Karachi, April 3, 2025 – Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves saw an increase of $29 million during the week ending March 28, 2025, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Thursday.
This marks a positive trend in the country’s external financial position amid expectations of further inflows.
READ MORE: Pakistan’s Foreign Exchange Reserves Drop by $465 Million: SBP
The SBP reported that the total net foreign exchange reserves of the country rose to $15.58 billion by March 28, 2025, compared to $15.551 billion recorded a week earlier on March 21, 2025. The official reserves held by the SBP also witnessed an increase, climbing by $69 million to reach $10.676 billion, up from $10.607 billion in the previous week.
This rise in reserves comes at a time when Pakistan is anticipating additional funding from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Following a successful staff-level agreement for the loan program, the country expects to receive around $1.3 billion as the second tranche, subject to approval by the IMF executive board. This influx is expected to further bolster the SBP’s foreign exchange reserves and improve the overall stability of Pakistan’s financial system.
Despite the increase in SBP-held reserves, the foreign exchange reserves maintained by commercial banks experienced a decline. According to the latest figures, commercial banks’ forex reserves dropped by $40 million, falling to $4.904 billion by the week ending March 28, 2025, compared to $4.944 billion a week earlier.
Analysts suggest that the overall increase in reserves is a positive indicator for Pakistan’s economic stability. However, they note that sustaining this trend will require continued inflows from multilateral lenders, remittances, and export earnings. The government’s efforts to attract foreign investment and maintain fiscal discipline will play a crucial role in ensuring long-term forex stability.
With the SBP closely monitoring the country’s external financial position, market participants remain optimistic about further improvements in the forex reserves in the coming weeks, particularly as Pakistan continues negotiations for additional financial assistance from international partners.