JS Bank, aims to foster cooperation among the financial, telecom, and technology sectors. Tarar emphasized that the government is striving to hasten the transition towards a cashless economy by merging technology with financial services, with a particular emphasis on financial inclusion, transparency, and convenient digital payment access. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has established a high-level committee on the cashless economy, which Tarar personally oversees, illustrating the government's dedication to bolstering technology-driven financial services. The Z-Wallet initiative will be highlighted at the committee's ensuing meeting and featured in Prime Minister's Office communications to encourage other entities to adopt similar collaborative models. Tarar stated that the government not only endorses the initiative but also fully supports it, asserting that such partnerships merging internet banking, telecommunications, and technology can expand financial services to a larger portion of the population. The minister stressed that the convergence of telecom connectivity, digital technology, and banking services is becoming increasingly crucial as Pakistan endeavors to enhance financial inclusion and diminish reliance on cash. He considered the collaboration between Zindigi, Zong, and JS Bank as an illustration of cross-industry partnership, which can render financial services more accessible and convenient for consumers. In the context of the government's broader technology strategy, Tarar recalled previous initiatives under Shehbaz Sharif's leadership, such as the creation of the Punjab Information Technology Board, implementation of video-conferencing facilities in the public sector, and the laptop distribution scheme. He noted that digital infrastructure and technology access proved to be especially valuable during the Covid-19 pandemic, when businesses transitioned to remote work and educational institutions adopted online learning. Tarar expressed the government's ongoing commitment to supporting collaborations among technology firms, telecom operators, banks, and other industries that promote digitalization and financial inclusion. He concluded by highlighting that integrating technology with financial inclusion is now imperative for simplifying and expanding access to financial services for citizens.",
  "summary": "ISLAMABAD: The government will highlight the newly launched Z-Wallet initiative at the next high-level meeting on the cashless economy as a model for collaboration between the financial, telecom and technology sectors, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said on Monday. Speaking at the launch of Z-Wallet, a collaborative initiative of Zindigi, Zong and JS Bank, Tarar…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}