KARACHI: Pakistan received inflows of $261 million through the Roshan Digital Account (RDA) in March, an increase from $242 million in the previous month, data from the State Bank of Pakistan showed on Friday.
Since its launch in September 2020, the RDA has attracted a total of $12.426 billion in funds. The programme continues to grow, with the number of digital accounts reaching 917,400 as of March, up from 909,407 in the previous month.
The SBP data showed that out of the total RDA inflows of $12.462 billion, $2.028 billion was repatriated while $7.983 billion was utilised locally. This means the combined total of repatriated and utilised funds amounts to $10.012 billion, leaving a net repatriable liability of $2.414 billion.
These latest RDA figures come after the government expanded the programme’s scope last month, allowing foreign nationals, companies, and institutional investors to invest in the RDA and in government securities, including the Naya Pakistan Certificate. This expansion is aimed at strengthening connections with financial markets and promoting foreign investment through a digital platform.
The RDA, which provides support to foreign exchange reserves, can be used for various purposes, including investments, banking, and payment transactions. Additionally, remittances from overseas can be sent to Pakistan via these accounts.
The SBP’s FX reserves rose to $16.4 billion as of April 3. The central bank anticipates that its reserves will rise to $18 billion by June 2026.Money sent home by Pakistani workers employed abroad rose 17 per cent month-on-month to $3.8 billion in March. However, these funds dropped by 5.5 per cent year-on-year. Remittances increased 8.2 per cent to $30.3 billion in the nine months of fiscal year 2026.
