Remittances up by 19.57%
From Zeeshan Mirza

KARACHI—Pakistan received an amount of $1,644.20 million as workers’ remittances during the first four months (July - October, 2006) of the current fiscal year as against $1,375.15 million in the corresponding period of last fiscal year, registering an increase of $269.05 million or 19.57 per cent.
The amount of $1,644.20 million includes $1.02 million received through encashment and profit earned on Foreign Exchange Bearer Certificates (FEBCs) and Foreign Currency Bearer Certificates (FCBCs).
During last month (October), Pakistani workers remitted $410.61 million as against $372.50 million in October, 2005 depicting an increase of $38.11 million or 10.23 per cent.
The inflow of remittances during the first four months (July to October, 2006) from USA, Saudi Arabia, UAE, GCC countries (including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman), UK and EU countries amounted to $421.76 million, $318.20 million, $250.70 million, $231.61 million, $138.45 million and $48.31 million respectively as compared to $391.80 million, $232.59 million, $196.28 million, $181.19 million, $148.68 million and $39.73 million. Remittances received from Canada, Australia, Norway, Switzerland, Japan and other countries during the first four months amounted to $234.15 million as compared to $177.79 million in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.