Mobile Wallets and Digital Bank Accounts Without Biometric Verification to Be Blocked From October 25
October 24, 2025
Millions of Pakistanis could temporarily lose access to their mobile wallets and digital bank accounts starting October 25, 2025, as the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) begins enforcing its new biometric verification rules.
According to the SBP’s updated guidelines issued in July 2025 (BPRD Circular No.1), biometric verification is now the primary method for customer identification across all banks, digital banks, microfinance banks, development finance institutions (DFIs), and electronic money institutions (EMIs).
The new policy aims to improve account security, ensure compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) standards, and simplify the account opening process.
Previously, customers were given a 60-day grace period to complete biometric verification. However, under the new framework, anyone who hasn’t completed verification by the October 25 deadline may face service disruptions, including restrictions on sending or receiving funds.
Financial experts caution that the move could affect millions of users, including those holding foreign currency and Roshan Digital Accounts.
The SBP’s “Consolidated Customer Onboarding Framework” applies to all types of accounts—local and foreign—and introduces a uniform customer due diligence process for both in-branch and digital onboarding.
All financial institutions regulated by the SBP were given three months to comply with the new requirements. The central bank has not announced any extension to the deadline, meaning non-verified accounts may be blocked starting tomorrow.
