AIWA Properties Advisory Desk
AIWA's overseas desk completes remote bookings for clients across the UAE, UK, USA, Canada, and Australia. This guide is built from the questions those buyers actually ask us and the steps we run on every transaction — not from a legal textbook. Tax rules and rates change every budget; we confirm the current position before you commit funds.
An overseas Pakistani can buy property in Pakistan entirely from abroad in 2026. You need three things: a compliant way to send money (a Roshan Digital Account), a way to sign without flying back (an attested power of attorney), and a partner on the ground who verifies the project before a single rupee moves. Get those right and the rest is logistics.
We run this process every week for clients in Dubai, Sharjah, London, Manchester, Toronto, and across the US. The mechanics are well-trodden now — the part that actually goes wrong is almost never the bank transfer. It’s buying an unverified file, or trusting a forwarded rate. So this guide spends as much time on protecting you as on the paperwork.
Step 1: Open a Roshan Digital Account
The Roshan Digital Account (RDA) is the State Bank’s channel for non-resident Pakistanis. You open it online from your country of residence with your NICOP or POC and passport — no branch visit. It gives you a documented, repatriable way to move money into Pakistan, which matters enormously when you eventually want to take profit back out. Funds invested through the RDA stay repatriable; informal hundi-style transfers do not.
Why we insist on the RDA
Step 2: Sort out your filer status
Your withholding tax on a property purchase hinges on whether you’re an active filer on the FBR’s Active Taxpayer List (ATL). The gap between filer and non-filer rates is large enough to change your numbers materially.
| Factor | Active filer (on ATL) | Non-filer |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase withholding tax | Lower advance tax rate | Materially higher advance tax |
| Overseas non-resident relief | Available via NICOP/POC + RDA route | Limited; higher cost of entry |
| Resale / exit | Cleaner, lower withholding | Higher withholding on disposal |
| Our recommendation | Get on the ATL before you buy | Avoid if the deal allows |
Rates change every budget
Step 3: Set up power of attorney
Because you won’t be present to sign, you appoint someone in Pakistan to act for you. This can be a family member or a representative we help coordinate. The power of attorney is executed at your nearest Pakistani embassy or consulate, attested there, and then verified inside Pakistan. The wording has to be specific to property transactions or registrars can reject it — we give you the exact template so it clears the first time.
Step 4: Verify before you fall in love with a project
This is where overseas money is won or lost. From 5,000 kilometres away you can’t walk the site, so the verification has to happen for you, on camera, and in writing. For every project we shortlist, we check:
- Approval and NOC status of the specific phase or tower — not just “the society is approved”.
- The developer’s actual delivery record on past projects.
- That the exact plot or unit isn’t double-sold or sitting on a disputed file.
- Live construction progress against the payment stage you’re paying for.
- The current verified rate, cross-read against our own recent transactions.
The trap that catches overseas buyers
Step 5: Book, pay, and document — remotely
Once a project clears verification and you’re comfortable, the booking itself is straightforward. Here’s the sequence we run:
- 1
Live walkthrough
We send you real-time video of the actual site and unit, not marketing renders, and answer questions on the call.
- 2
Written confirmation
You receive the verified rate, payment plan, approval status, and booking terms in writing before any money moves.
- 3
Compliant payment
You pay the booking amount through your RDA or an agreed compliant channel, with a documented trail.
- 4
Signing via POA
Your appointed attorney signs the booking and allocation documents on your behalf in Pakistan.
- 5
Document handover
We collect and forward your allocation letter, payment receipts, and plan, and track each subsequent installment with you.
Where overseas Pakistanis are buying right now
Most overseas demand we see concentrates on Lahore’s Raiwind Road corridor — Bahria Town for liquidity and brand, Etihad Town for value — plus vertical apartment projects with verified inventory and clean payment plans. The common thread is the same: projects where the developer delivers and the file is clean. Glamour comes second to that.
Overseas investment desk
How our remote booking and verification service works end to end.
Bahria Town vs Etihad Town
Which Lahore society fits your budget and exit plan.
Lahore apartment investment 2026
Yields, unit types, and projects worth a remote booking.
Verified projects
AIWA-checked projects with confirmed approvals and delivery records.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can overseas Pakistanis buy property in Pakistan without coming back?
Yes. With a Roshan Digital Account for compliant fund transfer and a properly attested power of attorney for signatures, the entire purchase can be completed remotely. We handle shortlisting, video site walkthroughs, rate verification, payment coordination, and documentation. Most of our overseas bookings close without the buyer travelling to Pakistan.
What is a Roshan Digital Account and do I need one?
The Roshan Digital Account (RDA) is a State Bank of Pakistan initiative that lets non-resident Pakistanis open a Pakistani bank account from abroad and invest through compliant, repatriable channels, including real estate via Roshan Apna Ghar. It is the cleanest way to move funds for a property purchase because it keeps your investment documented and repatriable. We strongly recommend using it rather than informal transfers.
Do overseas Pakistanis pay more tax when buying property?
Your tax position depends on whether you are an active filer on the FBR's Active Taxpayer List. Non-filers face materially higher withholding tax on property purchases. Overseas Pakistanis holding NICOP/POC and investing through an RDA can access non-resident provisions that ease some of the higher non-filer rates. Exact rates change with each federal budget, so we confirm your current liability before you sign anything.
How does power of attorney work for a remote purchase?
You appoint a trusted person in Pakistan (often a family member, or a representative we coordinate with) to sign on your behalf. The power of attorney must be executed and attested at the Pakistani embassy or consulate in your country of residence, then verified in Pakistan. We guide you on the exact wording and attestation steps so the document is accepted without delays.
How do I avoid property scams as an overseas buyer?
Never transfer a booking amount against an unverified file or a rate from a WhatsApp forward. Insist on confirming the project's approval status, the developer's delivery record, and that the specific plot or unit isn't double-sold. We physically verify every project we list, send you live video of the actual site, and document each step. If a deal looks too good for the market, it usually is.