KARACHI, April 17, 2026 — The Pakistani rupee strengthened slightly against the US dollar on Friday, supported by a fresh $2 billion inflow from Saudi Arabia, according to State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) data.
The currency closed at Rs278.92 per dollar in the interbank market, compared with Thursday’s closing of Rs278.95, marking an appreciation of three paisa.
Currency dealers said the rupee gained support from Saudi financial assistance, which forms part of a broader $3 billion commitment aimed at stabilising Pakistan’s external account. They added that the inflow has helped ease pressure on foreign exchange reserves ahead of a scheduled repayment to the United Arab Emirates later this month.
The improvement in sentiment comes after SBP data showed a $1.37 billion decline in reserves for the week ending April 10, largely due to Eurobond repayment obligations amounting to $1.41 billion.
Market participants said the rupee’s performance has also been underpinned by a current account surplus of more than $1 billion recorded in March 2026, along with increased foreign direct investment inflows during the same period.
Analysts noted that expectations of additional external financing are further supporting the local currency. Pakistan is expected to receive around $1.23 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), subject to executive board approval following a staff-level agreement.
Traders said overall sentiment in the foreign exchange market remains cautiously optimistic, with improved external financing and multilateral support helping stabilise the rupee despite ongoing repayment pressures.
However, they warned that the currency outlook remains sensitive to external debt repayments, import demand and global commodity prices, which continue to influence Pakistan’s balance of payments position.