ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) — Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said Pakistan received $6.4 billion in remittances during the past two months and stressed the need to build long-term foundations for export-led economic growth.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Iqbal said the government was working to ensure that growth in Pakistan’s exports remained sustainable rather than temporary.
He said IT exports stood at $810 million during July and August, while overseas Pakistanis were sending around $40 billion to the country annually.
Iqbal said remittances had reached $6.4 billion during the past two months.
However, State Bank of Pakistan data shows workers’ remittances actually totalled $7.3 billion during July-August 2026, compared with $6.4 billion during the same period of the previous fiscal year, representing a 14.7% increase. (Associated Press of Pakistan)
The minister also criticised the economic policies of the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government, claiming imports had risen to $80 billion during that period and contributed to pressure on the rupee.
He described the approximately 6% economic growth recorded at the time as unsustainable because, according to him, it was driven by higher imports.
Iqbal said that if similar economic growth had been achieved through increased exports, it would have generated more positive effects for the national economy.
He said the government’s focus was on increasing exports on a sustainable basis and strengthening the country’s economic foundations.