Habib Bank Limited (HBL) has led the inaugural webinar on the Pasban Remittance Reward Scheme (PRRS), bringing together the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and Askari Bank in a joint awareness session for overseas Pakistanis living in the United States. The session was organized in consultation with the Consulate General of Pakistan in New York and focused on explaining the scheme and encouraging Pakistanis abroad to send money to their families through formal remittance channels. The initiative highlights the banking sector’s efforts to strengthen engagement with the Pakistani diaspora and promote regulated channels for transferring money to Pakistan.
The webinar aimed to inform participants about how the Pasban Remittance Reward Scheme works and how overseas Pakistanis can benefit from sending remittances through eligible formal channels. Remittances are an important source of foreign exchange for Pakistan and provide financial support to households across the country. Money sent by Pakistanis working and living abroad helps families manage daily expenses, education, healthcare, housing and other financial needs. By raising awareness of a reward-based initiative, the participating institutions are seeking to encourage more overseas Pakistanis to use formal services when transferring funds to their families.
HBL’s leadership of the inaugural session reflects its involvement in promoting the scheme and communicating its potential benefits to overseas customers. Through its participation alongside SBP and Askari Bank, HBL contributed to a joint effort to explain the relationship between formal remittance services, customer rewards and the wider economy. Cooperation among banks and the central bank can help extend information about remittance programmes to communities abroad, where customers may need clear guidance on available services, eligibility requirements and the process for sending money through participating institutions.
The Pasban Remittance Reward Scheme is intended to encourage the use of formal remittance channels by linking eligible transfers with rewards for customers. The broader objective is to support documented and regulated money transfers while providing an additional incentive for overseas Pakistanis to send funds through recognised financial institutions. Formal channels can provide transaction records and established procedures for transferring money across borders, helping recipients receive funds through banking and other authorised arrangements. The webinar provided an opportunity to discuss these objectives with Pakistanis in the United States, although the announcement did not provide detailed information about the specific questions raised by participants or the number of people who attended.
For Pakistan, remittances remain an important component of external inflows and household financial support. Consistent transfers from overseas workers and expatriates can help families meet their needs while contributing to foreign exchange availability. Encouraging transfers through formal channels also supports the visibility of these inflows within the regulated financial system. Awareness campaigns can play a role in helping overseas customers understand the available options and make informed decisions about how they transfer money. The effectiveness of such initiatives depends on accessibility, transparent eligibility conditions, convenient service arrangements and clear communication about how rewards are earned and redeemed.
The participation of the State Bank of Pakistan and Askari Bank alongside HBL also demonstrates coordination between financial institutions in promoting the scheme. The central bank has a role in supporting the development and regulation of Pakistan’s banking and remittance ecosystem, while commercial banks provide channels through which customers can transfer funds. Consultation with the Consulate General of Pakistan in New York helped connect the awareness initiative with the Pakistani community in the United States. Engagement through overseas missions and community-focused sessions can provide a platform for explaining financial initiatives to people who regularly send money to relatives in Pakistan.
HBL said the initiative reflects its role in promoting the Pasban Remittance Reward Scheme and strengthening its engagement with overseas Pakistanis. By bringing together banking stakeholders for an awareness session, the bank is supporting efforts to explain the benefits of formal remittances and encourage participation in the programme. Further details on the scheme’s terms, eligible transactions and reward procedures would help customers understand how to participate. The webinar represents a coordinated effort to promote formal remittance services among Pakistanis in the United States while highlighting the contribution of overseas transfers to families and Pakistan’s economy.
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