Bank customers in Pakistan are now facing higher fees when withdrawing cash from ATMs that don’t belong to their own bank. Starting July 2025, the per-transaction cost has gone up from Rs. 23.44 to Rs. 35.00, a move that’s frustrating many account holders. Several commercial banks, including Meezan Bank and MCB Islamic Bank, have updated their schedule of charges to reflect this increase. These new charges apply only when customers use ATMs of other banks—not their own.
This rise mainly benefits the 1-Link network, which facilitates interbank transactions, while a smaller portion goes to the bank that owns the ATM.
For those who don’t have easy access to their own bank’s machines especially in rural or crowded areas this added cost could become a regular burden. Many customers withdraw small amounts frequently, and with the new rate, that could mean paying hundreds more each month just to access their money.
While banks say the update covers maintenance and network usage, critics believe this move hurts customers already battling inflation and rising living costs.
