Saudi Arabia, UAE, UK, and USA lead with $740 million, $694 million, $572 million, and $295 million in remittances.
Pakistan recorded $3.46 billion in remittances for January 2026, marking a 15.4% YoY increase compared to $3.0 billion in January 2025, according to data from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). However, the monthly inflows were down 4% from December 2025, when $3.59 billion was remitted.
For the first seven months of fiscal year 2026 (7MFY26), Pakistan received a total of $23.2 billion in remittances, showing an 11.3% increase from $20.9 billion during the same period last year.
Remittances continue to be a critical source of income for Pakistani households, supporting the country’s external account and boosting economic activity. The government has been working to ensure a steady flow of remittances through formal channels, offering incentives for sending money through official routes.
The Pakistan Remittance Initiative (PRI), launched in 2009, has played a key role in expanding the formal channels for remittance inflows. The initiative has helped grow the number of participating financial institutions (FIs) from around 25 in 2009 to more than 50 by 2024. These include conventional banks, Islamic banks, microfinance institutions, and exchange companies (ECs).
The PRI has also enabled electronic money institutions (EMIs) to receive remittances, with the number of international entities involved increasing from approximately 45 in 2009 to around 400 today.
Recently, the SBP allowed exchange companies to utilise Raast, its instant payment system, to facilitate home remittances, enabling beneficiaries to receive funds directly into bank accounts and digital wallets.
In terms of geographic sources, Saudi Arabia remained the largest contributor, with $740 million in remittances sent in January 2026. While this marked a 2% increase compared to January 2025, it represented a 9% decline from December 2025.
The UAE followed closely, with a 12% year-on-year rise in remittances, reaching $694 million in January 2026, up from $622 million in the same month last year. Of this, $694.16 million came from Dubai, and $544.75 million from Abu Dhabi.
Other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries also made significant contributions, with Qatar sending $47.41 million, Kuwait $329.26 million, and Bahrain $13.49 million.
From the UK, Pakistani workers sent home $572 million, reflecting a 29% increase compared to January 2025, and a 2% rise from December 2025. From the US, remittances stood at $295 million, showing a 1% decrease from January 2025 and a 2% drop from December 2025.
Pakistani expatriates in the European Union countries sent $479.58 million. The largest contributions came from Italy ($142.61 million), Germany ($77.45 million), and Spain ($80.45 million). Other European countries like France and the Netherlands contributed $55.49 million and $10.82 million, respectively.
Additionally, Pakistan received remittances from countries like Oman ($105.59 million), Malaysia ($12.47 million), Norway ($13.24 million), and Switzerland ($4.75 million). Ireland and Belgium sent $25.92 million and $18.85 million, respectively.
Pakistani workers in Australia also played a major role, sending $109.71 million, followed by Canada at $67.13 million. South Africa contributed $29.35 million, and South Korea sent $9.31 million. Remittances from other countries added up to $103.83 million.
