The inflows were 13.8 per cent higher than the amount received in October last year and increased 8.5 per cent compared with September 2026, the central bank reported.
The latest figures also showed sustained growth over the opening months of the current fiscal year. Overseas Pakistanis sent home a combined $14.8 billion between July and October, an increase of 14 per cent compared with the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.
Remittances are an important source of foreign exchange for Pakistan, helping millions of households meet everyday expenses while supporting the country’s external financial position. The latest monthly record provides a significant contribution to foreign currency inflows at a time when the country continues to focus on strengthening its economic stability.
Saudi Arabia remained the largest source of remittances during October, with Pakistani workers and other senders transferring $981.6 million to the country.
The United Arab Emirates was the second-largest source, contributing $815.9 million. Pakistan also received $592.2 million from the United Kingdom and $328.9 million from the United States.
Together, the four countries accounted for a substantial share of the month’s total inflows, underlining the importance of Pakistani communities and workers in major overseas employment destinations.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE have long been important destinations for Pakistani labour migrants, particularly in construction, transport, services and other sectors. Their remittances provide financial support to families across Pakistan, including households in rural areas and smaller cities.
The United Kingdom and the United States also remain significant sources of transfers, reflecting established Pakistani communities and professional workers living abroad.
The increase recorded in October builds on the growth reported during the first four months of the fiscal year. The 14 per cent rise in cumulative inflows suggests that overseas transfers have continued to expand beyond a single month.
For households receiving the money, remittances can help cover food, housing, education, healthcare and other essential costs. Many families also use the funds to repay debts, support small businesses or invest in property and savings.
At the national level, remittances provide foreign currency that can help finance imports and meet external payment obligations. They also contribute to the supply of dollars and other currencies entering the formal financial system.
A stronger flow of remittances can help ease pressure on the country’s external accounts, although the overall economic impact depends on a range of factors, including export earnings, imports, debt repayments and other sources of foreign investment.
The central bank’s figures cover transfers sent by overseas Pakistanis through recorded channels. The data do not, by themselves, establish how much money may have been transferred through informal or unrecorded networks.
The government and financial institutions have regularly emphasised the importance of encouraging overseas Pakistanis to use formal banking and money-transfer services. Such channels provide documented transactions and help ensure that foreign currency inflows are reflected in official records.
The latest figures will be closely watched by economic policymakers as they assess the country’s foreign exchange position and the performance of external-sector indicators during the fiscal year.
Pakistan has a large overseas workforce, with significant numbers of citizens employed in Gulf countries as well as Europe and North America. Their financial transfers remain one of the country’s most dependable sources of external inflows.
The October performance marks a new monthly high, while the July-October total points to continued growth in remittances during the current financial year. Whether the trend can be sustained in coming months will depend partly on employment conditions in host countries, exchange-rate movements and the cost of sending money home.
For now, the record October inflow highlights the continuing economic contribution of Pakistanis living and working abroad, whose transfers support families and provide a substantial source of foreign exchange for the country.
