ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Finance said on Friday the rate of citizens leaving the country for employment abroad rose by 19 per cent.
According to the ministry’s Monthly Economic Update and Outlook report, 75,663 workers registered for overseas jobs in January, compared with 63,559 in January 2025.
The report said prospects for economic growth have improved, citing macroeconomic stability and easing inflationary pressures. A Ramadan relief package worth Rs38 billion was provided to support the public.
Inflation during the current month is expected to remain between 6 and 7 per cent. In January 2026, the inflation rate stood at 5.8 per cent. Geopolitical uncertainty and fluctuations in global commodity prices were described as risks.
The ministry said the balance between government revenues and expenditure has improved. Like inflation, the current account deficit remained under control. The rupee stayed stable against the dollar, IT exports recorded growth, and concessional bank lending supported business activity. Large-scale manufacturing posted a 4.8 per cent improvement over six months.
During the first seven months of the fiscal year, remittances increased by 11.3 per cent. From July to January, remittances totalled $23.2 billion. Exports declined by 5.5 per cent to $8.3 billion, while imports rose by 9.8 per cent. The current account deficit exceeded $1 billion during the period.
Foreign direct investment fell by 41 per cent to $980 million in the period under review. The State Bank’s foreign exchange reserves increased from $11.2 billion to $16.2 billion. Tax revenue rose by 10.5 per cent to Rs7,176 billion over six months, while non-tax revenue declined by 6.8 per cent to Rs3,847 billion.
The report said the primary balance stood at Rs4,105 billion and the fiscal balance at Rs542 billion over six months. Agricultural lending increased by 11.4 per cent to Rs1,411 billion, while credit to the private sector declined to Rs638 billion.
On an annual basis, the policy rate fell from 12 per cent to 10.5 per cent. The Pakistan Stock Exchange gained 48 per cent to reach 168,893 points. Registration of new companies increased by 26 per cent, with 25,554 new firms registered.
