ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has decided to expand its Roshan Digital Account (RDA) scheme to foreign nationals, companies and institutional investors, the prime minister’s office said on Friday, as Islamabad seeks to attract external capital amid rising regional instability linked to the war in Iran.
The move comes as tensions in the Middle East — triggered after the United States and Israel jointly struck targets in Iran on Feb. 28 — continue to roil global energy markets, with Tehran’s subsequent move to block the Strait of Hormuz disrupting key trade routes and raising concerns for oil-importing economies like Pakistan.
The escalation has also sparked fears over remittance inflows, a critical pillar of Pakistan’s economy, as millions of overseas Pakistanis are based in Gulf countries at the heart of the unfolding crisis.
Under the expanded scheme, foreign investors will be allowed to invest in government securities and instruments such as 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,” the prime minister said in the statement.
The Roshan Digital Account is a flagship initiative launched by the State Bank of Pakistan in 2020 to enable overseas Pakistanis to open bank accounts and invest in domestic financial instruments without visiting the country.
The scheme has already drawn significant interest from the Pakistani diaspora, with more than 900,000 accounts opened and total inflows exceeding $12 billion as of February 2026.
Pakistan relies heavily on remittances to stabilize its external accounts, with inflows reaching $38.3 billion in the fiscal year 2025 and projected to rise to $42 billion this year, according to central bank data.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said the expansion reflects efforts to provide a transparent and investor-friendly environment through digital financial systems and ongoing reforms.
“Pakistan is ready for investment,” he said.
Aurangzeb also urged global investors to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the country, according to the statement.
