KARACHI: The Sindh government has decided to take action against restaurants, shopping malls, coffee shops, and biryani centres that do not accept debit or credit card payments from customers.
The Sindh Consumer Protection Authority, under the Bureau of Supply and Prices, has issued notices to several outlets in Clifton, including Karachi Broast, Frontier, Baithak, Nihari Inn, and Desi Dera, for not accepting card payments.
Director General Zahid Hussain said that strict action has been started under the Sindh Consumer Protection Act 2014. He said any restaurant in Karachi or elsewhere in Sindh that refuses to accept card payments will face legal action.
Zahid Shar added that the government took notice of public complaints under Section 23(4) of the law, and an inquiry has been launched to ensure relief for consumers.
Assistant Director Mir Shahnawaz said that these businesses have been strictly instructed to stop this violation immediately. He added that the owners or their authorized representatives must appear before the authority to respond to the notice.
ALSO READ >>> >>>Islamabad’s CDA imposes development charges on plot owners – see details
He warned that if they fail to appear, strict legal action will be taken against them. He also said that it is the responsibility of businesses to provide different payment options to customers, and negligence in this matter will not be tolerated.
Meanwhile, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has also taken a major step toward digitalizing the economy by making debit and credit card payments mandatory for businesses instead of cash transactions. This move is part of Pakistan’s commitments to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and aims to improve revenue collection.
In the first phase, large businesses and tier-one retailers are required to install point-of-sale (POS) machines connected to the FBR’s computerized system. The government will also monitor business transactions through CCTV cameras to ensure that businesses follow the new rules.
