Inflows stand at $241.8m in Feb; gold plunges Rs7,100/tola despite firm global market
KARACHI:
The Roshan Digital Account (RDA) initiative continues to show robust momentum, with total inflows reaching $12.17 billion by the end of February 2026.
According to the latest data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the month of February alone attracted $241.8 million in new inflows, marking a steady increase in diaspora engagement.
Since its launch in September 2020, the foreign investment programme has successfully registered over 909,000 accounts. The consistent growth underscores the continued confidence of non-resident Pakistanis (NRPs) in the country’s digital banking ecosystem and sovereign investment instruments.
Furthermore, the Pakistani rupee kept intact the streak of posting a slight appreciation against the US dollar in the inter-bank market on Friday. At the close of trading, the local currency settled at 279.31 per dollar, gaining Rs0.01 compared with the previous session. On Thursday, the rupee had ended the day at 279.32 against the greenback.
In global markets, the US dollar maintained its upward momentum on Friday and was heading for a second consecutive weekly gain since the onset of the Iran war, as heightened market volatility left the dollar as the primary safe-haven asset.
Meanwhile, gold prices in Pakistan declined sharply, even as international bullion prices firmed, with the local market tracking currency movements and resorting to profit-taking after recent gains.
The price of gold per tola dropped by Rs7,100 to Rs533,262, according to rates issued by the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association. Similarly, the price of 10-gram gold fell by Rs6,087 to Rs457,186.
The decline came a day after gold had already slipped in the local market. On Thursday, the price of the precious metal per tola had settled at Rs540,362, down Rs2,900 during the session.
Silver prices also followed the downward trend on Friday, with the price per tola falling by Rs324 to Rs8,851.
In the international market, however, gold prices edged higher on Friday but were still on track for a second consecutive weekly decline amid persistent inflation concerns and geopolitical tensions.
Spot gold rose 0.8% to $5,118.39 per ounce by 8:52 am ET (1252 GMT), while US gold futures for April delivery steadied at $5,124.70, according to Reuters.
Despite the intra-day rise, bullion remained about 1% lower for the week, weighed down by expectations that interest rates may stay higher for a longer period.
Market sentiment was also influenced by escalating geopolitical tensions after US President Donald Trump warned that the United States would hit Iran “very hard,” raising concerns over the potential perpetuation of the conflict in the region.
At the same time, the US dollar headed for a weekly gain, making dollar-denominated gold more expensive for holders of other currencies and limiting demand.
Analysts said stronger-than-expected US consumer spending data for January also reduced the likelihood of near-term interest-rate cuts, which tends to pressure gold prices.
Meanwhile, partial resumption of flights between Dubai and regional destinations also helped restore some bullion flows from the emirate, a major trading hub for gold, supplying markets such as Pakistan.
