Raast in Pakistan: how to send money with a Raast ID, limits and charges

Raast is the State Bank of Pakistan’s instant payment system, and it is free: SBP bars banks from charging customers for Raast transfers. You send from your bank or wallet app to the receiver’s Raast ID, which is their mobile number, or to their IBAN. The money must reach them within 20 seconds, day or night. You only need your own Raast ID to receive money, not to send it.

What is Raast?

Raast is Pakistan’s national instant payment system for small everyday payments between people, businesses and government. As of August 2026, SBP says it is run by Raast Payments Pakistan (Private) Limited, a company wholly owned by SBP. An older SBP page said SBP ran it directly; we follow the newer page.

It started in stages:

Banks, microfinance banks, government bodies and licensed fintechs (electronic money institutions and payment service providers) can join. SBP’s partner list, as of June 2025, includes HBL, UBL, MCB, Allied, Meezan, Bank Alfalah, Faysal, Askari, Bank Al Habib, Habib Metro, Bank of Punjab, Standard Chartered, Dubai Islamic, JS Bank, BankIslami, Telenor Microfinance Bank (easypaisa), Mobilink Microfinance Bank (JazzCash) and HBL Konnect. National Bank of Pakistan and Silk Bank were listed as receive-only at the time.

What are the Raast charges?

There are none for you. SBP’s February 2022 circular says banks “shall not levy any charges” on Raast and that all Raast transactions are free for end customers. SBP’s FAQ repeats that there are no charges on Raast transactions. HBL, MCB and easypaisa each say the same on their own Raast pages.

Banks also can’t set a minimum amount, and they can’t cap how many Raast payments you make unless there is a real fraud or cyber-security concern.

How do I create a Raast ID?

Your Raast ID is the mobile number registered with your bank. SBP allows one Raast ID per person, linked to one account, however many accounts or phone numbers you have. HBL says only a mobile number can be a Raast ID, and that foreign currency and corporate accounts can’t use Raast.

You can also register at a branch. MCB asks for a registration form, biometric verification and an OTP. easypaisa users can activate a Raast ID in the app to receive money into their easypaisa account.

To move your Raast ID to another account, de-link it and link it again. You do this through the bank where you registered it. In HBL Mobile the same menu de-links and re-links, but to delete an HBL Raast ID you call HBL’s helpline on 021-111-111-425 (HBL Konnect: 021-111-425-111).

How do I send money with a Raast ID?

You don’t need a Raast ID to send. You need the receiver’s Raast ID (their mobile number) or their IBAN.

In HBL Mobile, go to Send Money, then Raast, choose Raast ID or IBAN, check the recipient’s account title, then enter the amount and OTP. You can also add the recipient by scanning a QR code. In easypaisa, tap “Raast”, enter the Raast ID, pick a purpose of payment, enter the amount and tap “Send now”.

Raast works 24/7. Both you and the receiver should get a confirmation by SMS, email or in-app notice that names the other person.

Can I send to a Raast ID and have it reach an account number?

Yes. A Raast ID is linked to one account chosen by its owner, so the money lands in that bank account, wallet or branchless banking account. Apps such as HBL Mobile show the account title before you pay, so you can confirm you have the right person. If you have their IBAN instead, you can send to that.

What is the Raast limit per day?

Each bank sets its own limit, and SBP tells customers to ask their bank. SBP’s 2022 circular sets a floor: a bank’s upper limit can’t be less than Rs 200,000 per transaction, unless SBP sets a lower limit for your type of account, such as a branchless banking account.

HBL’s own page gives two different figures, so check the limit in the HBL app before a large payment. We couldn’t confirm Raast limits for Meezan, UBL, Bank Alfalah or JazzCash: their pages blocked us or didn’t show a Raast figure. Check your own app before a large transfer.

How does Raast QR code payment work for shops?

Since 5 December 2023, shops can take Raast payments by QR code, Raast ID, IBAN or request to pay. By 1 March 2024, every bank, microfinance bank and electronic money institution had to let you scan Raast QR codes, approve requests to pay, and ask for refunds.

A request to pay is a payment request the shop sends to you. “Now” requests expire quickly; “Later” requests stay open longer.

• For you as a customer: no fee. SBP’s circular bars banks from charging you for Raast merchant payments, and bars the merchant from adding a fee to your purchase.
• For a merchant: the merchant’s provider may charge “a reasonable fee”. SBP’s September 2025 subsidy circular lets providers charge merchants up to 0.25% of the transaction value, on top of the subsidy.

The federal government set aside Rs 3.5 billion to subsidise Raast QR payments made from 1 September 2025 to 30 June 2026. The subsidy was 0.5% of each payment or Rs 100, whichever is lower, shared equally between the merchant’s and the customer’s financial institutions. We couldn’t find an SBP circular extending it past 30 June 2026.

Merchant payments are growing. Profit reported that Raast P2M payments rose to 55.9 million in January to March 2026, from 36.3 million the quarter before, while person-to-person transfers rose 10% to 664 million.

Why is my Raast ID not working?

Things to check, from SBP and bank pages:

• The receiver hasn’t registered a Raast ID, or deleted it. HBL says a payment to a deleted Raast ID is rejected. Ask for their IBAN instead.
• Your account type isn’t eligible. HBL says foreign currency and corporate accounts can’t use Raast.
• The amount is above your bank’s limit, or your account type has a lower SBP limit.
• Your bank is receive-only. In SBP’s June 2025 list, National Bank of Pakistan and Silk Bank were marked as receive-only.

For a failed or missing payment, SBP says to complain to your own bank’s helpline.

Can I receive money from abroad through Raast?

No. SBP’s FAQ says Raast is for local transfers within Pakistan, and HBL says home remittances can’t be received through Raast. SBP’s 2026 Raast page links to a cross-border payments section, but we didn’t read it, so we can’t say what it covers. For money from abroad, see freelancer payment methods in Pakistan and using Wise in Pakistan.

More guides: easypaisa vs JazzCash, NayaPay vs SadaPay, digital banks in Pakistan, Banking & Payments.