News
Pakistan Receives $10.9bn in Remittances as Overseas Inflows Rise 14%
By Mariam Khan
Real Estate Analyst
3 min read
Overseas workers sent $10.9 billion to Pakistan during July–September of FY2026–27, compared with $9.5 billion in the same period last year, according to State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) data. Remittances from the United Kingdom rose 19.4 percent, while Saudi Arabia remained the largest source, contributing $2.686 billion. The data do not show how much of the money was invested in real estate.
Why the Growth Rate Needs a Note
The reported growth is 14 percent. The rounded figures of $10.9 billion and $9.5 billion differ by $1.4 billion, which would be about 15 percent (our own calculation), and the reports do not give the unrounded SBP figures, so we cannot reconcile the two. We use the SBP's reported 14 percent.
Why Saudi Arabia and the UK Stand Out
Saudi Arabia's $2.686 billion is roughly a quarter of the quarter's total (our own calculation). The UK's 19.4 percent growth is faster than the overall 14 percent, but the reports do not give the UK's dollar amount, so we cannot say how much it added. Both countries are home to large Pakistani communities, though the reports do not say what drove this quarter's rise.
Why Remittances Are Not the Same as Property Investment
Remittances support household spending, savings and the balance of payments. Some of the money is used for property purchases, particularly by overseas Pakistanis, but the SBP data do not break it down by use. We therefore treat the link to real estate as plausible but unmeasured. Policy aimed at overseas Pakistanis is a separate matter, as in our reports on e-filing rules and overseas Pakistanis' property and the SBP's Pasban remittance reward scheme.
Why Financing Costs Still Matter
Higher inflows can support purchasing power, but other conditions also affect demand for property. Interest rates are one of them, and we have covered the SBP's decision to hold its policy rate. The reports do not link the remittance figures to any change in demand, so we do not claim one.
What This Means for Buyers, Developers and Investors
Overseas Pakistanis considering a purchase should check the title, the approvals and the rules on foreign-currency payments before sending money. Developers marketing to overseas buyers should be clear about project approvals and timelines. The signals to watch are the SBP's monthly remittance releases, the country breakdown and any data on how much goes into property. Data is published by the State Bank of Pakistan.