Improving Payment Card Acceptance at Fuel Stations in Pakistan

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PSP&OD Circular Letter No 01 of 2026

Improving Payment Card Acceptance at Fuel Stations in Pakistan

August 03, 2026

44184

The Presidents/Chief Executive Officers All Banks, MFB, EMIs, PSOs & PSPs (Regulated Entities – REs)

Dear Sir/Madam,

Improving Payment Card Acceptance at Fuel Stations in Pakistan

Please refer to PSP&OD Circular Letter No. 01 of 2023 on the subject.

2. In order to further facilitate the acceptance of digital payments at fuel stations and accelerate the deployment of interoperable Raast QR-based payment acceptance, it has been decided that the following arrangements shall remain applicable until 31 st January 2027 for all payment cards issued in Pakistan:

a. Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) for all card-present transactions conducted at fuel stations for the purchase of fuel and related products shall be capped at PKR 1.00 per litre. b. Interchange Reimbursement Fee (IRF) for such transactions shall be capped at PKR 0.20 per litre.

3. During the above-mentioned period, REs shall actively engage with their respective merchants (fuel stations) to ensure the enablement and availability of Raast QR-based payment acceptance, for the purchase of fuel and related products. SBP will revisit these instructions on or around 31 st January 2027 in the light of market response to this pricing mechanism.

4. These instructions shall be effective with immediate effect. All other instructions on the subject shall remain unchanged.

Yours sincerely,

Qazi Shoaib Ahmad Director

Home — Circulars — PSP&OD Circular Letter No 01 of 2026

Improving Payment Card Acceptance at Fuel Stations in Pakistan

August 03, 2026