OTTAWA, Nov 21 (APP): The Pakistan High Commission in Ottawa in collaboration with the Bank of Punjab and State Bank of Pakistan hosted a webinar here to engage with the vibrant Pakistani diaspora across Canada.
This initiative aimed at providing valuable insights into the benefits and opportunities offered by the Roshan Digital Account (RDA), a flagship program by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in collaboration with commercial banks in Pakistan, according to a press release received Thursday.
The panelists who attended the session included Shah Faisal Kakar, Acting High Commissioner; Syed Ali Raza, Head of PRI, State Bank of Pakistan; Nofel Daud, Chief Digital Officer, Bank of Punjab; Salman Saeed, Head of Home Remittances, RDA & FDA Division; Ishtiak Ahmed Akil, Consul General, Montreal; Khalil Ahmed Bajwa, Consul General, Toronto; Ghulam Hussain, Acting Consul General, Vancouver; and Altamash Janjua, Trade and Investment Counsellor, Canada.
The webinar highlighted the integral role of the Canadian Pakistani community, which comprises over half a million individuals contributing significantly to diverse sectors such as finance, technology, healthcare, and economic development. Their professional success has driven a robust demand for financial products that facilitate seamless connectivity with Pakistan’s banking and financial systems.
It was highlighted that RDA enabled overseas Pakistanis to remotely open and operate personal bank accounts in Pakistan which simplifies fund transfers, supports investment in Pakistan’s real estate and stock markets, and provides tax benefits.
The initiative also impacted Pakistan’s remittances as the country received remittances of over $30.2 billion globally, with $504.8 million originating from Canada.
RDA has played a pivotal role, enabling over 735,000 accounts across 175 countries, transferring $8.9 billion and repatriating $1.67 billion.
The session provided attendees with detailed insights into the program’s features, addressing community queries and showcasing the immense trust and enthusiasm of overseas Pakistanis in contributing to their homeland’s economic growth.
During the question-and-answer session, queries from the Pakistani community were responded by Mr. Salman Saeed.
The Pakistan Mission expressed gratitude to the community for their unwavering commitment to Pakistan and reiterated its dedication to strengthening this bond through continuous engagement and support.
Ishtiaq Ahmed, APP’s Foreign Editor, leads coverage of the Prime Minister, President, Foreign Office, and special assignments, bringing over 20 years of journalism experience from local and international publications – Reach out at 03335293238/ ishtiaqrao@gmail.com/ X: ishtiaqrao