The State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) foreign exchange reserves rose slightly during the week ending April 4, reflecting continued stability in the country’s external account position.
According to data released by the central bank on Thursday, SBP-held reserves increased by $23.1 million, or 0.22 per cent week-on-week, reaching a total of $10.7 billion.
The country’s overall foreign exchange reserves, which include holdings of both the central bank and commercial banks, also posted an improvement. The total reserves climbed by $173 million or 1.11 per cent during the week, pushing the figure to $15.75 billion.
Reserves held by commercial banks saw a notable increase as well. They went up by $149.9 million, marking a 3.06 per cent rise to stand at $5.05 billion.
On a fiscal year-to-date basis (since July 2024), SBP’s reserves have grown by $1.31 billion — a gain of nearly 14 per cent. However, on a calendar year-to-date basis (since January 2025), the central bank’s reserves have declined by $1.01 billion, reflecting an 8.63 per cent drop.
The increase in reserves may be attributed to continued inflows from international financial institutions and improved current account management, though challenges on the external front remain amid fluctuating oil prices and global economic uncertainties.
