The Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) has issued a new directive mandating all restaurants, hotels, and beauty parlors operating within Punjab to adopt Raast QR code-based digital payment facilities. Announced through Circular No. 1 of 2026 dated January 23, this policy requires these service businesses to obtain a QR code-enabled bank account from the State Bank of Pakistan within 14 days and ensure the facility is active and operational. Furthermore, the circular emphasizes the need for prominently displaying the QR code at business premises to facilitate ease of access for customers.
This move aligns with the broader vision of the Federal and Provincial Governments to promote transparency, improve documentation, and streamline digital payment practices across service sectors, which play a vital role in Punjab’s economy. Restaurants, hotels, and beauty parlors, given their extensive daily customer interactions, are targeted to spearhead the adoption of secure, efficient, and modern payment methods.
The PRA circular underscores the importance of digital financial inclusion and reflects growing government efforts to shift towards a more formal and transparent economy by encouraging businesses to utilize digital payments. By requiring these sectors to use the Raast payment system, the initiative aims to reduce reliance on cash transactions, curtail informal economic activities, and improve the accuracy of financial reporting.
The directive specifies that all affected businesses must open a Raast QR code-enabled bank account issued by the State Bank of Pakistan within a two-week deadline. These accounts must have the QR payment facility fully functional and visibly displayed in accessible areas within their premises, ensuring customers can easily make payments via this digital channel.
Raast, Pakistan’s instant payment system developed under the oversight of the State Bank, offers a fast, secure, and interoperable platform for digital payments, supporting the government’s drive to modernize the country’s financial ecosystem. The adoption of Raast QR codes at high-traffic service locations is expected to accelerate the digitization of payment flows, enhance customer convenience, and strengthen financial transparency in Punjab.
Officials from the Punjab Revenue Authority emphasize that this initiative is not merely a regulatory requirement but a strategic step to foster a more accountable, technology-driven business environment. The integration of digital payments into daily transactions is poised to enhance operational efficiencies for businesses while offering consumers safer and more convenient payment options.
This policy also resonates with Pakistan’s broader financial inclusion goals, where digital platforms and fintech innovations are increasingly promoted to bridge gaps in access to formal financial services, especially in the services sector. By mandating QR code payments in widely frequented sectors such as restaurants, hotels, and beauty parlors, the government aims to embed digital finance deeper into the economy’s fabric.
The circular has been communicated to relevant government departments and agencies, including the Punjab Finance Department, Law and Parliamentary Affairs, and the Chief Secretary’s office, ensuring coordinated implementation and compliance monitoring. With this enforcement, Punjab is expected to witness a significant shift in how payments are processed in the services sector, encouraging wider adoption of cashless transactions and supporting the government’s digital economy ambitions.
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