Pakistanis receiving money from abroad can now be entered automatically into quarterly prize draws under the Pasban Remittance Rewards Scheme, according to the Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment. The scheme began on 1 October 2026 and advertises annual prizes worth Rs16 billion. Participating banks are paying for the awards from their own resources.
The initiative is run by the Pakistan Banks Association and participating banks, under the patronage of the State Bank of Pakistan. The OneLink network generates the entries and operates the draw system.
Three-month rule for entering quarterly draws
To qualify for a quarterly draw, an account must receive at least one eligible remittance of $100 or more in each month of the relevant quarter, all into the same qualifying bank account. A larger transfer in one month cannot make up for a shortfall in either of the other two months.
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Entries created during a quarter remain provisional until the account meets the conditions for all three months. They apply only to that quarter and cannot be carried into the next one.
Participants do not have to apply, buy a ticket, download an app or send an SMS. Entries are created automatically from qualifying remittances, and the scheme does not require a minimum account balance. The number of entries depends on the dollar-equivalent value of eligible transfers, rounded to the nearest $100, based on information from the bureau. The scheme states no upper limit on entries, but holding more entries does not guarantee a prize.
Transactions and accounts left out of the scheme
The scheme excludes several types of transactions and accounts. According to the terms, these include:
- Remittances collected in cash over the counter
- Roshan Digital Accounts and foreign currency accounts
- Company and institutional accounts
- Commercial payments for goods or services
- Investments and property transactions
- Reversed, cancelled or fraudulent transactions
Certain scheme-related personnel are also barred, as are employees, officers and directors of participating banks, the Pakistan Banks Association, OneLink and the State Bank of Pakistan, under the detailed terms.
Draw dates, prize payments and regional shares
The first qualifying quarter runs from 1 October to 31 December 2026, and the first draw is set for 15 January 2027. Transfers received before 1 October 2026 will not count towards that draw. Winners will be contacted by their banks, while results are expected to be published without personal details.
According to the scheme website, prize money will be deposited in Pakistani rupees by the 21st of the month in which the draw takes place, provided verification is complete. Verification delays may postpone payment, and applicable withholding tax will be deducted from the prize. Participants have been advised to keep identification documents and bank contact details current and to respond quickly to verification requests.
The scheme has announced how prize allocations will be divided across regions. Gulf Cooperation Council countries will receive 50 percent, the United Kingdom 15 percent, Europe 15 percent, North America 10 percent and other countries 10 percent. According to the scheme information, the first prize is open to eligible recipients in all regions.
Official warnings over fees and payment requests
The Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment has advised participants not to pay anyone a fee to enter the scheme or to release a prize. Any payment request should be reported to the relevant bank. Participants should never share their one-time passwords, personal identification numbers or banking passwords with anyone claiming to represent the scheme.
