KARACHI: Pakistani workers living abroad have sent $15.8 billion to their homeland during first half (July – December) of the fiscal year 2021/2022, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said on Friday.
The workers’ remittances grew by 11.26 per cent when compared with $14.2 billion in the same period of the last fiscal year.
READ MORE: Pakistan’s remittances fall by 6.6% in November 2021
The central bank said that with $2.5 billion of inflows during December 2021, workers’ remittances continued their strong impetus of remaining above $2 billion since June 2020.
In terms of growth, remittances increased by 2.5 per cent Month on Month and 3.4 per cent Year on Year in December 2021.
Remittance inflows during December 2021 were mainly sourced from Saudi Arabia ($626.6 million), United Arab Emirates ($453.2 million), United Kingdom ($340.8 million) and United States of America ($248.5 million).
READ MORE: ECC approves loyalty program for home remittances
The central bank said that proactive policy measures by the government and SBP to incentivize the use of formal channels and altruistic transfers to Pakistan amid the pandemic have positively contributed towards the sustained inflows of remittances since last year.
The Jul-Nov FY22 data of Workers’ Remittances has been revised upward to reflect inflows into Roshan Digital Accounts (RDA) that are related to local consumption (like payment of utility bills, transfer to local PKR account, etc.).
READ MORE: FBR not to ask source of remittances sent through ECs
Since data on these conversions was not previously available by country, these were reported under ‘other private transfers’ in the balance of payments statistics. The December 2021 data is also compiled accordingly, and this treatment will be followed going forward.
READ MORE: PM Imran launches incentive program for remittances
