Google Pay, the global digital payment platform, is slated to officially launch in Pakistan by mid-March 2025. The announcement, made in November 2024, revealed that the platform will operate through partnerships with Visa, Mastercard, and leading local banks in the country.
This digital payment service will allow Pakistani users to link their bank-issued debit and credit cards to Google Pay via the Google Wallet app, facilitating contactless payments. While the primary focus at launch will be on enabling basic contactless payments, advanced features such as loyalty cards and public transport passes will not be available in the initial phase.
Preparations for the launch are underway, with four to six major banks collaborating with Visa and Mastercard to meet technical requirements. The State Bank of Pakistan has confirmed that the country’s payment infrastructure is equipped to support the service, boasting 133,000 point-of-sale (POS) terminals, 99% of which are ready to handle mobile contactless payments.
Earlier, developer release notes had leaked information indicating that Pakistan, along with other countries like Egypt, Venezuela, Bermuda, Cambodia, and El Salvador, was part of the upcoming global rollout of Google Wallet, even before an official announcement was made.
What is Google Wallet? Google Wallet, previously known as Google Pay, is a digital wallet that stores payment cards, loyalty cards, boarding passes, tickets, and other digital passes on Android devices. It facilitates contactless payments at compatible POS terminals, streamlining transactions and offering a convenient hub for managing digital credentials.
