ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – The Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) e-Psule initiative has recorded more than three million digital payment transactions across the Region, as the government aims to collect 90 percent of its revenues through the platform by the end of 2028, the finance ministry announced on Tuesday.

In an announcement, the ministry said e-Psule “has recorded more than three million digital payment transactions” since its launch, describing the milestone as “an important step in expanding the use of electronic payments.”

The KRG plans to add more government payment and billing channels to the service in the near future, with a goal of collecting 90 percent of government revenues through the platform by the end of 2028, the ministry added.

"The platform brings the KRG a single source of truth for all government revenues — including electricity. Moreover, all revenue is audited by an external party to add an extra layer of quality assurance and transparency," said Aziz Ahmad, the deputy chief of staff to Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, hailing the "remarkable" progress made via the initiative.

Prime Minister Barzani announced the project in February as part of efforts to modernize the banking sector, allowing users to pay their bills electronically through participating banks.

Through e-Psule, citizens can pay their bills electronically using nine banks and the digital wallet applications of their partner institutions, which are licensed by the Central Bank of Iraq.

The initiative is part of the KRG's efforts to advance the Kurdistan Region toward a cashless economy, with other banking projects like MyAccount - which Aziz Ahmad said now offers services to over a million people in Region - already having made significant strides toward that end.

E-Psule aims to “simplify” the payment of utility bills through “a secure digital platform,” according to the project's official website.

The program currently includes electricity dues, including outstanding bills and previous debts owed to the government.

Cihan Bank, First Iraqi Bank, Iraqi Islamic Bank, Region Trade Bank and the National Bank of Iraq, as well as online wallets such as Fastpay, AsiaPay, ZainCash and Nass Wallet, have enrolled in the program as payment methods so far, with more banks and wallets set to join in the future.

Updated on October 21 with Aziz Ahmad comments and additional banking services that have joined e-Psule