ISLAMABAD: The Federal Ministry of Finance has revealed that the number of citizens going abroad for employment has increased by 19% over the past year, with more than 75,000 individuals registering for overseas jobs in January 2026 alone.
In its monthly Economic Outlook Report, the ministry stated that 75,663 workers registered for foreign employment in January 2026, compared to 63,559 in January of the previous year.
The report highlighted that the prospects for the country’s economic growth have improved, with macroeconomic stability achieved, inflationary pressures easing, and a relief package of Rs. 38 billion provided to the public during Ramadan.
According to the Ministry of Finance, inflation is expected to remain between 6% and 7% this month, with January 2026 recording a rate of 5.8%. The report attributes this to geopolitical uncertainty and fluctuations in global commodity prices.
The report also emphasized that the government’s revenue and expenditure balance has improved, the current account deficit is under control, and the rupee has remained stable. Additionally, there has been a rise in Information Technology (IT) exports, and cheaper loans have facilitated business activities.
In the first six months of the current fiscal year, large-scale industrial production increased by 4.8%. Remittances saw an 11.3% increase, totaling $23.2 billion from July to January. However, exports decreased by 5.5% to $8.3 billion, while imports increased by 9.8% during the same period.
The report also noted that the current account deficit surpassed $1 billion from July to January, while Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) dropped by 41%, reaching $980 million.
Furthermore, the State Bank’s reserves have increased from $11.2 billion to $16.2 billion. Tax revenue grew by 10.5% to Rs. 7,176 billion, while non-tax revenue decreased by 6.8% to Rs. 3,847 billion.
Regarding business activity, the report mentioned that loans to the private sector have decreased to Rs. 638 billion. The policy rate has dropped to 10.5%, and the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) saw a 48% improvement, reaching 168,893 points.
The Finance Ministry also noted a 26% increase in the registration of new companies, with 25,554 companies being registered.
