Illegal offshore FX websites: SBP stops banks from making payments

KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Wednesday prohibited the banks for payment to illegal offshore foreign exchange trading websites, mobile applications and platforms through any payment channel.

The State Bank has noticed that an increasing number of offshore foreign exchange trading websites, mobile applications and platforms are offering their products and services to residents of Pakistan.

According to an advisory issued by the SBP against illegal offshore foreign exchange trading websites, mobile applications and platforms, it has been observed that a number of offshore foreign exchange trading, margin trading and contract for difference (CFD) trading websites, apps and other platforms such as Octa FX, Easy Forex, etc, are offering their products to residents in Pakistan, luring public through social media advertisements to buy their products and services. Examples of such products include but not limited to foreign exchange trading, margin trading, contract for differences, etc.

Such buying by residents of Pakistan is a violation of section 4(1) of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act 1947 (FERA). Further, it has also been observed that ADs are facilitating settlement/payments through their payment channels to such offshore trading platforms.

Hoarding by exporters contributing to rupee's fall, dealers say

The SBP has clarified for the interest of public that buying products and services being offered by aforementioned platforms by any person resident in Pakistan is prohibited and against the laws of the land.

“Remittance of foreign exchange directly or indirectly outside Pakistan to overseas foreign exchange trading, margin trading, and CFD trading apps or websites or platforms through any payment channel is not allowed as no general or special permission has been granted by the State Bank under section 5(1) of the FERA,” the SBP mentioned in a circular.

According to SBP, any person in Pakistan buying products or services of such offshore platforms and remitting foreign exchange directly or indirectly to them through any payment channel is making himself or herself liable to be proceeded against for violation of provisions of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947 (FERA).

Since such platforms are regulated neither by the SBP nor by the Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan; hence, the public is hereby advised to be careful and refrain from buying/investing in products and services of such offshore platforms to avoid any potential loss and legal proceedings under FERA.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2022