Expat money transfers

This is with reference to the report “Expat money transfers hit SR102bn in 8 months” (Oct. 6). Many people especially Saudis criticize this trend as “flight of capital” from their country. They don’t seem to realize that how these expatriates struggle to earn this amount. As a matter of fact, the critics should try to look at the big picture. They should divide the total amount with the total expat population to get an average. The average amount sent by an expat will not be too much to disturb anyone who tries to analyze the situation objectively.
Secondly, these expats are not a burden on the economy. As a matter of fact, their contribution to the development of the Kingdom and health of its economy are phenomenal. Most of the expatriates work much more than they get paid for. Why do people create so much fuss over the remittances? It is the right of any expat worker to remit his hard-earned money to his home country. — Salam Akthar, Delhi