Send money to Pakistan
Quick answer: Where you send from decides the cheapest option to Pakistan. Across the 10 sending routes we price, the top-ranked estimates right now are WorldRemit from United States (276,990 PKR for $1,000); Ria Money Transfer from United Kingdom (366,633 PKR for £1,000); TapTap Send from France (312,674 PKR for €1,000); TapTap Send from Canada (194,000 PKR for C$1,000).
Latest pricing observation: . Oldest observation used: . Quotes are kept per USD→PKR pair, not per country, so check is served before you commit. Methodology.
Cheapest way to send money to Pakistan, by sending country
The top-ranked estimate on each route we price into Pakistan, from our own collected quotes. Choose your country for the full provider ranking.
USD → PKR · 17 estimates
WorldRemit: $1,000 becomes 276,989.79 PKR · 0.00% over mid-market · 12,865 PKR ahead of the lowest
GBP → PKR · 19 estimates
Ria Money Transfer: £1,000 becomes 366,633.01 PKR · 0.00% over mid-market · 25,053 PKR ahead of the lowest
EUR → PKR · 17 estimates
TapTap Send: €1,000 becomes 312,673.97 PKR · 0.00% over mid-market · 17,552 PKR ahead of the lowest
CAD → PKR · 8 estimates
TapTap Send: C$1,000 becomes 194,000.31 PKR · 0.07% over mid-market · 10,769 PKR ahead of the lowest
AED → PKR · 6 estimates
TapTap Send: د.إ3,000 becomes 227,104.23 PKR · 0.00% over mid-market · 20,453 PKR ahead of the lowest
AUD → PKR · 6 estimates
TapTap Send: A$1,000 becomes 193,007.85 PKR · 0.00% over mid-market · 11,604 PKR ahead of the lowest
BHD → PKR · 3 estimates
TapTap Send: BD300 becomes 221,443.97 PKR · 0.00% over mid-market · 13,465 PKR ahead of the lowest
OMR → PKR · 3 estimates
Wise: ﷼300 becomes 215,894.66 PKR · 0.13% over mid-market · 12,084 PKR ahead of the lowest
KWD → PKR · 2 estimates
Wise: د.ك250 becomes 224,931.56 PKR · 0.00% over mid-market · 11,553 PKR ahead of the lowest
SAR → PKR · 1 estimate
Wise: ﷼3,000 becomes 221,392.64 PKR · 0.00% over mid-market
Pakistan receives remittances from a small number of very large corridors — the Gulf states, the UK, the US, Saudi Arabia — and the sending country changes the competitive set considerably. What does not change is the receiving side: the rails, the recipient details, the verification a first-time cash collection triggers, and the formal-channel policy that can waive charges on qualifying transfers. Those are the parts worth understanding before you pick on price.
- JazzCash and Easypaisa are Pakistan's two leading mobile wallets — several providers including Remitly and WorldRemit support direct wallet delivery, meaning recipients receive PKR within minutes.
- The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) introduced the Roshan Digital Account (RDA) in 2020, allowing overseas Pakistanis to open a PKR or USD account remotely for investments and savings.
- Pakistan's exchange rate was liberalised in 2023 — rates from specialist providers are now much closer to the interbank rate, and the large spread between official and open-market rates has narrowed significantly.
- All inbound remittances to Pakistan are exempt from income tax for the recipient under Pakistan's Income Tax Ordinance.
- Popular banks for receiving transfers: HBL, UBL, MCB, Meezan Bank, Habib Bank, Allied Bank, and Bank Alfalah all have wide branch networks and support SWIFT inbound credits.
Raast, IBFT and the wallets — and the free-channel question
Pakistan's instant rail is Raast, run by the State Bank of Pakistan, which settles bank-to-bank in real time, 24/7, and is addressed by a Raast ID linked to a mobile number or by IBAN. IBFT is the older interbank transfer rail, also effectively immediate. Wallet payouts to JazzCash and Easypaisa reach recipients without a bank account and are the dominant method outside the major cities. Separately, the Pakistan Remittance Initiative exists specifically to move remittances through formal channels, and the reason it matters to a sender is that some banks and providers waive charges on qualifying inward remittances. That is worth asking about directly, because it is the kind of saving that never appears in a comparison table. Recipients may also be asked to complete biometric verification before a first cash collection.
Recipient details and the free-channel question
For a bank deposit you need the recipient's IBAN and the name as the bank holds it. For a wallet payout to JazzCash or Easypaisa you need the registered mobile number and the matching registered name. For cash collection the recipient needs identification matching the transfer, and may face biometric verification on a first collection. Ask the provider or the receiving bank whether your transfer qualifies for free-channel treatment under Pakistan's remittance initiative — several banks waive charges on qualifying inward remittances, and because that saving sits outside the quoted rate it never appears in any comparison table, including ours.
Guides, fees & how it works
Confirm the receiving method works for your recipient's location
Pakistan's remittance market is large enough that real price competition exists, but coverage still varies by provider — not every one supports every receiving method in every city. Confirm the method before comparing quotes, not after.
- Bank deposit: Pakistan uses standard IBAN — 24 characters, starting with 'PK'. Get it from the recipient's bank statement or app, not from memory.
- JazzCash or Easypaisa: confirm the linked mobile number and that the wallet is active before selecting that quote.
- Cash pickup: check the specific branch or agent location is realistic for your recipient to reach.
- If timing matters, ask whether your provider's last domestic leg uses Raast (instant, once funds land) or standard clearing (can add a business day).
Pakistan is the world's 5th-largest remittance recipient
At $34.9 billion in 2024 (World Bank), Pakistan receives more in remittances than all but four other countries — a scale that reflects how many transfers move on this corridor every day, and why it's worth comparing rather than defaulting to a familiar name.
For recurring transfers, it is worth checking live quotes each time rather than relying on one provider by habit.
What you need to send money to Pakistan
Full name
Recipient's full legal name as it appears on their bank account or CNIC
IBAN
24-character IBAN starting with 'PK' — Pakistan adopted IBAN format in 2012
Example: PK36SCBL0000001123456702
Bank name
Name of the recipient's bank (e.g. HBL, UBL, MCB, Allied Bank)
Mobile number
OptionalRequired for JazzCash or Easypaisa mobile wallet transfers (11-digit Pakistani mobile number)
Example: 03001234567
Provider sources for these receiving options: Wise PKR requirements · Western Union US-to-Pakistan options · SBP Home Remittance
Note: Pakistan uses standard IBAN — 24 characters, starting with 'PK' (adopted in 2012). Your recipient can find it on their bank statement or through their bank's app.
How much does it cost to send money to Pakistan?
The top-ranked estimate on each sending route into Pakistan sits between 0.00% and 0.13% above the mid-market rate: tightest from United States (WorldRemit), widest from Oman (Wise).
How can my recipient receive money in Pakistan?
Recipients in Pakistan have 2 ways to receive this transfer: bank deposit; cash pickup or mobile wallet.
Bank deposit
Wise’s PKR guide covers personal bank accounts and lists account exclusions.
Cash pickup or mobile wallet
Western Union lists these options for US-to-Pakistan transfers. Check availability from your sending country.
What are the transfer limits and regulations for Pakistan?
Regulatory body
State Bank of Pakistan (SBP)
Inbound transfer limits
No cap — SBP does not restrict how much can be remitted into Pakistan, and actively promotes inward remittances through the Pakistan Remittance Initiative (PRI), a joint SBP/Finance Ministry program running since 2009 to move transfers through formal banking channels rather than informal ones.
Important things to know
- PRI's cost and speed incentives apply to transfers routed through formal channels — banks and licensed money transfer operators — not informal ones.
How long does it take to send money to Pakistan?
Top-ranked providers advertise minutes to 3 days from United States (WorldRemit), minutes to 2 days from United Kingdom (Ria Money Transfer), instant from France (TapTap Send), under 3 minutes (95% of transfers) from Canada (TapTap Send).
Provider-stated speeds for Pakistan, not our measurement.
Popular banks in Pakistan
8 banks commonly receive international transfers in Pakistan, including Habib Bank Limited (HBL) and United Bank Limited (UBL). SWIFT/BIC codes are shown where we could verify them; confirm the rest with the receiving bank.
Habib Bank Limited (HBL)
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United Bank Limited (UBL)
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MCB Bank
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Allied Bank Limited (ABL)
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Bank Alfalah
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Meezan Bank
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National Bank of Pakistan (NBP)
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Standard Chartered Pakistan
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Frequently asked questions
Common questions about sending money to Pakistan
What is the cheapest way to send money to Pakistan?
Wise, Remitly, and Western Union Digital are consistently the most cost-effective providers for USD-to-PKR transfers. The exchange rate markup is the largest cost driver — look at the total PKR received rather than the stated fee. On a $1,000 transfer, the difference between the best and worst providers can exceed Rs. 5,000.
How do I send money to JazzCash or Easypaisa in Pakistan?
Remitly and WorldRemit both support direct JazzCash wallet transfers from the US, UK, and several other countries. You need the recipient's JazzCash or Easypaisa registered mobile number (03XX-XXXXXXX format). Delivery is typically within minutes. The recipient receives an SMS notification and can immediately withdraw cash at any agent or use funds for purchases.
What bank account details do I need to send money to Pakistan?
You need the recipient's full name (exactly as on their CNIC), IBAN (24-character PK format), and bank name. Pakistani IBANs always start with 'PK' followed by 2 check digits and a 20-digit BBAN. You can usually find the IBAN in the bank's mobile app or on a bank statement.
Is there a limit on money transfers to Pakistan?
There is no limit on inbound remittances to Pakistan from a regulatory standpoint. The SBP actively encourages inflows. Individual provider limits apply — Wise allows up to $1 million per transfer, while most others allow $50,000–$100,000 per transaction with full KYC. For large amounts, documentary evidence of the source of funds may be requested.
What is the Roshan Digital Account for overseas Pakistanis?
The Roshan Digital Account (RDA) is a special account offered by Pakistani banks to non-resident Pakistanis and Pakistani origin card holders. It allows remote account opening, PKR or USD savings, investment in Naya Pakistan Certificates (high-yield government bonds), and free repatriation of profits. Banks offering RDA include HBL, Meezan, UBL, MCB, and Bank Alfalah.
How long does a bank transfer to Pakistan take?
SWIFT transfers to Pakistani banks typically arrive within 1–2 business days. Providers that use RAAST (Pakistan's instant payment system) or direct mobile wallet delivery can settle in minutes. Remitly's Express option delivers to JazzCash within 1 hour. Wise typically delivers to Pakistani bank accounts within 1 business day.
Is it safe to send money to Pakistan online?
Yes — all providers listed on our platform are regulated by financial authorities such as the FCA (UK), FinCEN (US), or equivalent bodies. Pakistan's SBP works with international regulators to ensure compliant remittance channels. Always use official provider websites or apps and never send money through unofficial hawala networks, which may be illegal in your country of residence.
Are there taxes on money received from abroad in Pakistan?
No. All personal remittances received in Pakistan are 100% exempt from income tax under Section 111(4) of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001. The recipient does not need to declare remittance income in their tax return. This exemption applies regardless of amount and the source country.