PM Imran launches first instant digital payment system ‘Raast’ today

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan launched the country’s first instant Digital Payment System ‘Raast’ in Islamabad on Monday.

Raast is part of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Digital Pakistan vision to include poor segments of the society in formal economy. It will also enable secure, efficient and transparent financial transactions.

Addressing the launching ceremony, PM Imran said the Raast program was a giant step towards digitization of the economy. “I specially want to congratulate the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) for this initiative,” he said.

He said Pakistan collected one of the lowest taxes in the world and the country could not make rapid progress for lack of money.

“Only two millions out of 220 million people paid taxes out of these two millions those paying 70 percent or above taxes were three thousand Pakistanis. We are including middle class people too into economy,” he said.

He said the government was trying to reduce poverty through Ehsaas program, while Raast program would also help it in this endeavor.

The prime minister said the most affected segment by poverty was the women of rural areas.