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.
