Overseas Pakistanis sending money home from the UAE and other nations need not worry about rising transfer costs despite the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) recent policy shift. As of July 1, the SBP has discontinued the Telegraphic Transfer Charges Incentive Scheme and the Sohni Dharti Remittance Programme, which previously compensated banks for processing remittances. While these government reimbursements have ended, the central bank has instructed financial institutions to continue offering these services to customers free of charge, effectively absorbing the operational costs themselves.

Industry experts, including Al Ansari Exchange CEO Ali Al Najjar, anticipate no material impact on the remittance market or individual customers. Because the policy change primarily targets internal banking incentives rather than cross-border infrastructure, the typical ways that expatriates send money—such as digital platforms and formal banking channels—remain unchanged. With record-breaking remittance volumes seen in the past fiscal year, the commitment to keeping these essential services cost-free remains a priority for receiving institutions, ensuring that support for families back home continues without interruption.