Islamabad – The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoIT&T) is actively engaged in discussions with global payment giant PayPal to facilitate its entry into the Pakistani market, Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb informed the National Assembly in a written response.
He stated that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has expressed its willingness to support PayPal’s operations in Pakistan in line with MoIT&T’s ongoing efforts. However, he also highlighted that viable alternatives to PayPal, such as Payoneer and Skrill, are already operational in the country.
Aurangzeb further clarified that PayPal PTE, a Singapore-based indirect subsidiary of PayPal Inc., has agreements with four Pakistani banks to facilitate home remittances. He emphasized that there are no legal restrictions preventing any international payment gateway, including PayPal, from entering Pakistan, provided they comply with the country’s Electronic Money Institution and Foreign Exchange regulations.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for IT and Telecom acknowledged the challenges in bringing PayPal to Pakistan. She stressed that while discussions continue, the final decision rests with PayPal, as private firms operate based on business interests, and the government can only facilitate the process, not mandate their entry.
In January 2024, then-caretaker Minister for IT and Telecom, Dr. Umar Saif, had announced that PayPal would enter Pakistan through a strategic partnership with an international payment gateway. However, it was later clarified that negotiations had been unsuccessful and that PayPal would not be entering Pakistan directly or through any third-party arrangement.
Pakistan has been engaged in talks with PayPal for several years to introduce the service in the country’s expanding digital economy. Despite repeated discussions, PayPal has yet to establish direct operations in Pakistan.
