In the heart of Pakistan’s bustling markets, kiryana stores and ration shops have long played the backbone of daily life, Which is why when shopkeepers and ration suppliers across Punjab announced a complete boycott of DigiKhata, it came about as a serious shock.
For those unfamiliar, DigiKhata serves as a widely used Pakistani fintech app that functions as a digital khata (ledger and bookkeeping tool) for small businesses, shopkeepers, and merchants. Digi Technologies launched the app in 2019, with Adnan Aslam and Bilal Anjum as its founders, and markets it as Pakistan’s number one digital khata app. The major business edge being it is 100% free for core features, cloud-based, and focused on simplifying financial tracking without the hassle of paper ledgers.
Shopkeepers and ration suppliers have slammed the brakes on the Bank of Punjab-backed app meant to streamline payments under the Nighebaan Ration Program. Citing months of delayed payments DigiKhata and ghost-like customer support, they’ve announced a full boycott until their dues are cleared. The app became involved with Bank of Punjab as a Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) platform that enables seamless digital payments, Soft POS for merchants, and integration in government schemes.
A source speaking exclusively to TechJuice said:
We have not received payments for the past three months, even though we supply rations first and wait for payments afterward. This is unfair to us. Although DigiKhata is operated through the Bank of Punjab, our payments are not being made on time.
The source added that during the tenure of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, commissions were received promptly and payments were cleared within a week. “Is Maryam Nawaz’s vision really to make life difficult for people?” the source questioned.
Complaints to DigiKhata and the Bank of Punjab appear to have gone unanswered.
“If you complain to DigiKhata, they say it’s a bank issue. If you complain to the bank, they say it’s DigiKhata’s issue. Since morning, I have made 50 calls to the CM Punjab complaint cell, but not a single call was answered,” a shopkeeper said.
In a formal complaint submitted to the Chief Minister, the shopkeeper, who operates 135 labor ration cards, said the total payments owed amount to PKR 405,000.
“DigiKhata has not paid for services provided between September 16 and September 22. It has been almost six months, and we are struggling to receive what is rightfully ours,” the complaint read, making it clear that the boycott will go on unless the grievances are addressed.
In a country chasing “Digital Pakistan” glory with the prospect of QR codes everywhere, e-stamping, and a cashless business sphere, incidents like these feel like the plot twist nobody asked for. A platform built to empower small traders is now accused of starving them financially, would definitely hamper digital improvement efforts at the administrative scale.
DigiKhata and Bank of Punjab have yet to respond to requests for comment on the matter.
