KARACHI: The US dollar is remained unabated as the greenback reached to a new peak of Rs173 in early day trade. The dollar is being traded at Rs173 in interbank foreign exchange market at 09:45AM. The local currency has lost around 22 paisas against the dollar from Monday’s October 18, 2021 when it closed on the record high of Rs172.78 in the interbank foreign exchange market.
Currency dealers said that the rupee is under pressure due to public holiday observed yesterday. Further, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) released balance of payment data on public holiday.
According to balance of payment (BOP) statistics released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Tuesday, the current account deficit widened to $3.4 billion during the first quarter of the current fiscal year as compared with a surplus of $865 million in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.
The country’s trade deficit has swollen by massive 102.10 per cent to $11.75 billion during the quarter under review as compared with the deficit of $5.81 billion in the corresponding quarter of the last fiscal year.
The import bill registered a sharp growth of 66.11 per cent to $18.75 billion during July – September of the current fiscal year as compared with $11.29 billion in the same period of the last fiscal year.
Meanwhile, the exports have also exhibited a growth of 28 per cent to $6.99 billion during the quarter under review as compared with $5.47 billion in the same period of the last fiscal year.
