GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan has taken a major step towards financial inclusion and digital governance with the official launch of GB Pay, a digital payment platform designed to streamline government payments.
The Governor of Gilgit-Baltistan graced the launch ceremony, marking a new era of convenience and transparency in revenue collection and performance tracking. The event was attended by Speaker of the GB Assembly, Minister for Finance, and Secretary Finance from the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan. Deputy Governor and Director Finance represented the State Bank of Pakistan, while CEO and COO of 1-Link joined the event.
GB Pay serves as an aggregator for government bills and levies, allowing citizens to pay their electricity bills, vehicle tokens, traffic challans, and other government fees easily through multiple channels, including ATMs, mobile banking, internet banking, over-the-counter services, and retail agents.
Secretary Finance GB, Mr. Aziz Jamali, briefed about GB Pay and its importance in transforming revenue collection across GB. He appreciated the efforts of partners and GB team. DG State Bank expressed his satisfaction with the technological achievement by the Government of GB. CEO 1-Link apprised the forum about benefits of this platform. A tripartite agreement was also signed during the ceremony.
Speaking at the event, the Governor of Gilgit-Baltistan highlighted the importance of digital payment solutions in improving governance, reducing cash dependency, and promoting financial transparency for government and people of the region.
Earlier, the Pakistan Army, in collaboration with Special Communications Organization (SCO), has established a new freelancing hub at Government Boys High School Taus in Gilgit-Baltistan, marking a significant step toward digital education in the region.
School Principal Shaheen Beg reports that the facility has been designed to meet the evolving needs of local youth, offering training in online business, freelancing, and digital marketing skills. The hub aims to serve both students and community members, creating new employment opportunities in the digital economy.
“This freelancing hub will not only benefit our students but will also be accessible to the broader community,” Principal Beg stated. “It represents a crucial step in preparing our youth for the future job market through digital skills training.”
The initiative reflects growing efforts to expand digital literacy and economic opportunities in Gilgit-Baltistan’s remote areas. Principal Beg emphasized that such facilities are essential in the current digital age, providing local youth with access to global employment opportunities.
The hub’s establishment aligns with broader national efforts to promote digital skills development and create employment opportunities in Pakistan’s northern regions.
