ISLAMABAD: The Foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) declined by $229 million during the week ended July 24, 2026, mainly due to external debt repayments, the central bank said on Thursday.
The country’s foreign exchange reserves fell to $17.03 billion from $17.26 billion a week earlier, according to the SBP’s weekly statement.
“During the week ended July 24, 2026, SBP’s foreign exchange reserves decreased by $229 million to $17,029.9 million. The decline in SBP’s FX reserves is due to external debt repayments,” the central bank said.
Total liquid foreign #reserves held by the country stood at US$22.44 billion as of July 24, 2026.
https://t.co/mVwDwVa0gU
#sbpreserves pic.twitter.com/QXkw4U9JzX— SBP (@StateBank_Pak) July 30, 2026
Despite the decline, Pakistan’s total liquid foreign exchange reserves stood at $22.44 billion as of July 24. This includes $17.03 billion held by the SBP and $5.41 billion maintained by commercial banks.
The central bank releases its foreign exchange reserves data on a weekly basis, with reserve levels closely monitored as an indicator of the country’s external liquidity position and its ability to meet international payment obligations.
Pakistani Rupee registers gain against US dollar
The Pakistani rupee extended its marginal gains against the US dollar on Thursday. The local unit closed the day at 277.81, a gain of Re0.01 against the greenback.
On Wednesday, the Pakistani rupee closed at 277.82 against the US dollar in the interbank market.
Interbank closing #ExchangeRate for todayhttps://t.co/RJo7zYGvzk#sbpexchangerate pic.twitter.com/ZxR4qMvNwp
— SBP (@StateBank_Pak) July 30, 2026
In global markets, the US dollar strengthened slightly in early Asian trading on Thursday after the Federal Reserve kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged. Investors also closely watched remarks by Fed Chair Kevin Warsh, whose comments offered little clarity on the future direction of monetary policy amid differing views among policymakers.
The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of six major currencies, edged up 0.1% to 100.89 after the United States confirmed it had carried out air strikes in Iran.
Meanwhile, the British pound slipped 0.1% to $1.3355 ahead of the Bank of England’s monetary policy decision later on Thursday, with markets widely expecting interest rates to remain unchanged. The euro also weakened 0.1% to $1.1457.
Saudi Arabia extends $5 billion support for Pakistan until 2029
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has extended its $5 billion financial support for Pakistan until 2029, providing a major boost to the country’s external financing position, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Jameel Ahmad said.
The central bank chief said the extension marks a departure from the previous practice of annual renewals, providing Pakistan with sustainability and visibility into its reserve position through 2029.
Also Read: Saudi Arabia Extends $5 Billion Support for Pakistan Until 2029
The announcement comes as Pakistan continues to pursue economic reforms under an International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme aimed at strengthening macroeconomic stability and reducing vulnerabilities in the external account.
Saudi Arabia has remained one of Pakistan’s most important economic partners, repeatedly extending deposit facilities with the SBP during periods of financial stress. The latest rollover is expected to help Islamabad manage its external financing requirements and improve investor confidence.
