PIA International Tickets With a Pakistani Card: No Foreign Transaction Charge in Rupees, and the Fees That Still Apply
PIA says international tickets paid in rupees with a Pakistani card on its site or app have no foreign transaction charge. How to book and the catches.
PIA says you pay no foreign transaction charge when you buy an international ticket in rupees with an eligible Pakistani card on its own website or app. The ticket must go through PIA's local payment gateway, and the charge must be a PKR transaction. PIA adds that bank charges, taxes or other fees may still vary by card issuer, so the rule covers the foreign transaction charge only.
We read the notice, titled "No Foreign Transaction Charges on International Ticket Purchases Using Pakistani Cards", on PIA's announcements page on 5 November 2026. It carries no start date. Below is what the notice covers, what it leaves out, and how to book so the saving actually reaches your card statement.
PIA waives the foreign transaction charge on rupee payments
PIA's notice says international tickets bought directly on its website and mobile app, through the local payment gateway, come without foreign transaction charges on PKR transactions made with eligible local cards. Three conditions sit inside that one sentence, and all three must hold.
- PIA's own channel: the website piac.com.pk or the PIA mobile app. A travel agent or a booking site is not covered by this notice.
- Local payment gateway: the payment page PIA runs for Pakistani cards.
- A PKR transaction: the card must be charged in rupees, not dollars, pounds or riyals.
The notice also says "Terms & Conditions apply" and does not define which cards count as "eligible". We could not find a list of eligible cards on PIA's site.
A foreign transaction charge is the fee a bank adds to a non-rupee payment
When a Pakistani debit or credit card pays in another currency, the bank usually adds a fee on top of the exchange rate. That is the foreign transaction charge. On a long-haul ticket it can add a noticeable amount to the price.
Each bank sets its own fee, and some digital banks and wallets set theirs differently. The foreign transaction fee on Pakistani debit cards compares what several issuers charge. PIA's notice matters because it removes that layer on PIA's own rupee checkout, as long as your card qualifies.
| Where you buy | Currency charged | Foreign transaction charge |
|---|---|---|
| PIA website or app, local gateway | PKR | None, per PIA's notice |
| PIA website or app, paid in a foreign currency | Not PKR | Not covered by the notice |
| Travel agent or booking site | Depends on the seller | Not covered by the notice |
| Any channel | Any | Bank charges, taxes and other fees may still apply |
Book in rupees through PIA's local gateway
The safest way to get the waiver is to buy on PIA's own site or app, check that the final amount shows in rupees before you pay, and use a card issued in Pakistan. Then compare the card statement with the price you saw.
- Open piac.com.pk or the PIA app. Do not use a link from a message or a social media post.
- Search your international route and pick your fare.
- Fill in your own contact details. PIA says personal contact information is mandatory for every booking.
- On the payment page, check that the total is shown in PKR before you enter card details.
- Pay with a card issued by a Pakistani bank or licensed wallet.
- Keep the e-ticket and the payment confirmation. Check your card statement when it arrives.
If the payment page shows a foreign currency, stop. The notice covers PKR transactions only. Once the ticket is issued, the PIA booking and refund rules apply to any change you make later, so fix the currency before you pay rather than after.
Your bank can still add its own charges
PIA's notice is clear that "any applicable bank charges, taxes, or other fees may vary depending on your card issuer and transaction". Its general travel notices also tell customers to confirm any extra card payment charges with their issuing bank.
So the waiver is PIA's side of the deal. Your bank's side is separate. Before a big booking, a short call or app chat with your card issuer settles three questions:
- Does the bank add any fee to an online rupee payment to an airline?
- Is the card enabled for online and e-commerce payments, and is the limit high enough for the fare?
- Will a large one-off payment trigger a fraud block that needs your approval?
Government taxes on air tickets are a different matter again. They are part of the fare and are not a bank fee, so the notice does not remove them.
What PIA's notice does not say
The notice is short, and several things a buyer would want to know are missing. We list them so you can ask before you pay rather than discover them on a statement.
- No start or end date: the notice is undated.
- No list of eligible cards: it says "eligible local cards" without naming them.
- No word on foreign cards: it speaks only of Pakistani cards.
- No word on refunds: it does not say how a refund on such a ticket is paid back.
If you are buying for a relative abroad, the PIA gift card is another way to pay from Pakistan that PIA lists on the same announcements page. For PIA's helpline or a ticket office, use only the numbers printed on piac.com.pk.
Common questions
Does PIA charge a foreign transaction fee on international tickets?
No, according to PIA's notice, when you buy on its website or app through the local gateway and pay in PKR with an eligible Pakistani card.
Does the waiver apply to tickets from a travel agent?
The notice covers purchases made directly on PIA's website and app. It does not mention agents.
Can my bank still charge me something?
Yes. PIA says bank charges, taxes or other fees may vary by card issuer and transaction. Ask your bank before paying.
Which Pakistani cards are eligible?
PIA does not list them. The notice says only "eligible local cards" and that terms and conditions apply.
What if the payment page shows dollars?
Do not pay. The notice applies to PKR transactions only, so a foreign currency charge is not covered.
Do I have to give my contact details when booking?
Yes. PIA says personal contact information is mandatory for all flights at the time of booking.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
We read PIA's notice "No Foreign Transaction Charges on International Ticket Purchases Using Pakistani Cards" and its "Travel Advisories & Other Important Announcements" page on piac.com.pk on 5 November 2026. The notice is undated. We did not buy a ticket, so we have not seen the payment page or a card statement ourselves. Check with PIA and your bank before a large booking.
About the author
Public Services and Education Journalist
Fajr Riaz is a journalist and content writer at Pakistan Era, based in Lahore. She covers the questions people meet in everyday life in Pakistan: how a public service works, what a change in the rules means, and where to find a reliable answer.
