How to Send Money Safely to Pakistan: A Guide for Overseas Pakistanis

Prasad, content writer | Tuesday, 03 January 2023

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Sending money to your family in Pakistan for the first time can be pretty exciting. It gives you a feeling of accomplishment you will probably remember for a long time.
Although you’ll be making this a monthly or bi-monthly practice for years, your feelings of achievement and excitement won’t dwindle or change.
However, you can’t let your enthusiasm make you skip key steps that’ll guarantee your lovedones will receive the remittance you’ll be sending them.
When you send money to Pakistan, follow the right steps and tips to avoid losses and ensure your family receives the amount you remitted within the expected timeframe.

Best Practices for Sending Money Safely to Pakistan
Whether you’re sending remittances to Pakistan for the first time or have already been doing this for years, follow these tips and practices to go through the process safely and ensure your peace of mind:

1. Send your remittances using an official channel.
Sending money through an acquaintance going back to Pakistan may be a tempting option, since it’ll be free. However, you may want to rethink this option since there’s a chance your loved one won’t receive it.
After all, your acquaintance may misplace or lose the cash while they are in transit. And even if they have the money in their account, they may encounter some challenges or delays withdrawing it.
You can avoid these difficulties by sending your remittances directly to the recipient through a registered and regulated channel.
One of the safest ways to send money internationally today is through formal money transfer operators or MTOs.
These companies provide fast and reliable remittance services that can safeguard your money amidst the risks involved.
When you use an MTO to send money to Pakistan, you get a receipt and confirmation message of your transaction. The MTO will give you a remittance control or tracking number, which you can use to track the amount you transferred.
If your loved one needs to collect the money you sent from a remittance service provider or bank, they can only do so when you give them the control number issued to you during your transaction.
By using an MTO, you go through the remittance process safely and with no or fewer risks.

2. Ensure the MTO is regulated.
Money transfer operators and other companies offering remittance services are regulated by banks and other financial regulatory bodies.
To ensure your remittance is in good hands and your family will receive it, check if the company is authorized to provide money transfer services and if they have the permits and licenses required to operate and carry out those activities.

Conduct this check both in your current country and Pakistan to choose the most trustworthy MTO to entrust your remittance.
If you want to get more peace of mind, read customer reviews and feedback about the MTO to check if they have a good track record and provide reliable service.

3. Try to avoid carrying huge amounts of cash.
If you prefer going to a bank or remittance center to send money, unless it is an emergency, avoid carrying large amounts of cash for such transactions.
Keep in mind that even if incidents of theft and robbery where you live are low, there’s still the possibility that you may fall victim to these crimes.
If you lose the money you intend to send, you will have more problems on your hands.
If you need to send a large amount of money, the best, safest solution is to opt for a digital transaction.
This means transferring money online from your bank account to your recipient’s bank account or for cash pickup from a remittance center near them.
With this option, you won’t need to carry large amounts of cash you might accidentally lose while you’re out or in any public area.

4. Double-check all details before finalizing your transaction.
Whether you’re sending money online or over-the-counter, double-check the details you’ve written down on the remittance slip or you entered on the website or app.
Ensure you put in the correct spelling of your recipient’s full name. Make sure their contact number, address, and other required details are accurate as well.
Doing so ensures you avoid sending your remittance to a stranger’s account and the delays that ensue to correct the mistakes.
Make it a habit to do this even if you’ve already saved the recipient’s details on the MTO or bank website or app.

5. Follow the best practices for making online money transfers.
If you use your MTO or bank mobile app or website to send money to Pakistan, always follow the recommended steps and tips for carrying out online transactions safely and securely.
Start by using only a secured Wi-Fi connection when sending money online.
It is best to do this in your home, where no strangers have access to your Internet connection.
Additionally, never save your bank details and personal information on public computers, including the device you use at work.
If you use these devices to transfer money online for emergencies, log out completely once you’re done.
Last, give your devices additional protection by keeping their anti-virus software up-to-date.

6. Be wary of money transfer scams.
There will be instances when you might need to send money to relatives or friends for the first time.
You might also have to transfer money to a company or shop when you want to buy or invest in something or donate to a charitable organization.
Although a wire transfer may be your only option, you have to be sure you won’t be a victim of money transfer scams.
To avoid these scams, you need to know the common signs of these transfer frauds.
These signs include an individual or self-proclaimed company representative:
● Constantly rushing and pressuring you to part with your money.
● Asking you to send the money through unusual channels.
● Instructing you to send the payment or money through one channel or method only.
● Asking you for your passwords, ATM PIN, and personal information.
● Sending you a QR code asking you to approve a collect request without reason.
● Offering you a huge commission when you move large amounts of money.

When you want peace of mind and ensure your recipient gets your remittance whenever you send money to Pakistan, always follow these important tips and steps. This way, you and your remittance recipient can have peace of mind.