National Bank of Pakistan has received official approval for the commercial launch of Raast Person-to-Merchant (P2M) Acquiring, marking a significant development in Pakistan’s rapidly growing digital payments sector.

The approval represents an important milestone in the bank’s digital transformation strategy and supports Pakistan’s broader push toward a cashless and digitally connected economy.

A meeting was held to mark the occasion between representatives from NBP’s Digital Banking Group and officials from the State Bank of Pakistan Digital Innovations and Settlement Department. Senior officials from both institutions participated in discussions regarding the future expansion of digital acquiring services and the nationwide adoption of Raast-enabled payment solutions.

The approval enables NBP to formally begin commercial operations for Raast P2M Acquiring and actively promote the service among merchants, businesses, institutions, government entities, and customers across Pakistan.

Raast, Pakistan’s instant payment system introduced by the State Bank of Pakistan, has been designed to modernize the country’s financial ecosystem by enabling secure, fast, and low-cost digital transactions. The Person-to-Merchant feature specifically focuses on helping businesses and merchants accept digital payments seamlessly through mobile and banking platforms.

With this development, NBP plans to expand digital payment acceptance nationwide, particularly targeting small businesses, underserved communities, and institutional payment networks. The initiative is expected to improve financial inclusion and encourage greater adoption of digital transactions in everyday commercial activities.

Officials stated that the bank will continue collaborating with regulators, fintech partners, merchant communities, and internal business teams to accelerate the implementation of digital payment systems under Pakistan’s evolving financial technology framework.

The launch also highlights the increasing importance of digital banking innovation within Pakistan’s banking industry. Financial institutions across the country are investing heavily in digital infrastructure to meet changing consumer preferences and improve transaction efficiency.

Experts believe that wider adoption of Raast P2M services could significantly reduce dependence on cash transactions while improving transparency, convenience, and accessibility within the financial sector.

Pakistan’s digital payments landscape has witnessed steady growth in recent years as both regulators and commercial banks continue to focus on financial inclusion and digital transformation initiatives. The commercial rollout of Raast P2M Acquiring by NBP is expected to further strengthen the country’s transition toward a modern digital economy.