ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia remained the largest source of remittances to Pakistan in October 2025, sending $820.9 million of the $3.4 billion total received during the month, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said in its latest release on Friday.
Remittances play a vital role in Pakistan’s external finances, supplying foreign currency that supports household spending, helps reduce the current-account deficit, and strengthens foreign-exchange reserves.
In a statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed gratitude to overseas Pakistanis for the rise in remittances during October.
“The gradual increase in remittances reflects the confidence of overseas Pakistanis in the government’s policies,” he said, adding that they are the country’s most valuable asset.
Funds sent from Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, continue to be a critical component of Pakistan’s balance of payments.
Breakdown of remittances
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reported that overseas Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia sent the highest remittances in October 2025, totaling $821 million. This marked a 9% increase compared to the previous month and a 7% rise from $767 million sent in the same month last year.
Remittances from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) also saw growth, rising 12% year-on-year from $621 million to $698 million in October 2025.
From the United Kingdom (UK), inflows reached $488 million in October, up 7% from $455 million in September 2025 and showing a 13% increase compared to the same period last year.
Pakistani expatriates in the United States sent $290 million during October 2025, reflecting an 8% increase month-on-month but a 4% decline year-on-year.
Meanwhile, remittances from European Union (EU) countries surged to $457 million in October, representing a notable 27% increase compared to the same month last year.
Remittances increased by nearly 12% year-on-year (YoY), compared to $3.1 billion recorded in the same month last year. On a monthly basis, remittances were up over 7%, compared to $3.2 billion in September.
For the first four months of fiscal year 2025-26 (July–October), cumulative remittances reached $12.96 billion, marking a 9.3 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
