Pakistan

Remittances up

Pakistan received a record $602.21 million in remittances in March this year, increasing by 15.76 percent from the $520.24 million remitted in March 2007.  Remittances sent to Pakistan from almost all countries also increased in March as compared to the same period last year.

For the first nine months of financial year 2007-2008, worker in the Gulf region sent home a total of $2.37 billion in remittances. 

Unauthorized migrants deported from Turkey

Turkish authorities sent home 49 unauthorized Pakistani immigrants, who arrived in Islamabad on April 27.  The Pakistanis were taken into custody by Federal Investigation Agency.

Sources: “Remittances touch record level of $602.21 million,” Daily Times, 17 April 2008; Muzaffar Rizvi, “Pakistan to receive record $3b remittances from GCC,” Khaleej Times, 22 April 2008; “49 more deportees arrive from Turkey,” DAWN, 27 April 2008