What changed
The government has raised the currency transaction report threshold for banks by 50 percent to Rs3 million. Cash deals at or above that level must now be reported as Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs) to the Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU) of the State Bank of Pakistan under the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA).
The previous limit was Rs2 million. The higher bar was approved by the National Executive Committee (NEC) on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML-CFT), which is chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.
How CTRs differ from suspicious reports
A CTR is filed when a cash transaction meets or exceeds the set amount — now Rs3 million. A Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) is different: it is filed when activity points to money laundering or terrorism financing, regardless of that cash limit.
The NEC sets these reporting limits for banks, other financial institutions and related agencies through notifications in the official Gazette. The FMU receives CTRs and STRs, analyses them and can ask any agency or person in Pakistan for related records. Those parties must respond promptly so the unit can share findings, on a confidential basis, with investigating or prosecuting agencies or with foreign financial intelligence units under reciprocal arrangements.
Other AML decisions at the same meeting
Alongside the currency transaction report threshold change, the committee added Section 28 of the Pakistan Maritime Zones Act 2023 to Schedule I of the AMLA. That step treats maritime piracy — illegal violence, detention or depredation for private ends by the crew or passengers of a private ship or aircraft — as a predicate offence under the anti-money laundering law.
The NEC also placed the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) in Schedule IV of the AMLA. That gives the crypto regulator AML-CFT powers over virtual and digital assets, alongside bodies such as the State Bank, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan and the Federal Board of Revenue.
What officials stressed next
An official statement said the meeting reviewed compliance with earlier decisions and progress on Pakistan’s AML-CFT regime, including FMU performance, institutional capacity and work involving artificial intelligence and machine learning. Aurangzeb stressed regular follow-up and stronger coordination among institutions, and called for a clear roadmap with timelines to build the FMU’s analytical and operational capacity. The committee also underlined the need to keep the framework responsive to new financial risks and technologies.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Sarkar ne bankon ke liye currency transaction report ki had Rs2 million se barha kar Rs3 million kar di hai. Ab itne ya zyada cash transaction par bank FMU ko report bhejenge. Ye had AML qanoon ke tehat suspicious cash tracking ke liye hai. Aam chhoti-moti kharidari is had se bohot kam hoti hai, lekin bade cash deals ab nayi limit se linked hain.
