ISLAMABAD: Workers’ remittances continued their strong trend, reaching $2.66 billion in August 2021, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reported Friday.
This is the sixth consecutive month when inflows recorded around $2.7bn on average, and the fifteen consecutive months they have been above $2bn.
In terms of growth, remittances increased by 26.8 per cent on a year-on-year basis in August, which is a decade-high growth rate for that month.
On a month-on-month basis, inflows were marginally lower than in July, reflecting the usual post-Eid slowdown.
Nevertheless, this seasonal decline was far less this year compared to historical trends, the statement said adding that cumulatively, at $5.36bn, remittances grew by 10.4pc during the first two months of this year over the same period last year.  Â
Remittance inflows during August 2021 were mainly sourced from Saudi Arabia ($694 million), United Arab Emirates ($512m), United Kingdom ($353m) and the United States ($279m).
Proactive policy measures by the government and SBP to incentivize the use of formal channels, curtailed cross-border travel in the face of COVID-19, altruistic transfers to Pakistan amid the pandemic, and orderly foreign exchange market conditions have positively contributed towards the sustained improvement in remittance inflows since last year.
