Article:
Pakistan received a significant influx of $3.8 billion in remittances from overseas Pakistanis in March 2026, according to a statement from the State Bank of Pakistan. Despite a monthly decline of 16.5% and an annual decline of 5.5%, remittances have shown resilience, with a total of $30.3 billion received from July to March 2026, marking an 8.2% increase from the same period last year. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the UK, and the US were the top sources of remittances, with significant amounts coming from these countries.
The industry sources report that the prices of crude oil have decreased by as much as 15%, while the price of gold has increased by 15,700 rupees per tola, with the current price standing at 504,162 rupees. The 100-index closed at 1,51,673 points on the last trading day, but decreased slightly today, with the 100-index closing at 1,51,207 points. The value of the Pakistani rupee has appreciated against the US dollar, with the current exchange rate standing at 215.5 rupees per dollar.
The textile industry has reported an increase in exports, with the Ministry of Trade attributing the growth to the decrease in prices of raw materials. The government has announced that it has secured funding of over $5 billion from two friendly countries, which will be used to stabilize the economy. The government has also announced that it will suspend gas supply from 10 am to 12 pm today.
The value of the Iranian rial has increased in Pakistan due to the ongoing conflict between Iran and the US, while the prices of LPG have increased, leading to a crackdown on dealers and shopkeepers selling LPG at inflated prices. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has expressed concern over the ceasefire violations and their impact on the peace process.
In a separate development, US President Donald Trump has announced that he will soon initiate talks with Iran, and that the country’s participation in the negotiations may be affected by security concerns. The Iranian Foreign Minister, Javad Zarif, has reportedly spoken to the Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Staff, General Asim Munir, over the phone.
The global crude oil prices have continued to decline, with a 21% decrease in the price of Urea AAE. In a separate development, the Islamabad district administration has declared a public holiday on April 9 and 10.
In a tragic incident, the wife of the former Vice-Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and actor Poonam Kalyan, Analiza Naveen, has spoken out about the death of her son, Mark Shankar Bal, who died in a fire in Singapore last year.
