SBP Mandates Biometric Check for Mobile Wallets

Islamabad, July 03, 2025, 07:42 PM PKT — Pakistan’s digital finance ecosystem has entered a new security era as the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on July 1, 2025, mandated biometric verification for over-the-counter cash transactions on mobile wallet platforms Easypaisa and JazzCash, aiming to combat digital fraud and enhance transaction traceability. This regulation requires users to undergo biometric authentication via authorized agents for cash deposits and withdrawals, targeting the nationwide surge in millions of daily transactions that has expanded financial access but raised security concerns.

SBP officials clarified that biometric checks apply only to physical agent transactions, leaving online transfers, bill payments, and mobile top-ups untouched, assuaging fears of account blocks or fund risks. Retail agents nationwide are now equipped with biometric devices, with rejected transactions for unverified attempts under the new rules. This move is hailed as a leap in consumer protection, leveraging biometric data to safeguard users and boost confidence in Pakistan’s digital payments infrastructure, per mobile wallet operators’ awareness campaigns.

Part of the SBP’s financial inclusion strategy, this follows rapid digital adoption amid system integrity needs. Web context highlights rising digital fraud (e.g., 15% increase in 2024, web ID: 0), while posts found on X show mixed reactions—some welcome security, others decry inconvenience. Critically, the narrative of “enhanced protection” may mask access barriers—web data points to rural connectivity issues, and X sentiment suggests distrust in implementation ease, hinting at potential exclusion.