Key Points
- Pakistan received about $3.5 billion in workers’ remittances last month
- Remittances up around 15.4 per cent year‑on‑year
- Saudi Arabia has been the largest source of remittances for all the first seven months of FY26
- Total remittances for July–January FY26 rose to about $23.2 billion
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s overseas workers’ remittances rose strongly in January 2026, with inflows of about $3.5 billion, driven principally by funds sent home from Saudi Arabia, official data from the State Bank of Pakistan showed.
According to the data, the remittance maintained a trend seen throughout the first seven months of the current fiscal year.
The SBP reported that remittances increased by around 15.4 per cent compared with the same month last year, marking one of the highest January figures on record. Cumulative remittances during July 2025–January 2026 reached approximately $23.2 billion, up about 11.3 per cent from $20.9 billion received during the same period last fiscal year.
Saudi Arabia remained the top source of remittance inflows in January with roughly $740 million sent by overseas Pakistanis, reinforcing its position as the largest contributor throughout the first seven months of the current financial year. The United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States were also among the major contributors to remittance flows.
Remittances are a key pillar of Pakistan’s external finances, helping support foreign exchange reserves, cushion the current account, and provide essential income for households that rely on money sent by relatives working abroad.
While inflows in January were slightly below December 2025 levels, when remittances reached around $3.6 billion, the year‑on‑year growth emphasises continued resilience amid economic headwinds and exchange rate pressures. Analysts say the strong performance reflects manpower-export-expansion and improved incentives for sending money through formal channels.
The sustained remittance inflows provide critical support to Pakistan’s balance of payments and help stabilise foreign exchange reserves, even as the government pursues broader economic reforms.
