Islamabad, June 22, 2025: Despite massive investments in Pakistan’s digital payments infrastructure, only 3% of over 5 million retailers have adopted Point-of-Sale (POS) systems, exposing a major gap in the country’s shift from cash to digital.
According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), just 151,000 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have installed POS machines—translating to 1 device per 1,596 people. In comparison, India boasts a 158:1 ratio, while Brazil stands far ahead at 10:1.
This low penetration underscores the urgent need to promote digital payments in Pakistan, particularly in underserved areas and cash-heavy sectors. In response, Karandaaz Pakistan has rolled out the “Raast Rapid Merchant Onboarding and Facilitation Entities (RMOFE)” initiative, a move expected to accelerate financial inclusion across Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
The program specifically targets:
- Kiryanas, pharmacies, supermarkets, fuel pumps
- In-person service providers like delivery agents, ride-hailing drivers
- Women merchants at physical locations
Through Raast, Pakistan’s instant payment system, merchants will gain access to QR codes, Raast IDs, and IBAN-based transactions at zero cost, as the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) will be fully subsidized via grant funding during the program’s rollout.
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Only those engaged in legal and ethical business operations will qualify. Onboarding partners—including fintech companies, digital platforms, and non-banking financial services—must ensure proper due diligence.
With Raast offering low-cost, interoperable digital payment solutions, experts say this program could be the game-changer Pakistan needs to close the digital divide and modernize retail transactions nationwide.
