Lift Your Bank Account Limit for a Property Deal in Pakistan: SBP's One-Off Rule
SBP tells banks to lift account limits for a one-off deal such as buying or selling property, and not to charge you for crossing a limit. Here is how to ask.
Short answer: Ask your bank in writing, through its app or another authenticated channel. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) tells banks to build a way to lift account limits for a one-off transaction, such as buying or selling property, when the customer requests it. A bank also may not charge you for crossing a limit.
You sold a plot and the buyer wants to pay Rs 4 million into your Asaan account. The account allows only Rs 1 million of debits a month and a Rs 3 million balance. Many people then ask a cousin to receive the money, or they open a second account in a hurry. SBP's framework gives a cleaner way, and it is written into the same rules that set the limits.
We read SBP's updated Consolidated Customer Onboarding Framework and its March 2026 amendment circular on 13 October 2026. The framework sets the limits by account type. It does not say how fast a bank must act on your request, so we do not promise a time.
The framework sets limits on simple accounts and lets you lift them once
Simple accounts such as branchless banking accounts and Asaan accounts carry limits on credit, debit and balance. The framework says banks must create a facility to remove these limits for a one-off transaction, if the customer asks through an authenticated medium.
It names the sale or purchase of property or real estate as the example. The limit is not removed for good. It is lifted for that transaction, so the account stays a simple account afterward.
Know the limit you are working with first
The framework lists limits by account type. Check which account you hold before you ask. The table shows the two simplest types, as published in the framework.
| Account type | Credit and debit limit | Balance limit |
|---|---|---|
| Branchless banking account (rupee only) | Rs 100,000 a day, Rs 300,000 a month | Rs 1,000,000 credit balance |
| Asaan account (rupee only) | Rs 1,000,000 a month debit | Rs 3,000,000 credit balance |
The bank must also tell you the limits when you open the account. If nobody did, ask for them in writing now. Our guide to the Asaan digital account covers how that account works day to day.
Some payments never hit the limit in the first place
You may not need to ask. The framework says a few payments sit outside the daily and monthly limits, or may go above the balance limit after the bank assesses them. These are worth knowing before a deal.
- Foreign inward remittance has no per day credit limit.
- Salary credits from an employer, against proof of employment, are outside the limits.
- Payments to trusted merchants, such as schools and hospitals, are outside the limits.
- Profit or return on deposits may be credited above the balance limit.
- Foreign inward remittance may go above the balance limit after the bank checks the transaction and risk.
Bank charges, government taxes and court orders are not stopped by the monthly debit limit on an Asaan account either. Money you hold in a time deposit counts toward the credit balance limit, so count that too.
Ask for a one-off lift in five steps
Use the channel your bank treats as authenticated, for example the app after login, a verified email or a branch visit. Say that it is a one-off property transaction and name the amount and date.
- Open your bank app or visit the branch and find the limit change or service request option.
- State that the request is for a one-off property sale or purchase.
- Give the amount, the date and the name of the other party.
- Keep the reference number, the sale agreement and the payment schedule ready.
- After the transaction, ask the bank to confirm that your normal limit is back.
The bank can still ask questions about the source of money in a property deal. It may also hold the transaction if the documents are missing. For other money problems around the same time, our guide to what banks report to FBR shows which transactions are reported.
No charge for crossing a limit
The framework says no charge may be imposed on a customer for breaching any of the limits. If your bank deducts a penalty, ask for it back and cite the framework. If it will not refund, take it up with the bank's complaint unit.
The wider list of fees banks cannot charge is in our guide to bank fees you can refuse. For a complaint that stays unresolved, use the Banking Mohtasib complaint process.
Common questions
Can I raise the limit on my Asaan account for good?
Not through the one-off facility. The framework says banks should help you convert an Asaan account into a regular account once you meet the extra documentation requirements.
Does the one-off lift apply to a mobile wallet?
The footnote is written for all limits in the framework's table, which includes branchless banking accounts. Wallet limits for e-money institutions follow their own regulations, so ask your provider.
How long will the bank take?
The framework gives no time limit for this request. Ask the bank for a date when you submit it, and file the request well before the deal date.
Will the bank ask where the money came from?
It can. A property deal is the kind of transaction where banks check the source of funds, so keep the sale agreement ready.
Can the bank charge me for going over the limit?
No. SBP's framework says no charges shall be imposed on the customer for breach of any limits.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 13 October 2026, Pakistan time. We read SBP's Consolidated Customer Onboarding Framework, including Annex D and its footnotes, and BPRD Circular Letter No. 09 of 2026. We could not confirm how any bank labels the request in its app, so the first step is general.
About the author
Senior Writer, Public Services and Technology
Shahid joined us in 2024 as an author. He is a senior contributor to Pakistan's leading technology websites. He writes detailed articles, mostly covering his expertise in the latest tech, mobiles, apps, gadgets, and step-by-step guides. His ideology is to help people understand the latest trends and explain complex methods through very easy-to-understand guides.
