International Day of Family Remittances: Pakistani PM hails expats for record payments this year

A man enters a foreign currency exchange shop in Islamabad on July 11, 2023. (AFP/File)
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Updated 16 June 2025
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International Day of Family Remittances: Pakistani PM hails expats for record payments this year

  • In current fiscal, overseas Pakistanis remitted record $34.9 billion, a 28.8 percent increase over the previous year
  • Pakistan received $3.7 billion in workers’ remittances in May 2025 alone, a strong 13.7 percent year-on-year

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday hailed the record $34.9 billion in remittances sent by overseas Pakistanis this fiscal year, describing it as a sign of their “growing confidence in the government’s economic policies.”

In a statement marking the International Day of Family Remittances, the premier said the 28.8 percent year-on-year rise in remittances had significantly bolstered the country’s foreign exchange reserves. Pakistan received $3.7 billion in workers’ remittances in May 2025 alone, a strong 16 percent increase month-on-month and 13.7 percent year-on-year.

“These historic figures are a testament not only to the hard work and loyalty of our diaspora but also to their growing confidence in the government’s economic policies,” Sharif said, calling remittances a “powerful pillar supporting Pakistan’s economic resilience.” 

“This trust reinforces our resolve to redouble efforts for the revival and growth of our economy.”

With over 9 million Pakistanis living abroad, mainly in the Gulf, Europe, and North America, the prime minister praised the expatriate community for their enduring commitment to families back home and their role in sustaining the national economy.

Sharif reiterated the government’s commitment to attracting foreign investment and expanding exports to ensure long-term economic stability, stressing that remittances remained crucial to this goal.

“Let us renew our collective pledge to work hand in hand with our diaspora, development partners, and all stakeholders to overcome our economic challenges and usher in a new era of investment, prosperity, and national progress,” the premier said.


Pakistan, global crypto exchange discuss modernizing digital payments, creating job prospects 

Updated 05 December 2025
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Pakistan, global crypto exchange discuss modernizing digital payments, creating job prospects 

  • Pakistani officials, Binance team discuss coordination between Islamabad, local banks and global exchanges
  • Pakistan has attempted to tap into growing crypto market to curb illicit transactions, improve oversight

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s finance officials and the team of a global cryptocurrency exchange on Friday held discussions aimed at modernizing the country’s digital payments system and building local talent pipelines to meet rising demand for blockchain and Web3 skills, the finance ministry said.

The development took place during a high-level meeting between Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) Chairman Bilal bin Saqib, domestic bank presidents and a Binance team led by Global CEO Richard Teng. The meeting was held to advance work on Pakistan’s National Digital Asset Framework, a regulatory setup to govern Pakistan’s digital assets.

Pakistan has been moving to regulate its fast-growing crypto and digital assets market by bringing virtual asset service providers (VASPs) under a formal licensing regime. Officials say the push is aimed at curbing illicit transactions, improving oversight, and encouraging innovation in blockchain-based financial services.

“Participants reviewed opportunities to modernize Pakistan’s digital payments landscape, noting that blockchain-based systems could significantly reduce costs from the country’s $38 billion annual remittance flows,” the finance ministry said in a statement. 

“Discussions also emphasized building local talent pipelines to meet rising global demand for blockchain and Web3 skills, creating high-value employment prospects for Pakistani youth.”

Blockchain is a type of digital database that is shared, transparent and tamper-resistant. Instead of being stored on one computer, the data is kept on a distributed network of computers, making it very hard to alter or hack.

Web3 refers to the next generation of the Internet built using blockchain, focusing on giving users more control over their data, identity and digital assets rather than big tech companies controlling it.

Participants of the meeting also discussed sovereign debt tokenization, which is the process of converting a country’s debt such as government bonds, into digital tokens on a blockchain, the ministry said. 

Aurangzeb called for close coordination between the government, domestic banks and global exchanges to modernize Pakistan’s payment landscape.

Participants of the meeting also discussed considering a “time-bound amnesty” to encourage users to move assets onto regulated platforms, stressing the need for stronger verifications and a risk-mitigation system.

Pakistan has attempted in recent months to tap into the country’s growing crypto market, crack down on money laundering and terror financing, and promote responsible innovation — a move analysts say could bring an estimated $25 billion in virtual assets into the tax net.

In September, Islamabad invited international crypto exchanges and other VASPs to apply for licenses to operate in the country, a step aimed at formalizing and regulating its fast-growing digital market.