Overseas Pakistanis sent home $10.87 billion in the first quarter of fiscal year 2026-27, 14% more than the $9.54bn received in the same period last year, according to State Bank of Pakistan data reported by APP on October 9.
September inflows
Remittances in September were $3.6bn, up 12.7% from $3.18bn a year earlier, though slightly lower than August’s $3.66bn.
Top source countries in September
- Saudi Arabia: $899.1 million
- United Arab Emirates: $748.5 million
- United Kingdom: $515.1 million
- Other GCC countries: $342.1 million
- United States: $305.9 million
Together, Saudi Arabia and the UAE accounted for about $1.65bn, close to half the month’s total.
Why remittances matter so much
Remittances are one of Pakistan’s biggest sources of foreign exchange, rivalling export earnings. They helped keep the current account broadly balanced in FY26, the IMF said in its latest review. That cushion has been especially valuable this year as higher oil prices push up the import bill. See our report on the IMF staff-level agreement.
Resilience despite the Gulf conflict
Most remittances come from the Gulf, which has been directly affected by the war with Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. So far, inflows have held up. Economists point to formal-channel incentives, a stable exchange rate and continued demand for Pakistani workers as reasons.
What to watch
- Whether Gulf labour demand holds if the conflict escalates.
- Exchange-rate stability, which affects the gap between formal and informal channels.
- Seasonal peaks around Ramazan and Eid, when inflows usually rise.
Follow our Business coverage and the Economy section for monthly data.
Sources are linked throughout this article. AajMirror verifies figures against the original reports; if you spot an error, see our corrections policy.