Vietnam vs Pakistan · Real-time payment systems compared
| Capability | NAPAS 247 | Raast |
|---|---|---|
| QR Code Payments | ✓ | — |
| Wallet Support | — | — |
| 24/7 Availability | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cross-Border | — | — |
| ISO 20022 | — | ✓ |
| Request to Pay | — | — |
| Open API | ◐ | ◐ |
| Alias/Proxy | ✓ | ✓ |
Vietnam's 24/7 instant interbank transfer system operated by the National Payment Corporation of Vietnam (NAPAS) under State Bank of Vietnam oversight. NAPAS 247 connects all major domestic banks for real-time transfers via account number, card number, or phone number. The system has been a cornerstone of Vietnam's rapid cashless payment adoption, with the government targeting 80% of adults with bank accounts by 2025. It also supports QR payments through VietQR, an interoperable QR standard similar to Thailand's PromptPay QR.
Pakistan's instant payment system launched by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) as part of its Digital Pakistan vision. Raast (meaning "direct path" in Urdu) enables 24/7 real-time transfers between banks and fintech providers via IBAN, mobile number (Raast ID), or CNIC (national ID). Designed with ISO 20022 messaging from the ground up, Raast supports P2P, P2M, and bulk/salary disbursements. With Pakistan's 220M+ population and only ~30% banked, Raast is a critical financial inclusion tool. It also includes a request-to-pay feature and plans for QR-based merchant payments.