Payment Gateways in Pakistan: What Works and What It Costs
By the AlimcoSoft team, Islamabad
If you run a website or app in Pakistan, the first surprise is usually that Stripe is not available. The second is the paperwork: PayFast, for example, asks every merchant for a National Tax Number before going live.
This guide covers what you can use today, taken from the State Bank of Pakistan's list and each provider's own pages. Fees and rules change, so we give the date we read them: 2 November 2026. Confirm them with the provider before you sign. This is general information, not financial or legal advice.
Which gateways does the State Bank list?
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) publishes a list of authorised Payment System Operators and Payment Service Providers. The version updated on 2 September 2026 shows three companies in commercial operation with an e-commerce payment gateway:
- Premier PayFast (Pvt.) Ltd., approved 21 May 2021
- NIFT (Pvt.) Ltd., approved 7 September 2021
- Safepay (Pvt.) Ltd., approved 17 April 2025
What the State Bank list does not tell you
Accept Technologies, known as Paymob, is on the same list with in-principle approval, which is an earlier stage than commercial operation.
SBP states that the list is not an endorsement of any company's business model, finances or operations. A place on the list tells you who is authorised. It does not tell you which provider suits your business.
PayFast: fees and requirements
PayFast calls itself Pakistan's first licensed payment gateway. Its FAQ gives these details:
- Payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay, PayPak, bank transfers, JazzCash, Easypaisa and Raast
- International payments: supported through Visa and Mastercard; local methods work in Pakistan only
- Setup fee: PKR 20,000 once, non-refundable, with no monthly or annual charge
- Transaction rates: not given in the FAQ, so ask for them in writing
- Settlement: two working days after the transaction
- Onboarding: 3 to 4 working days including KYC
- NTN: mandatory for all merchants, including individuals
- Refunds: started by the merchant, 7 to 21 working days depending on the bank
Safepay: fees and features
Safepay publishes its rates. On its standard plan, it lists no setup or monthly fee and charges per transaction:
- Domestic cards: 2.9% + Rs 30 per successful charge
- International cards: an extra 0.3%
- Wallets: 1.5% per successful charge
- Raast: up to 1.5% per successful charge
- Disputes: Rs 3,000 each
- Instant payouts: 1.5% of volume
- Also offered: payment links, subscriptions, Shopify checkout and a WooCommerce plugin
JazzCash and Easypaisa
PayFast and Safepay both list JazzCash and Easypaisa, so one gateway contract may cover cards and wallets together. You can also go to the wallets directly.
Easypaisa says any business with a live website or app that sells products or services can apply for its Online Payment Gateway. You apply through its merchant portal, submit documents, pass KYC and due diligence, integrate, then go live. It lists daily and instant settlement for mobile accounts, and 7 working days for over-the-counter payments.
JazzCash also offers merchant payments with a sandbox for developers. Confirm which channels your agreement covers before anyone starts building.
Is Stripe available in Pakistan?
No. Pakistan is not on Stripe's list of supported countries. The nearest listed countries include the United Arab Emirates, and India in preview.
We have integrated Stripe on several products, and Stripe needs an account in a supported country. Some founders set up a company in one of those countries. That brings tax, banking and compliance duties, so speak to an accountant and a lawyer before you start.
Taking international payments from Pakistan
If your customers are abroad, you have three realistic routes to look at:
- A local gateway that takes foreign cards. PayFast and Safepay both say they accept international payments.
- Payoneer. Its own guide describes multi-currency receiving accounts and a checkout product for Shopify, WooCommerce and Magento. It is writing about its own product, so check that you qualify.
- PayPal. Payoneer's guide and Shopify community threads describe it as not directly available for stores in Pakistan. Check PayPal's own terms before you plan around it.
Shopify and WooCommerce stores
Shopify Payments is not available to stores in Pakistan. Pakistan is not among the 41 countries on Shopify's list, and Shopify says businesses elsewhere need a third-party provider. Check your Shopify plan for any added fee on third-party payments.
Safepay lists a Shopify checkout and a WooCommerce plugin. PayFast says it has e-commerce plugins and APIs, so ask whether yours is covered.
How to choose a payment gateway
There is no single best payment gateway in Pakistan. These questions usually settle it:
- Do you have an NTN and a registered business, or are you still an individual seller?
- Are your customers in Pakistan, abroad, or both?
- Do they pay by card, wallet or Raast?
- Is your store on Shopify, WooCommerce or custom code?
- What is the total cost across setup, percentage, disputes and payouts at your real monthly sales?
- How quickly do you need the money in your bank account?
What integration involves on a custom website or app
A plugin can take minutes once your merchant account is live. A custom website or app takes more care. The order should only be marked as paid after your server confirms it with the gateway, not because the customer's browser returned to a success page.
Test failed payments, refunds, duplicate callbacks and a customer closing the page halfway through. Keep a record that links each order to its gateway transaction, because you will need it for refunds and disputes.