Google Pay to launch in Pakistan by mid-March 2025

ISLAMABAD: In a groundbreaking technological advancement, Google Pay is set to officially launch in Pakistan by mid-March 2025, according to sources close to the matter.

While Google anticipated it in November 2024, the process will be aided by partnerships with Visa and Mastercard to allow banks to turn on their cards for this feature.

The rollout, unlike the full range of Google Wallet capabilities, will focus on deploying Google’s contactless payment system in Pakistan.

In effect, it means that end users will be able to connect their bank-issued debit and credit cards to Google Pay through the Google Wallet app, which will also be activated for the Pakistani market.

The Google Wallet app promises to help users manage payments and digital passes, including boarding passes, easily and seamlessly. Preparations are already drowned, with four to six leading banks addressing, among other things, the technical requirements for the service alongside Visa and Mastercard.

The banks want to be part of the launch because they see the advantage of tying up with Google Pay. Fortunately, the infrastructure of payments in Pakistan is ready to launch, with 133,000 point-of-sale terminals operational in the country, 99 percent of which already accept mobile contactless payments.

With this ubiquitous infrastructure, users will have a seamless transaction experience using Google Pay, making its launch one of the most anticipated happenings in the financial technology landscape in the country.