{"id":3129,"date":"2025-10-03T16:11:54","date_gmt":"2025-10-03T11:11:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/spinpk.com\/?p=3129"},"modified":"2025-10-03T16:11:54","modified_gmt":"2025-10-03T11:11:54","slug":"a-blueprint-to-accelerate-digital-payments-adoption-and-usage-of-pakistans-instant-payment-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spinpk.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/03\/a-blueprint-to-accelerate-digital-payments-adoption-and-usage-of-pakistans-instant-payment-system\/","title":{"rendered":"A blueprint to accelerate digital payments adoption and usage of Pakistan\u2019s instant payment system"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \t<\/i> Read Time:<\/span>3 Minute, 14 Second <\/div>\n\n <\/div>

The Better Than Cash Alliance<\/u><\/a>\u00a0today released a report presenting a practical blueprint for responsible pricing to scale merchant payments on RAAST, Pakistan\u2019s instant payment system.<\/p>\n

The report supports policymakers and providers in designing merchant solutions for small businesses and long-term ecosystem viability at the right price point to support the attainment of the State Bank of Pakistan\u2019s digital financial inclusion goals.<\/p>\n

Despite progress in digital finance, cash still dominates Pakistan\u2019s economy, costing the country trillions of rupees each year in lost tax revenue, cash handling, and idle liquidity. The new RAAST pricing blueprint outlines how to scale merchant (person-to-merchant, or P2M) payments by uniting policymakers and providers behind a sustainable, affordable model that works for micro and small businesses.<\/p>\n

The recommendations emphasize responsible, cost-based pricing, combined with early adoption incentives and 24\/7 recourse to build trust in digital transactions. To sustain momentum, the report proposes creating a National Merchant Payments Working Group to coordinate data-driven reviews, financial literacy initiatives, and merchant education.<\/p>\n

Recognizing RAAST as a national public good, the report reflects the State Bank\u2019s emphasis on responsible pricing as policy – avoiding zero-pricing distortions, and pairing affordability with market viability and reliability.<\/p>\n

Saleem Ullah, the Deputy Governor, State Bank of Pakistan, during his speech, said, \u201cRAAST is a national digital public infrastructure and the pivot of our digitization efforts. The ultimate goal is to win the war against cash and that can only be achieved through partnerships and collaborations. We are pairing early incentives for merchants with a responsible, sustainable pricing approach keeping acceptance affordable while enabling banks, fintechs, EMIs, PSOs, and PSPs to keep on investing in the ecosystem. With strong consumer protection and fair competition, we will scale person-to-merchant payments in a way that builds trust and inclusion.<\/p>\n

The Alliance underscores that adoption will hinge on merchant trust and usability, not price alone. Consistent with the UN Principles for Responsible Digital Payments<\/u><\/a>, the blueprint prioritizes features that meet merchants where they are, especially micro and women-led businesses: predictable low pricing, instant confirmations, reliable recourse, and low-bandwidth options.<\/p>\n

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  1. Nshuti Mbabazi, Managing Director, Better Than Cash Alliance, said, \u201cI thank RAAST for prioritizing the needs of micro and small businesses in Pakistan first to design responsible solutions to serve them. This is an exemplary step in enacting the UN Principles for Responsible Digital Payments, especially Principle 5. By building \u2018end-to-end digital payment experiences that benefit every citizen\/resident of Pakistan, and ensuring you make recourse clear, quick, and responsive, I do not doubt that the ambition you have set out to be an economy where digital payments are better than cash can be attained in no time. With responsible RAAST pricing and fully transparent communication -\u2018particularly on pricing\u2019 – your people can turn everyday transactions into confidence, growth, and inclusion.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The report situates RAAST within Pakistan\u2019s\u00a0National Financial Inclusion Strategy<\/u><\/a>\u00a0(NFIS)\u00a0and the\u00a0State Bank of Pakistan\u2019s National Payment Systems Strategy (NPSS),<\/u><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0recognizing it as core national digital public infrastructure.<\/p>\n

    Key findings from the report<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n