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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Friday condemned the “desecration” of Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli ministers and officials, warning that such provocations risk triggering a “catastrophic spiral of violence” in the region.

Israeli far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and officials, guarded by Israeli forces and accompanied by thousands of settlers, this month stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Ben Gvir said he prayed at the site, in violation of rules covering one of the most sensitive sites in the Middle East.

Under a delicate decades-old “status quo” arrangement with Muslim authorities, the Al-Aqsa compound is administered by a Jordanian religious foundation and Jews can visit but may not pray there. The Israeli incursion saw assaults on Muslim worshippers, journalists and mosque guards, drawing widespread condemnation for the violation of the site’s sanctity.

“The presence and statement of senior Israeli officials and the repugnant declaration that the Temple Mount is ours are a dangerous and deliberate attempt to provoke religious sentiments across the world, escalate tensions and alter the status of Al-Aqsa Mosque,” Pakistani Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said at a weekly press briefing in Islamabad.

“Israel’s expansionist attempts are a deliberate effort to destabilize the region and sabotage any meaningful path to peace. These provocations risk igniting a catastrophic spiral of violence across the region.”

Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam, following the Ka’aba in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. It holds profound spiritual significance as the first Qibla (direction of prayer) for Muslims.

Khan urged the world to take immediate steps against Israel’s “systemic, illegal, inhumane and unlawful” aggression and protect the religious sanctity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Separately, he said, Pakistan dispatched an 18th consignment of relief goods to Gaza.

“The 18th consignment comprised 100 tons of relief goods, including ration bags, ready meals and medicines,” Pakistan’s Disaster Management Authority said.

The development came days after Israel’s military said it will open humanitarian corridors to allow aid convoys into the Gaza Strip, following an international outcry stoked by images of malnourished children in a deepening hunger crisis.

Pakistan, which does not have diplomatic ties with Israel, has consistently condemned Israeli military actions and called for the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid into Palestinian territory.

The South Asian country last month used its presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to refocus global attention on the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

KARACHI: �������� was the top source of Pakistani workers’ remittances in July, as overall inflows reached $3.2 billion, up 7.4 percent year-on-year, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said on Friday.

Remittances are a key pillar of Pakistan’s external finances, providing hard currency that supports household consumption, helps narrow the current-account gap and bolsters foreign exchange reserves. The steady pipeline from Gulf economies, led by �������� and the UAE, has remained crucial for Pakistan’s balance of payments.

The SBP said July inflows were “mainly sourced from �������� ($823.7 million), United Arab Emirates ($665.2 million), United Kingdom ($450.4 million) and United States of America ($269.6 million).”

“Workers’ remittances recorded an inflow of $ 3.2 billion during July 2025,” the central bank said in a statement.

Pakistan received a record $38.3 billion in workers’ remittances during the last fiscal year, reporting an increase of about $8 billion over a 12-month period that exceeds the country’s ongoing $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan program.

According to the State Bank of Pakistan, �������� led all contributors during FY25, with remittances totaling $9.34 billion, followed by the United Arab Emirates at $7.83 billion, the United Kingdom at $5.99 billion and the United States at $3.72 billion.

Remittances from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries excluding �������� and the UAE totaled $3.71 billion, while EU countries contributed $3.53 billion.

Economists say remittances function as a stabilizer for Pakistan’s economy, helping millions of households manage expenses while giving policymakers breathing room during periods of tight external financing conditions. With traditional sources in the Middle East still accounting for the bulk of transfers, the trajectory of regional labor demand remains central to Pakistan’s outlook on remittance flows.