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Pakistan Pakistan Currency Guide

The currency of Pakistan and how to prepare for payments — all on one page.

Currency

Pakistani Rupee

PKR

Checking rates

Check with your bank app or card issuer before you go

The rate and fees you actually pay differ by bank and card issuer.

Payment Tips to Remember

Always pay in the local currency

If a terminal asks whether to charge in your home currency, always choose the local currency. Choosing your home currency triggers DCC (dynamic currency conversion), which adds a hidden markup.

Set up a travel card before you fly

Prepaid multi-currency travel cards let you convert money in the app beforehand and pay like a debit card locally. Fees are usually lower than cash exchange counters, and you can freeze the card instantly from the app if lost.

Airport exchange counters: last resort

Airport counters are convenient but tend to offer some of the worst rates. If you need cash, exchange via your bank's app before departure or consider withdrawing from a local ATM.

Check ATM fees on screen

Local ATMs may add their own operator fee. Check the fee shown on the confirmation screen before proceeding. If the ATM offers conversion to your home currency (DCC), choosing the local currency is usually better.

Keep some small cash

Every country has places that don't take cards — markets, tips, small transport. Carrying a small amount of cash in separate places keeps you covered.

Cards for Abroad

Explore the Wise multi-currency card

One account holding 40+ currencies, converting and paying at mid-market based rates. Handy for multi-country trips — no need to exchange for each currency separately.

Learn more

Local data

Get an eSIM for Pakistan before you go

Activate mobile data with a QR code instead of swapping SIM cards. Buy it before departure and switch it on the moment you land.

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Check prices and availability on the booking sites.

City Guides in Pakistan

Karachi

Karachi is Pakistan's largest city, facing the Arabian Sea, and briefly served as the capital after independence. Today it's the hub of Sindh province, with the lively energy typical of a seaside city.

Islamabad

Islamabad is Pakistan's capital, a planned city built from scratch. Its neatly laid-out streets and relaxed atmosphere give it a charm quite different from the country's other big cities.

Lahore

Lahore is Pakistan's second-largest city, sitting along the Ravi River near the border with India. It offers riverside scenery along with a lively urban atmosphere.

Peshawar

Peshawar lies close to the Khyber Pass, the gateway connecting Pakistan and Afghanistan. It has the distinctly exotic atmosphere of a border region.

Rawalpindi

Rawalpindi sits right next to Islamabad, Pakistan's capital, and once served as the country's temporary capital. It's now a military hub and can be reached via Benazir Bhutto International Airport.