KARACHI – Digital banking and wallet users across Pakistan may experience service disruptions starting October 25, as the central bank enforces new regulations requiring mandatory biometric verification for all accounts and wallets, including JazzCash and Easypaisa.
Under latest update, all banks, digital banks, microfinance institutions, and mobile wallet providers must now make biometric verification mandatory for every account and wallet holder. Customers had 60-day window to complete process, but that grace period is now gone.
Millions of account holders could suddenly find themselves unable to access funds, send money, or receive remittances, including users of foreign currency and Roshan Digital Accounts.
Central bank introduced these rules to tighten Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Countering Financing of Terrorism (CFT) safeguards, and all financial institutions had three months to comply. The updated Consolidated Customer Onboarding Framework now requires biometric verification before account activation, no exceptions.
This means anyone using CNIC, NICOP, POC, ARC, or POR documents must complete verification immediately to avoid being locked out of their accounts.
With digital banking and mobile wallets booming in Pakistan, this sweeping regulation marks a major step toward security but it comes with a tight deadline that could cause widespread disruption. Experts are urging all users to act fast or risk being cut off from their own money.
