How to find a suitable solution when you need to send money to Pakistan.
When you want to send money abroad to Pakistan, it’s a good idea to be prepared and know what your options are for sending money from Australian to Pakistan. Using an international money transfer service can usually save you money, compared to using the banks.
Read the table below to see options for transferring money to Pakistan. You can click on the column headings to sort through products and services based on their features and fees. You can then sort by the “amount received” column to ensure your recipient receives the most funds.
Compare your options for sending money to Pakistan below
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There are plenty of reasons why you may want to send money back to Pakistan:
- You have recently relocated and you want to send money back to your family to help with expenses
- You have an investment property in Pakistan and need to make mortgage repayments
- You want to send cash as a gift, rather than sending an actual package to Pakistan
Banks vs specialist money transfer companies
Being an exotic currency, you may have difficulty finding a bank that will conduct a money transfer from Australia to Pakistan. You will, however, find that some money transfer companies, including MoneyGram and Western Union can make the transfer for you.
Javaid moved from her Pakistani home to Australia due to a work opportunity. Being unmarried, she feels a responsibility towards taking care of her ageing parents financially. In order to do this from overseas, she has been exploring her money transfer options in Australia. She intends to send AUD$1,000 over.
| Money transfer service number 1 | Money transfer service number 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange rate | 88.21 Rupees for every 1 Australian dollar | 87.93 Rupees for every 1 Australian dollar |
| Fees | The sender pays a fee of $15 | $14 payable by the sender |
| PKR received | 88,211.83 | 87,932.00 |
| Transfer time | The transfer can take place in just a matter of minutes. | This is an immediate transfer that should take less than ten minutes. |
| Options | You can also arrange to have the money sent directly to a participating bank in Pakistan. The fee is waived when you choose this option. | Direct bank to bank transfer |
| Difference | In this transfer, there are approximately 1,737 Rupees lost compared to what the standard exchange rate would be. | When transferring to Pakistan with this service company, there will be 2016 Rupees lost in the exchange. |
As you can see, with the first company, Javaid will be able to give her family an additional 279 Rupees as well as pay less in fees when she initiates the transfer from Australia to Pakistan. This example shows why it’s important to look carefully at these numbers for hidden fees such as this if you want the company that will save you the most.
How do I compare transfer companies when transferring money to Pakistan?
With Javaid’s case study you can see how important it is to examine all aspects of transferring money from Australia to Pakistan before you make a decision on which company to use. Consider these points when looking at the available companies:
- Exchange rates. This is an important point to consider and one to examine closely. Fees are often hidden by giving the consumer a lower exchange rate than its competitors.
- Transfer options. Some transfer companies and banks make the transfer easy by allowing you to initiate it online and withdrawing the funds directly from your bank account. Check first to make sure that you are not being charged more for this convenience.
- Pick-up options. Consider the circumstances of the party you are transferring the money to. You may find that it is easier for them with a cash pick-up or they might prefer a transfer straight into their bank account.
- Transfer time. This is dependent on the urgency in which your recipient needs the money. You can find companies that conduct the transfer in just minutes or some options that take up to three to five business days.
- Transfer amounts. There are regulations that make it so that you may only transfer a certain amount of money each time, and even per day in most cases. The fees charged to you may also be changed depending on the amount that you are transferring.
What can I use to send money to Pakistan from Australia?
As mentioned above, the Pakistan Rupee is considered to be an exotic currency, making it difficult to find many banks and money wire companies who will do the transfer for you. Those in Australia that will conduct the transaction for you include:
- MoneyGram. MoneyGram will allow you to send cash directly to your family or friends in Pakistan. This can be done online or you can find service providers close by through their website. This means you can go into a MoneyGram branch, such as a 7-Eleven store, and send funds from there.
- Citibank. Citibank and other Australian banks such as ANZ offer international money transfer services to clients who have accounts with them. Check with the bank to make sure that Pakistan is one of the countries that they send money to before opening the transaction account.
- Western Union. Western Union has recently improved their money transfer service to Pakistan by offering direct bank deposits for no fees. The bank in Pakistan could charge for the withdrawal first, which is something you should ask before you make the transfer. You can also do a cash transfer and pick-up which will only take a few minutes to clear.
Emergency cash transfers in Pakistan
If you are an Australian travelling in Pakistan and find yourself in sudden need of money, you have a couple of options available to have money sent to you.
Western Union
Lahore
- Meezan Bank Limited J-iii JohaLahore, PunjabPhone: +92-042-35311862Open Monday through Friday 9 A.M. to 7 P.M. Saturday 9 A.M. to 3 P.M. Closed on Sunday.
Faisalabad
- Adda ThikriwalaJhung RoadFaisalabad, PunjabPhone: +92-41-2555018Open Monday through Friday 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. Saturday 9 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. Sunday closed.
MoneyGram
Lahore
- Habib Metropolitan Bank PVT LTD – no. 2ZoneShop no. F1 Chora Khooh Usman Farooq Bazar 2183 ALahorePhone: +92-042-37632982Open Monday through Saturday 8 A.M. to 7 P.M. Sundays Closed
Faisalabad
- KASB Bank – JhangP-20-5-A Canal Road Civil Lines Jhang,Phone: +92-0477651670Open Monday through Saturday 8 A.M. to 6 P.M. Closed on Sunday
You should note that these are pickup locations only. If you are transferring funds out of Pakistan you will need to find an alternate location.
Tips for picking up cash in Pakistan
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Australians should reconsider their need to travel to Pakistan. If you cannot cancel your travel plans and have to use one of these facilities to retrieve cash exercise a high level of caution. Take advantage of locations that are in well-trafficked areas and make sure that you are accompanied by a friend or trustworthy acquaintance who is familiar with the area and local customs.
How do I send money to Pakistan?
When using a transfer service to send money from Australia to Pakistan you will need to have the exact name of your recipient and your own photo ID. In order to pick-up the funds, tell your recipient to make sure that they have the following:
- Identification. This will have to be a photo ID, such as a passport or driver’s licence.
- Transfer number. There is a number given with the transfer that you will have to pass along to your recipient in order for them to pick-up the money.
- Transfer amount. The recipient should know how much the transfer is for.
- Your name. They will also need to know your name for identification purposes.
Once you send the transfer and let the recipient know the transfer code, some companies will allow you to track the progress online so that you can see that it was picked up successfully.
If you have plans on sending money often from Australia to Pakistan it may be practical to look into banks that will allow account to account to transfers. Otherwise, weigh the fees and rates of the cash transfer companies to find the one that gives you the most value and convenience for both you and your recipients.
