Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves continued to increase during the week ended September 18, 2026, with holdings maintained by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) rising by $11.3 million on a week-on-week basis. According to data released by the central bank, SBP-held foreign exchange reserves reached $21.4 billion, compared with $21.389 billion recorded during the previous week. The increase represented a 0.05% weekly rise and contributed to a further increase in the country’s overall reserve position.
Pakistan’s total liquid foreign exchange reserves also recorded an increase during the week. The country’s total reserves, including holdings maintained by commercial banks, rose by $19.4 million, or 0.07%, to $26.81 billion as of September 18. Commercial banks held $5.41 billion in net foreign reserves, showing an increase of $8.1 million, or 0.15%, from $5.402 billion a week earlier. The weekly movement indicates that both SBP-held reserves and commercial bank holdings contributed to the increase in Pakistan’s overall foreign exchange position.
The data also showed a significant increase in SBP-held reserves over the current fiscal year and calendar year. During the current fiscal year, reserves held by the State Bank have increased by $2.93 billion, representing growth of 15.86%. On a calendar-year basis, SBP-held reserves have increased by $5.34 billion, equivalent to a 33.15% rise. These figures reflect the cumulative change in the central bank’s foreign exchange holdings over the respective periods and provide a broader view of the movement compared with the latest weekly increase.
Monthly data released by the State Bank also showed that its reserves increased during August 2026. SBP-held reserves stood at $17.1528 billion at the end of August, compared with $17.0431 billion in July, resulting in a monthly increase of $109.70 million. On a year-on-year basis, the August 2026 figure was $2.8333 billion higher than the $14.3195 billion recorded in August 2025, representing an increase of 19.79%.
Commercial banks also recorded growth in their foreign exchange holdings during August. Net foreign reserves held by commercial banks reached $4.8791 billion in August 2026, compared with $4.8485 billion in the previous month. This represented an increase of $30.60 million. Compared with August 2025, when commercial banks held $4.7576 billion, their reserves were higher by $121.50 million, or approximately 2.56%, according to the figures provided.
Pakistan’s total liquid foreign exchange reserves stood at $22.0319 billion at the end of August 2026, compared with $21.8916 billion in the previous month. The monthly increase amounted to $140.30 million. Compared with the corresponding period of the previous year, the country’s total reserves were higher by $2.9548 billion, representing growth of 15.49%. The August figures therefore showed increases in both SBP-held reserves and commercial bank holdings when compared with the same month of 2025.
The latest weekly data places the country’s total liquid foreign exchange reserves at $26.8106 billion as of September 18, comprising $21.4003 billion held by the State Bank of Pakistan and $5.4103 billion held by commercial banks. The previous week’s total stood at $26.7912 billion, with SBP reserves at $21.3890 billion and commercial bank reserves at $5.4022 billion. The figures show that the overall reserve position increased by $19.4 million during the week, while the central bank accounted for the larger portion of the weekly increase.
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