SBP expands cashless drive to livestock markets for Eid 2026

May 15, 2026 (MLN): The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has launched its "Go Cashless" campaign for Eid al-Azha 2026, which significantly scales up its push to digitize payments in cattle markets across the country as one of the busiest commercial seasons of the year approaches.

This year's initiative marks a notable expansion from the 2025 edition, with coverage stretching to 96 cattle markets nationwide, up from 54 last year reflecting the central bank's growing ambition to bring Pakistan's informal livestock economy into the digital fold, according to a press release issued.

Twenty-two banks are participating in the campaign, setting up dedicated camps and kiosks at assigned markets to onboard cattle sellers, transporters, and allied traders onto digital payment platforms. Services on offer include new account openings and deployment of QR code-based payment solutions aimed at making cashless transactions accessible even to first-time digital users.

To accommodate the surge in commercial activity during the Eid period, SBP has introduced temporary relaxations on transaction and account balance limits, in effect from May 14 to June 5, 2026. Mobile banking vans, ATMs, and Cash Deposit Machines (CDMs) will also be deployed in and around markets where feasible.

The central bank is urging buyers and sellers alike to take advantage of digital channels  including mobile banking apps, branchless banking wallets, Raast-enabled services, and QR payments  to carry out their transactions safely and efficiently.

Cattle markets across Pakistan have traditionally been almost entirely cash-driven, making them both a key target and a significant opportunity for SBP's broader financial digitization agenda. Officials say digital payments reduce the security risks of handling large amounts of cash while contributing to a more transparent and inclusive financial system.

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