Islamabad, Pakistan – In December of last year, former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan issued an unlikely threat to the country’s government: after spent more than 15 months behind bars, he called “politically motivated charges” and after multiple failed protests, he warned that he would be launched. Civil disobedience movement.

“As part of the movement, we will urge the Pakistani abroad to reduce transfers and start a boycott campaign,” read a message that was published on his account on X.

Through an unstable balanced economy, as the country seeks to obtain new loans and debts from the main allies such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and China, stopping the transfer valve from Pakistanis abroad can, in theory, can put the government to its knee.

During this call, Mohamed Wassim, 28, is a loyal supporter of the Khan Pakistan Terik-Insaf (PTI) who works in Doha, Qatar, call by phone His family in Punjab, Pakistan, to tell them that he would temporarily stop the monthly installments of the money he had been sending them since they moved to the Middle East last August.

“I was sending approximately 4000 riyals Qatari [300,000 Pakistani rupees or $1,096] Every month to support my family, but as soon as I heard what Imran Khan said, I told them that I would not send money. “

Wassim, a barber in a profession, said that he intends to save money and rely on his older brothers, who run the dairy company in Rahim Yar Khan, a city in southern Punjab, to support the family for some time.

He added: “But I think that I will have to resume sending some money to them next month because my brothers asked me to help,” although he said he intends to send less money than he used to.

He was handsome out of his unwillingness to stop sending money to the homeland, despite his first enthusiasm.

Khan, who was the Prime Minister of Pakistan from August 2018 to April 2022, is known when he was taken off through a parliamentary vote without confidence, with widespread support between the country’s diaspora, from the Middle East to North America.

However, despite the demand of Khan to stop the transfers, the last figures from the Pakistani Central Bank indicate that the transfers in the country, which is a major column for its economy, increased 25 percent in January compared to the same month in 2024.

According to the data issued by the State Bank in Pakistan (SBP), the Pakistanis abroad sent more than $ 3 billion in transfers in January. This represents the second consecutive month, which has exceeded the sign of $ 3 billion.

Khan, the numbers indicate, may lose the battle to use transfers as a weapon against the government.

In fact, 2024 Pakistan witnessed obtaining the highest annual transfer in its history, reaching 34.1 billion dollars, an increase of 32 percent over 2023, when the Pakistanis abroad sent $ 25.7 billion.

Ahmed Kabir, originally from Deir Al -Lafli in the province of Khaybar Bakhtonguwa, who was now working in his head, Saudi Arabia, explained that for him, sending money to Pakistan was not a matter of political preference but necessity.

Kabir recently moved to Saudi Arabia to join his two brothers, who have been living there over the past seven years.

“The only reason that made us leave our families is to earn money for them and send it again. We do not have land, companies or any other way of income. For this reason, my brothers moved here, and now, I followed their steps.”

Kabir recently graduated from Swat University, looking for job opportunities in both Riyadh and Jeddah to avoid being a burden on his brothers, who work as workers.

“They work for 12 hours and send collectively between 2000 to 3000 Saudi sports [150,000-225,000 Pakistani rupees or $533-$800] per month. “Only because of their money was able to study at a university,” he added.

Kabeer is the fifth among the 12 brothers, and is also a supporter of PTI and sympathizes with Khan’s call to reduce transfers. However, he says that when he faces the choice between Khan’s support or his family, “is not an option at all.”

“It is easy to stop sending the money. We are here for our families, and if we do not support them, then why are we here at all? It relates to our siblings, our parents, and our children; we must send the money to the homeland.” “If my mother tells that I cannot send her money because Khan asked me not to do so, it is likely that she would tell me to go in prison with him,” he added, laughing.

Raja Babar Sarwar, the owner of a restaurant in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, chanted similar feelings. He has lived in Jeddah since 2011, along with his son -in -law.

A thirteen father, Saarwar, who descends from Peshawar, said that his only reason for work abroad is to provide his family and ensure their well -being.

“I really don’t care about politics or what any leader says. Sawar told Al -Jazeera Island:” We are not here to do politics, we are here to earn. “

SARWAR, who runs a restaurant serving Pakistani cuisine for diverse customers, runs employees between eight to 10 people, all of them from all over Pakistan.

“I know the fact that each of the workers sends somewhere between 1500 to 2000 [110,000-150,000 Pakistani rupees or $400-$533] Back to the homeland. My brother and my husband, we send about 4000 SAR [300,000 Pakistani rupees or $1,066] Our families every month.

Sajid Amin Javid, the chief economist at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in Islamabad, suggested that none of this was surprising.

He said that most of the transfers sent by the Pakistanis abroad, especially those in the Gulf countries, aim to support weak families in the country.

“The money that Pakistani citizens sent in the homeland are mainly not voluntarily. They must send them to cover their household expenses. With the exception of some exceptions, they have no choice in this matter.”

However, Javid pointed to additional factors behind the recent increase in transfers.

“After estimating the rupee against the US dollar last year and with the stable currency rate, the Pakistani abroad must send more money to meet the expenses of their families,” he explained.

The Pakistani rupe, which was the worst performance of Asia against the US dollar, has settled, which led to a decrease in the value of more than 60 percent between 2022 and 2024, between 278 and 280 rupees per US dollar in the past 12 months.

With the government imposing strict controls and breaking the illegal money transfer channels, the increasing confidence in official banking systems also led to high transfers, as highlighted the economist.

“The nature of Pakistani transfers is not flexible on political accounts, because they are driven by the needs of family consumption. While some individuals, especially strong supporters, may follow their leader’s advice, the vast majority of Pakistani messengers have no choice but to continue to support their families.”