![67 % populace believes utility bills payment via mobile useful
innovation](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2016/07/_2/740x404/pic_1469713318.jpg)
67 % Populace Believes Utility Bills Payment Via Mobile Useful
Innovation
Sumaira FH Published July 28, 2016 | 06:41 PM
![67 % populace believes utility bills payment via mobile useful
innovation](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2016/07/_2/740x404/pic_1469713318.jpg)
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th july, 2016) : The payment of utility bills through Branchless Banking (BB) in the country is becoming increasingly popular among Pakistanis as around 67 per cent of them believed that making payments with mobile money agents is a useful innovation. Majority of populace consider branchless banking a useful mean for paying monthly utility bills for electricity, gas, sewerage and Internet, a latest survey has revealed.
On the other hand, 33 per cent of respondents did not consider it as an innovation. As per State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the number of branchless banking agents is more than 0.3 million who perform bill payments on behalf of customers. In last quarter of 2015, there were 27 million transactions made on account of utility bill payments and Rs.
35.8 billion were transferred to different utility companies throughout the country. There are nine branchless banking services in Pakistan naming Easypaisa, Jazzcash, U Paisa, Mobile Paisa, Timepey, HBL Express, Meezan Upaisa and UBL Omni. Branchless Banking is becoming a well-received concept in the country as services like Telenor's Easy Paisa, UBL's Omni and Ufone's U-Payment have played their part in popularizing the concept of mobile money transfers and mobile banking within Pakistan. The survey revealed that slightly more men than women agreed that making payments through mobile money agents is a useful innovation. A majority of urban (71 per cent) and rural (65 per cent) respondents agreed that sending and receiving money through mobile money agents is a useful innovation within financial services.
With regard to provincial breakdown, the survey said majority of respondents in all provinces except Balochistan agree that making payments with agents such as EasyPaisa is a useful innovation. A rural/urban breakdown revealed that 71 per cent of the respondents in urban areas and 65 per cent in rural areas agreed to the statement that `making payments with agents is a useful innovation.' Based on these empirical results, it is encouraging to see that concept of mobile money has also managed to penetrate the rural population of Pakistan.
This relatively high figure for rural population is a testament to the growth and increasing familiarity and popularity of mobile money transfers via agents. Urban areas, with a greater concentration of high income individuals and banking facilities, naturally have more respondents who are aware of this digital financial service.
Furthermore, 29 per cent in urban areas disagreed with the statement while the same answer was given by 35 per cent of the respondents in rural areas. According to breakdown, 71 per cent of respondents in Punjab, 66 per cent in Sindh, 60 per cent in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and 42 per cent in Balochistan agreed that making payments through mobile money agents is a useful and beneficial innovation.
On the other hand, 29 per cent of respondents in Punjab, 34 per cent in Sindh, 40 per cent in KPK and 58 per cent in Balochistan disagreed with the statement. Gallup Pakistan in collaboration with HORUS Development Finance conducted the survey in over 10,000 households across Pakistan.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
![Cricket: England v West Indies 3rd Test scoreboard](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019914.jpg)
Cricket: England v West Indies 3rd Test scoreboard
![Finance minister briefs Chinese officials on refor ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019922.jpg)
Finance minister briefs Chinese officials on reform agenda, engagement with IMF
![Finland says Russian vessel violated its territori ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019912.jpg)
Finland says Russian vessel violated its territorial waters
![Olympic opening ceremony under way on River Seine](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019266.jpg)
Olympic opening ceremony under way on River Seine
![West Indies' treble strike rocks England in third ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019264.jpg)
West Indies' treble strike rocks England in third Test
![Ukraine court orders detention of suspect in murde ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019262.jpg)
Ukraine court orders detention of suspect in murder of nationalist ex-MP
![Long queues, ticketing problems ahead of Paris ope ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019015.jpg)
Long queues, ticketing problems ahead of Paris opening ceremony
![Rana Sanaullah Khan joins Paris 2024 Olympics inau ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019638.jpg)
Rana Sanaullah Khan joins Paris 2024 Olympics inauguration reception
![Glowing tributes mark 69th birthday of President Z ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019637.jpg)
Glowing tributes mark 69th birthday of President Zardari at Governor's House
![Players unaware of spying scandal as Canada Olympi ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019635.jpg)
Players unaware of spying scandal as Canada Olympic coach sent home: official
![Naqvi hails Pak women cricketers for going down fi ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019013.jpg)
Naqvi hails Pak women cricketers for going down fighting against SL
!['Sabotage' on French rail network before Olympics: ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019634.jpg)
'Sabotage' on French rail network before Olympics: What we know
More Stories From Pakistan
-
NDMA Advisory: More Monsoon Rains-wind, Thundershowers from July 28-31
6 hours ago -
Armed Forces, tri services chiefs pay homage to Captain Sarwar Shaheed
6 hours ago -
Agriculture dept inks agreement with Bakhabar Kissan
6 hours ago -
Rana Sanaullah Khan joins Paris 2024 Olympics inauguration reception
6 hours ago -
Glowing tributes mark 69th birthday of President Zardari at Governor's House
6 hours ago -
Balochistan CM announce depoliticizing of police, Levies force
6 hours ago
-
PTI creating unrest, halting economic progress in country: MNA
7 hours ago -
ISSI holds webinar on “Elections in Iran : Regional and International Insights”
7 hours ago -
ECP defers written test for seats of election officers
7 hours ago -
PN assists in firefighting, evacuation efforts for stranded civilians of Kashif Centre fire incident
7 hours ago -
Women's rights protection is govt's top priority. Hina Parvez Butt
7 hours ago -
"We stand in solidarity with Azma Bokhari”: Secretary Women’s Parliamentary Caucus
7 hours ago