Raast Aims to Create Pakistan's Unified Digital Payments Infrastructure

[Riaz Haq]

Pakistan's central bankers have taken the plunge into the world of digital payments with their own offering: Raast. It aims to create an instant low-cost payment system that can seamlessly and securely connect government entities, a variety of banks, including microfinance banks (MFBs),  electronic money institutions (EMIs) and State Bank authorized payment service providers (PSPs) like 1Link and NIFT which may choose to take advantage of it.  Currency and coins in circulation account for about 43% of Pakistan's total money supply. The introduction of Raast is part of the government's effort to modernize and document the nation's cash-based informal economy. Undocumented economy poses a serious threat to the country because it creates opportunities for criminal activities and tax evasion. Digital financial services will also promote e-commerce in Pakistan. 

Raast Digital Payment System. Source: State Bank of Pakistan

Raast Digital Payments:

Raast is a system of digital payment infrastructure. It is essentially a pipe that is intended to connect government and financial institutions with consumers and merchants with each other to process payments instantly at very low cost.  

Raast will be boosted by Pakistan government's decision to use it to pay salaries, pensions and pay welfare recipients under Benazir Income Support and Ehsaas Emergency Cash programs. 

It has been developed in-house by the State Bank of Pakistan  in collaboration with Karandaaz, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and supported by the World Bank, the British government and the United Nations.

Private Payment Apps:

Several private payment apps, including EasyPaisa and JazzCash, are already operating in Pakistan. These apps lack interoperability with each other. Each operates in its own silo. Neither of these offer links to financial institutions and government entities. 

There are also several EMIs (Electronic Money institutions) in Pakistan. These include NayaPay, SadaPay and Finja.  EMIs are not banks, but can store deposits. These are not tied to any banks or telcos. They could all use back-end plumbing offered by Raast. 

Payment Service Providers (PSPs) :

1Link and NIFT payment and switch networks, supported by different groups of Pakistani financial institutions, currently process the bulk of credit/debit card and ATM transactions as well as e-payments in Pakistan. State Bank's Raast promises to be cheaper and faster than these networks,. Raast also offers processing of e-payments by government entities. 

Raast Future Roadmap:

State Bank of Pakistan  intends to demonstrate Raast's usefulness by first processing government payments to individuals, including government employees and Ehsaas welfare beneficiaries, before expanding it for business applications.  SBP’s plan is to start person-to-person (P2P) payments using just the phone numbers in Q3/2021 and then bring merchants on board with QR codes by Q1/2022. 

Summary:

State Bank of Pakistan's launch of Raast digital payment infrastructure represents a great leap forward for the use of financial technology (FinTech) and financial inclusion in the  country.  It will also promote e-commerce in Pakistan. Undocumented economy poses a serious threat to the country because it creates opportunities for criminal activities and tax evasion.  Raast is part of the government's effort to modernize payment systems and document the nation's cash-based informal economy. 

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[Riaz Haq]

Visa’s Leila Serhan says Pakistan presents significant opportunity for digital payments


https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1234879-visa-s-leila-serhan-says-p...


KARACHI: Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for North Africa, Levant and Pakistan (NALP) at Visa Leila Serhan highlighted the importance of cybersecurity measures in promoting the growth of digital payments in Pakistan during an interview with The News.

Following are excerpts of her conversation:

Q: What initiative is Visa taking to safeguard users and support partner banks to combat fraud and cybercrime in Pakistan?

A: Cyber security is a top priority for anyone in the financial services industry, especially for Visa. We provide cutting-edge artificial intelligence-powered risk and fraud management solutions to our users and partner financial institutions, which greatly assist in every step of the transaction process.

The technologies like tokenization not only enhance user experience but also strengthens security by converting the 16-digit card number into a token, significantly improving security. Visa aims to introduce tokenization technology to all its partners and the entire ecosystem to safeguard consumer data.

In Pakistan, security and fraud issues, such as social engineering, are common when making digital payments. Therefore, there is a need to educate users not to share their online transaction processing data or card information via email. Furthermore, the user card verification value is confidential and should not be shared with anyone.

Visa recently announced a strategic partnership with 1Link, the country’s largest payment service provider, to simplify remittances in the country and promote digital transactions. The partnership involves integrating the Visa Alias Directory Service within the 1LINK network to streamline incoming remittances, enhance user experience and protect sensitive payment credential information.

Remittances are crucial for the Pakistani economy, as the country is one of the top 10 remittance-receiving nations in the world, according to World Bank data. Visa has simplified the remittance process, allowing individuals whether in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia or any other market to send money back home to their parents or family using a mobile number. The Visa Alias directory facilitates fast and secure transactions, and users can conveniently send and receive money directly from their mobile phones.By providing a seamless user experience and ensuring convenience, security, and cost-effectiveness in remittance transactions, efforts are made to discourage the use of illegal remittance flows to the country. This is one of our key objectives.

Q: What efforts is Visa making to increase the acceptance of contactless payments by small businesses?

A: We are collaborating closely with banks and other stakeholders to offer customized financial products and low-cost acceptance solutions, enabling small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to accept payments in a cost-effective manner. Tap-to-phone is a key part of our strategy, and we aim to expand the reach of small and micro enterprises able to accept digital payments by 10 times. We are forming numerous partnerships to promote financial literacy, expand small businesses and enhance consumer financial inclusion.

Q: How does Visa collaborate with government entities like the State Bank of Pakistan?

A: We have had a very positive dialogue with the State Bank of Pakistan. It is great that there is an active dialogue and partnership between the government and companies like Visa in the private sector. We constantly discuss how to improve the consumer experience in Pakistan, both domestically and internationally.

[Riaz Haq]

This e-banking platform is narrowing Pakistan's financial gap | World Economic Forum

https://www.weforum.org/videos/edisonalliance-pakistan/

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https://www.sbp.org.pk/Finc/AMAscheme.html

Through the Asaan Mobile Account (AMA) platform, any Pakistani holding a valid CNIC can open a bank account digitally in any AMA participating bank, from anywhere, at any time by using the SIM of any mobile operator. The scheme allows individuals to access AMA platform using a short code i.e *2262# and make transactions, through their basic/smart mobile phone without the need for internet connectivity.

Asaan Mobile Account (AMA) platform is a revolutionary initiative undertaken by State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), in collaboration with branchless banking (BB) providers, telecom operators and other development partners. The AMA platform has been launched under the National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) that aims to facilitate general masses, especially the low income segments, to digitally open their BB accounts and use the available financial services in a swift, easy and affordable manner.

[Riaz Haq]

Google Pay to launch in Pakistan by March 2025 - Profit by Pakistan Today

https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2025/01/13/google-pay-to-launch...

Service to enable Pakistani users to link their bank-issued debit and credit cards to Google Pay for seamless contactless payments

Google Pay, the global contactless payment platform, is set to officially launch in Pakistan by mid-March 2025, marking a significant milestone in the country’s expanding digital payment landscape.

According to sources, the rollout, confirmed by Google in November 2024, will be facilitated through collaborations with Visa, Mastercard, and leading local banks.

The service will allow Pakistani users to link their bank-issued debit and credit cards to Google Pay via the Google Wallet app, enabling seamless contactless payments at compatible terminals.

While the launch will focus initially on enabling basic contactless payments, the full suite of Google Wallet features, including loyalty cards and public transport passes, will not be available in the first phase.

Sources confirmed that preparations for the launch are well underway, with four to six prominent banks working closely with Visa and Mastercard to meet technical requirements.


Pakistan’s payment infrastructure is well-positioned to support the service, boasting 133,000 point-of-sale (POS) terminals, 99% of which are already equipped to accept mobile contactless payments, according to the State Bank of Pakistan.

Industry experts see Google Pay’s entry as a boost for Pakistan’s burgeoning digital payments sector, which has witnessed rapid growth in recent years. According to Profit’s analysis of data published by the State Bank of Pakistan, electronic payments now account for 9.3% of the total value of all transactions that take place in the country, a number that has doubled over the past two years.


The launch of a digital application like Google Wallet, which is compatible with payment cards of any financial institution will accelerate the expansion of digital payments through POS machines and e-commerce websites.

[Riaz Haq]

Mastercard joins foodpanda to fuel digital payments in Pakistan

https://ibsintelligence.com/ibsi-news/mastercard-joins-foodpanda-to...

Mastercard has collaborated with foodpanda, a Delivery Hero-owned online food and grocery delivery platform, to boost digital payment in Pakistan and support the nation’s transition toward a cashless economy.

This collaboration with one of Pakistan’s delivery platforms highlights Mastercard’s commitment to advancing financial inclusion and strengthening the country’s digital ecosystem.

According to data from the State Bank of Pakistan, currency in circulation (CIC) in the country increased by 11.2% during the first half of 2024. By addressing the gap between cash and digital payments, Mastercard and foodpanda are positioned to accelerate digital payment adoption, enabling the growth of a cashless economy and fostering inclusive prosperity in one of the region’s most dynamic markets.

The partnership introduces initiatives designed to encourage the use of digital payment methods over cash on delivery (COD). By leveraging foodpanda’s extensive network, Mastercard will drive awareness and usage of secure, rewarding payment options for millions of consumers across the country.

“By combining our global expertise in seamless and secure payment technologies with foodpanda’s vast reach, we are making digital payments more accessible and convenient for consumers across the country. This collaboration marks a pivotal step in our efforts to drive the shift to digital payments in Pakistan and fuel the growth of the country’s digital economy,” said Muhammad Nana, Senior Vice President of Digital Partnerships, EEMEA, Mastercard.

“With high smartphone penetration and robust digital infrastructure, Pakistan is primed for rapid adoption of cashless solutions. Our partnership with Mastercard enables us to accelerate this transformation, turning COD users into active digital consumers. As we serve a significant percentage of the population, this initiative reflects our commitment to innovation and financial inclusion in untapped markets,” said Muntaqa Peracha, CEO, foodpanda Pakistan.

Additionally, Mastercard and foodpanda launched the Payment Switch initiative, which aims to convert COD users to online payments, boost Mastercard’s reputation as the preferred payment method, and drive customer trials through exclusive vouchers. This feature enhances conversion rates at the critical decision point of placing orders, thereby triggering a switch to online payments from COD via Mastercard.