Visa and Euronet Partner to Accelerate Real-Time Clearing & Boost Digital Payment Acceptance in Pakistan. Visa has announced a major strategic partnership with Euronet Pakistan, marking a significant step toward modernizing Pakistan’s digital payments ecosystem. The collaboration aims to introduce real-time clearing and settlement through Visa’s advanced Settlement Messaging Service (SMS), giving acquirers, merchants, and financial institutions faster, more transparent, and more efficient payment processing.
Below is a complete breakdown of how this partnership works, why it matters, and how it will impact digital payments in Pakistan and beyond.
Visa SMS: Transforming Clearing & Settlement in Real Time
Visa’s new Settlement Messaging Service (SMS) replaces the long-standing batch-based, offline clearing model with a modern instant clearing workflow.
Key Benefits of Visa SMS
- Immediate clearing message after authorization
- Real-time settlement advice
- Faster transaction finality for merchants
- Reduced operational delays and exceptions
- Improved liquidity for acquirers and merchants
This innovation enables POS acquirers and processors to accelerate settlement cycles, improve transparency, and offer more competitive payment solutions in a rapidly evolving digital market.
Euronet Pakistan to Lead Nationwide Rollout
As Visa’s strategic enablement partner, Euronet Pakistan, the country’s largest acquirer processor, will spearhead the implementation of Visa SMS across the market.
Euronet’s role includes:
- Supporting POS acquirers in system integration
- Ensuring technical readiness for real-time clearing
- Managing market adoption and rapid deployment
- Driving seamless nationwide implementation
Euronet’s expertise positions it as the key force behind transforming Pakistan’s acquiring ecosystem.
Leaders Speak: Driving a Faster, Smarter Payments Era
Kashif Gaya, CEO, Euronet Pakistan
“Euronet is committed to enabling Visa’s real-time clearing initiative. As Pakistan’s largest acquiring processor, we aim to empower acquirers, modernize infrastructure, and accelerate the shift toward transparent and efficient payment processing. This initiative will boost merchant onboarding, expand acceptance, and strengthen digital payments especially for SMEs and underserved communities.”
Mohamed Mousa, Vice President Euronet / Managing Director for MEA & Pakistan
“We are driving digital payment advancement across the Middle East, Africa, and Pakistan. After success in Pakistan, we plan to expand real-time clearing to other regional markets. This technology will help institutions achieve secure, fast, and transparent settlements, ultimately supporting financial inclusion and sustainable economic growth.”
Umar Khan, Country Manager, Visa (Pakistan & Afghanistan)
“Our partnership with Euronet modernizes Pakistan’s card payment ecosystem. Faster settlement, fewer exceptions, and simpler reconciliation strengthen merchant cash flows—particularly for SMEs. By reducing operational overhead and improving liquidity management, this initiative makes digital payments more attractive to Pakistan’s cash-driven retail sector.”
Why This Partnership Matters for Pakistan
The collaboration between Visa and Euronet marks a turning point for the country’s payment landscape.
Expected Outcomes:
- Real-time settlement for merchants
- Stronger liquidity management for businesses
- Simplified reconciliation for acquirers
- Accelerated digital payment adoption
- Greater inclusion of SMEs and underserved merchants
- A more efficient, transparent national payments system
By modernizing the acquiring ecosystem, the partnership sets the foundation for a future-ready, real-time digital economy in Pakistan.
Conclusion
The strategic partnership between Visa and Euronet Pakistan is poised to revolutionize digital payments in the country. With the introduction of real-time clearing via Visa SMS, Pakistan’s financial ecosystem will benefit from faster settlements, improved transparency, and enhanced operational efficiency. This collaboration not only strengthens merchant trust in digital payments but also accelerates Pakistan’s transition toward a modern, inclusive, and technology-driven economy.
