1LINK (Pvt.) Limited has onboarded A2Z E-Payments on its 1GO Raast Person-to-Merchant (P2M) services, enabling billers associated with A2Z E-Payments to accept digital payments through static QR codes. United Bank Limited (UBL) will serve as the settlement bank for the arrangement, connecting the payment service with Pakistan’s instant payment infrastructure. The onboarding adds another participant to the growing ecosystem of merchant payments built around Raast, which supports digital transactions between customers and businesses. Through this arrangement, eligible A2Z E-Payments billers can offer customers a QR-based payment option instead of relying exclusively on cash or other existing payment methods.
The service operates through 1LINK’s 1GO platform and Raast P2M functionality, which are designed to facilitate digital payments to merchants and businesses. Static QR codes allow a merchant or biller to display a code that customers can scan using a compatible banking or payment application to initiate a transaction. This approach can simplify payment acceptance for businesses that may not require dedicated point-of-sale terminals. For customers, QR payments provide another way to complete eligible bills digitally, while businesses can use the service to support electronic collection of payments. The announcement confirms that A2Z E-Payments billers can now accept digital payments using static QR codes, although it does not specify the number of participating billers or the transaction limits applicable to the service.
UBL’s role as the settlement bank is an important part of the arrangement, providing the banking connection for settlement associated with the service. The announcement does not disclose the commercial terms, settlement timelines, transaction charges or technical implementation details. These factors may vary according to the applicable service arrangements and participating institutions. Nevertheless, the onboarding demonstrates how payment service providers, banks and payment infrastructure operators can work together to expand the acceptance of digital payments among businesses. Such collaborations can help make electronic payment options accessible to billers that want to offer customers alternatives to cash collection.
Raast, developed under the State Bank of Pakistan’s initiative to promote instant digital payments, is a key part of the country’s efforts to increase the use of electronic transactions. Its person-to-merchant capabilities support payments from customers to participating businesses, complementing other digital payment channels available in the market. As more billers and merchants gain access to QR-based payment acceptance, customers may find it easier to pay for services without handling physical cash. Wider adoption, however, also depends on customer awareness, merchant participation, reliable payment processing and confidence in digital transactions.
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