KARACHI: Pakistan has received nearly $34 billion in remittances during the first ten months of the fiscal year 2025–26, according to official data.
However, economists have raised concerns over the country’s growing reliance on inflows from Gulf countries.
Data released by the State Bank of Pakistan shows that remittances reached $3.54 billion in April 2026, marking an 11% increase year-on-year, although declining by 8% compared to March.
Overall, remittances totaled $33.86 billion in the July–April period, reflecting an annual growth of 8.5%.
A significant portion of these inflows originated from Gulf countries. More than $18 billion—over half of total remittances—came from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and other regional economies. Saudi Arabia contributed $7.93 billion, while the UAE accounted for $7 billion.
Economic experts warn that heavy dependence on the Gulf region makes Pakistan vulnerable to external shocks, especially amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Recent reports of financial support withdrawals and deportations from Gulf countries have further heightened concerns.
According to analysts, any decline in remittance inflows could push Pakistan’s current account back into deficit, particularly in the context of rising oil prices and increasing imports.
Meanwhile, remittances from Europe also showed strong growth, reaching $4.35 billion, while inflows from the United Kingdom stood at $5.17 billion, indicating increasing migration of skilled Pakistani workers to Western countries.
