Pakistan Is Set To Launch a Digital Payment Index Soon to track the country’s progress in payment digitization. This initiative aims to enhance the understanding of digital payment effectiveness, infrastructure, and consumer awareness.

Purpose of the Digital Payment Index

The DPI will serve multiple purposes in alignment with Pakistan’s digital transformation agenda. It will measure digital payment adoption across various channels, sectors, and demographics. This comprehensive framework will help identify gaps in the current digital payment infrastructure, facilitating targeted policy interventions and investments.

Global Examples

Many countries have developed indices to map their digital payment infrastructure. For instance, a notable example is the Mastercard Digital Payment Index, which offers insights into payment digitalization in Central and Eastern Europe. In addition, this approach will inspire Pakistan’s DPI, providing a benchmark for progress.

Key Indicators

The DPI will include critical indicators such as:

• Account Penetration: Measures how many individuals have digital accounts.
• Card Penetration: Tracks the usage of debit and credit cards.
• Instant Payment Enablement: Assesses the availability of instant payment options.
• QR Code Payment Enablement: Evaluates the adoption of QR code payments.
• Consumer Awareness: Gauges knowledge of digital payment tools among users.

Objectives of the Digital Payment Index

The DPI aims to create a robust and reliable index that reflects digital payment adoption. It will provide actionable insights, allowing stakeholders to study local infrastructure developments and consumer preferences. Additionally, the index will standardize metrics to measure performance across different sectors.

Constructing a comprehensive Digital Payment Index will not only empower policymakers, regulators, and financial institutions to make informed decisions, but also foster collaboration among various stakeholders. Moreover, this initiative will drive the growth of a vibrant digital economy in Pakistan. In addition, the DPI will be updated regularly, reflecting the dynamic nature of consumer behavior as well as the evolving digital payment landscape. Stay tuned for more information.