For years, overseas Pakistanis who wanted to invest at home faced a tiring choice: fly back to open accounts, rely on relatives, or send money through informal channels. The Roshan Digital Account was created in 2020 to fix that, and it has become one of the State Bank of Pakistan’s most successful programmes.
This guide explains what a Roshan Digital Account is, who can open one, what you can do with it, the current returns on Naya Pakistan Certificates, how tax works and how to open an account.
*This article is for information only and is not investment advice. Rates change; confirm them with your bank before investing.*
Table of Contents
What a Roshan Digital Account is
A Roshan Digital Account (RDA) is a bank account that overseas Pakistanis can open and run entirely online, without visiting Pakistan. The State Bank of Pakistan launched the scheme with commercial banks on 10 September 2020 under the slogan “Door Reh Kar bhi Paas”, meaning close even when far away.
The account can be held in foreign currency or rupees. Money in it can be invested in Pakistan or sent back abroad, and repatriation of funds is a core feature of the scheme.
How big the programme has become
The numbers show how widely it is used. According to State Bank data compiled by Arif Habib Limited, gross inflows through the Roshan Digital Account reached about $13.37 billion by the end of June 2026. Of that, about $8.4 billion had been used within Pakistan and about $2.1 billion sent back abroad. Close to a million accounts have been opened.
Monthly inflows reached $321 million in April 2026, an 81% increase on a year earlier, according to the Pakistan Banks Association.
Who can open a Roshan Digital Account
The account is mainly for non-resident Pakistanis who hold a CNIC, NICOP or Pakistan Origin Card. Resident Pakistanis who have declared assets abroad can also use parts of the scheme, such as Naya Pakistan Certificates.
In March 2026 the government widened the programme to foreign nationals, companies and institutional investors, turning it into a broader channel for foreign investment into Pakistan.
What you can do with the account
A Roshan Digital Account connects overseas Pakistanis to most of the country’s financial system:
- Invest in Naya Pakistan Certificates, government-backed certificates in dollars, rupees and other currencies.
- Invest in the stock market and mutual funds through brokers and asset management companies linked to the scheme. See how to invest in PSX and our guide to mutual funds in Pakistan.
- Buy property in Pakistan. If you are considering property in the capital, our guide to property tax in Islamabad explains the costs.
- Pay bills, fees and other expenses in Pakistan through digital banking.
- Get financing for a car or home through products offered by participating banks.
Naya Pakistan Certificates: current returns
Naya Pakistan Certificates are the most popular investment through the scheme. They are issued by the government, and both conventional and Islamic versions are available at the same rates. The Islamic version has attracted the most money, about $1.26 billion by June 2026.
Under the rates notified in June 2026, as reported by Profit by Pakistan Today:
- US dollar certificates: 7.50% for three years and 7.75% for five years.
- Saudi riyal and UAE dirham certificates: 7.25% for three years and 7.50% for five years, a little below the dollar rates. These currencies were added in 2026.
- Rupee certificates: 12.50% for three years and 12.75% for five years.
- Euro certificates: between 4.75% and 5.50% for terms of up to a year.
Shorter terms, such as three, six and 12 months, are also available at slightly lower rates. Rates are revised from time to time, so check the latest figures with your bank before you invest.
Dollar or rupee certificates?
Rupee certificates pay a much higher rate, but you take the risk that the rupee falls against the dollar while your money is invested. Dollar certificates pay less but protect you from devaluation. If you will eventually spend the money in Pakistan, rupee certificates may suit you; if you may bring it back abroad, dollar certificates remove the currency risk. Our guide to the dollar rate in Pakistan explains what drives the exchange rate.
Tax on Roshan Digital Account investments
Profit on Naya Pakistan Certificates is subject to a 10% withholding tax. Even after that, the Pakistan Banks Association noted that net returns on dollar certificates remained well above comparable US government yields. Tax on stock market and mutual fund returns follows the normal rules for those investments, so ask your bank or a tax adviser about your situation, including any tax due in the country where you live.
How to open a Roshan Digital Account
- Choose a participating bank. More than a dozen banks offer the account, including both conventional and Islamic banks. Compare their apps, investment options and service.
- Apply online through the bank’s website or app.
- Provide your documents: typically your CNIC, NICOP or Pakistan Origin Card, your passport, and proof of your residence or work abroad.
- Complete verification, which may include a selfie or video call.
- Fund the account with a transfer from your bank abroad.
Once your documents are complete, banks usually open accounts within a few days.
Risks and things to consider
- Currency risk on rupee investments, as explained above.
- Market risk on stock market and mutual fund investments, which can fall in value.
- Rate changes. Naya Pakistan Certificate rates are revised, and new rates apply to new investments.
- Tax in your country of residence. You may have to declare your Pakistani income where you live. Check local rules.
- Scams. Fraudsters impersonate banks and promise special Roshan Digital Account schemes. Deal only with your bank through its official app and website.
Mistakes to avoid when investing from abroad
- Putting everything into rupee certificates for the higher rate without thinking about currency risk. If the rupee falls sharply, the extra interest can disappear.
- Letting relatives operate your investments with your passwords. Use the account yourself, and give access only through the bank’s official arrangements if you need help.
- Ignoring tax where you live. Many countries tax their residents on worldwide income, including profit earned in Pakistan.
- Buying property on the strength of a dealer’s video. Verify legal status and ownership before sending money, especially for plots in new housing societies.
- Not naming a nominee. If something happens to you, a nominee makes it far easier for your family to access the money.
- Chasing tips on WhatsApp. Fraudsters target people abroad because they cannot easily check claims in person.
A simple way to organise your savings from abroad
You do not need a complicated plan. Many people find it helpful to divide money by purpose:
- Money you may need soon, for family emergencies or a planned visit, kept in the account or in short-term certificates.
- Money you will spend in Pakistan in a few years, such as for a wedding or building a house, where rupee certificates may make sense despite the currency risk.
- Long-term savings you may bring back abroad, which suit dollar certificates.
- A smaller portion for growth, in shares or equity funds, if you are comfortable with market ups and downs.
Review the split once a year, or when your plans change. The point is to match each part of your savings to when and where you will use it, rather than chasing whichever rate is highest this month.
How the Roshan Digital Account compares with other options
- Compared with informal channels, it is legal, traceable and lets you take money back out.
- Compared with National Savings, Naya Pakistan Certificates are designed for non-residents and can be held in foreign currency. Residents can compare our guide to National Savings profit rates.
- Compared with keeping money abroad, dollar certificates often pay more than bank deposits in many host countries, with the government of Pakistan as the borrower.
Official source: Roshan Digital Accounts are an initiative of the State Bank of Pakistan, and profit rates and terms are set by each participating bank. Check the current terms with SBP and your bank before you open an account.
Frequently asked questions
Who can open a Roshan Digital Account?
Non-resident Pakistanis with a CNIC, NICOP or Pakistan Origin Card, and, since March 2026, foreign nationals, companies and institutional investors.
Can I take my money back out?
Yes. Repatriation of funds is a core feature of the scheme.
What do Naya Pakistan Certificates pay?
Under the June 2026 notification, dollar certificates pay 7.50% for three years and 7.75% for five years, and rupee certificates 12.50% and 12.75%. Check current rates with your bank.
Is there tax on Naya Pakistan Certificates?
A 10% withholding tax applies to profit. You may also need to report the income in your country of residence.
Can I buy property with a Roshan Digital Account?
Yes. Buying property in Pakistan is one of the uses the scheme allows.
Sources: Profit by Pakistan Today and Dawn.
