Pakistan sees surge in Roshan Digital Account inflows in January

Pakistan received gross inflows of $222 million under the Roshan Digital Account (RDA) in January, surpassing the six-month average of $191 million and the overall average of $180 million since its launch in September 2020, according to the official data.

Net inflows, calculated as gross inflows minus funds repatriated, stood at $211 million for January. This figure also exceeded the six-month average of $177 million and the overall average of $148 million since the RDA's inception.

From September 2020 to January 2025, total net investments made through the RDA reached $1.34 billion.

The SBP highlighted the significant impact of RDA inflows, particularly for a government awaiting a $1 billion tranche from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The data revealed that over $2 billion was received through RDA in 2024, with $1.345 billion utilized by the government during the same year.

The RDA, in collaboration with commercial banks, enables non-resident Pakistanis to open and operate bank accounts in Pakistan digitally.

These accounts can be used for banking, payments, and investments within the country, as well as for sending foreign remittances.

An analyst noted that the RDA has proven to be a valuable source of foreign exchange for the government.

In January 2025, Pakistan received a strong amount of money from overseas workers, totaling $3 billion. This was a 25% increase compared to the same time last year. For the first seven months of the fiscal year 2025, overseas Pakistanis sent home a total of $20.8 billion, showing a growth of 32% compared to the same period the previous year.