While international payments and funds transfers are not simple, many financial service providers are working in the country that save your time, are free, and are very reliable.
If you are looking for ways to receive money from abroad, we have 9 recommendations for you that will make your life much easier.
| # | Company | Charges |
| 1 | NBP Foree Remittance | Free of cost |
| 2 | Western Union | Charges depend on the medium, region and amount sent |
| 3 | Payoneer | Free if the sender is a Payoneer customer, otherwise charges depend on medium used and country |
| 4 | MoneyGram | Charges depend on medium used, amount sent, payment type, and location. |
| 5 | Ria | Charges depend on the amount sent, medium, and receiving method |
| 6 | Pakistan Post | Free of cost |
| 7 | Wise | 5.10 USD fixed charges, 0.6% of the money that’s being converted along with additional charges |
| 8 | JazzCash | Based on the medium used to send and receive money and the amount sent |
| 9 | Xoom | Charges depend on region, amount, and exchange rate |
9 Ways to Receive Money in Pakistan
Below we have mentioned 9 safe, secure, and convenient ways to receive international payments in Pakistan. The methods listed are widely recognized and very popular for their efficiency and ease of use.
1. Bank transfer and Foree Remittance with NBP
If you own a bank account in any bank inside Pakistan you can receive/send international payments through bank transfer. Many banks offer international bank transfers for free. The National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) offers free of cost money transfers through their correspondence.
If the receiver doesn’t have an account at NBP, money can still be sent through NBP Foree Remittance on the receiver’s ID card. The sender will have to know the beneficiary’s valid information, ID/driving license/passport information. Once the money is sent the receiver can collect it from any NBP branch without having an account.
NBP has 1470+ branches and is owned by the Pakistani government.
2. Western Union
Western Union is an American company with its headquarters in Colorado. It is a multinational company offering financial services. It works in 200 countries and is a great option for international fund transfer. You can use Western Union in the following ways:
- Use a debit/credit card and send money via Apple Pay
- Send money to a bank
- Send cash to an agent location
These methods allow fast money transfers. The receiver can either visit an agent’s location to collect money or visit the bank at his convenience.
Western Union charges a fee based on location and channel and the transfer is subject to taxes. It only allows personal money transfers and not trade or business-related transfers. The charges depend on the region, medium of transfer, and the amount being sent.
E.g if someone sends $2000 to a Western Union Location in Pakistan, they will be charged 8USD through debit, 60USD through credit card, 30 USD for in-store, and 5USD if they pay through a bank account.
3. Payoneer
Payoneer is an American company offering digital payments, funds transfers, and working capital to its customers. It was founded in 2004. The service is for commercial use and this is a great way to receive payments from international clients and companies.
The company works with selected banks in Pakistan including:
- Faysal Bank
- Bank Alfalah
- Standard Chartered
- MCB
- JazzCash
You will have to register with Payoneer on their website and then add the receiver’s information.
Once the transaction is complete, the receiver can visit the supported bank ATMs and use his Payoneer card to draw money. The fee depends on the medium used but is free if the sender is a Payoneer customer.
The charges are 3% on credit cards and 1% on ACH debits (for US only). If you have a receiving account you are not charged but for USD you are charged 0-1% based on your country.
4. MoneyGram
MoneyGram is another American company which deals with money transfers and cross-border payments. It was founded in 1980 and supports certain banks and has multiple agent locations. To receive payments you will have to visit an agent location, fill a form and then submit it to receive the amount.
You can also ask the relevant person to send the amount to your bank. Many banks support MoneyGram payments including:
- MCB
- Al Falah
- KASB
- Al Habib
The charges depend on medium used, amount sent, payment type, and location.
5. Ria
Ria provides international remittance services and is a subsidiary of Euronet Worldwide. It was founded in 1987 and is one of the largest money transfer companies worldwide.
In Pakistan, you will need your ID and Pin (given to you by the sender) to receive money from a Ria branch. You can also receive funds from banks that support Ria money transfer these banks include:
- Meezan Bank
- Bank Islami
- Habib Metro bank
- Bank Alfalah
- UBL etc.
The charges depend on multiple factors, from the amount, medium used to how the receiver would like to withdraw the amount. According to their calculator, if you send 2000 USD through your bank account to Pakistan and the receiver gets cash pickup you will be charged 1 USD.
6. Pakistan Post
Pakistan Post is the largest and primary postal operator in the country. It believes in secure and timely delivery of materials, mail, and money at affordable rates.
Under the Pakistan Remittance Initiative (PRI) Pakistan Post has collaborated with the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) to make it easier for Pakistani citizens to receive money from foreign countries free of charge.
Using the NBP Remittance Services, people can collect money from any Pakistan Post office. The receiver only needs the following information:
- The exact amount
- The sender’s information
- The secret pin provided by the sender
- CNIC
7. Wise
It was founded in 2011 and it is a financial technology company based in London. Wise makes it easy to transfer funds through;
- Credit/debit card
- Bank transfer
- PISP and Swift
Plus, you can collect money from freelance platforms like Upwork to kick start your freelancing career without any worries. Wise is safe and fast and it doesn’t involve any hidden charges. If someone sends money in USD, 5.10 USD fixed charges are applied on the transfer plus 0.6% of the money that’s being converted. Based on your payment method you may have to pay a tiny fee but it’s not a lot.
E.g based on the current exchange rate, If someone sends 1000 USD to Pakistan he will be charged 11.03 USD (estimated by the wise online calculator).
8. JazzCash
It is a mobile wallet that offers branchless banking services. It began to function in 2012 and is very popular in the country. Through the JazzCash “International Remittance Service” you can receive funds right in your wallet that you can conveniently withdraw.
You can either cash out the funds or use them to make payments and benefits from offers. There are over 80,000 JazzCash agents in the country that let you withdraw cash. You can also use ATM cards to withdraw money.
Based on the medium used to send and receive money and the amount sent, the charges vary.
9. Xoom
Xoom allows people from Canada and the US to send money to 131 countries including Pakistan. It is a funds transfer company that lies under the umbrella of PayPal.
If the sender lives in the US or Canada then using the service can be a great idea. The sender will need to have a registered account with Xoom to send money to you. To receive the amount, you will have to create a “Money Request” and then enter the email of the relevant person who is transferring funds to you.
Once that is done you can receive the payment from banks including:
- UBL
- ABL
- Bank Alfalah
- MCB
With Xoom, you are charged a transaction fee based on the mode of payment and the region. Xoom also earns from exchange rates.
Conclusion
In this article, we took you through 9 ways you can safely receive funds from abroad in Pakistan. All of the above methods are internationally recognized, widely used, and reliable.
Whether you prefer bank transfers, mobile wallets, or walking to an agent, Pakistan provides a range of options to receive international funds. We recommend you check all of the above services to see which matches your needs the most.
