KP PA panel concludes review of KP Digital Payment Act

PESHAWAR, Jul 14 (APP): Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Standing Committee on Finance chaired by Arbab Muhammad Usman Khan here Tuesday conducted a detail review of KP Digital Payment Act 2026.

The meeting was attended by committee members including Anwar Zeb Khan, Munir Hussain Laghmani, Sher Ali Afridi, Gurpal Singh, Farah Khan, Shazia Tamas Khan, Madina Gul Afridi,  Amina Sardar and Sobia Shahid besides Additional Secretary Finance and relevant officers.

The committee conducted a detailed review of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Digital Payments Act, 2026 that was aims to promote digital payment systems across the province, ensure their effective implementation and establish a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework for digital payments.

The committee thoroughly examined the proposed amendments presented during previous meeting by members of the standing committee and MPAs.

On the occasion, chairman, Munir Hussain Laghmani and Sher Ali Afridi expressed their concerns and put forward suggestions regarding various provisions of the bill.

Participants of the committee emphasized the need of incorporating clear and effective legal provisions relating to penalties and enforcement to strengthen compliance and ensure effective implementation of the proposed law. It was decided that further consultations and detailed deliberations on the bill would continue in the next meeting.

The key features of the bill included defining the responsibilities of digital payment service providers; making the display of QR codes mandatory for business establishments; requiring businesses to accept digital payments; promoting facilitation and capacity building; outlining the obligations of authorized service providers; providing for business registration and licensing; specifying the powers of designated officers; establishing an effective monitoring mechanism; promoting financial inclusion; ensuring consumer protection and data protection; creating an effective complaint redressal mechanism; empowering the government to frame rules; providing for transitional and protective measures and granting powers to address any implementation-related challenges.

At the conclusion, chairman of the committee directed finance department to incorporate all practical and feasible recommendations put forward by the committee into the bill so that the proposed law is transparent, effective and aligned with contemporary requirements in every respect.

He further directed that the revised draft of the bill be presented before the committee at its next meeting where it would undergo final deliberation before the committee formulates its recommendations.