Govt Mandates Digital Payments at Retail Outlets

ISLAMABAD: The government is forging a robust legal arsenal to overhaul existing laws, compelling business and retail outlets to embrace digital payment solutions in a bold stride toward a cashless economy, as reported by Express Tribune.

The draft legal package targets amendments to the Payment Systems and Electronic Fund Transfers Act, 2007, mandating every business to provide at least one digital payment option, including QR code facilities. Local governments will wield enforcement powers to ensure compliance.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) are revamping bylaws to enforce digital payment acceptance across all retail outlets in their domains. Provincial governments are poised to amend or enact Digital Payment Acts mirroring this requirement.

As an interim strike, local governments and regulators have been commanded to issue notifications for digital payment infrastructure rollout at retail points.

Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) have embedded Raast QR codes on consumer bills, serving 10.74 million customers with annual collections of Rs384.91 billion. Over 21,400 consumers have leveraged Raast QR for gas bills, injecting Rs51.8 million.

Ten of 11 electricity distribution companies (DISCOs), plus Tesco, have integrated Raast QR codes, enabling bill payments. More than 27,900 consumers have transacted Rs128 million via Raast QR. The DISCOs’ 35 million consumer base yields Rs4 trillion annually.

The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has activated Raast QR payments at 949 centres and via the PAK ID app (10.7 million users), catapulting cashless transactions from 66% to 76% by October 2025. Raast QR now drives 10% of cashless transactions and 13% of daily PAK ID applications, with a potential Rs28.47 billion from 27.2 million consumers.

The CDA has enforced Raast QR display at Islamabad retail outlets, enabling 38,819 stores. A Merchant Acquisition Committee, backed by 12 banks, spearheads the rollout.