In a major step toward promoting digital payments in Pakistan, motorists traveling on selected motorway routes can now pay their traffic e-challans through Raast QR. The initiative supports the vision of a cashless economy championed by the State Bank of Pakistan and the federal government’s Digital Pakistan agenda. The new payment system has been introduced through a collaboration between the National Highway Authority, the National Highways and Motorway Police, and Zindigi.
The digital payment facility has initially been launched on a pilot basis on the M1 Motorway connecting Islamabad and Peshawar, the M2 Motorway linking Islamabad and Lahore, and the Islamabad–Murree Expressway. Authorities believe the initiative will improve convenience for travelers while reducing dependence on traditional cash-based transactions.
Under the newly introduced system, motorists receiving speeding fines on designated motorway routes can instantly pay their challans using a Raast QR code. The payment can be completed through any participating banking application, allowing drivers to settle fines directly from their mobile phones without needing to carry cash or visit designated payment centers.
Officials say the QR-based solution has been designed to make the payment process faster, easier, and more transparent. By digitizing challan payments, the system aims to reduce manual handling of cash while ensuring secure and traceable transactions. The move is also expected to improve operational efficiency and enhance the overall experience for motorists.
The initiative represents another milestone in Pakistan’s broader efforts to expand digital financial services and encourage the adoption of electronic payments. Raast, Pakistan’s instant payment system, has already been widely used for person-to-person transfers and business transactions, and its integration into traffic fine payments marks a further expansion of its practical applications.
Authorities will closely monitor the performance of the pilot project before making a decision regarding its nationwide expansion. If successful, the QR payment facility could be introduced on additional motorway and highway routes across the country. Motorists traveling on the designated corridors have been encouraged to use the new system for a seamless, secure, and completely cashless challan payment experience.
Also read: Digital Traffic Challan “One App” Officially Launched in Rawalpindi
