News

Bill-payment kiosks gain momentum in Pakistan

June 29, 2005

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- A kiosk-based, electronic bill payment system is scheduled to launch on Oct. 1, according to Pakistani newspaper Frontier Post.

The program is coordinated by state-owned Pakistan Telecommunication Co. Ltd. (PTCL), which has reached agreements with two banking partners on the project -- Askari Commercial Bank and Muslim Commercial Bank.

PTCL has already contracted with Askari, CitiBank, and MCB for kiosk-based deposit services. The Post reported that 23 kiosks have been placed throughout Karachi for CitiBank customers, who can use the kiosks for bank deposits.

For the bill-payment system, checks will be the initial method of payment. But the kiosks will eventually accept cash, according to the Post.