Pakistan expands Roshan Digital Account to foreign investors

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will expand its Roshan Digital Account (RDA) scheme to foreign nationals, companies and institutional investors as it seeks to attract capital amid rising regional tensions linked to the war in Iran, the prime minister’s office said on Friday.

The move comes as Middle East tensions, triggered after US and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, continue to roil global energy markets, with disruptions to key trade routes raising concerns for oil-importing economies such as Pakistan.

Under the expanded scheme, foreign investors will be allowed to invest in government securities and instruments, including Naya Pakistan Certificates, through digital banking channels, according to an official statement.

“The decision to expand the scope of Roshan Digital Account to foreign citizens, companies and institutional investors will further strengthen Pakistan as an attractive investment destination and deepen financial markets,” Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said in a statement.

The RDA scheme, launched in 2020 by the State Bank of Pakistan, allows overseas Pakistanis to open bank accounts and invest in domestic financial instruments remotely.

The programme has drawn strong interest from the Pakistani diaspora, with more than 900,000 accounts opened and inflows exceeding $12 billion as of February 2026, the statement said.

Pakistan relies heavily on remittances to support its external accounts, with inflows reaching $38.3 billion in fiscal year 2025 and projected to rise further this year, central bank data showed.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said the expansion reflects efforts to promote a transparent and investor-friendly environment through digital financial systems and ongoing reforms.

“Pakistan is ready for investment,” Aurangzeb said, urging global investors to explore opportunities in the country.