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E-payments Accepted At ROP Directorates
Muscat, 5
January 2008: With the advent of electronic
payments and innovative payment technology, new
systems that promote acceptance have made
transactions more secure, efficient and
convenient than ever before. As the lead issuer
and acquirer of cards in Oman, BankMuscat has
taken upon itself the task of accelerating the
development of the e-payment network in the
country and in opening up electronic banking
channels.
e-payment channel networks are now accepted at
all Royal Oman police (ROP) directorates. In
fact, it is understood that the ROP aims to
gradually eliminate all cash dealings.
Commenting on the usage of this
opportunity/gateway/portal Brigadier Baqir bin
Mohammed al Saleh, Director General of Financial
Affairs at the ROP, said,
“The ROP is soon going to make it mandatory
for all to make their payments by using cards at
all ROP directorates. It is our vision to
gradually phase out cash payments. We feel this
is an important measure we need to take in order
to move towards an e-governance vision for the
Sultanate. This is likely to happen in phases
and we intend to lead this initiative. This
endeavor is taken keeping abreast with the
latest developments in the field of public
revenue collection and to minimize the use of
cash”.
The BankMuscat visa electron prepaid card, which
has been launched in association with visa
international, will enable users to make a
smooth transition from cash payments to
e-payments. The pre paid card can be used at all
ROP counters and in several other government
sectors. It is accepted at all Oman as well as
overseas establishments, which display the visa
electron logo.
Speaking in this occasion, Sulaiman Al Harthy,
DGM-Consumer Banking, BankMuscat said,
“We support the vision of the ROP to
eliminate acceptance of cash at all its
counters. This initiative of the government to
move towards e-payment heralds in a new chapter
in the move towards a cashless society and
presents a challenge to financial institutions
to rise to the occasion and provide
infrastructure in sustaining this initiative. In
support, we at BankMuscat have deployed point of
sale terminals at various ROP counters
nationwide. These terminals accept all major
cards issued by local and international banks as
a mode of payment,”
In Oman, the ROP is the first government body to
support the initiative of e-payments at their
directorates. It is with their cooperation that
BankMuscat has been able to roll out the
acceptance of electronic payments at all their
directorates across the country. This initiative
has helped develop the habit of using the cards
among the general public. |
