For overseas Pakistanis who have been meaning to buy a plot back home, the calendar has just handed you a rare double win. The State Bank of Pakistan’s new Pasban Remittance Reward Scheme opened its very first qualifying window on 1 October 2026, and it runs through 31 December 2026, with the first draw on 15 January 2027. If you are already planning to fund a 5-marla plot purchase in Rawalpindi, routing that money home through formal banking channels this quarter can simultaneously buy you an RDA-approved plot and enter you into a Rs16 billion annual prize pool — at zero extra cost.
What exactly is the Pasban scheme?
Launched by SBP in late September 2026 and funded entirely by Pakistan’s banking industry (no burden on the national exchequer), Pasban rewards recipients of home remittances sent through formal channels. The headline numbers are serious: more than 10,000 winners a year, drawn quarterly, from a pool of Rs16 billion annually.
Each quarter distributes 2,521 cash prizes worth Rs4 billion, through a secure, fully digital and auditable draw. Participation is free. The mechanism is simple: a remittance equivalent to USD 100 credited to a beneficiary’s bank account earns one non-transferable digital entry (ticket), and larger amounts earn proportionally more entries.
The quarterly prize structure
| Prize tier | Number of prizes | Amount each |
|---|---|---|
| First prize | 1 | Rs 100 million |
| Second prize | 20 | Rs 25 million |
| Third prize | 100 | Rs 10 million |
| Fourth prize | 2,400 | Rs 1 million |
| Total per quarter | 2,521 | Rs 4 billion |
The eligibility rule you must not miss
Here is the detail that trips people up. To qualify for a quarter’s draw, a beneficiary must receive at least USD 100 in each of the three months of the quarter — not a single lump sum in one month. For the current window that means at least $100 landing in the recipient’s account in October, again in November, and again in December 2026.
Entries then scale with the amount. The SBP’s own example: if a beneficiary receives $100 in October, $200 in November and $300 in December, they collect 1, 2 and 3 entries respectively — six entries for the quarter. The more you send (and the more consistently across all three months), the more tickets you hold.
Two exclusions matter for property buyers. Roshan Digital Account (RDA) inflows and cash-over-the-counter pickups do not qualify. Note the unfortunate acronym clash: in this article “RDA plot” means a Rawalpindi Development Authority-approved plot, whereas the excluded “RDA” is the Roshan Digital Account. To earn Pasban entries, send a standard home remittance into a resident beneficiary’s ordinary bank account through a bank or a licensed exchange-company corridor.
Why pair this with a 5-marla RDA plot?
A 5-marla residential plot is the sweet spot of the twin-cities market — affordable, liquid, and the easiest ticket size to resell. In well-planned RDA-approved Rawalpindi societies, 5-marla plots currently trade in roughly the Rs2.0–3.5 million range, with entry-level corridor plots around Rs2.55–2.75 million, often on 36–48 month instalment plans.
At an exchange rate near Rs280 to the dollar, a Rs2.5 million plot is about USD 8,900. If you are sending that money anyway, spreading it across the quarter turns a purchase you had already decided to make into a large block of free draw entries. Consider the illustration below.
| Month (2026) | Remittance sent | Approx. entries |
|---|---|---|
| October | $3,000 | 30 |
| November | $3,000 | 30 |
| December | $2,900 | 29 |
| Quarter total | $8,900 (≈ Rs2.5m) | ≈ 89 entries |
Because at least $100 arrives in every month, the beneficiary is fully eligible — and holds nearly 90 tickets into the 15 January 2027 draw, while the rupees accumulate in Pakistan ready to close the plot deal.
Your action timeline
- Now (October): Confirm your beneficiary has an active, standard bank account in Pakistan (not an RDA). Begin sending at least $100 this month through a bank or licensed exchange company.
- October–December: Keep remittances flowing in all three months to stay eligible and build entries. Keep SWIFT/transaction receipts.
- In parallel: Shortlist an RDA-approved 5-marla plot and verify it (see FAQ). Negotiate price and payment plan.
- By 31 December 2026: Qualifying window closes. Complete your plot booking/payment with the remitted funds.
- 15 January 2027: First Pasban draw. Winners are notified through their banks.
A word of caution
Treat the draw as a bonus, never the reason to buy. The investment case for a 5-marla RDA plot — a stable macro window, tax adjustments favouring documented property, and genuine end-user demand in Rawalpindi — should stand on its own. Verify the scheme’s approval status before paying a single rupee, and never over-remit beyond what you can commit to the plot just to chase extra tickets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Roshan Digital Account qualify me for Pasban?
No. Roshan Digital Account inflows and cash-over-the-counter remittances are explicitly excluded. To earn entries, send a conventional home remittance into a resident beneficiary’s normal bank account via a bank or a licensed exchange-company corridor.
Can one big transfer in December win me entries?
It will generate entries for December, but you will not be eligible for the quarterly draw unless at least USD 100 was also received in October and November. The three-consecutive-months rule is the gatekeeper; spread your transfers across the quarter.
How do I confirm a 5-marla plot is genuinely RDA-approved?
Check the Rawalpindi Development Authority’s housing-scheme portal at rda.gop.pk, open the Private Housing Schemes / HSMS section, and search the exact society name and block. For large sums, obtain a written status from RDA’s One Window Cell and scan the QR code on the plot file before paying.
Is there any fee or registration for Pasban?
None. Participation is completely free and automatic for eligible remittance recipients — banks generate the digital entries against qualifying inflows. There is no separate sign-up, and entries are non-transferable.
Bottom line: the Oct–Dec 2026 window aligns perfectly with a disciplined overseas investor’s plan — document your inflows, qualify for the 15 January draw, and park the money in a verified, RDA-approved 5-marla plot. An RDA-approved society such as Silver City on the Rawalpindi corridor is one option worth shortlisting while you route your funds through formal channels this quarter.
