The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has launched a new ‘Diamond’ category in the Sohni Dharti Remittance Program (SDRP) with effect from September 22, 2023. The new category is in addition to existing three categories namely, ‘Green’, ‘Gold’, and ‘Platinum’.
It may be recalled here that the then Finance Minister Mr. Ishaq Dar in his budget speech for FY24 had announced the addition of Diamond category with enhanced reward points and provision of other benefits like arms license of non-prohibited bore, preferential treatment at Pakistan embassies/airports and gratis passport to the Diamond Category holders.
Sohni Dharti Remittance Program (SDRP) is a point-based loyalty program in which remitters accumulate reward points by sending remittances through formal channels (SBP regulated entities). Reward points can be redeemed by remitter and their beneficiary for availing free of cost products and services i.e. Emigrant Registration fee at Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment; duty payment of imported mobile sets and vehicles to Federal Board of Revenue; School fee by Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF); and renewal fee of passports at Directorate General of Immigration & Passports.
Moreover, benefits on redeeming reward points can also be availed on International air tickets and extra luggage charges by Pakistan International Airlines; life insurance/takaful premium payment at State Life Insurance Corporation; and purchases made at Utility Stores Corporation of Pakistan.
These reward points appear on the app in the form of a virtual card that updates automatically with reward points after each remittance.
Additional reward points redemption avenues like 1BILL and PayPak card are also being offered in SDRP. The addition of these new avenues will provide benefits to remitters and their beneficiaries to pay bills and use PayPak Card at merchants and Pakistani e-commerce stores.
The details of SDRP can be accessed at https://www.sbp.org.pk/sohnidharti/index.html and https://1link.net.pk/sohni-dharti.
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