Pakistan received a record $41.6 billion in workers' remittances in fiscal year 2025-26, and the two biggest sources were Saudi Arabia ($9.78 billion) and the UAE ($8.81 billion) (Gulf News, July 2026). Almost every one of those transfers lands in a Pakistani bank account through one 24-character code: the IBAN.
Get one character wrong and the money is delayed, returned or, worse, sent to the wrong account. This guide shows exactly where to find your IBAN in Pakistan, bank by bank, how the number is built from your account number, and how to check an IBAN before you share it or send money to it. 💡
Quick answer: Your IBAN is printed on your bank statement and shown in your bank's mobile app or internet banking under your account details. Several banks, including Meezan, Allied, Bank Alfalah, Bank Al Habib, Askari and Standard Chartered, also have an official IBAN generator on their website. A Pakistani IBAN always has 24 characters and starts with PK.
What a Pakistani IBAN Looks Like
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) introduced IBANs in 2012. Banks had to generate and send an IBAN to every customer by December 2012, and IBANs became the standard for domestic and international payments from June 2013 (SBP press release, May 2012). Every Pakistani IBAN follows the same 24-character pattern:
| Part | Characters | Example | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Country code | 2 letters | PK | Pakistan |
| Check digits | 2 digits | 72 | Calculated from the rest of the IBAN to catch typos |
| Bank code | 4 letters | HABB | The first four letters of the bank's SWIFT/BIC code (HABB = HBL) |
| Account code | 16 digits | 0012345678901234 | Your account number, padded with zeros on the left if it is shorter than 16 digits |
Put together, the example reads PK72 HABB 0012 3456 7890 1234. It is a made-up IBAN with valid check digits, built for this guide. Don't send money to it. 🚫
The IBAN doesn't replace your account. As UBL puts it, it "simply represents the existing account number in a recognizable ISO standard format" (UBL). If you're unsure how the two differ, read our guide to IBAN vs account number.
How to Find Your IBAN in Pakistan: 5 Ways
- Your bank statement. SBP asked banks to quote the IBAN on account statements (SBP IBAN guidelines). Meezan Bank, for example, says the IBAN is printed on the statements it sends every six months (Meezan Bank).
- Your mobile app or internet banking. Open your account and look for "IBAN" in the account details or account summary. You can usually copy or share it from there, which avoids typing mistakes.
- Your bank's official IBAN generator. Enter your existing account number and the bank's own tool shows the IBAN. Links for each bank are in the table below.
- Your branch or helpline. UBL, for example, directs customers to their branch or its contact centre on 021-111-825-888 (UBL).
- Ask the account holder. If you're the one sending money, ask your family member to copy the IBAN from their app or statement and send it as text, not as a photo you'll have to retype.
⚠️ Only your own bank can create your IBAN. SBP's guidelines say: "An IBAN may only be generated by the financial institution or bank holding the customer's account" (SBP). Third-party "IBAN generators" can't know every bank's internal rules, so stick to your bank's documents and tools.
IBAN by Bank: HBL, Meezan, UBL, MCB and Others
Each bank uses its own local account number format, so the way it turns that number into the 16-digit IBAN account code differs. Here are the major banks:
| Bank | IBAN bank code | Local account number | Where to find your IBAN |
|---|---|---|---|
| HBL (Habib Bank Limited) | HABB | 14 digits: 4 branch + 8 account + 2 account type | Statement, HBL Mobile or internet banking |
| Meezan Bank | MEZN | 14 digits: 4 branch + 10 account | Meezan IBAN Generator (select your branch), statement |
| UBL (United Bank Limited) | UNIL | 13 or 16 digits, starting with the 4-digit branch code | Statement, UBL Digital app, branch or 021-111-825-888 |
| MCB Bank | MUCB | 16 digits | Statement, MCB Live app; your 16-digit number is the IBAN's account code (MCB) |
| Allied Bank (ABL) | ABPA | 13 or 20 digits, starting with the 4-digit branch code | ABL IBAN Generator (16-digit account number) |
| Bank Alfalah | ALFH | 14 digits (conventional) or 18 digits (Islamic) | Bank Alfalah IBAN Generator |
| Bank Al Habib | BAHL | 17 digits | Bank Al Habib IBAN Generator |
| Askari Bank | ASCM | 13 digits: 3 branch + 10 account (incl. check digit) | Askari IBAN Generator & Validator |
| Faysal Bank | FAYS | 14 or 16 digits, starting with the 4-digit branch code | Statement, Faysal DigiBank app |
| Habib Metropolitan Bank | MPBL | 19 digits | Statement, mobile app |
| Standard Chartered Pakistan | SCBL | 11 or 16 digits | Standard Chartered IBAN Generator |
| Dubai Islamic Bank Pakistan | DUIB | 10 digits | Statement, mobile app |
| Bank of Punjab | BPUN | 16 or 17 digits | Statement, mobile app |
Bank codes are from SBP's list of bank SWIFT codes (SBP) and the banks' own IBAN pages; National Bank of Pakistan uses NBPA. Account number formats are from Allied Bank's interbank transfer guide (ABL), and from Meezan and Askari's own generators where those differ.
🔍 Notice the pattern: banks whose account numbers have 16 digits or fewer (HBL, Meezan, MCB, Askari, Faysal) fit them straight into the IBAN, adding zeros in front. Banks with longer numbers (Allied's 20 digits, Bank Al Habib's 17, Habib Metro's 19) drop some digits by their own rules, so for those banks, always take the IBAN from the bank rather than working it out yourself.
Worked Example: From a 14-Digit HBL Account Number to an IBAN
Here's how an IBAN is built for a bank with a 14-digit account number, using the made-up account 1234 56789012 34:
- Pad to 16 digits. SBP's rule is to "pad 0's at the left side" (SBP): 12345678901234 becomes 0012345678901234.
- Add the bank code in front. HABB + 0012345678901234.
- Calculate the check digits. Move "PK00" to the end, turn the letters into numbers (A = 10, B = 11 … Z = 35) and work out the remainder after dividing by 97. The check digits are 98 minus that remainder: here, 72. Our guide to IBAN check digits walks through the arithmetic step by step.
- Result: PK72 HABB 0012 3456 7890 1234.
The check digits are why typos are caught. Mistype any single character and the MOD-97 test fails; swap two neighbouring digits and it almost always fails too. Paste any IBAN into our free IBAN checker to run that test in a second. ✅
IBAN, Account Number, Raast ID or SWIFT Code: Which One Do You Need?
Pakistanis receiving money get asked for different numbers depending on how the money is sent. Here's what each one does:
| Identifier | Example format | What it identifies | When you need it |
|---|---|---|---|
| IBAN | PK72 HABB 0012 3456 7890 1234 | Your exact account, in a standard format with check digits | Transfers from abroad, transfers between Pakistani banks, Raast |
| Account number | 12345678901234 | Your account within your bank only | Payments inside the same bank, branch services |
| Raast ID | Your mobile number, e.g. 03XX XXXXXXX | A shortcut linked to your IBAN | Free, instant transfers within Pakistan |
| SWIFT/BIC code | 8 or 11 characters, e.g. HABBPKKA | The bank (and sometimes the branch), not your account | International transfers, together with the IBAN |
Raast, SBP's instant payment system, lets you pay "beneficiary's IBAN or Raast ID (mobile number)" instantly and free of charge, within limits set by your bank (SBP Raast). For international transfers, the sending bank usually wants the SWIFT code too: see our IBAN vs SWIFT/BIC guide or look one up with our SWIFT code checker.
Sending Money to Pakistan from the UAE or Saudi Arabia
If you're sending from Dubai, Riyadh or Jeddah, your own IBAN looks different from the one you're sending to. Here's how the three compare:
| Country | Length | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇵🇰 Pakistan | 24 | PK + 2 check digits + 4-letter bank code + 16-digit account | PK36 SCBL 0000 0011 2345 6702 |
| 🇦🇪 UAE | 23 | AE + 2 check digits + 3-digit bank code + 16-digit account | AE07 0331 2345 6789 0123 456 |
| 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 24 | SA + 2 check digits + 2-digit bank code + 18-character account | SA03 8000 0000 6080 1016 7519 |
Examples are illustrative, from our IBAN formats by country guide. One easy check: a Pakistani IBAN has letters in positions 5 to 8 (the bank code), while UAE and Saudi IBANs are all digits after the country code.
Before you press "send":
- ✅ Run the IBAN through an IBAN checker: it must be 24 characters, start with PK and pass the check digits.
- ✅ Make sure the 4-letter bank code matches the bank your family named. HABB is HBL, MEZN is Meezan, UNIL is UBL, MUCB is MCB.
- ✅ Type the account holder's name exactly as the bank has it.
- ✅ Compare the exchange rate you're offered with the live AED to PKR or SAR to PKR mid-market rate. The gap is your hidden fee.
Our guide to sending money to Pakistan compares banks, exchange houses and apps, and our guide to cheap international transfers covers the fees to watch for.
Common IBAN Mistakes That Bounce Transfers to Pakistan
- Letter O instead of zero. Pakistani IBANs contain lots of zeros. "PK72 HABB OO12…" fails instantly.
- Sending the old account number. A local account number on its own is not enough for an international transfer. Ask for the full IBAN.
- Copying a sample IBAN. Example IBANs on websites, including this one, are not real accounts, and some published samples don't even pass the check-digit test. Use only the number from your own statement or app.
- Bank code doesn't match the bank. The IBAN can be valid but belong to a different bank than the one written in the transfer form. Check the four letters.
- Name mismatch. Many banks compare the name with the account. "Muhammad" vs "Mohammad" can be enough to hold a payment.
If a transfer has already bounced, our article on why international transfers get rejected explains the usual causes and how to get your money back.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many digits is an IBAN in Pakistan?
A Pakistani IBAN has 24 characters: PK, 2 check digits, a 4-letter bank code and a 16-digit account code. With spaces it is usually written in groups of four, for example PK72 HABB 0012 3456 7890 1234.
Is the IBAN the same as my account number?
No, but it contains it. The IBAN adds the country code, check digits and bank code to your account number, so that any bank in the world can route a payment to you. Your old account number still works inside your bank.
Can I generate my IBAN online?
Yes, but only through your own bank. SBP's guidelines say only the bank holding your account may generate the IBAN, and banks such as Meezan, Allied, Bank Alfalah, Bank Al Habib, Askari and Standard Chartered offer official generators on their websites.
Do I need an IBAN for Raast?
Raast payments go to an IBAN or to a Raast ID, which is a mobile number linked to an IBAN. So your IBAN is behind every Raast transfer, even when the sender only types your phone number.
Do I also need a SWIFT code to receive money from abroad?
Usually, yes. The SWIFT/BIC code identifies your bank for the international payment network, while the IBAN identifies your account. Senders abroad are often asked for both. Our SWIFT/BIC code guide explains how they work together.
How can I check that an IBAN is valid?
Paste it into the FloatForex IBAN checker. It checks the length, country code and MOD-97 check digits. A valid result means the IBAN is correctly formed. It can't confirm who owns the account, so still check the name with the recipient. For a step-by-step guide, see how to check an IBAN, and if you're new to IBANs, start with what is an IBAN.
Sources
- State Bank of Pakistan: IBAN guidelines (2012)
- State Bank of Pakistan: IBAN implementation press release, 15 May 2012
- State Bank of Pakistan: bank SWIFT/BIC codes
- State Bank of Pakistan: Raast person-to-person payments
- Allied Bank: account number formats of Pakistani banks
- MCB Bank: International Bank Account Number
- UBL: International Bank Account Number
- Meezan Bank: IBAN Generator
- Askari Bank: IBAN Generator & Validator
- Gulf News: Pakistan remittances reach record $41.6bn in FY2025-26