Key Points
- SBP-held reserves increase by $22 million on weekly basis
- Central bank reserves stand at $16.38 billion
- Total liquid foreign reserves recorded at $21.736 billion
- Commercial banks hold remaining external liquidity buffer
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s total liquid foreign exchange reserves rose slightly to $21.736 billion in the latest weekly update released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
Rising forex exchange reserves reflect a marginal improvement in the country’s external liquidity position.
According to the central bank data, reserves held by the SBP increased by $22 million to $16.38 billion during the reporting week.
Commercial banks held approximately $5.356 billion, taking the country’s total liquid foreign reserves to $21.736 billion.
The weekly movement in reserves is closely tracked by markets and policymakers as a key indicator of external sector stability.
Marginal improvement is significant, particularly at a time when Pakistan continues to manage balance of payments pressures, external debt repayments and fluctuating import demand.
In recent months, reserve levels have shown gradual stability, supported by a combination of multilateral inflows, improved remittance flows and administrative measures aimed at curbing import pressure.
Such incremental changes, though small in magnitude, help reinforce confidence in external financing buffers, according to analysts.
Pakistan’s external account remains sensitive to global commodity price swings, interest rate movements in advanced economies and the pace of inflows from bilateral and multilateral partners.
The State Bank of Pakistan publishes weekly reserve data to provide transparency on the country’s foreign exchange position and to guide market expectations regarding currency stability.
Economists note that sustaining reserve levels above critical thresholds remains essential for meeting external financing obligations and ensuring stability in the foreign exchange market.
