Faraz Saeed

LAHORE: Pakistan recorded a current account surplus of $427 million in February, marking its strongest monthly performance since March last year, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan.&nbsp; The latest figure also represents the second consecutive monthly surplus, following January&rsquo;s $60 million surplus, signalling a gradual improvement in the country&rsquo;s external position. Despite the recent gains, the broader picture remains mixed. During the first eight months of the current fiscal year (July-February FY26), Pakistan posted a cumulative current account deficit of $700 million, sharply contrasting with the $479 million surplus recorded in the same period last year. Officials, however, see the recent trend as encouraging. The finance minister&rsquo;s advisor, Khurram Shehzad, described February&rsquo;s numbers as a sign of strengthening fundamentals, pointing to robust remittance inflows, growth in value-added exports, and controlled import expansion as key drivers behind the improvement. Analysts echo this view, noting that higher remittances and a reduction in the income deficit played a crucial role in offsetting the persistent trade gap. The narrowing of external imbalances has also helped ease pressure on foreign financing needs. While risks remain, particularly due to ongoing regional tensions, the back-to-back surpluses suggest that Pakistan&rsquo;s external account is stabilizing.&nbsp; With adequate buffers in place, the development is being seen as a step toward sustainable economic recovery and a potential boost to investor confidence.

A stock broker walks past a digital board showing share prices at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) in Karachi on March 10, 2026. (AFP)

Business

Pakistan posted back-to-back current account surpluses, led by strong remittances and controlled imports, signalling improving external stability despite a year-to-date deficit.

Pakistan’s current account surplus hits 11-month high in February

Malik Waqar Ahmed

ISLAMABAD: More than 30 presidents of women&#39;s chambers of commerce gathered in the capital for a two-day conference aimed at expanding opportunities for women&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-offers-major-investment-opportunities-for-us-entrepreneurs-ambassador-says" target="_blank" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" rel="noopener noreferrer">entrepreneurs</a>&nbsp;across Pakistan. The 4th All Pakistan Women Chambers Presidents International Conference centered on capacity building, financial inclusion, and market access for women-led enterprises. It was organized by the Islamabad Women&#39;s Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan inaugurated the event, stating that women are <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistans-powerhouses-the-women-who-owned-2025" target="_blank" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" rel="noopener noreferrer">reshaping Pakistan</a>&#39;s economy by entering new sectors, creating jobs, and strengthening household incomes. &quot;Women-led enterprises are no longer confined to micro or informal activities,&quot; the special assistant said. &ldquo;They are increasingly visible in manufacturing, services, information technology, agribusiness, and exports.&rdquo; Haroon Khan mentioned that this shift is altering market dynamics and how families cope with inflation, rising energy costs, and slow growth. He observed a clear move from survival-based businesses to growth-oriented firms led by educated women utilizing digital platforms and formal banking channels. The special assistant highlighted that official data indicate increased women&#39;s participation in small and medium enterprises over the past decade. However, policy gaps and limited access to finance still restrict scaling and productivity. He emphasized unlocking women&#39;s potential as essential for maintaining economic growth under fiscal pressure. Women entrepreneurs are helping diversify exports through value-added products in textiles, food processing, and digital services, reducing dependency on a few commodities and bolstering foreign exchange earnings. Haroon Khan pointed to recent initiatives aimed at easing business registration, expanding credit guarantees, and connecting women-owned firms to public procurement. He noted that firms led by women tend to be more resilient during economic shocks. He also acknowledged that despite policy announcements, access to affordable credit remains limited. Chamber representatives reported that high interest rates, collateral requirements, and delays in bank approvals continue to exclude many capable businesses. The Vice President of the Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Rabia Farhan, mentioned that the country&rsquo;s central bank&#39;s loan programs are currently paused. Previously, a special women&#39;s grant with only a 5% markup was available. <img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/565084e1-6c1e-4bfd-86ab-7f2912791d7e-80463ddd-6664-419d-a8c0-8e715ce96a4d.jpg" alt="80463ddd-6664-419d-a8c0-8e715ce96a4d.jpg" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">A participant speaking at the 4th All Pakistan Women Chambers Presidents International Conference held in Islamabad, January 19, 2026.</figcaption> Meanwhile, Naima Ansari, Senior Vice President of the Pakistan-Azerbaijan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the Islamabad location offers direct access to government agencies and regulatory bodies, facilitating networking opportunities. Shabista Bakhtiyar, President of the Women&rsquo;s Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Karachi, discussed the importance of safe workplaces and increased participation in policy-making. &quot;Women need comfortable, safe, and healthy environments,&quot; Bakhtiyar said. &quot;They require spaces where they can work freely and be more deeply involved in policy-making.&quot; Other speakers included Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce &amp; Industry Founder President Samina Fazil, Azerbaijan Ambassador Khazar Farhadov, Securities and Exchange Commission Commissioner Muzaffar Mirza, Deputy Director DGTO Pir Shah Gul, and Secretary General of UBG Zafar Bakhtawri.

Economy

More than 30 women chambers presidents met in Islamabad to discuss capacity building, financial inclusion and market access, highlighting women-led enterprises’ growing role in Pakistan’s economy amid economic challenges nationwide.

Women entrepreneurs target exports and tech at Islamabad summit

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Workers&rsquo; remittances to Pakistan rose 9% year-on-year to $3.19 billion in November 2025, reflecting continued inflows from key destinations including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and European countries, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan.&nbsp;The latest figures show that remittances exceeded the $2.92 billion received in November 2024. However, inflows declined 7% month-on-month from October 2025, when overseas Pakistanis sent $3.42 billion.&nbsp;Saudi Arabia remained the largest source of remittances in November, sending $753 million, followed by the UAE with $675 million and the UK with $481 million.&nbsp;Remittances from EU countries rose 29% year-on-year to $417 million, while inflows from the United States stood at $277 million.&nbsp;During the first five months of the current fiscal year (5MFY26), total remittances reached $16.14 billion, up 9% compared to $14.77 billion in the same period of FY25.&nbsp;Remittances remain a key pillar of Pakistan&rsquo;s external account, providing crucial support amid tight foreign exchange reserves and elevated financing needs.

Saudi Arabia remains the largest source of remittances in November, sending $753 million, followed by the UAE with $675 million and the UK with $481 million.

Pakistan remittances up, reach $3.19B in November

Staff Reporter

LAHORE: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has launched a new digital investment platform, InvestPak, enabling individuals and corporations to invest in government securities entirely online.&nbsp;The initiative forms part of the central bank&rsquo;s broader strategy to modernize Pakistan&rsquo;s financial infrastructure and accelerate the shift toward a cashless economy.&nbsp;According to the SBP, InvestPak digitizes the entire investment process for customers holding rupee accounts with banks, primary dealers (PDs), and microfinance banks (MFBs). Through the web portal, users can open Investor Portfolio of Securities (IPS) accounts, submit bids in primary auctions, and trade government securities in the secondary market without visiting a branch.&nbsp;&ldquo;All banks are mandated to facilitate customer registration on the portal,&rdquo; the SBP said in a circular. &ldquo;Microfinance banks are encouraged to extend the same facility to their clients. All financial institutions must ensure efficient onboarding and a seamless user experience.&rdquo;&nbsp;The system allows users to link and operate multiple rupee and IPS accounts across different financial institutions via a single login, with registration requests required to be processed within two working days.&nbsp;As of June 30, 2025, total investment in government securities stood at Rs46.566 trillion, with scheduled banks holding Rs38.7 trillion (83%) and corporates Rs7.856 trillion (17%). The SBP expects that opening access to individual investors through InvestPak will broaden participation, deepen the domestic debt market, and diversify the investor base.&nbsp;The launch comes as the central bank advances a comprehensive digitalization roadmap. In September, the National Assembly&rsquo;s finance committee was informed that all federal and provincial government payments are to be fully digitized by June 2026, including transactions of state-owned enterprises.&nbsp;SBP Governor Jameel Ahmad told the committee that the central bank is taking &ldquo;comprehensive steps to promote a secure, inclusive, and technology-driven payments ecosystem,&rdquo; noting that 88% of retail transactions in Pakistan are now digital&mdash;a major shift reflecting the rapid uptake of electronic payments.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s digital financial infrastructure currently supports 226 million bank accounts and 46 million Raast IDs. To strengthen consumer protection, the SBP has introduced a bank liability framework and a mandatory two-hour cooling-off period for digital transfers to mitigate fraud.&nbsp;The digital banking landscape is also expanding. Mashreq Bank recently became the first international bank to launch full digital operations in Pakistan, rolling out nationwide services in 12 months&mdash;significantly faster than the global average of five years. Five additional digital banks have received in-principle approval to operate.&nbsp;To promote innovation, the SBP has also backed new digital payment solutions. Governor Ahmad recently inaugurated the JazzCash Experience Lounge, featuring facial and palm biometrics, wearables, and QR-based payment technologies.&nbsp;The SBP said InvestPak represents a major step in expanding public access to investment opportunities in Pakistan&rsquo;s financial markets, calling it part of a long-term transition to &ldquo;a more transparent, inclusive, and digitally driven economy.&rdquo;

The State Bank of Pakistan launched InvestPak, a digital platform enabling individuals and corporates to invest in government securities online, aiming to modernize financial infrastructure, promote inclusion, and advance Pakistan’s cashless economy

Pakistan’s central bank launches InvestPak to expand digital access to government securities

LAHORE: Pakistan received $12.9 billion in workers&rsquo; remittances during the first four months of the current fiscal year (4MFY26), marking a 9.3% increase from $11.9 billion in the same period last year, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). In October alone, remittances amounted to $3.4 billion, up 12% year-on-year. On a month-on-month basis, inflows rose 7% from $3.2 billion in September, representing one of the strongest monthly inflows in recent months. The SBP said the rise reflected the government&rsquo;s ongoing push to encourage formal channels and expand digital transfer systems, while reducing reliance on informal money transfer networks. Saudi Arabia remained the single largest source of inflows, contributing $821 million in October, an increase of 9% from September and 7% higher than the same month last year. Remittances from the United Arab Emirates totaled $698 million, up 12% year-on-year. Inflows from the United Kingdom reached $488 million, rising 13% annually and 7% from the previous month. The United States sent $290 million, showing an 8% month-on-month increase, though 4% lower than a year earlier. Meanwhile, receipts from European Union countries surged 27% year-on-year to $457 million. Pakistan recorded $38.3 billion in total remittances during FY25, the highest annual inflow on record. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the increase, calling overseas Pakistanis &ldquo;a backbone of the economy.&rdquo; &ldquo;Overseas Pakistanis are our invaluable assets, serving the nation by sending their hard-earned money,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The consistent rise in remittances reflects the trust expatriates have in our economic direction.&rdquo; Analysts said higher remittances are providing much-needed support to Pakistan&rsquo;s external account, especially as export growth remains subdued. Waqas Ghani, Head of Research at JS Global, said remittances had &ldquo;clocked in at one of the strongest levels in recent months,&rdquo; adding that cumulative inflows of $12.96 billion in 4MFY26 indicated &ldquo;a decent 9 percent year-on-year growth.&rdquo; However, he cautioned that sustaining the trend will depend on &ldquo;consistent policy support, expansion of digital channels, and diversification of overseas labor markets.&rdquo; The Pakistan Remittance Initiative (PRI), launched in 2009 to encourage the use of formal banking channels, continues to play a central role. The number of participating financial institutions has grown from around 25 in 2009 to more than 50 by 2024, improving speed and security for overseas senders. Economists say remittances, now Pakistan&rsquo;s largest source of foreign exchange, will remain critical for economic stability as the country continues to face external financing pressures and persistent inflation.

With Saudi Arabia among largest contributors, Pakistan received $12.9bn in remittances during 4MFY26, rising 9.3%, bolstering external finances as authorities promote formal transfer channels.

Pakistan remittances rise to $12.9 billion in early FY26: central bank

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s information technology (IT) and IT-enabled services exports reached $1.057 billion in the July-September 2025 quarter, according to data from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). This marks the first time the country has surpassed the $1 billion threshold in a single quarter, a 20% increase from $877 million in the same period last year, noted the Head of Equity Research at JS Global, Waqas Ghani. In the first quarter of fiscal year (FY) 2026, IT exports accounted for 48% of total services exports, as per the SBP. The sector has grown steadily from $300 million in the first quarter of FY 2020 to over $1.1 billion in the first quarter of FY 2026. Last fiscal year, the sector reached $3.8 billion in total exports. Third-largest source of foreign exchange IT is Pakistan&rsquo;s third-largest source of foreign exchange, after textiles and rice. It accounts for 45% of total services exports by the end of FY 2025, according to the IT and Telecom Ministry. Waqas Ghani said IT remains a key sector with a consistent trade surplus. &ldquo;Last fiscal year, the sector posted an 87% trade surplus. This was driven by strong demand for software development, IT-enabled services, and freelance exports,&rdquo; he told PakistanTV Digital. Technology analyst Ali Raza called the $1 billion quarterly milestone a sign of growth. &ldquo;The ecosystem has matured, the talent base is stronger, and confidence in our digital infrastructure is increasing,&rdquo; he said. Government&rsquo;s ambitious aims The government has set a target of $5 billion in IT exports for FY 2026 under the &ldquo;Uraan Pakistan&rdquo; initiative. The aim is to reach $10 billion by 2029, positioning technology as a key driver of economic growth. The sector&rsquo;s expansion has been supported by policy changes, including the SBP&rsquo;s decision to raise the retention limit for exporters&rsquo; foreign currency accounts from 35% to 50%. The move provides exporters with greater control over earnings and investment abroad. Stable exchange rates have further encouraged the repatriation of profits, improving the financial environment for exporters.

Pakistan’s IT exports hit $1.057 billion in July-September 2025, marking record growth supported by government targets, policy support, and expanding global market presence.

Articles tagged with "State Bank of Pakistan (SBP)"

Pakistan’s current account surplus hits 11-month high in February

Women entrepreneurs target exports and tech at Islamabad summit

Pakistan remittances up, reach $3.19B in November

Pakistan’s central bank launches InvestPak to expand digital access to government securities

Pakistan remittances rise to $12.9 billion in early FY26: central bank

Pakistan’s IT exports cross $1 billion in single quarter