KARACHI: Remittances sent home by overseas Pakistanis rose by 19.5% or $1.97 billion to $12.07 billion in the first 11 months of the current fiscal year, compared with $10.10 billion received in the same period of previous fiscal year, data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) showed on Monday.
Remittances from all major countries of the world have shown growth during July 2011 to May 2012. Inflows from Saudi Arabia, UAE, USA, UK, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman) and EU countries amounted to $3.353 billion, $2.629 billion, $2.127 billion, $1.394 billion, $1.366 billion and $335.55 million, respectively.
In comparison, remittances from these countries were $2.378 billion, $2.327 billion, $1.864 billion, $1.093 billion, $1.184 billion and $320.93 million respectively in July-May 2011.
“The continuous growth in worker remittances is the result of efforts made by the Pakistan Remittance Initiative (PRI) in collaboration with other stakeholders to facilitate both overseas Pakistanis and their families back home,” the SBP commented.
PRI was an initiative of the government taken in April 2009 to facilitate and support faster, cheaper, convenient and efficient flow of remittances through legal channels.
Expatriate Pakistanis in Norway, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Japan and other countries sent home $861.38 million against $926.86 million received in the previous year.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 12th, 2012.
COMMENTS (8)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
The increase in remittances has nothing to do with PPI. Overseas Pakistanis (like myself) are being forced to send more money to sustain living standards of their dependants due to high inflation. The government should be ashamed of celebrating the increase in remittances as a sign of confidence in the Pakistani economy.
compare with suspended $ 1.5 billion aid from US a year, and 12$ billion per year from hardworking Pakistanis! Overseas Pakistanis are keeping Pakistan afloat. We dont need aid and the ills that come with it. Dont know why leaders sell out to America for such tiny amount! it must by only power promise but not the money!
@Realistic: "The decision of non qualifiation of dual nationality for MPs will put adverse impact upo this cash inflow."
If you look, bulk of the money is coming from KSA, UAE who do not allow citizenship. Also not all PAkistani expats to UK and USA are citizens. Further, people in earlier years (when they are not citizens) have more family responsibilities) and more likely to provide remittances. In case of citizens whose family is settled in US/UK reasons for repatriation are less.
So the discussion on dual citizenship for voting/membership of parliament should be conducted on its own merit and not linked to remittances.
Bravo to overseas Pakistan. There are singlehandedly carrying the economy while successive governments have done nothing for them (repatriation, education, housing, etc.)
The decision of non qualifiation of dual nationality for MPs will put adverse impact upo this cash inflow.
It will surely be helpful to stabilize exchange rate.
it is that free money which is coming to Pakistan with out begging .Govt should promote remittances and give incentives to overseas Pakistanis so that more and more money will come into the country
Its nothing to be proud of.. rather Its an evidence of a severe brain drain.