Many overseas Pakistanis send large amounts of money back home. Still, they don’t always have a clear investment plan in place.
Money may be distributed among:
These uses are valid, but putting most of your savings into one asset, one person, or one institution can create financial and management risks.
A better approach is to split your overseas income based on its purpose, the currency you’ll need, when you’ll need it, how easily you can access it, and the level of risk.
Sending money to Pakistan completes the transfer of funds. It does not answer:
Every overseas Pakistani investor should maintain a written investment register showing:
Do not place all remittances into one general pool. Divide them into separate objectives.
For:
This money should remain liquid and should not be exposed to significant market risk.
Maintain funds for:
Part of the emergency reserve should normally remain in the country where the investor lives because an emergency may arise outside Pakistan.
For:
These funds may be held in money-market, income, or short-term government-backed investments, subject to suitability.
For:
For long-term goals, you can include some stocks, pension funds, and other growth investments, but keep the mix balanced.
An overseas Pakistani earning in SAR, AED, USD, GBP, or EUR should not automatically convert every saving into Pakistani rupees.
Currency selection should reflect the future liability.
Examples:
It makes sense to keep money in PKR for these goals, since you’ll spend it in PKR later.
Examples:
You don’t have to convert all of these funds into PKR. Converting all savings into PKR can create currency risk if future expenses will arise in another currency.
The State Bank of Pakistan’s Roshan Digital Account enables eligible non-resident Pakistanis and POC holders to conduct banking, payment, and investment activities digitally without visiting a Pakistani bank branch. Accounts are available through participating banks and may be maintained in Pakistani rupees or eligible foreign currencies.
By the end of 2025, gross inflows through Roshan Digital Accounts had crossed USD 11 billion, while active accounts exceeded 890,000, according to the State Bank’s Financial Stability Review 2025. 893,130 refers to accounts opened, not active accounts. At December 2025, cumulative funds received were US$11.707 billion. Since the article is being published in July 2026, it would be better to use the latest available figure: at June 2026, 946,201 accounts had been opened and cumulative funds received were US$13.365 billion.
Even though the programme is large, it doesn’t remove investment risks. But it does show that overseas Pakistanis have a formal digital way to invest.
The State Bank describes Naya Pakistan Certificates as sovereign instruments issued by the Government of Pakistan.
They are available in currencies that may include:
Conventional and Shariah-compliant versions are available over different maturities.
Before investing, review:
A high PKR return should not be compared directly with a lower USD return without considering currency movement.
Through the Roshan Equity Investment Account, eligible overseas Pakistanis may invest through approved brokerage arrangements in Pakistan’s capital market.
The process generally includes:
Available securities may include conventional and Shariah-compliant shares, exchange-traded funds, bonds, and eligible government securities.
You should think of equity investments as long-term and tied to the market. Don’t use them for money you’ll need soon.
Overseas investors may also evaluate regulated:
Eligibility, account-opening procedures, taxation, and repatriation arrangements should be confirmed with the relevant institution before investment.
Property can be one part of a balanced portfolio, but it shouldn’t be your only investment.
Property risks include:
The investor should calculate the net property return:
Net rental return = Annual rent minus taxes, maintenance, vacancy, and management costs
You should divide this by the property’s current market value, not just what you paid for it.
A property worth PKR 50 million generating net rent of PKR 1.5 million annually provides an approximate net yield of: PKR 1.5 million. You should compare this yield to other options, and also think about the chance for price growth, how easy it is to sell, and the risks involved. Also, consider liquidity and risk. The correct calculation is:
PKR 1.5 million ÷ PKR 50 million × 100 = 3% annual net rental yield.
Also, the formula currently calls the amount after expenses “net rental return.” Technically, that is net rental income.
The following examples are illustrative only.
The final allocation must consider:
An overseas investor should not rely entirely on informal arrangements with relatives.
Maintain:
Giving someone a broad, unlimited power of attorney can put your money at risk.
Before transferring money, ask:
The Pakistan Stock Exchange states that Roshan Equity Investment arrangements facilitate repatriation of invested funds and dividend income through the applicable RDA framework without requiring separate SBP permission, subject to the relevant procedures.
The rules should still be confirmed with the bank and intermediary before investment.
Before selecting any investment, record:
Regulation
Return
Risk
Liquidity
Currency
Documentation
Suitability
An overseas Pakistani investment report should show:
Don’t just look at your investment performance in PKR. If it matters, check it in both PKR and the currency you earn in.
Avoid:
Overseas Pakistanis should organise their investments through five clear steps:
Munaafa Investments can help overseas Pakistanis review their assets, spot risks from having too much in one place, explore regulated investment options, and build a goal-based portfolio you can manage from anywhere.
This article is general educational information. It does not constitute a guaranteed-return offer, tax opinion, or personalised investment recommendation. Regulations, tax treatment, product availability, and repatriation procedures should be confirmed before investing.
Munaafa Insights — Munaafa Investments Email: info@munaafa.com.pk | Website: munaafa.com.pk
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Whether you are planning for long-term wealth creation, retirement, portfolio management, or financial planning, Munaafa Investments is here to help you make informed financial decisions with confidence.
