Pakistan's workers' remittances have risen sharply to $23.201 billion in the first seven months of FY2025-26, underscoring the growing reliance on overseas income to sustain the country's external position.

According to the State Bank of Pakistan, inflows during July-January recorded an 11.3 percent increase compared with $20.850 billion in the same period last year. The steady expansion highlights the resilience of remittance streams even amid broader economic pressures.

The upward trend was also evident on a monthly basis. In January 2026, remittances climbed to $3.464 billion, marking a 15.35 percent rise from $3.003 billion recorded in January 2025.

Geographically, the largest contributions continued to originate from key labour markets. Saudi Arabia accounted for $739.6 million in January, followed by the United Arab Emirates with $694.2 million. The United Kingdom contributed $572.1 million, while inflows from the United States stood at $294.7 million.

The data illustrates the central role played by overseas Pakistanis in supporting foreign exchange earnings. With inflows maintaining double-digit growth, remittances remain a crucial pillar of the external sector, helping offset pressures arising from trade imbalances and other outflows.

Despite the positive momentum, the figures also underline a structural dependence on external labour income, as remittances continue to act as a primary buffer for the country's balance of payments.