Cantonment Area Gets Business Boost: No Sealing Without Notice, Digital Payments Promoted

WNAM REPORT: Station Commander Brigadier Ali Anjum stated that no shops will be sealed in the Cantonment area in the future. Before any sealing, the concerned authority will inform through a formal notice, clearly stating the reasons for the action, and sufficient time will be given to ensure compliance.
While addressing an awareness session on Digital Banking and Payments—Raast and Digital QR—organized by the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), the Station Commander emphasized that joint efforts are required to create a business-friendly environment. Every individual and institution must play its role, and financial literacy must be promoted widely.
RCCI President Usman Shaukat said that providing a business-friendly environment must be given top priority to achieve economic growth. He added that the Chamber will continue to organize such awareness sessions on digital systems on a regular basis.
Group Leader Sohail Altaf said that the decision not to seal business centers in the Cantonment area is welcome and other departments should also follow this example. He stressed that to foster a business-friendly environment, tax rates should be brought down to single digits and the cost of doing business must be reduced.
Addressing the session, Rizwan Khaleel Shamsi, Chief Manager State Bank, said that in line with the Prime Minister’s directives, the State Bank has taken immediate steps to promote digital payment systems. The State Bank of Pakistan’s “Raast” is a free, instant, and secure digital payment system through which funds can be sent and received using a mobile number (Raast ID) or IBAN without any additional charges. It is Pakistan’s first instant payment system that connects all banks nationwide.
He added that digital payment systems will help reduce cash-based transactions and support the documentation of the economy. The objective of the session was to familiarize both consumers and businesses with fast, easy, and secure money transfer and payment systems. On this occasion, representatives of commercial banks and digital mobile wallets also gave presentations on various digital payment platforms.
Senior Vice President Khalid Farooq Qazi, Executive Committee members, representatives of traders’ associations including Munir Baig Mirza, Senior Vice President of the Small Chamber Dost Ali Jan, and others were also present.