Overseas workers’ remittances to Pakistan dip to $2.3 billion

In November 2023, overseas workers sent a total of $2.3 billion in remittances to Pakistan, reflecting an 8.6 per cent decrease from the $2.5 billion recorded in October 2023, as per data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). 

However, on a yearly basis, there was a 3.6 per cent increase in the monthly inflow compared to the same month in the previous year.

Remittances are a crucial element in supporting Pakistan’s external accounts and play a vital role in boosting the country’s economic activity while also supplementing the disposable incomes of households dependent on remittances.

The recent rise in remittances was attributed to an improved exchange rate following a crackdown against currency smugglers and hoarders. 

This crackdown resulted in a reduction of the rate gap between the open and interbank markets. However, despite this positive trend, remittances have observed a decline on a monthly basis again this November.

In the first five months of the fiscal year 2024, remittances amounting to $11 billion have been recorded, in contrast to $12.3 billion in the same period of the previous year.

Breaking down the remittances, it was noted that overseas Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia sent the highest amount in November 2023, totaling $540.3 million. 

This amount represented a 12.5 per cent monthly decline but was 5.5 per cent higher than the remittances in the same month of the previous year. 

Remittances from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) also declined on a monthly basis by 13.6 per cent, from $473.9 million in October to $409.4 million in November. 

However, there was a yearly improvement of 7.6 per cent. Remittances from the United Kingdom increased by 3.5 per cent to $341.7 million compared to October 2023.

Conversely, remittances from the European Union declined by nearly 10 per cent on a monthly basis, amounting to $268.3 million in November 2023. Overseas Pakistanis in the US sent $261.5 million in November 2023, experiencing a month-on-month decrease of 7.7 per cent.