By Moaaz Manzoor

Pakistan’s workers’ remittances increased to $3.8 billion in March 2026, taking cumulative inflows to $30.3 billion during July–March FY2025-26, reflecting continued strength in overseas inflows, according to the State Bank of Pakistan.

The latest data shows that remittances rebounded on a monthly basis, rising from $3.287 billion in February 2026 to $3.83 billion in March. However, inflows remained below the $4.1 billion recorded in March 2025.

On a cumulative basis, inflows during the first nine months of FY2025-26 reached $30.3 billion, compared to $28.0 billion in the same period last year, indicating a notable increase in overall remittance receipts.

Country-wise data shows that inflows from major corridors recorded mixed but generally positive trends during March. Remittances from Saudi Arabia increased to $918.40 million, up from $685.51 million in February, making it the largest contributor during the month.

Similarly, inflows from the United Arab Emirates rose to $823.67 million from $696.22 million. Within the UAE, Dubai contributed $591.00 million, while Abu Dhabi accounted for $202.94 million, reflecting strong inflows from the region.

Remittances from the United Kingdom increased to $587.27 million from $532.11 million in the previous month, while inflows from the United States rose to $359.34 million from $319.45 million.

Among other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, inflows also showed gains. Remittances from Oman rose to $115.78 million, Qatar to $110.16 million, and Kuwait to $83.85 million, indicating broad-based growth across the region.

In contrast, inflows from European Union countries declined slightly to $413.78 million. Among key countries, remittances from Germany stood at $65.17 million, while inflows from Italy were recorded at $121.79 million.

Other regions also contributed to the overall inflow. Remittances from Canada increased to $80.75 million, while inflows from Australia reached $105.42 million in March.

The data indicates that remittance inflows remained robust despite some month-on-month fluctuations, supported largely by strong contributions from the Gulf region, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Overall, the rise in cumulative inflows to $30.3 billion underscores the continued importance of remittances as a key source of foreign exchange for Pakistan, supporting the country’s external account and economic stability.

Credit: INP-WealthPk