Karachi, March 12, 2026 – Pakistan recorded a weekly increase of $164 million in its total foreign exchange reserves, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Thursday.
The country’s total liquid foreign exchange reserves climbed to $21.598 billion during the week ended March 6, 2026, compared with $21.434 billion recorded in the previous week ending February 27, 2026.
SBP Reserves Show Moderate Increase
Reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan rose by $41 million, reaching $14.341 billion during the week under review. In the preceding week, the SBP’s reserves were recorded at around $14.30 billion, reflecting a modest but steady improvement in the central bank’s holdings.
Commercial Banks Register Stronger Growth
Meanwhile, foreign exchange reserves maintained by commercial banks posted a stronger increase. Their reserves rose by $123 million to $5.257 billion, up from $5.134 billion in the previous week.
Financial market analysts attributed the rise mainly to higher inflows of workers’ remittances, which helped strengthen the foreign currency holdings of commercial banks.
Outlook for External Sector
Analysts noted that the SBP has managed to keep Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves at a relatively comfortable level, supporting external sector stability in recent months.
However, they cautioned that rising import payment requirements could put pressure on the country’s reserves in the coming weeks if external inflows remain limited.
IMF Talks Could Bring Additional Inflows
Pakistan is also engaged in ongoing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund regarding the third review of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program.
Officials expect that successful completion of the review could unlock additional financial inflows, further strengthening Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves and supporting macroeconomic stability.