The first surprise for many Pakistani merchants is that Shopify's own payment service, Shopify Payments, is not available to businesses based in Pakistan. That does not stop you selling. It means you choose from the methods below and configure them yourself.
Cash on delivery
Cash on delivery remains the most widely used method for online orders in Pakistan. Shopify supports it as a manual payment method at no extra cost. The work lies in managing it well:
- Confirm orders by phone or WhatsApp before dispatch to reduce refusals
- Limit cash on delivery by city or order value if returns are costing you
- Connect your courier so tracking numbers and payment status update automatically
Local card gateways
Several Pakistani payment providers and banks offer Shopify integrations that let customers pay by debit or credit card. Providers change their fees, onboarding requirements and app availability regularly, so compare them at the time you apply. Ask each one:
- What documents are needed, and whether a registered company is required
- The fee per transaction and any monthly or setup charge
- How many days until funds reach your bank account
- Whether the customer stays on your checkout or is redirected
- Whether refunds can be issued from the Shopify admin
Mobile wallets and bank transfer
Wallet payments are popular with customers who do not hold cards. Some gateways include wallets alongside cards in one integration. Bank transfer can be offered as a manual method with instructions shown after checkout. It suits high-value orders, although someone has to match each payment by hand.
Selling abroad from Pakistan
If your customers are overseas, you will need a gateway that settles international cards to a Pakistani account, or a company and bank account in a country where Shopify Payments or other major processors operate. This has legal and tax consequences, so take advice from an accountant before choosing that route.
Transaction fees to remember
When you use a third-party gateway, Shopify charges its own transaction fee on top of the gateway's fee, and the rate depends on your Shopify plan. Manual methods such as cash on delivery do not carry that fee. Check Shopify's pricing page for current rates before working out your margins.
Our usual recommendation
Launch with cash on delivery and one card gateway. Watch the split for a month, then adjust. If you would like the setup done and tested for you, it is part of our store development service.