Foreign exchange SBP reserves jump $157m to $12.43b

Central bank cites no reason for the increase in reserves

KARACHI: The foreign exchange reserves held by the central bank increased 1.28% on a weekly basis, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Thursday.

On February 7, the foreign currency reserves held by the SBP were recorded at $12,430.8 million, up $157 million compared with $12,273.7 million in the previous week.

The central bank cited no reason for the increase in reserves.

Overall, liquid foreign currency reserves held by the country, including net reserves held by banks other than the SBP, stood at $18,735.4 million. Net reserves held by banks amounted to $6,304.6 million.  Pakistan received the first loan tranche of $991.4 million from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on July 9 last year, which helped bolster the reserves. In late December, the IMF released the second loan tranche of around $454 million. 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2020.

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