KARACHI: The Pakistani Rupee (PKR) fell sharply by Rs2.14 to the US dollar on Monday to close at Rs200.06 in the interbank foreign exchange market.
The exchange rate was at Rs197.92 to the dollar on last Friday June 03, 2022.
Currency analysts said that the rupee was under severe pressure due to significant decline in foreign exchange reserves.
READ MORE: Dollar rebounds to Rs197.92; halts rupee’s gaining streak
The rupee hit all-time low of Rs202.01 to the dollar on May 26, 2022. On the same day, the government decided to increase petroleum prices to pave way for IMF loan program. Following this decision the rupee made significant recovery to Rs197.59 on June 02, 2022.
However, the foreign exchange reserves of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) recorded massive decline as per data issued on June 02, 2022. The local currency again under pressure and started losing value.
The foreign exchange reserves of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) fell two years low to $9.72 billion by week ended May 27, 2022. The SBP foreign exchange reserves were at $10.089 billion a week ago i.e. May 20, 2022. The central bank said that its reserves were decreased by $366 million to $ 9.723 billion due to external debt repayment. The SBP’s foreign exchange reserves were at $9.96 billion on June 19, 2020.
READ MORE: Dollar weakens for 5th straight day; ends at Rs197.59
The foreign exchange reserves held by the central bank witnessed a record high at $20.146 billion by week ended August 27, 2021. Since touching the peak the central bank’s foreign exchange witnessed a continuous decline. The official reserves of the SBP fell around $10.423 billion by week ended May 27, 2022 from touching the peak on August 27, 2021. The official reserves of the SBP also reduced to payment for 1.46 months for import cover.
Overall the foreign exchange reserves of the country declined by $379 million to $15.771 billion by week ended May 27, 2022 as compared with $16.150 billion a week ago. The country’s foreign exchange reserves hit all-time high of $27.228 billion on August 27, 2021. Since then the foreign exchange reserves have declined by $11.547 billion.
READ MORE: SBP’s forex reserves fall two-year low to $9.72 billion
The dollar hit record high at Rs202.01 on May 26, 2022. However, with the decision of the government to partially withdraw the subsidy to get next tranche of the IMF, the rupee sharply made gains against the dollar. The local unit made a recovery of Rs4.42 against the dollar during past five sessions.
The rupee remained under pressure against the greenback during the current fiscal year. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has taken various measures to support balance of payment and the local currency. However, the measures ended in a failure to help the rupee to recover losses.
The SBP on May 23, 2022 announced a sharp increase in policy rate by 150 basis points to 13.75 per cent from 12.25 per cent.
READ MORE: Dollar loses Rs4.14 in four sessions; falls to Rs197.87
Recently the government announced to impose a complete ban on imports to support balance of payment and help rupee to stable. However, these measures appeared in failure as the exchange rate yet again deteriorated today massively.
Pakistan’s import bill massively increased to $72.18 billion during first 11 months (July – May) 2021/2022 as compared with $50.03 billion in the same period of the last fiscal year, showing an increase of 44.28 per cent.
Pakistan is a net importer of petroleum products to meet its domestic demand. The country’s energy bill was $17.03 billion during the first nine 10 months (July – April) 2021/2022 as compared with $8.69 billion in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year, showing a massive growth of 96 per cent. The oil bill is around 25 per cent of the total import bill of the country.
