Remittances And Social Change: The Case Of Migrant Families In AJK

Abstract

This study explores the socio-economic and cultural impacts of international remittances on migrant families in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), a region with a long history of overseas labor migration, particularly to the Gulf countries and the United Kingdom. While remittances are widely recognized for their [1]economic contributions, this research delves deeper into how these financial flows bring about social transformations within households and communities. Using a qualitative methodology based on interviews, focus group discussions, and field observations in the districts of Poonch and Bagh, the study reveals that remittances not only improve living standards and education but also reshape gender roles, youth aspirations, and social hierarchies. However, the benefits are not evenly distributed, leading to new forms of inequality and social tension between migrant and non-migrant families. The findings underscore the dual nature of remittances, as tools of empowerment and as potential sources of fragmentation. The paper concludes with recommendations for policy interventions that can maximize the positive social impacts of remittances while minimizing their unintended consequences.