Karachi, May 13, 2025 – The Pakistani rupee weakened slightly against the US dollar on Tuesday, closing at PKR 281.67 in the interbank foreign exchange market. This marks a modest decline of 10 paisas compared to Monday’s closing rate of PKR 281.57.
Currency market analysts attributed the rupee’s marginal depreciation to increased dollar demand from importers and corporate entities. They noted that a relative easing in regional geopolitical tensions has encouraged businesses to resume import orders, increasing the market’s appetite for dollar purchases. In addition to importers, corporate buyers were also active, further pushing up the demand for the greenback.
Analysts, however, remained optimistic about the rupee’s short-term outlook. A major positive development is the expected disbursement of approximately $2.4 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), likely to arrive today. These dollar inflows are anticipated to bolster Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves, providing much-needed support to the country’s balance of payments.
The anticipated International Monetary Fund funding is seen as a critical buffer that could help the rupee regain some ground in the days ahead. Alongside this, rising inflows from exports and workers’ remittances are also expected to lend support to the local currency. According to analysts, these factors could contribute to stabilizing the rupee against the dollar in the near term.
However, concerns remain over Pakistan’s import bill, which continues to pose a threat to rupee stability. If dollar demand for imports remains elevated, it could offset the positive effects of incoming foreign funds. Analysts suggest that managing the demand for dollars while ensuring a steady stream of inflows will be key to maintaining exchange rate stability.
As the currency market continues to respond to both domestic and international economic developments, all eyes remain on the central bank and upcoming inflows to see how the rupee-dollar parity evolves in the coming days.