Islamabad: The State Bank of Pakistan has directed banks, microfinance banks and payment service providers to expand Raast QR-based payment acceptance at fuel stations nationwide. Under the new framework, charges on card payments for fuel have been capped to reduce costs for petrol-pump operators. The Merchant Discount Rate for card-present transactions will not exceed Rs1 per litre, while the Interchange Reimbursement Fee has been capped at Rs0.20 per litre. These arrangements will remain effective until January 31, 2027. Customers may increasingly be able to pay through Raast QR codes and bank cards as payment infrastructure expands. However, the official circular does not say that customers must stop using cash or that every petrol pump has already activated digital payments.
