How to pay with Alipay or WeChat in Pakistan? Complete guide to using it

I. Status of Alipay and WeChat Payments in Pakistan

As the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor progresses, more and more Chinese companies and tourists are coming to Pakistan, driving local mobile payment demand. Currently, Alipay and WeChat Pay are used in Pakistan as follows:

1. Merchant acceptance: mainly limited to merchants doing business with China, shops run by Chinese enterprises and some large shopping malls and hotels
2. user group: Mainly Chinese nationals, overseas Chinese and Pakistanis who have come to Pakistan and have studied in China.
3. Functional limitations: There are some limitations compared to using it in China, and it cannot completely replace local payment methods.

It is worth noting that in 2021, Ant Group launched a localised e-wallet "Alipay+" service in partnership with Pakistan's Telenor Bank, marking the beginning of the integration of Chinese mobile payment technology into Pakistan's financial system.

Second, how to open and use Alipay in Pakistan

(i) Opening conditions

• Alipay account with real name authentication in mainland China
• Bind mainland China bank card or credit card
• Keep your mobile phone on international roaming or connect to local WiFi

(ii) Specific methods of use

1. offline payment by scanning a code

   • Look for merchants with the "Alipay" logo.
   • Open the Alipay app and click "pay".
   • Have the merchant scan your payment code or you scan the merchant's payment code
   • PKR amount will be automatically converted to RMB according to the real-time exchange rate.

2. Online cross-border shopping

   • AliExpress and other platforms that support cross-border payments can be used directly
   • Pakistan e-commerce site Daraz also accesses Alipay International Edition

3. transfer function
   You can transfer RMB to other Alipay users who have been authenticated with your real name.

4. Exchange rate enquiry
   Search for "Exchange Rate Converter" on the homepage to see the latest exchange rate of RMB to Rupee.

Third, how to use WeChat Pay in Pakistan

(i) Prerequisites

• WeChat accounts have been authenticated in mainland China.
  -Bound with a valid Bank of China card
  -Make sure WeChat is the latest version

(ii) Practical steps

1.WeChatPay Basic Settings
Go to "I→Services→Wallet→..." and complete the following preparations.
Open foreign trading privileges
Confirmation of valid mobile phone number(International roaming is recommended before departure)

2.PKR Consumption Process
In shops with the "WechatAccepted" logo.
①The cashier informs you that you want to use WechatPay.
②Open WeChat and click "+→ Payment and Receipt" to display the QR code.
③ Enter the PKR amount after recognition by the merchant's code-scanning device
④The system automatically converts to CNY and completes the debit.

3.RMB-PKR Instant Conversion Tips
Search for "Tencent Exchange Rate" in the app to check the real-time mid-rate.
Long press on a number in the chat for direct currency conversion

Important Notice! Additional verification may be required for single transactions over 20,000 PKR.

IV. Comparative analysis of the two platforms

Examples of typical application scenarios.
-Payment of SerenaHotel Islamabad Room Charges - Recommended AliPay
-Lahore Chinese Restaurant AA Checkout - Suitable for Wechat Group Collections

V. Risk prevention and resolution of common problems

Q1 "Not available in this region" message appears?
✔ Check if location services are mistakenly switched on resulting in area locking
✔ Try switching to a 4G network instead of a WiFi connection

Q2 What should I do if the transaction fails but the payment has been deducted?
Immediate action.
1 Screenshot to save the error code
2 Complaints through the APP customer service channel
Usually returned in the same way within 7 working days

Special Alert! Be alert to the following fraudulent practices :❗
The so-called "official agent account opening" fee service
✖ Stranger-initiated links to foreign exchange offers

VI. Prospects for future development trends

According to the Central Bank of Pakistan (SBP), there are plans to increase the share of electronic payments to 30% by 2025.Predictably.

✓ More local banks to look to partner with Chinese third-party payment providers
✓ HalalPay model adapted to local religious culture may emerge

It is recommended that permanent users also install.
-JazzCash (largest local mobile wallet)
-Easypaisa (extensive network of agents)

To summarise, it is possible to make basic purchases in Pakistani through AliPay/Wechat, although there are limitations such as foreign exchange controls. By planning your money channels wisely, you can enjoy the convenience of mobile payment.

VII. Alipay/WeChat Payment Usage Hot Spots in Major Cities of Pakistan

(i) Islamabad

1. Blue Area: Most mid-to-high-end restaurants and hotels have access to Chinese mobile payments

   • Serena Hotel
   • China Town Chinese Restaurant District
   • Selected luxury shops at Centaurus Mall

2. F-7/F-8 commercial area::

   • Multiple flagship shops of Chinese mobile phone brands (OPPO/Vivo)
   • Huawei Experience Centre

3. Airport Duty Free::
   Duty Free at Islamabad International Airport Supports Alipay Tax Refund Service

(ii) Karachi

1. Clifton area::

   • Dolmen Mall chain of shopping centres
   • Port Grand Waterfront Commercial Complex

2. Chinatown Neighbourhood::
   A large number of retail outlets set up by Sino-Brazilian joint ventures accept code-sweeping payments

3. overseas Chinese community::
   Local Chinese supermarkets can generally use WeChat red envelopes to pay for daily purchases

(iii) Lahore

1. MM Alam Road Shopping Centre
2. Chinese brand counters at Packages Mall Shopping Centre
3. Some of the souvenir shops in the Walled City area

VIII. Practical tips and secret ways to save money

(i) Exchange rate optimisation strategies

1️⃣ Prime Time Exchange
It was observed that every Wednesday from 14:00-16:00 BST usually has a better exchange rate.

2️⃣ Combined payment method
Use Alipay to collect overseas vouchers before paying for large purchases.

3️⃣ Bank Selection Tips
Bind China Merchants Bank credit card to enjoy extra cashback offer

(ii) Guidelines for the application of special scenarios

✈️ Purchase of air tickets : Fee-free Alipay billing when booking domestic flights through Careem App

🏥 medical emergency : Wechat Pay Deposit available at Emergency Department of Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad

📱 Top up your phone bill Search for "PakCell" public number for direct charging of traffic packages to local numbers.

IX. Local alternatives and connectivity

When encountering occasions where China Pay is not supported, the transition can be made in the following ways:

1. Renminbi (RMB) → cash exchange at EasyPaisa agency (passport required)
Recommended Regular Exchangers in Sector G-9, Islamabad

2. Cash withdrawals at ATMs using UnionPay cards
UBL/HBL Bank ATMs support UnionPay withdrawals
Daily limit of approximately PKR 100,000 (approximately $2,500)

Update: MCB Bank is open for Alipay+ merchant collections from 2024 and compatibility will be further enhanced in the future.

X. Cultural adaptation and considerations

⚠️ important etiquette notes:
-Say the greeting "As-Salaam-Alaikum" before presenting the payment code.
-Avoid the obvious use of mobile phone payments in religious places
-Electronic trading suspended at most shops during Friday prayer hours

💡 Tip: Save these key numbers for backup!
+92-51-111-222-345 Alipay Pakistan Customer Service Hotline
weixin://dl/feedback Wechat Emergency Appeal Channel

With the growing trade and commerce between China and Pakistan, it is expected that more than 60% of Pakistan's cross-border trade will be settled in RMB by 2026. Users are advised to follow the following channels regularly for updates:

✓ Website of the Economic and Commercial Section of the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan
✓ Central Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Digital Finance Bulletin Board
✓ Ant Group Southeast Asia Business Unit Official Weibo

Last but not least, we would like to remind all users that despite the convenience of mobile payments, it is still necessary to have enough cash in remote areas. A reasonable mix of payment methods will provide the smoothest consumer experience in Pakistan!