Pakistan’s total foreign exchange reserves crossed $21 billion by December 26, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reported. Central bank reserves rose slightly despite a small drop in commercial banks’ dollar holdings. The overall increase signals cautious improvement in the country’s external liquidity.
The SBP data showed total reserves reached $21.122 billion, including both central bank holdings and commercial banks’ deposits. Central bank dollar reserves increased by $13 million to $15.915 billion. This reflects ongoing efforts to maintain financial stability amid domestic and global pressures.
In contrast, commercial banks’ dollar deposits fell by $23 million to $5.97 billion. Analysts attribute the drop to normal fluctuations caused by import payments, foreign inflows, and domestic dollar demand. Despite the decline, the net total reserves still posted a small gain.
The modest rise in total reserves suggests Pakistan is managing external liquidity carefully. Economists note that while the increase is small, it provides some reassurance for the upcoming year’s financial planning. The central bank continues to monitor global market conditions closely.
Read more: Total liquid foreign reserves stand above $ 21 billion
Pakistan’s forex reserves now stand at a level slightly above $21 billion, offering a buffer for imports and external debt obligations. Policymakers hope that stability in reserves will support investor confidence and ease pressures on the rupee.