Pakistan's Foreign Reserves Tick Up to $26.86 Billion

Overview

• The State Bank of Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves rose by $39 million to $21.5612 billion in the week ended October 30, 2026, lifting total liquid reserves including commercial banks to $26.8645 billion.
• Commercial banks held $5.3033 billion of the total, and the central bank's reserves have recorded consecutive small weekly gains over recent reporting periods.
• Reporting cites disbursements under the IMF's Extended Fund Facility and Resilience and Sustainability Facility, commercial borrowing, and proceeds from a Panda bond as the main sources of the recent inflows.
• Regular repayments of external debt continue to drain reserves, and markets showed a slight rupee appreciation to 276.67 against the US dollar alongside a sharp domestic rise in gold prices.
• The modest build in reserves can help short-term import cover and market confidence, but sustained improvement will depend on further external financing and how scheduled debt servicing is managed.