1LINK (Pvt) Limited is expanding the presence of its 1GO Raast Person-to-Merchant (P2M) digital payment solution across Pakistan through partnerships such as its collaboration with Finnect. The initiative aims to bring QR-based payment services to more merchants and support the wider adoption of cashless transactions. By connecting merchants with Raast-enabled payment infrastructure, the collaboration seeks to make digital payments more accessible for businesses and customers. The development reflects ongoing efforts within Pakistan’s financial technology sector to expand electronic payment acceptance and make digital transactions a more common option for everyday purchases.
The 1GO Raast P2M solution enables merchants to receive digital payments through QR-based channels. Customers can scan a merchant’s QR code using a compatible banking or payment application to initiate a transaction, providing an alternative to cash payments. QR payment acceptance can be useful for businesses of different sizes, including retailers and service providers seeking convenient ways to receive payments. Through its collaboration with Finnect, 1LINK aims to extend the reach of these services to additional merchants. The announcement highlights instant payment confirmation and instant merchant credit as important features associated with the initiative, although detailed technical specifications and settlement conditions have not been disclosed.
Merchant onboarding is an important part of expanding a digital payment network because payment services become more useful when customers can use them at a wider range of businesses. Each additional participating merchant creates another opportunity for customers to make electronic payments instead of relying exclusively on cash. For businesses, digital payment acceptance can also support transaction tracking and reduce some of the operational requirements associated with handling physical money. The expansion of 1GO Raast P2M through Finnect is intended to support this process by bringing more merchants into the digital payment ecosystem. However, the announcement does not provide figures for the number of merchants onboarded, transaction volumes, or the geographic distribution of participating businesses.
The collaboration also reflects the broader development of Pakistan’s digital payments ecosystem, where payment networks and technology providers are working to improve access to electronic transactions. Raast, Pakistan’s instant payment system, supports digital fund transfers and merchant payments through participating financial institutions. Solutions built around QR payments can help businesses adopt digital acceptance methods without relying solely on traditional card-based infrastructure. By expanding 1GO Raast P2M through partners such as Finnect, 1LINK aims to increase merchant participation and encourage greater use of cashless payment options. Further details about future onboarding targets and the next stages of expansion have not yet been announced.
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