Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) has introduced a Quick Response (QR) code based payment facility that allows consumers to pay electricity bills and all types of demand notices by scanning codes printed on the documents. The new option adds a digital method of payment for customers of the company, who can now complete the transaction from their phones instead of visiting a counter or arranging a separate payment slip. IESCO supplies electricity to consumers in Islamabad and nearby districts, so the change is expected to be relevant for a large number of households and businesses that receive monthly bills as well as other notices that require payment.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Engineer Khalid Mahmood said the facility will make payments faster and easier, while also promoting transparency and accuracy in the collection process. When a payment is made through a QR code printed on the bill or notice, the consumer pays against the details already linked to that document, which reduces the chance of errors that can occur when numbers are typed by hand. This is the reason the company has linked the facility with both electricity bills and demand notices, so that consumers who receive either of the two documents can settle the amount through the same method.
The process is simple. To pay, consumers must open their online banking application or mobile wallet, scan the QR code on their original bill or demand notice, verify the payable amount, and complete the transaction. The facility is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, which means that customers can pay at a time that suits them, including evenings and holidays, without depending on the opening hours of a bank branch or a collection centre. Those who already use banking applications or mobile wallets for other payments will find the steps similar, since the main difference is that the amount and consumer details come from the code on the document.
Mahmood also advised consumers to scan only the QR codes printed on original IESCO bills and demand notices. He urged them to check the payment details carefully before completing any transaction, so that they pay the correct amount against the correct account. This advice is important at a time when digital payments are becoming more common and consumers need to be careful about the documents and codes that they use. Customers who wish to try the new facility can find the QR code on their next bill or notice and use the banking application or mobile wallet that they already have on their phones.
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