In a groundbreaking development for Pakistan’s digital payments landscape, PayFast, Unity Retail, and SLGTrax have partnered to launch “Rah-e-Raast,” the country’s first merchant-friendly Raast QR payment solution. The collaboration represents a major leap toward digital transformation in e-commerce and logistics, enabling merchants and delivery partners to collect instant payments at the doorstep through interoperable Raast QRs printed directly on parcel airway bills.
This innovative payment solution aims to replace conventional cash-on-delivery transactions with secure, seamless, and real-time digital payments. By integrating Raast’s instant payment infrastructure into last-mile logistics operations, the initiative simplifies collection processes for merchants while promoting financial transparency and efficiency. The move aligns closely with the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) vision of accelerating the adoption of Raast — the country’s first instant and low-cost payment system — and driving nationwide financial inclusion.
With Rah-e-Raast, merchants can now embed Raast QRs onto shipping labels or airway bills, allowing customers to pay instantly using their preferred banking app or digital wallet at the time of delivery. This process eliminates dependency on cash handling, reduces reconciliation challenges, and speeds up settlement times, ultimately benefiting merchants, logistics companies, and consumers alike.
Industry leaders have hailed the collaboration as a milestone in advancing Pakistan’s journey toward a cashless economy. According to the partners, the initiative embodies the spirit of innovation and cooperation across fintech, retail, and logistics sectors, leveraging the power of Raast’s interoperable ecosystem to enhance customer convenience and trust in digital transactions.
The successful execution of Rah-e-Raast was led by Mohammed Atif Sami from Unity Retail, who played a key role in integrating the digital payment technology within logistics workflows. Muhammad Hassan Khan from SLGTrax also contributed significantly to enabling the operational side of the partnership. Their coordinated effort with the PayFast team, including CEO Adnan Ali and Chief Operating Officer Syed Yousuf Aziz, ensured the project’s smooth rollout and scalability across multiple merchant networks.
Commenting on the launch, representatives from PayFast highlighted that the initiative marks only the beginning of broader possibilities. The interoperable nature of Raast infrastructure opens doors for innovation across multiple sectors, including e-commerce, logistics, utilities, retail, and on-ground merchant payments. By leveraging Raast, businesses can expand access to secure digital transactions, reduce friction in payments, and reach previously underserved customer segments.
This partnership reflects a growing trend among Pakistan’s fintechs and digital payment providers who are aligning their products with the SBP’s long-term objective of creating a digitally inclusive and cashless economy. As the Raast network gains traction among consumers and businesses, solutions like Rah-e-Raast are expected to drive adoption in everyday transactions, empowering merchants and customers through faster, safer, and more convenient payment methods.
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