USD to PKR: US Dollar to Pakistani Rupee
Convert US dollars to Pakistani rupees with the live interbank rate, updated hourly. The USD to PKR rate is one of the most-watched currency pairs in Pakistan because the US is a major destination for Pakistani exports, a major source of remittances (worth billions of dollars a year), and the global reserve currency that influences PKR pricing of fuel, food imports, and almost every internationally traded good.
About the USD to PKR rate
Why USD to PKR matters in Pakistan
The US dollar is the global reserve currency and the unit in which most international trade, oil pricing, and large capital flows are denominated. The PKR rate against the USD therefore shapes the cost of nearly every imported good in Pakistan, from fuel to medicines to consumer electronics. When the USD strengthens against the PKR, import costs rise, which feeds into local inflation. When the PKR strengthens, imports become cheaper.
USD to PKR history
In 2000 the USD to PKR rate was about 55. By 2010 it was around 85. By 2020 it had crossed 160. After the 2022 economic crisis it briefly crossed 300 before partial stabilisation. Long-term Pakistani rupee depreciation against the dollar averages about 5 to 8 percent a year, with periodic sharp falls during balance-of-payments crises. Read the live rate above for the current value.
How to send USD to PKR
Major providers include Wise, Remitly, Western Union, Ria, MoneyGram, your US bank, and Pakistani bank affiliates in the US. Wise typically offers the closest-to-interbank rate with a transparent fee. Remitly is competitive for amounts up to a few thousand dollars. Western Union and MoneyGram are convenient (cash pickup) but usually have wider margins. Pakistani Roshan Digital Account holders get a preferential rate for incoming USD that goes into a Pakistani bank account.
Pakistani import pricing and USD
Nearly every imported product in Pakistan is priced in PKR but originates from a USD-denominated transaction. Petrol, diesel, cooking oil, wheat (in shortage years), pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, smartphones, laptops, and most cars are import-heavy. When USD goes up against PKR, retail prices rise within weeks. Monitoring the USD to PKR rate is part of monitoring inflation.
USD remittances to Pakistan
Pakistan receives over $25 billion a year in worker remittances, with the US contributing roughly 10 to 15 percent of that total. Pakistanis working in the US (technology, medicine, finance, blue-collar work) regularly send money home. The exchange rate they receive determines how much PKR their dollars actually convert to. Choosing a competitive provider can save 1 to 3 percent on each transfer.
Travelling between the US and Pakistan
For travel from the US to Pakistan, carry a small amount of cash USD for taxi fares and tips on arrival, then exchange the rest at a Pakistani money changer or use a USD card with low foreign transaction fees. For travel from Pakistan to the US, banks and money changers in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and the major airports sell USD cash. Always declare amounts above the customs threshold when crossing borders.
The live USD to PKR rate is shown in the converter at the top of this page, updated hourly. Exchange rates fluctuate throughout the day based on global currency markets, central bank actions, and trading flows. The calculator gives you a real-time reference; the rate you actually pay through a bank, money changer, or remittance service includes a margin on top of this interbank rate.
Exchange rates between freely traded currencies are set by the global foreign exchange market, which trades around $7 trillion per day. The published interbank rate is the rate at which large banks exchange currency with each other. Retail rates (what you pay at a bank or money changer) include a margin of typically 0.5 to 4 percent above this interbank rate, depending on the provider.
Many factors drive currency rate changes: interest rate decisions by central banks (the State Bank of Pakistan, US Federal Reserve, etc.), trade flows between countries, foreign investment, government debt levels, political stability, inflation differentials, and global commodity prices (especially oil for currencies of importing countries). Short-term volatility can be a few percent a week; long-term trends can be 10 to 30 percent a year.
Very much. Pakistan receives over $25 billion a year in worker remittances, with major source countries including the United States. Pakistanis working in the US send dollars home that get converted to PKR at the rate prevailing on the day of transfer. A 1 percent worse exchange rate on a $1,000 monthly remittance costs $120 per year. Comparing providers and watching rates can save meaningful amounts over time.
Compare a few providers before sending. Wise, Remitly, Western Union, Ria, MoneyGram, and your bank's remittance service all offer different rates and fees. Some providers waive fees but offer worse rates; others charge a fee with a better rate. The total cost is what matters. Pakistani Roshan Digital Account holders sometimes get preferential rates for incoming foreign currency.
Not exactly. The converter shows the interbank (mid-market) rate. Banks add a margin, typically 1 to 3 percent. Money changers in Pakistan often get within 0.5 percent of the interbank rate for cash transactions. Card transactions abroad usually convert at close to the interbank rate plus a small foreign-transaction fee from your card issuer.
Yes. Cash rates at money changers are often closer to interbank than card or wire transfer rates from banks. However, carrying large cash amounts has security and legal disclosure implications, especially for amounts above the customs threshold (US 10,000 equivalent at most borders). For most amounts, an electronic transfer through a competitive provider is the best balance of safety and rate.
The calculator handles one amount at a time. For bulk conversions, run the math manually using the per-unit rate: if 1 USD equals X PKR, then N USD equals N times X PKR. The calculator displays both the converted amount and the per-USD rate.
Yes. The Gizmoop currency converter is completely free. There is no signup required, and no transaction fee (because Gizmoop is not a money transfer service, just a free rate calculator). For actual money transfers, use a regulated provider.
No. Every calculation runs in your browser and is forgotten when you close the tab. Gizmoop does not log or track your inputs, amounts, or chosen currencies. The exchange rates themselves come from a public API.
Major forex markets close on weekends, so the published rate on Saturday and Sunday is usually the Friday closing rate. Real trading resumes Monday morning. Money changers in Pakistan and most countries still trade on weekends but typically at slightly worse rates because they cannot hedge against Monday opening risk.
The calculator is for general reference. For legal, tax, or accounting purposes (customs declarations, foreign income reporting, etc.), use the official exchange rate published by your country's central bank or tax authority for the relevant date. In Pakistan, the State Bank of Pakistan publishes official rates daily on its website.
Long-term currency trends reflect the relative economic strength of the two countries. The US Dollar versus Pakistani Rupee relationship has its own history of devaluations, central bank interventions, and political events. Use the live calculator for current rates; for historical analysis, see central bank publications or financial data providers like XE, OANDA, or the IMF.