KARACHI: Karandaaz Pakistan and digital payments enablement company Tapsys have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating digital payment adoption among up to 10,000 micro and small merchants across Pakistan under the Raast Merchant Onboarding & Facilitating Entities (RMOFE) programme.<\/p>\n
Under the agreement, the two organisations will collaborate on merchant onboarding, activation, and deployment of smart soundbox technology that provides real-time audio confirmation of transactions in local languages.<\/p>\n
The initiative seeks to address operational and behavioural barriers that continue to limit the use of digital payments at the grassroots level, particularly among small businesses operating in underserved and lower-tier markets. Key challenges include limited familiarity with digital tools, lack of trust in cashless transactions, and the need for instant payment verification in fast-paced retail environments.<\/p>\n
Officials said the partnership is intended to help move Pakistan\u2019s digital payment ecosystem beyond infrastructure development toward active merchant-level usage, especially among micro and small enterprises that form the backbone of the country\u2019s informal and retail economy.<\/p>\n
Tapsys, which operates across 85 cities nationwide, specialises in merchant payment enablement and expansion of digital payment acceptance, particularly in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.<\/p>\n
Under the partnership, the company will utilise its PayApp platform and on-ground merchant network to facilitate Raast-enabled digital payment solutions.<\/p>\n
The collaboration comes as Pakistan intensifies efforts to promote financial inclusion and expand the use of digital transactions through the State Bank of Pakistan\u2019s instant payment system, Raast, which is aimed at reducing reliance on cash and improving payment accessibility across businesses and consumers.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the development, Chief Executive Officer of Karandaaz Pakistan, Waqas ul Hasan, said micro and small merchants were central to Pakistan\u2019s transition towards a more inclusive digital economy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThrough the RMOFE programme, Karandaaz is focused on supporting practical, market-facing solutions that move digital payments beyond infrastructure and into everyday business use,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He noted that the partnership with Tapsys aligns with the broader national vision of a \u201cCashless Pakistan\u201d and is intended to address trust and usability concerns that continue to slow merchant-level adoption of digital financial services.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy enabling locally relevant tools such as real-time payment confirmation, we hope to support wider acceptance of digital financial services in underserved markets where the need and potential impact are significant,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Tapsys Chief Executive Officer Karim Jindani said the company\u2019s objective was to simplify digital payments for business segments that had historically remained underserved.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy integrating Raast payments with smart soundbox technology, we are giving micro-merchants the confidence to transition away from cash,\u201d he said, adding that the partnership would help scale the company\u2019s PayApp platform and expand digital financial accessibility beyond major urban centres.<\/p>\n
Industry observers believe the initiative could contribute to improving financial inclusion and increasing merchant confidence in digital transactions, particularly in regions where cash remains dominant and digital payment penetration remains low.<\/p>\n
The partnership also underscores Karandaaz Pakistan\u2019s broader focus on supporting innovations designed to address real-world barriers to digital financial adoption while contributing to inclusive economic growth across the country.<\/p>\n