Saudi Arabia leads remittances as inflows rise 11.9% to $3.4 billion in October

A dealer counts US dollars at a money exchange market in Karachi on March 2, 2023. (AFP/File)
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Updated 07 November 2025
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Saudi Arabia leads remittances as inflows rise 11.9% to $3.4 billion in October

  • Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif applauds overseas Pakistanis as the country’s ‘valuable assets’
  • Remittances are Pakistan’s key source of external finance and help narrow current account gaps

KARACHI: Remittances from overseas Pakistanis rose by 11.9 percent month-on-month in October 2025 to $3.42 billion, led by inflows from Saudi Arabia, according to central bank data released on Friday, prompting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to thank expatriates for their contribution to the country’s economy.

Remittances are a key pillar of Pakistan’s external finances, providing hard currency that supports household consumption, helps narrow the current-account gap and bolsters foreign-exchange reserves.

The steady pipeline from Gulf economies, led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, has remained crucial for Pakistan’s balance of payments.

“The steady increase in remittances reflects overseas Pakistanis’ confidence in the government’s policies,” the Prime Minister’s Office quoted Sharif as saying. “Our compatriots abroad continue to serve the nation with their hard-earned income,” he added, describing them as the country’s “most valuable asset.”

According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), inflows from Saudi Arabia reached $820.9 million in October, followed by the United Arab Emirates at $697.7 million, the United Kingdom at $487.7 million and the United States at $290.0 million.

Cumulative remittances for the first four months of the fiscal year 2025-26 (July–October) stood at $12.96 billion, up 9.3 percent from the same period a year earlier.

The Middle East accounted for the bulk of these inflows, with Saudi Arabia contributing $3.13 billion and the UAE $2.68 billion.

Remittances have consistently been a bright spot for Pakistan’s fragile economy amid times of high inflation and low foreign currency reserves.

The country’s macroeconomic indicators have shown substantial improvement under the International Monetary Fund’s $7 billion loan program, with the government seeking to create more overseas employment opportunities for Pakistanis to further strengthen these inflows.


Pakistan rejects Amnesty claims of Israeli spyware use, calls reports ‘disinformation’

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Pakistan rejects Amnesty claims of Israeli spyware use, calls reports ‘disinformation’

  • FO denies any link with Israel, says Pakistan has “absolutely no cooperation” on surveillance tools
  • Islamabad accuses India of delaying clearance for relief aircraft bound for flood-hit Sri Lanka

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday rejected an Amnesty International report alleging the use of Israeli-made invasive spyware in the country, calling the findings speculative and misleading.

Amnesty’s investigation, published Thursday under the title Intellexa Leaks, cited the case of a Pakistan-based human rights lawyer who reported receiving a suspicious WhatsApp link in 2025. According to Amnesty International’s Security Lab, the link bore signatures consistent with Predator, a spyware product developed by Israeli manufacturer c

Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi dismissed the suggestion that Islamabad had deployed the tool or maintained any technological cooperation with Israel.

“These are all media speculations. These are all rumor-mongering and disinformation. There is absolutely no cooperation between Pakistan and Israel on anything, let alone a spyware or these kinds of tools. So, I would reject it quite emphatically,” he said at a weekly briefing.

Andrabi also accused India of obstructing humanitarian operations, saying New Delhi delayed flight clearance for a Pakistani relief aircraft carrying aid to flood-affected Sri Lanka.

“The special aircraft carrying Pakistan’s relief goods had to wait for 48 hours, in fact more than 48 hours, around 60 hours, while the flight clearance from India was delayed,” he said.

He added that the eventual conditional flight window was too narrow to be workable.

“The partial flight clearance which eventually was given after 48 hours was operationally impractical, time-bound just for a few hours and hence not operable, severely hindering the urgent need for the relief mission for the brotherly people of Sri Lanka,” Andrabi stated.

“Humanitarian assistance is like justice, if it is delayed, it is denied.”

Responding to India’s claim that clearance was granted within four hours, he said Pakistan has documentary proof contradicting New Delhi’s version.

On a separate question about reported delays in the arrival of a Turkish delegation aimed at mediating between Islamabad and Kabul, Andrabi said Pakistan welcomed Ankara’s initiative but was unaware of the cause of postponement.

“We stand ready to receive the Turkish delegation. That delegation has not arrived as yet. And I’m not aware of any schedule. Pakistan is ready to hold negotiations, discussions,” he said, adding that the delay may be linked to coordination with the Afghan side.