Saudi Arabia leads as Pakistani workers' remittances rise 15% in January
Business
Pakistan’s remittances rose 15% in January 2026 to $3.5 billion, led by Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Britain, supporting foreign exchange amid steady fiscal growth.
ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) – Pakistan received $3.5 billion in workers’ remittances in January 2026, marking a 15.4 percent increase compared with $3.0 billion in the same month last year, according to State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) data released Tuesday.
The January remittances were slightly lower than $3.6 billion recorded in December 2025. During the first seven months of the current fiscal year (July 2025–January 2026), inflows reached $23.2 billion, up from $20.9 billion during the same period last year.
Saudi Arabia was the largest source, with Pakistani workers sending nearly $740 million in January. The United Arab Emirates contributed $694 million, and Britain accounted for $572 million.
Remittances from the United States stood at $295 million, while inflows from European Union countries rose 36 percent year-on-year to $480 million. Other notable contributors included Oman ($106 million), Qatar ($103 million), and Bahrain ($47 million).
The data reflects steady growth in overseas remittances, a vital source of foreign exchange for Pakistan’s economy.
