Use of Bank Cards Increases

Data released by Shaparak, the company in charge of supervising Iran's domestic payment network, show more than 124 million bank cards were used at least once during the last month in the previous fiscal year (ended March 20). 
The number was up 5.67% compared to the month before, when it was 117.43 million, the company said in a report seen on its website. 
Gift cards, unsurprisingly, posted 20.33% growth during the month. Gift cards issued by banks have become popular when celebrating Norouz, the Iranian New Year, due to the high and rising price of gold coins in recent years.