Pakistan Ends Cheque Payments from 16 November 2026: Raast Takes Over — What It Means for You
Pakistan is taking a big step towards a cashless economy. The government has announced that cheque payments under the Asaan Assignment Accounts (AAA) system will stop on 15 November 2026, and from 16 November 2026 every such payment will be made only through Raast, the State Bank of Pakistan's instant payment system. If you receive money from a government department, here is everything you need to know in simple words. What Exactly Is Changing on 15 and 16 November? The decision was announced on Friday, 6 November 2026, at a high-level meeting on the promotion of a cashless economy, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The meeting was told that cheque-based payments into Asaan Assignment Accounts will be discontinued from 15 November 2026. From 16 November, all payments under these accounts across the country will be made digitally through Raast. Most federal and provincial government departments are expected to complete the digitisation of their payments by December 2026. ...