How to Open a Roshan Digital Account: HBL, MCB, Meezan and UBL Compared

The Roshan Digital Account (RDA) is the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) scheme that lets non-resident Pakistanis open and run a bank account in Pakistan remotely. HBL, MCB, Meezan Bank and UBL are four of the participating banks, and their application flows are similar. This guide covers the shared rules once, then what differs by bank.

In this guide: what the RDA is · eligibility · documents · shared steps · funding · HBL · MCB · Meezan · UBL · comparison · FAQ

How this page was prepared. Scheme-level facts were checked against SBP’s Roshan Digital Account pages. Bank-specific details come from each bank’s public page as recorded in September to October 2026 and were not re-verified line by line. Processing times, currencies, fees and features change, so confirm on the bank’s own page before applying. This is general information, not financial advice.

What the RDA is

SBP lists 15 participating banks, including Allied, Askari, Alfalah, Bank AL Habib, BOP, Dubai Islamic, Faysal, HBL, HabibMetro, JS Bank, MCB, Meezan, Samba, Standard Chartered and UBL. Through an RDA, SBP says account holders can use:

• Roshan Apna Ghar and Roshan Apni Car financing
• Roshan Samaji Khidmat for charitable giving
• Roshan Equity Investment for PSX shares
• Roshan Pension Plan
• Naya Pakistan Certificates, issued in several currencies. Their rates change, so check current rates with your bank rather than relying on a figure printed here.

SBP’s Roshan Equity Investment works like this: open an RDA, choose a brokerage, accept the terms so your bank can share your RDA details with the broker, and fund the account. This creates a trading account, a UIN (from NCCPL) and a CDC custody account. SBP says dividends and disinvestment proceeds can be repatriated. You can hold conventional or Shariah-compliant stocks.

Who is eligible

Across the banks, eligible applicants are generally:

• Non-resident Pakistanis (NRPs) with a valid CNIC, NICOP or Pakistani passport
• Foreign nationals holding a Pakistan Origin Card (POC)
• Pakistani government employees posted abroad (HBL and Meezan list this; confirm with MCB and UBL)

Residents of Pakistan, including family members of an NRP who live in Pakistan, are not eligible.

Documents you will need

• CNIC, NICOP or valid passport copy
• Proof of overseas residency or non-resident status (residence visa, work permit, Iqama or a utility bill, depending on the bank)
• Proof of profession and source of income (MCB asks for this explicitly)
• A valid email address and an active mobile number for one-time-password verification
• A recent photograph (HBL)
• Details of the overseas bank account you will fund from

How the application works

All four banks follow the same online pattern:

1. Open the bank’s RDA page and choose to apply.
2. Choose account type and currency (a PKR or foreign-currency account; current or savings).
3. Enter CNIC/NICOP details, your overseas address and contact information.
4. Upload identity and residency documents.
5. Verify with a one-time password.
6. Review and submit.
7. Wait for confirmation. Each bank quotes a few business days or less once documents are complete, but timelines depend on verification.

Funding the account

An RDA can be funded only by inward remittance from outside Pakistan. Local transfers from within Pakistan are not accepted. The RDA bank’s own incoming-remittance charges may be waived, but your sending or correspondent bank can still charge a fee. SBP says that charges are reduced to roughly $5 to $9 when the RDA bank’s special routing code is used, so ask your sending bank to use it. For comparing ways to send money, see our remittance rate checker and our guide to sending money to Pakistan.

HBL eBanc Roshan Digital Account

HBL was among the first banks to launch an RDA. Its application is on hbl.com/ebancroshandigitalaccount, with a separate Islamic option on HBL’s Islamic banking pages.

• Account types: PKR or foreign currency (USD, GBP, EUR or AED depending on availability), current or savings.
• Processing: HBL says it typically processes applications within a few business days once documents are complete, and emails your IBAN when approved.
• Uses: remittances, government securities, PSX shares through a linked CDC arrangement, Roshan Apni Car and Apna Ghar financing, and the HBL mobile app.
• Check before relying on it: an earlier version of this guide mentioned Pakistan Investment Bonds. SBP’s RDA overview does not list them, so confirm product availability with HBL.
• Support: ebanc.roshanaccount@hbl.com · +92 21 111 555 425 · live chat on the HBL page

MCB Roshan Digital Account

MCB’s RDA is applied for on mcb.com.pk/personal/roshan-digital-account.

• Flow: enter CNIC or NICOP and email, verify the email with an OTP, then complete personal and income details and upload documents. You can save the application and resume later with your application ID.
• Processing: MCB says an account can be opened in as little as two business days once documents are verified.
• Uses: remittances and everyday banking, Naya Pakistan Certificates, PSX shares through a linked CDC investment account, a free cheque book sent to your overseas address or an MCB branch, and online banking.
• Support: rdu@mcb.com.pk · +92 42 3259 5598 (Mon to Fri, 9 AM to 5 PM PST) · helpline +92 42 111-000-622

Meezan Roshan Digital Account

Meezan Bank, Pakistan’s largest Islamic bank, offers a Shariah-compliant RDA, applied for through the Roshan Digital Account page on its website.

• Account types: PKR or foreign currency; current or a Mudarabah-based savings account.
• Processing: Meezan says opening can take roughly 48 hours once documents are complete.
• Uses: Mudarabah term deposits, Islamic Naya Pakistan Certificates, Shariah-compliant PSX shares through a linked CDC arrangement, Al Meezan Investments mutual funds, and Takaful and wealth-management products.
• Tax note: Meezan says no withholding tax applies on certain cash withdrawals and non-cash transfers. Tax rules change each year, so confirm the current position with the bank.
• Support: +92 (21) 111-331-331 or 111-331-332 · live chat on Meezan’s site

UBL Roshan Digital Account

UBL offers conventional and Islamic options under its RDA, applied for through its UBL Digital NRP services page.

• Currencies: UBL’s page lists PKR, USD, EUR, GBP, Saudi riyal and UAE dirham, one of the wider lists among RDA banks, which matters for people working in the Gulf who want to hold riyals or dirhams.
• Processing: UBL says a representative contacts you within 48 hours of submission.
• Repatriation: UBL says repatriation requests go through its netbanking under “Roshan Services”, with a stated maximum of five working days.
• Uses: PSX shares through integrated brokers, Naya Pakistan Certificates and real-estate financing. UBL has advertised certificate rates in the past. Do not rely on an old rate, because they change, so check the current one.

Side by side

	HBL	MCB	Meezan	UBL
Banking type	Conventional, Islamic option separate	Conventional	Fully Islamic	Conventional and Islamic options
Currencies	PKR plus foreign currencies	Confirm on bank page	PKR plus foreign currencies	PKR, USD, EUR, GBP, SAR, AED
Quoted opening time	A few business days	As little as 2 business days	About 48 hours	Representative contact within 48 hours
Resume a saved application	Not stated	Yes, with application ID	Not stated	Not stated
Shariah-compliant investing	Separate Islamic RDA	Confirm with bank	Built in	Islamic option available
Mutual funds via RDA	Confirm with bank	Confirm with bank	Al Meezan Investments	Confirm with bank

“Confirm” and “Not stated” mean the bank’s page we reviewed did not say. Do not read them as “not available”.

Choosing a bank

• You want riba-free banking end to end: Meezan.
• You hold or spend Gulf currencies: UBL’s currency list is the widest of the four.
• You already bank with HBL or MCB in Pakistan: the existing relationship may simplify support.
• You plan to invest in PSX: check that your RDA bank supports your preferred broker. Our guides to full-service brokers and digital and regional brokers list their routes.
• You are sending money regularly: compare transfer costs, not just account features.

Frequently asked questions

Can I open an RDA if my family lives in Pakistan? Your family can live in Pakistan, but you must be non-resident. Residents of Pakistan are not eligible for an RDA.

Is the account only in USD? No. Banks offer PKR and several foreign currencies, which vary by bank.

Can I take money out? SBP’s materials describe the RDA as repatriable for the investment products it covers. Check the specific product’s terms and any tax with your bank.

Does the bank charge for incoming remittances? Banks may waive their own charges, but your sending bank or an intermediary may still charge.

Do I have to file a Pakistani tax return? It depends on your income and residency. See our guide to becoming an FBR filer from abroad.

Related guides

• Roshan Digital Account explained
• Sending money to Pakistan: transfer services, banks and RDAs compared
• Full-service brokers on PSX
• Digital and regional brokers on PSX
• Remittance rate checker
• Start Here

Sources: SBP: Roshan Digital Accounts, SBP: Roshan Equity Investment. Bank pages: HBL, MCB, Meezan Bank, UBL.