Web Desk: In a major push toward digitisation, the government announced plans to make the Islamabad Metro fully digital, starting with token purchases. The initiative will be implemented in phases, with ticket vending machines now installed at all metro stations.
The machines provide self-service options, allowing passengers to purchase single-journey tokens or recharge Metrobus cards. Officials from the Capital Development Authority (CDA) said the move aims to establish a completely cashless public transport network.
Passengers can now pay fares by scanning QR codes through the official CDA Metro app. The app also allows users to top up balances using debit or credit cards, enabling daily commuters to travel without carrying cash.
Additionally, the T-Cash universal smart card supports seamless travel across metro services, including the Orange Line. Distribution kiosks for the card have already been set up at Saddar, 6th Road, Kashmir Highway and Pak Secretariat stations.
In an other related effort to promote digital payments, authorities have decided to implement cashless transactions at all Ramzan bazaars in Islamabad. Officials confirmed that seven bazaars will operate across the city, with three weekly markets converted into Ramzan-specific markets for the holy month.
To ensure access to essential items at subsidised prices, additional bazaars will open along the Islamabad Expressway, as well as in Bara Kahu, Pakistan Town, and Tarnol. These bazaars will feature both cash-and-carry outlets and stalls run by private companies. A “Chand Bazaar” will also be organised during the last ten days of Ramzan, ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.
The decision was announced during a review meeting on Ramzan preparations, chaired by Islamabad Chief Commissioner and CDA Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa. He instructed officials to ensure the availability of high-quality food items at officially approved rates and confirmed that all bazaars must operate on a cashless system to encourage digital transactions.
Randhawa also stressed the importance of completing construction and maintenance work at all designated sites before Ramzan begins, aiming to prevent public inconvenience. Authorities expect that the digital initiatives will make daily life easier for residents while fostering the adoption of cashless payments during the holy month.
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