How remittance from Turkey works
Sending money from Turkey to Pakistan is straightforward. Under Pakistan's Home Remittance initiatives (including the Pakistan Remittance Initiative and Roshan Digital Account for overseas Pakistanis), banks and licensed money transfer companies operate clean corridors between the two countries. Most workers end up using 2-3 different methods depending on the amount and urgency.
What matters when choosing a method
- Exchange rate - the rate TRY → PKR offered. Can vary by 1-3% between services.
- Fees - fixed or percentage, sometimes both.
- Speed - minutes, hours, or 2-3 days.
- Payout method - bank deposit, cash pickup, mobile wallet (JazzCash, EasyPaisa).
- Convenience - can you do it from phone, or must you visit a branch.
Small amounts (under $200 equivalent) - use whichever service has the lowest fixed fee. Large amounts (above $500) - focus on exchange rate, because 1% of a large sum beats the fixed fees of any method.
Turkish bank wire to Pakistan bank
Direct SWIFT wire from your Turkish bank account to a Pakistani bank account.
- Speed: 1-3 working days.
- Fees: Turkish bank wire fee + intermediary correspondent bank fee + Pakistani bank crediting fee.
- Rate: bank rate, often not the best.
- Best for: very large transfers where audit trail matters (e.g., paying for a property purchase in Pakistan).
- Worst for: small regular remittance - fixed fees eat too much.
Wise (TransferWise)
App-based international transfer service, known for close-to-mid-market exchange rates.
- Speed: typically same day, sometimes within hours.
- Fees: transparent flat + small percentage.
- Rate: close to the real mid-market rate - usually the best consumer rate available.
- Best for: medium-to-large transfers where exchange rate matters.
- Availability: Turkey-Pakistan corridor supported; recipient needs a Pakistan bank account.
Western Union
Cash pickup and bank deposit network, operates in nearly every Pakistani city.
- Speed: minutes for cash pickup, hours for bank deposit.
- Fees: fixed + percentage; higher than Wise on rate.
- Rate: moderate, typically 1-2% off mid-market.
- Best for: urgent transfers to family who don't have bank accounts - cash pickup at nearest WU agent.
- Worst for: large sums, where the fee/rate combination stings.
MoneyGram
Similar profile to Western Union - cash pickup network, widely available in Pakistan.
- Speed: minutes.
- Fees: comparable to WU, sometimes slightly lower.
- Best for: cash pickup at a wider set of rural locations.
Remitly / WorldRemit
App-based services similar to Wise but with different fee structures.
- Speed: app-to-bank or app-to-mobile-wallet, minutes to same day.
- Fees: competitive; often promotional rates for first transfer.
- Rate: good - near Wise, sometimes better on specific corridors.
- Best for: regular transfers into JazzCash/EasyPaisa or bank account.
Pakistan Remittance Initiative & Roshan Digital Account
Pakistan's home-remittance ecosystem. Specific banks partner on RMS-branded transfers to incentivise formal channels. Benefits:
- Preferential rates or waived fees on certain corridors.
- Access to Roshan Digital Accounts - Pakistan bank accounts designed for overseas Pakistanis with better rates and investment products.
- Eligibility for incentive schemes periodically offered by the State Bank of Pakistan.
Worth opening a Roshan Digital Account if you plan to remit regularly over a long period.
How to choose per amount
| Monthly remittance | Recommended method | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Under $100 equivalent | Remitly / WorldRemit | Low fixed fee, fast mobile-wallet payout |
| $100 - $500 | Wise or Remitly | Good rate, low fee, transparent |
| $500 - $2000 | Wise | Best exchange rate at this volume |
| $2000+ | Wise or direct bank wire with negotiated rate | Small % matters at this scale |
| Urgent cash to family without bank | Western Union / MoneyGram | Instant cash pickup |
Tax & reporting
- Remittances from overseas workers into Pakistan via formal channels are generally tax-exempt on the Pakistan side.
- Sent through formal channels, remittance is recorded and counts toward Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves - a small but real civic contribution.
- No Turkish side reporting required for normal worker remittance volumes sent through regulated services.
- Keep receipts of all transfers, particularly large ones - useful for tax questions, bank KYC, and proof of income.
Always use formal channels. Hundi / hawala (informal) networks exist and are occasionally cheaper, but they carry real risk - no traceability, no legal recourse, and in some cases links to illicit activity that can entangle your reputation.