British pound (GBP) to Pakistani rupee (PKR): where to check the rate

• GBP

British pound and the official PKR rate

The rates card on this page shows official State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) data: the SBP mark-to-market "ready" rate in rupees per unit for the pound and many other currencies, with the SBP date and a link to the SBP page. The converter above works on European Central Bank (ECB) euro reference rates, as cross rates between the currencies in the ECB list, and PKR is not one of them. For rupee amounts, use the rates card instead. We do not use quotes from banks, exchange offices or trading platforms.

SBP issues the mark-to-market rates every working day so that authorised dealers can revalue their books. The US dollar rate is a weighted average of closing interbank rates collected through brokerage houses, and the pound and other currencies come from the same SBP file. Two indicator rows show SBP's weighted average customer exchange rate for the US dollar, bid and offer. No new rate is issued on weekends and public holidays, so the card keeps the last working day's date. Check the date before you rely on a figure. The card refreshes by itself when SBP publishes.

The card also has a 30-day trend line for the pound, US dollar, euro, riyal, dirham or yuan against PKR. Use it to see the trend and the size of past swings, not to guess the next move.

How to work out GBP to PKR yourself

• Use the converter in the rates card: enter the amount, choose GBP as "from" and PKR as "to". It works from the SBP rates shown in the card.
• To check by hand, multiply the pound amount by the GBP rate in the table, which is given in rupees per pound.
• No bank margin, fee or transfer charge is included. Your bank or money transfer service will apply its own rate and costs.

Why your bank's pound to PKR rate is different

The official reference rate is a benchmark. It is not a price at which anyone has to sell you pounds. Banks, exchange companies and remittance services set their own buying and selling rates:

• Buy and sell spread. A dealer buys pounds from you at a lower rate and sells them at a higher rate. The gap is their margin.
• Cash versus transfer. Cash notes usually carry a wider spread than account transfers, because cash has to be handled, stored and shipped.
• Timing. The reference rate is fixed at a set time of day. Market rates keep moving after that.
• Fees. Transfer services may show a good rate and add a fixed fee, or show no fee and build the cost into the rate.

To compare offers, look at how many rupees actually reach the receiver after all charges, not just the quoted rate. For how the State Bank of Pakistan publishes its own rates, see SBP exchange rates.

What moves the GBP exchange rate

The GBP/PKR rate depends on two sides: what happens to the pound, and what happens to the rupee.

Bank of England policy

The Bank of England sets the UK's main interest rate. When markets expect higher UK rates, holding pounds tends to look more attractive and the pound often gets support. Expected cuts usually work the other way. UK inflation data, jobs figures and the Bank's own statements move these expectations.

UK trade and capital flows

The UK imports more goods than it exports and relies on foreign capital to cover the gap. The pound is therefore sensitive to investor confidence: political news, budget plans and global risk mood can move it quickly. London is a major financial centre, so large capital flows pass through the pound every day.

The rupee side

The rupee is shaped by Pakistan's import bill, foreign reserves, IMF programmes and State Bank policy. The latest SBP decision on record: SBP policy rate raised by 50 bps to 12% with effect from 27.10.2026 (MPC). More background is on SBP rates and economy.

Because PKR is traded mostly against the US dollar, GBP/PKR also follows the pound's moves against the dollar. A strong pound against the dollar usually means more rupees per pound, all else being equal. Compare with the US dollar (USD) and Euro (EUR) pages.

Pakistan and the United Kingdom

Several everyday links make the pound rate matter to Pakistani households and businesses:

• Remittances. The UK has a large Pakistani diaspora, and money sent home from Britain is a steady source of pounds coming into Pakistan.
• Students. Tuition and living costs for study in the UK are paid in pounds, so a weaker rupee raises the cost in PKR.
• Travel. Visa fees, flights and spending money for UK trips depend on this rate.
• Trade. Pakistani exports such as textiles and clothing are sold to UK buyers, and some imports are priced in pounds.

A note for traders

GBP pairs such as GBP/USD are traded as forex and CFDs, which are leveraged products where you can lose money fast. Learn the basics on Currency pairs and Risk management first.

Know the local rules too. Per the SBP, remitting foreign exchange to overseas forex/margin/CFD platforms is not allowed through any payment channel (FERA s.5(1)). Also, per the SBP, the purchase of offshore forex/margin/CFD products by Pakistani residents violates section 4(1) of FERA 1947. In addition, per the SECP, offshore platforms have no Pakistani licence or oversight and offer no legal protection or recourse. Details are on Law and regulators.

Frequent questions

Is the rate on this page the rate I will get at a bank?

No. The card shows SBP's official mark-to-market rate in rupees. Bank counters, exchange companies (open market) and remittance apps quote their own buying and selling rates and fees, so their rate for buying or selling pounds will differ.

Why does the date not change on weekends?

SBP publishes its rates on working days only. On weekends and public holidays the card keeps the last working day's SBP rate and its date.

Can I convert rupees into pounds?

Yes, with the converter in the rates card, which includes PKR: enter the amount, choose PKR as "from" and GBP as "to". The separate converter at the top works on ECB rates and has no PKR.

Does the converter include transfer fees?

No. The converter at the top uses ECB reference rates and the one in the rates card uses SBP rates. Neither includes fees. Check the full cost with your bank or transfer service.

Where can I see other currencies?

All currencies we cover are listed on Exchange rates.