How Pakistan’s Imran Khan loses the remittance against the Government | Imran Khan News

Islamabad, Pakistan – In December last year, former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan announced a unlikely threat to the government government: after spending more than 15 months behind bars to what he called “politically motivated accusations” and after several failed protests, he warned that he would launch a movement civic disobedience.

“As part of the movement, we will pray abroad of Pakistan to limit their remittances and start a boycott campaign,” read the message published in your account on X.

With an insecure balanced economy, the country is looking for new loans and overturning debt from key allies such as Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and China, excluding a removal valve from foreign Pakistani, in theory it could bring the government to their knees.

Listening to that call, 28-year-old Muhammad Wasem, a submitted supporter of Khan’s Pakistani Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI) Party working in Doha, Qatar, telephoned His family in Punjab in Pakistan to tell them that he would temporarily stop the monthly installments of the money he sent them from moving to the Middle East last August.

“I sent close to 4,000 Qatari Riyals [300,000 Pakistani rupees or $1,096] Every month to support my family, but as soon as I heard what Imran Khan said, I informed them that I would not send the money, “Wasaem Al Jazeera said.

Wasem, a barber by profession, said he planned to save money and rely on his old brothers, who runs a milky job in Rahim Yar Khan, a city in southern Punjab to serve his family for a while.

“But I think I’ll have to continue sending them some money next month because my brothers asked me to help,” he added, although he said he was planning to send less money than it used to be.

Waseem is far from herself in her unwillingness to stop sending money home, despite her initial enthusiasm.

Khan, who was Pakistani Prime Minister from August 2018 to April 2022, when he was overthrown by parliamentary voting without trust, is known to enjoy wide support among the diaspora of the country, from the Middle East to North America.

However, despite Khan’s demand to stop the remittance, the recent figures of the Pakistan Central Bank suggest that the country, the key pillar of its economy, increased by 25 percent in January compared to the same month of 2024.

According to data published by the Pakistan State Bank (SBP), foreign Pakistani sent more than $ 3 billion in January. This marked the second consecutive month that the remittances had exceeded the Mark of $ 3 billion.

Khan, figures suggest, can lose the battle for use of remittances as a weapon against the Government.

In fact, in 2024, Pakistan received the largest annual total number of remittances in his history, reaching $ 34.1 billion, an increase of 32 percent compared to 2023, when foreign Pakistani sent home $ 25.7 billion.

Ahmed Kabeer, originally from the lower dir in the province of the Northwestern Province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and now works in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, explained that, for him, sending money back to Pakistan is not a matter of political preferences, but necessary.

Kabeer recently moved to Saudi Arabia to join his two brothers, who live there for the last seven years.

“The only reason we leave our families is to make money for them and send it back. We do not have a country, companies or any other revenue. That’s why my brothers moved here, and now I followed their steps,” Kabeer said for Al Jazeera.

A recent graduate of SWAT University, Kabeer is looking for employment opportunities in Riyadh and in Jedda to avoid being a burden for his brothers, who work as workers.

“They work 12-hour shifts and collectively return between 2,000 and 3,000 Saudi Riyals [150,000-225,000 Pakistani rupees or $533-$800] Every month. Only because of their money I was able to study at the university, “he added.

The fifth of 12 siblings, Kabeer is also a fan of PTI -As, sympathizes with Khan’s calling to limit their remittances. However, he says that when he faces a choice between support from Khan or his family, “it is not a choice at all.”

“It is easy to demand that we stop sending money. We are here for our families, and if we do not support them, why are we here at all? These are our brothers and sisters, our parents, our children; we have to send money home,” he said. “If I tell my mother that I can’t send her money because Khan asked me not to do it, he would probably tell me to go to sit in prison with him,” he added, laughing.

Raja Babar Sarwar, owner of a restaurant in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, repeated similar feelings. He has been living in Jedda since 2011, along with his son -in -law.

The father of three children, Sarwar, who comes from Peshawar, said his only reason to work abroad was to provide his family and provide their well -being.

“I really don’t care about politics or what any leader is saying. We are not here to do politics, we are here to make money,” Sarwar Al Jazeera said.

Driving a restaurant serving Pakistani cuisine for a variety of clientele, Sarwar employs a staff of eight to 10 people, all from different parts of Pakistan.

“I know about the fact that each of my workers sends anywhere between 1,500 to 2,000 sar [110,000-150,000 Pakistani rupees or $400-$533] Back home. My son -in -law and i send about 4,000 sar [300,000 Pakistani rupees or $1,066] Our families every month, “he said.

Sajid Amin Javed, a senior economist of the Institute of Sustainable Development (SDPI) in Islamabad, suggested that none of this is surprising.

Most of the remittances sent by foreign Pakistani, especially those in the Gulf countries, are intended to support vulnerable families in the home, he said.

“The money that Pakistani nationals sent home is basically inadvertent. They have to send it to cover their household expenses. By banning several exceptions, they have no choice in the matter,” Javed told Al Jazeera.

However, JAVED pointed to the additional factors behind the recent increase in remittances.

“After the Rupopi is valued compared to the US dollar last year is now a stable currency rate, foreign Pakistani must send more money to settle their families’ costs,” he explained.

The Pakistani Rupee, which was the worst currency in Asia compared to the US dollar, was depreciated by more than 60 percent between 2022 and 2024, now stabilized between 278 and 280 rupees per US dollar in the last 12 months.

Since the government carries out strict controls and break illegal money transfer channels, increased confidence in official banking systems has also led to greater flow of remittances, Economist said.

“The nature of Pakistani remittances is inelastic for political narratives, as they are triggered by the needs of household consumption. Although some individuals, especially strong supporters, may follow the advice of their leader, the vast majority of Pakistani sender has no choice but to continue to support their families, “said Javed.