If you are a Pakistani living abroad, the simplest way to buy shares on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) is through your Roshan Digital Account (RDA). The service is called Roshan Equity Investment. It lets you open a stock trading account online, fund it from your RDA and trade from anywhere, without visiting Pakistan.
This guide explains how it works, step by step. Facts were checked on 1 October 2026, and sources are linked.
What is a Roshan Digital Account?
A Roshan Digital Account is a bank account for non-resident and overseas Pakistanis. You open it online with a Pakistani bank that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has designated. You fund it with money sent from abroad. You can use it for:
- bill payments and transfers
- government savings products such as Naya Pakistan Certificates
- shares on the PSX, through Roshan Equity Investment
What is Roshan Equity Investment?
According to PSX, Roshan Equity Investment is an investment account opened through your RDA. When you sign up, these accounts are set up for you:
- a trading account with the broker you choose
- a Unique Identification Number (UIN) with NCCPL, the clearing company
- a custody account with CDC, the Central Depository Company, where your shares are held in your name
- Direct Settlement Service (DSS), which lets CDC pay for your purchases and receive your shares on your behalf
Through it you can invest in conventional and Shariah-compliant shares, ETFs, bonds and government securities listed on PSX.
Who can use it?
- Non-resident Pakistanis who hold a Roshan Digital Account with a participating bank.
- Pakistanis with declared foreign assets. Some brokers say they can also use it (AKD Securities).
Which banks and brokers offer it?
PSX's RDA page lists more than a dozen participating banks, including HBL, MCB, UBL and Faysal Bank, and more than 70 brokers.
Some banks run their own versions:
- Meezan Bank. Its service is set up for Shariah-compliant shares.
- Bank AL Habib. It runs the service through its own GEM account.
Brokers in our ranking
These brokers in our broker safety ranking say they accept RDA clients:
| Broker | Rating (as of Oct 2026) | RDA note |
|---|---|---|
| Arif Habib Limited | PACRA BMR1 | RDA eligible |
| AKD Securities | BMR1, VIS entity AA- | Has a dedicated Roshan Equity page |
| JS Global | PACRA BMR1 | Through JS Bank |
| Topline Securities | VIS BMR2++ | RDA eligible. Beware the fake "TSL WEALTH" app |
| Alfalah Securities | PACRA BFR2 | RDA eligible |
Whether a broker is on your bank's list can change, so check it in your bank's RDA portal.
Step by step: link your RDA to a broker
The exact screens differ by bank. The usual flow is:
- Open a Roshan Digital Account online with a participating bank, if you don't have one. You will need your CNIC or NICOP, your passport and proof of your overseas status. Your bank will tell you exactly what it accepts.
- Fund the RDA by sending money from your foreign bank account. RDA accounts are funded through remittances from abroad.
- Log in to your bank's RDA app or portal and find the Roshan Equity Investment or "Invest in PSX" option.
- Give consent for your RDA details to be shared with CDC, and accept the terms and conditions.
- Choose your broker from the list.
- Wait for the accounts to open. CDC sets up your custody account, UIN and DSS. Your broker sets up your trading account and app login. AKD says this can take about three working days.
- Transfer money from your RDA to your Roshan Equity Investment account. This is the cash you will invest.
- Log in to the broker's app and place your orders.
From here, buying shares works exactly as it does for resident investors. Our complete guide to investing in PSX explains order types, reading quotes and avoiding beginner mistakes.
Settlement
PSX moved to T+1 settlement on 9 February 2026 (Business Recorder). Your trade settles one working day after you buy or sell. Some bank pages still say T+2 because they were written before the change.
Trading hours if you live abroad
PSX trades in Pakistan time (PKT, UTC+5). From Monday to Thursday, normal trading runs from 9:32 am to 3:30 pm PKT. On Friday it runs in two sessions, 9:17 am to 12:00 pm and 2:32 pm to 4:30 pm. See PSX timings and holidays 2026 for the full timetable.
Rough local times for Monday to Thursday trading:
| Where you live | Normal trading (Mon to Thu) |
|---|---|
| UAE (UTC+4) | 8:32 am to 2:30 pm |
| Saudi Arabia (UTC+3) | 7:32 am to 1:30 pm |
| UK (UTC+0 in winter) | 4:32 am to 10:30 am |
| UK (UTC+1 in summer) | 5:32 am to 11:30 am |
Pakistan does not use daylight saving time. The gap therefore changes when your own country's clocks change.
If the hours are awkward, place limit orders the evening before. Many broker apps send them to the exchange at the next pre-open.
Fees
You pay the same kinds of charges as resident investors:
- Brokerage commission. Set by each broker, often around 0.15% of the trade value. Compare the brokers' tariff schedules.
- Provincial sales tax on the commission.
- Small CDC, NCCPL, PSX and SECP charges. These are usually a rupee or two on a normal-size trade.
- Direct Settlement Service. PSX says DSS is free of cost for overseas Pakistanis.
- Bank charges. Your bank may charge for some services. Bank AL Habib, for example, publishes a schedule of charges.
Since April 2020 there has been no capital value tax on buying listed shares.
Getting your money out (repatriation)
Money from selling shares, and your dividends, comes back to your Roshan Equity Investment account or the linked RDA. You can then:
- reinvest it in other shares
- move it to your RDA and use it for other RDA services
- repatriate it (send it back abroad) through your RDA
AKD says repatriation of profits is permitted for these investments. Check the timing and any conversion or transfer charges with your bank.
All corporate actions are credited to your CDC custody account. That includes cash dividends, bonus shares and rights.
Tax for RDA investors
Tax works the same way as for resident investors. It is deducted at source, so you normally don't need to calculate it yourself:
- Capital gains tax. Shares bought on or after 1 July 2025 have 15% CGT deducted (Profit).
- Dividend tax. For filers, most company dividends have 15% deducted. Non-filers usually pay double (PwC).
- Zakat. AKD says zakat is not deducted from dividends for these accounts.
Whether you get filer rates depends on your status on FBR's Active Taxpayer List. Overseas Pakistanis can file a return in Pakistan too. Ask your bank how your RDA status is treated for tax. Also check whether you owe tax in your country of residence.
For the details and worked examples, read tax on shares in Pakistan 2026.
RDA shares vs other RDA investments
| PSX shares (Roshan Equity Investment) | Naya Pakistan Certificates | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Part-ownership of listed companies | Government savings certificates |
| Return | Not fixed. Comes from dividends and price changes | Fixed profit rate set by the government |
| Risk | Prices can fall, sometimes sharply | Low. Backed by the Government of Pakistan |
| Liquidity | Sell any trading day. Settles T+1 | Fixed tenors, with rules for early encashment |
| Best for | Long-term growth, if you accept ups and downs | Steady, predictable income |
Many overseas investors use both. Certificates give stable income, and a smaller slice goes into shares for growth. Check the current certificate rates with your bank, because they change.
Safety tips for overseas investors
- Start only from your bank's RDA portal. Do not use a link someone sends you on WhatsApp.
- Never send money to a person who says they will "invest for you" in Pakistan. Roshan Equity Investment funds move only through your RDA.
- Check your CDC account directly. Register for CDC Access and turn on email statements, so you can confirm your shares independently.
- Turn on 2FA in the broker app, and never share OTPs.
- Remember the cash limit. If a broker defaults, the PSX compensation fund pays up to Rs 1 million per claimant. Don't leave large idle cash balances with a broker.
FAQ
Can I invest in PSX from abroad without an RDA?
Some brokers open accounts for non-residents with a NICOP and passport, funded from a Pakistani bank account. For most overseas Pakistanis, the RDA route is simpler and makes repatriation clearer.
Can I buy any share through my RDA?
PSX says you can buy conventional and Shariah-compliant shares, ETFs and bonds. Some banks, such as Meezan Bank, offer only Shariah-compliant shares.
How long does setup take?
Once your RDA is active, AKD says the trading and CDC accounts open in about three working days. Opening the RDA itself takes longer, depending on your bank.
Is there a minimum investment?
PSX sets no minimum, and shares trade in one-share lots. Your bank or broker may set its own minimum, so check with them.
Want to research before you buy? Start with our market page, the dividends tracker and our learning section.
Not financial advice. Rules, fees and tax rates change, so confirm the details with your bank and broker before you invest.