What is the cheapest way to send money to Pakistan?

Wise (formerly TransferWise) consistently offers the lowest fees and best exchange rates for sending money to Pakistan. For transfers over $1,000, Wise typically charges 0.5-1% with the mid-market exchange rate. Remitly is also competitive, especially for first-time users who get promotional rates. Bank wire transfers are usually the most expensive option.

How long does a money transfer to Pakistan take?

Transfer times vary by service: Wise takes 1-2 business days, Remitly express is within minutes to hours (to mobile wallet or cash pickup), WorldRemit is 1-2 business days, Western Union is within minutes for cash pickup. Bank wire transfers take 3-5 business days. JazzCash and Easypaisa mobile wallets can receive transfers instantly.

What is the Roshan Digital Account?

The Roshan Digital Account (RDA) is a State Bank of Pakistan initiative launched in 2020 that allows overseas Pakistanis to open bank accounts in Pakistan remotely. You can hold PKR, USD, GBP, or EUR. Benefits include competitive exchange rates, Naya Pakistan Certificates investment, property purchases, and stock market access. You need a valid NICOP or POC to open an RDA.

Send Money to Pakistan 2026 - Complete Comparison Guide

Pakistan is one of the top remittance-receiving countries in the world, with over $30 billion sent annually by overseas Pakistanis. This guide compares every major transfer service to help you get the best rates and lowest fees.

Quick recommendation: For most transfers, Wise offers the best exchange rate with low transparent fees. For urgent cash pickup, Western Union or Remitly Express deliver within minutes. For investment, use the Roshan Digital Account.

Service Comparison Table

Service	Fee (typical)	Exchange Rate	Speed	Delivery Methods	Best For
Wise	0.5-1%	Mid-market (best)	1-2 business days	Bank transfer	Best overall value
Remitly	$0-5	Competitive	Minutes to 3 days	Bank, mobile wallet, cash pickup	Speed and flexibility
WorldRemit	$1-5	Good	Minutes to 2 days	Bank, mobile wallet, cash pickup	Mobile wallet transfers
Western Union	$5-15	Below mid-market	Minutes (cash)	Cash pickup, bank	Urgent cash pickup
MoneyGram	$5-10	Below mid-market	Minutes to 1 day	Cash pickup, bank	Wide agent network
Bank Wire	$15-45	Poor	3-5 business days	Bank transfer only	Large formal transfers
Roshan Digital Account	Free	Interbank rate	1-2 business days	Own RDA account	Investment, property

Detailed Service Reviews

Wise (formerly TransferWise) - Best Overall

Wise consistently offers the mid-market exchange rate (the real rate you see on Google) with a transparent, low fee. This means you get more Pakistani rupees for your money compared to most other services.

Fee: Typically 0.5-1% of the transfer amount
Exchange rate: Mid-market rate (best available)
Speed: 1-2 business days to Pakistani bank accounts
Delivery: Bank transfer only (no cash pickup)
Minimum transfer: From $1 USD
Maximum transfer: Up to $1 million per transfer
Payment methods: Bank transfer, debit card, credit card (higher fee)

Verdict: Best choice for regular transfers to Pakistani bank accounts. Not suitable if recipient needs cash pickup.

Remitly - Best for Speed and Flexibility

Remitly offers three delivery speeds and multiple delivery methods, making it one of the most flexible options for sending money to Pakistan.

Express: Minutes to hours (higher fee, slightly lower rate)
Economy: 3-5 business days (lowest fee, best rate)
Delivery methods: Bank deposit, JazzCash, Easypaisa, cash pickup at HBL, UBL, Bank Al Habib
First transfer: Often promotional rate with no fee
Mobile app: Excellent app for tracking and repeat transfers

Verdict: Excellent all-round option with great first-time offers. Mobile wallet delivery is very convenient.

WorldRemit - Best for Mobile Wallets

Mobile wallet: Direct to JazzCash, Easypaisa, UPaisa
Bank transfer: To any Pakistani bank account
Cash pickup: Available at partner locations
Fee: $1-5 depending on amount and delivery method
Speed: Mobile wallets within minutes, bank transfers 1-2 days

Western Union - Best for Urgent Cash Pickup

Cash pickup: Within minutes at thousands of agent locations across Pakistan
Coverage: Available in small towns and rural areas
Fee: $5-15 depending on amount and payment method
Exchange rate: Below mid-market (their margin is in the rate)
Best for: Emergencies when recipient needs cash immediately

Note: While convenient, Western Union is typically the most expensive option due to their exchange rate markup. Use for urgent needs only.

Roshan Digital Account (RDA)

The Roshan Digital Account is a State Bank of Pakistan initiative that allows overseas Pakistanis to open and operate Pakistani bank accounts remotely. This is not just a transfer method, but a full banking solution.

Key Benefits:

Free transfers: No fee to transfer money to your own RDA account
Interbank rate: Competitive exchange rates
Multi-currency: Hold PKR, USD, GBP, EUR accounts
Investment: Access Naya Pakistan Certificates (6-7% returns on USD)
Property: Buy property in Pakistan directly through RDA
Stock market: Invest in Pakistan Stock Exchange
Utility bills: Pay bills in Pakistan remotely

Requirement: Valid NICOP or Pakistan Origin Card

Read Full RDA Guide →

Understanding Exchange Rates

The Pakistani Rupee (PKR) exchange rate is a critical factor in remittances. Here is what you need to know:

Mid-market rate: The "real" exchange rate, midpoint between buy and sell rates. Wise uses this rate.
Interbank rate: The rate banks use between themselves. RDA uses this rate.
Retail rate: The marked-up rate offered by most transfer services. Western Union and MoneyGram use their own retail rates.
Open market rate: The rate offered by money changers in Pakistan. Often slightly better than bank rates for PKR.

Tip: Always compare the total amount received in PKR rather than just the fee. A service with "no fee" but a poor exchange rate can cost you more than a service with a small fee and better rate.

Tax Implications

For Senders (Overseas Pakistanis)

Remittances to Pakistan are generally not taxable in Pakistan for the recipient
Pakistan encourages formal remittance channels through the Pakistan Remittance Initiative (PRI)
In your country of residence, large transfers may need to be reported (e.g., UK HMRC, US FinCEN)
Keep records of all transfers for your own tax reporting

For Recipients in Pakistan

Foreign remittances received through banking channels are tax-exempt in Pakistan under the Income Tax Ordinance
No withholding tax on incoming remittances
Recipients should declare remittances in their wealth statement if filing tax returns
Transfers through informal channels (hawala/hundi) are illegal and can result in penalties

Read our full tax guide for overseas Pakistanis →

Safety Tips for Sending Money

Use regulated services only: All services listed here are regulated by financial authorities
Avoid hawala/hundi: Informal money transfer is illegal and you have no recourse if things go wrong
Verify recipient details: Double-check account numbers and IBAN before sending
Keep receipts: Save confirmation emails and transaction IDs for every transfer
Be wary of scams: Never send money to unknown persons claiming to offer better rates
Report large transfers: In the UK, transfers over GBP 10,000 may trigger reporting requirements

Our Top Picks

Best Value: Wise

Best Speed: Remitly Express

Best Cash Pickup: Western Union

Best Mobile Wallet: WorldRemit

Best for Investment: Roshan Digital Account

Pakistan Mobile Wallets

Many services can deliver directly to Pakistani mobile wallets:

JazzCash: Largest mobile wallet (Mobilink)
Easypaisa: Telenor's mobile wallet
UPaisa: Ufone's mobile wallet
SadaPay: Digital banking app
NayaPay: Digital banking app

Mobile wallets allow instant receipt and spending without a traditional bank account.