Apple may finally be preparing to bring Apple Pay to Pakistan. References to the country’s domestic PayPak payment network have reportedly appeared in the iOS 27 beta 5 code, providing a strong new clue that Apple is working on payment support for the country.
The discovery comes shortly after Apple Music began showing Pakistan-specific subscription plans and accepting payments from local users. Together, the developments suggest Apple is expanding its payment infrastructure in Pakistan, although Apple has not confirmed an Apple Pay launch.
iOS 27 Beta 5 Adds PayPak References
The iOS 27 beta 5 code contains references to NETWORK_NAME_PAYPAK with the string value “PayPak” and NETWORK_NAME_PAYPAK_CARD_NAME mapped to “PayPak card.”
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The references appear alongside other domestic payment networks in Apple’s code. Their presence is notable because Apple uses similar payment-network identifiers when adding support for cards and payment systems in new markets.
The discovery does not confirm that Apple Pay will launch in Pakistan. Apple could still change or remove the references before the final version of iOS 27 ships. However, their appearance in Apple’s own software provides considerably stronger evidence than speculation about a potential launch.
The timing is also notable because Apple Music has started displaying Pakistan-specific subscription plans, including an Individual plan priced at Rs. 379 per month and a Family plan priced at Rs. 649 per month. Local users have also reported successfully completing payments with PayPak cards.
Apple Music and Apple Pay are separate services, so working Apple Music payments do not prove that Apple Pay is ready to launch. However, they show that Apple is actively configuring its payment infrastructure for Pakistan, while the new PayPak references point toward another possible use for that infrastructure.
Why PayPak Support Could Matter
PayPak is Pakistan’s domestic payment network, operated by 1LINK under the State Bank of Pakistan. Its cards support EMV transactions, including contactless payments on compatible cards and terminals.
That existing infrastructure could make an Apple Pay rollout easier for merchants. Compatible cards could potentially be added to Apple Wallet, allowing users to make contactless payments with an iPhone or Apple Watch at supported terminals.
Apple Pay would also give Pakistani iPhone users a more direct way to make payments without physically presenting a card. Transactions are authenticated with Face ID, Touch ID, or an Apple Watch, while Apple uses a device-specific token instead of sharing the user’s actual card number with merchants.
A launch would put Apple into a Pakistani digital payments market already served by Easypaisa, JazzCash, SadaPay, NayaPay, and other local services. Apple Pay would take a different approach by integrating directly with the iPhone’s NFC hardware and Secure Element.
Apple is also expanding its payment services into other markets that have historically lacked Apple Pay. India is reportedly targeting an October launch, while Apple has added domestic payment networks in other countries.
That makes Pakistan’s appearance in the iOS 27 code particularly interesting. PayPak could be part of a wider push to bring Apple Pay to additional emerging markets.
