Payment gateways in Pakistan are not just a digital advancement; they are crucial tools for your business’s success. As a business owner, finding the best payment gateway options for selling your products or services online can be daunting. But fear not! In this blog post, we’ll delve into the world of payment gateways, exploring different options available in the market for various employment sectors, including online jobs for students.
But before we dive into the details, let’s start with the basics.
What is a Payment Gateway?
A payment gateway, whether through physical card readers in brick-and-mortar stores or online systems for e-commerce platforms, is a convenient bridge that connects consumers and retailers. It enables debit and credit card payment processing, making transferring funds from the buyer to the seller’s bank account secure and efficient. With this, you can bid farewell to the hassles of traditional payment methods.
How Does Online Payment Gateway Work?
Online payment gateways, in particular, operate as front-end technologies that transmit customers’ financial information to the merchant’s bank for transaction processing. This process involves robust encryption and authentication, ensuring the utmost security of sensitive data during transmission. Once the transaction is approved, the funds are transferred from the buyer’s account to the seller’s account, completing the purchase. Rest assured, your customers’ data is in safe hands.
Best Payment Gateways in Pakistan
When it comes to the best payment gateways in Pakistan, we have two options
- Banks
- Fintech Companies
Banks
When you think of transactions, money, and selling/buying, the first thing that comes to mind is banks. So, let’s start with the banks that provide online payment gateways in Pakistan.
Habib Bank Limited
Let’s start with a popular online payment gateway in Pakistan. We are talking about Habib Bank, mainly known as HBL Pakistan. Habib Bank prioritizes growth in the unbanked population while also striving to offer efficient online payment facilities. It provides simple and easy transactional models for online payments via websites, e-commerce stores, and social platforms like Facebook shops. Various multinational companies collaborate with HBL due to its seamless transaction process.
United Bank Limited
UBL is a leading Pakistani bank with 4 million customers, a vast network of 1,400 branches, and 44,000 touchpoints. They launched UBL Go Green, an internet merchant acquiring service that enables faster transactions for buyers and sellers nationwide.
Muslim Commercial Bank Limited
MCB is a renowned Pakistan-based bank with 7 million customers and 1550 branches nationwide. They offer an Internet banking program for merchants to quickly scale their sales with a payment gateway provided by the bank.
| Bank Name | Setup Fee | Recurring Fee per Year | Transaction Fee | Merchant Discount Rate | Settlement Period | Pros | Cons |
| Habib Bank Limited (HBL) | Rs. 40,000/- | Rs. 40,000/- | None | 2.5% | 14 Working Days | Proven and renowned payment gateway | Long session before online card payment |
| United Bank Limited (UBL) | Rs. 40,000/- | Rs. 50,000/- | None | 3.5% | 10 Business Days | No transaction fee required | No SMS alerts via UBL Wiz card on shopping online |
| Muslim Commercial Bank Limited (MCB) | Rs. 50,000/- | Rs. 48,000/- | Rs. 15/- | 2.8% | Not Specified | Enhanced security and flexibility | Not-so-good customer support |
Fintech Companies
Let’s look at modern-day fintech companies that aim to make transactions and finance easy, as well as traditional banks that have adapted to the internet age.
Payoneer
Payoneer is an international payment gateway in Pakistan founded in 2005 that simplifies online money transfers for freelancers, SMEs, businesses, and corporates. It offers digital payment services and has revolutionized the financial space for freelancers, eCommerce marketplaces, and large enterprises like Google and Airbnb. In Pakistan, it is being used on a scale similar to PayPal. You can easily transfer your earnings from different Online earning websites like Fiverr.
JazzCash
JazzCash is a mobile money-transferring service in Pakistan by Jazz. It can be integrated with the Payoneer account, like a bank account with your mobile number. JazzCash has over 9 million users and is a payment method for various freelancing projects, like content writing jobs.
EasyPaisa
EasyPaisa is a mobile banking service launched in Pakistan in 2009 by the well-known telecommunication company Telenor. As of 2023, it has around 7.4 million active users and continuously seeks growth. EasyPaisa has made significant strides in fintech and has provided solutions to companies like Uber, Ruba Digital, Seed Out, Daraz, Bykea, and HumMart. With its smooth transaction process, EasyPaisa is ideal for connecting with your account on online earning apps.
FonePay
FonePay is a fintech company with a mobile app that allows cashless transactions. You can use it to pay for anything to anyone, anywhere, in seconds. But make sure your mobile phone is PTA-approved to benefit. You can easily check online PTA-approved mobile phones. They have integrated with over 45 banks and offer loyalty rewards, including discounts and better packages. The app supports Google Play, Hulu, Netflix, iTunes, and Amazon services.
Keenu Wallet
Keenu Wallet is a popular digital wallet and payment gateway in Pakistan. Users can pay for anything through the app, use special bar codes at stores, make transactions with each other, and purchase other services like booking a bus or insurance.
| Fin-Tech Company | Function | Focus Area | Pros | Cons |
| Payoneer | Cross-border payment platform | Accept/send funds across borders | Low transaction amount for a cross-border app | Higher annual fee of $29.95 |
| JazzCash | Branchless Banking Solutions/Payment Gateway | Send money to CNIC,bank account, or JazzCash mobile account in seconds | Quick money transfer is easy | No Sign in option after installation |
| EasyPaisa | Branchless banking service/payment gateway | Send/receive money and transact for billing and management purposes | The Mobile app’s interface is quite user friendly | Occasional problems when correcting failed transactions |
| FonePay | Software House Wallet | Manage payments, loyalty, and rewards on a single platform | Ease, security, and simplicity of the digital services | The mobile application has some usability errors |
| Keenu Wallet | Digital Wallet | Make fast, secure, and rewarding payments | Getting cashback on anything is no hassle | Cashback can only be used via Keenu Wallet |
Factors to consider before choosing an online payment gateway in Pakistan:
Here are some key factors to consider:
- Check each payment gateway’s transaction fees, setup fees, and recurring charges.
- Prioritize gateways with robust encryption and fraud prevention measures.
- Consider the time it takes to transfer funds to your bank account.
- Choose a payment gateway that integrates with your platform and offers reliable support.
Conclusion
Having the right payment gateway in the Pakistan digital sphere is crucial for businesses seeking success. By realizing the capabilities and characteristics of various payment gateways in the market, organizations can take effective steps to modernize their online payment process and present their clients with a more or less convenient checkout process.
