Islamabad, August 2025 — Remittances from overseas Pakistani workers continue to be a vital pillar of the national economy, with inflows reaching record levels in FY25. A combination of growing overseas employment, formal banking incentives, and seasonal spikes—especially during Ramadan—has driven these historic highs.
Key Highlights
- FY25 Record Remittances: Workers’ remittances hit $38.3 billion, a 26.6% increase year-on-year from $30.25 billion in FY24.
- March 2025 Jump: Remittances surged to $4.1 billion in March alone, fueled by Ramadan/Eid transfers and improved formal channels.
- Driving Factors: Analysts point to stronger job markets in the Gulf, rupee stability, and the Pakistan Remittance Initiative (PRI)—which encouraged usage of official money-transfer mechanisms—to explain the trend.
April and June Snapshot
April 2025
- Remittances totaled $3.2 billion, a 13% increase year-on-year.
- Leading sources: Saudi Arabia ($725m), UAE ($658m), UK ($535m), USA ($302m).
June 2025
- Remittances stood at $3.4 billion, up 7.8% from June 2024 but slightly down from May.
- Top contributors: Saudi Arabia ($823m), UAE ($717m), UK ($538m), USA ($281m).
Worker Deployments by Destination (Q1 2025)
| Country | Workers Deployed (Q1 2025) | Notable Professions Included |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | 121,970 | Drivers, technicians, doctors, etc. |
| Qatar | 12,989 | Skilled trades and professionals |
| Oman | 8,331 | — |
| UAE | 6,891 | — |
| UK | 1,454 | — |
| Germany | 264 | — |
| Others (e.g., US, Turkey, Japan) | Minor counts (100–300) | — |
(Source: Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment / Photonews report)
Broader Workforce Landscape
- Over the Years: Since 1970, approximately 14.38 million Pakistanis have migrated abroad for work.
- Major Migrant Hubs:
- Saudi Arabia: ~7.39 million
- UAE: ~4.39 million
- 2024 Trends: Around 727,000 workers left Pakistan, with workers’ remittances totaling $34.63 billion, up 31% year-on-year.
