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all i can tell u is that i travelled with over 50,000 euros in cash to pakistan and nothing happened ALHUMDULILLAH.
No questions asked, no robbers no search no nothing! And this was only last year.
I made small bundles of the cash and placed each bundle in a regular post envelop, placed this envelop into another envelop and so on about 3-4 times. Then I secured each packet with cellotape and placed the packets in different bags under the clothes etc.
Some people here (before I left for pakistan) were really scaring me that they are very strict at the airports, they will take the money off u and will investigate etc. , what if u lose the money....
I'm not a risk-taker but i didn't have a choice back then so I took the cash with me and it was all ok.
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Wow, u were v.lucky, defo wouldn't advise anyone to try that esp now those full body scanners are being introduced..
Forget custom officers, have you thought about the risk of robbers and those lafangays (Allah forbid) who dominate Pakistan? Please do not carry any cash, it's just not safe. If you're in the U.S, you can open up a Bank of America account temporarily, they have branches in Pakistan where you can go to withdraw money. Or wire the amount to a local bank account there.
That is so scary. I have heard of incidences where someone went to get their money exchanged and someone from that place would hire robbers to follow the customer home and rob them.
Also, i have heard warnings to not wear gold because robbers will come and nto hesitate to yank earrings out your ears or cut your arms or fingers for the jewelery. I'm not sure how true that is.....I traveled to Pakistan last time in 2007 and happily wore gold jewelery (since I was a newlywed at the time) and nothing liket hat happened. y..Alhumdulillah I and my immediate family have been safe so far. But it's so scary :(
Re: How do I take a large amount of money to Pakistan for a wedding?
^ yeah man, my aun't sister flew in from dubai two days before Eid. she was waiting for a cab at the airport with baby in her arms and these guys drove up, showed her a gun and loaded all her stuff into their car and drove off! astaghfirullah, its terrible!! needless to say, Eid was not fun for them- all the presents for the family, the new clothes, baby stuff, the whole shebang- all gone.
man, i'm going soon and i'm scared now!!! :(
read ayatal kursi and dua-e-safar, iA nothing will happen.
That is so scary. I have heard of incidences where someone went to get their money exchanged and someone from that place would hire robbers to follow the customer home and rob them.
Also, i have heard warnings to not wear gold because robbers will come and nto hesitate to yank earrings out your ears or cut your arms or fingers for the jewelery. I'm not sure how true that is.....I traveled to Pakistan last time in 2007 and happily wore gold jewelery (since I was a newlywed at the time) and nothing liket hat happened. y..Alhumdulillah I and my immediate family have been safe so far. But it's so scary :(
It's very common, Sara.
Lots of brides wear artificial jewelry now due to the same fear. All that you mentioned above has happened at some point or the other to many people.
Re: How do I take a large amount of money to Pakistan for a wedding?
please don't show custom ppl that you are taking 10K or any amount anywhere near that, they will eat you alive, before you have to worry about saftey wareha you will have big headache with customs.
Best thing to do it to take some, transfer in advance, use other means.
Please don't wear nice clothes, flashy expensive bags, then you would stand out in the crown and there are too many vultures out there. I don't carry my LVs, guccis, BBs in public, only in private parties back home.
Re: How do I take a large amount of money to Pakistan for a wedding?
Also, don't wear your engagement/wedding rings when travelling to Pakistan. I plan on leaving mine at home.
My cousin from England wore her $20,000 ring to bazaars and the entire family was horrified. Thank God nothing happened.
Re: How do I take a large amount of money to Pakistan for a wedding?
I had my shaadi in Pakistan few months ago. Of course this was an issue with us too. Or actually everytime we go to Pakistan, taking money is an issue. The security is really tough these days so I highly recommend you take traveller's check to pakistan. Its the most safest thing with YOUR name on it. You lose it, you get robbed... no one else can cash it out. Avoid the questioning part at the airport. Last thing you want to deal with when you are going for your wedding i am sure.
Also lets say you do decide to take cash, things aren't good in pakistan. They rob you easily. My cousins got robbed coming from the airport. My BIL got robbed and shot at when he was coming from money exchange after getting RS. for Dollars. Just be very very careful. It may not happen to everyone but you don't know if it'll happen to you.