SBP Foreign Exchange Reserves Increase by 66 Million Dollars in May

The sovereign foreign currency holdings of the country have registered another positive expansion as the liquid reserves managed by the State Bank of Pakistan increased by sixty-six million dollars during the week concluded on May 22, 2026. This upward movement represents a zero point four percent increase on a week-on-week basis, indicating a steady consolidation of the national external account. According to the fresh statistical update released by the monetary regulatory authority, the grand aggregate of total liquid foreign exchange reserves possessed by the state climbed by fifty-eight million dollars to settle at twenty-two point six four seven billion dollars, compared to twenty-two point five eight nine billion rupees recorded in the immediate preceding week.

A deeper structural breakdown of the official data shows that the net liquid reserves held directly under the custody of the central bank elevated to seventeen point one four seven billion dollars, up from the seventeen point zero eight-one billion dollars documented a week earlier. On the other side of the balance sheet, the net foreign currency reserves managed by domestic commercial banks experienced a minor contraction, hovering at five point fifty billion dollars against the five point fifty-one billion dollars noted in the previous reporting cycle. The ongoing accumulation highlights a substantial structural turnaround in the international solvency profile of the South Asian republic over the past twelve months.

Historical comparisons provided by financial analysts emphasize this macroeconomic improvement, showing that the central bank’s reserves have grown by four point forty-two billion dollars since June 2025. Similarly, the gross liquid reserves of the entire banking system have expanded by four point fifty-six billion dollars during the exact same period. This persistent reserve buildup has been actively driven by resilient home remittance inflows dispatched by overseas workers, tightened administrative management of the current account, and strategic foreign currency purchases executed by the central banking institution within the domestic interbank market.

Operational data tracks that the State Bank of Pakistan successfully mopped up approximately eight point sixteen billion dollars from the interbank market between March 2025 and February 2026 to systematically rebuild its defensive buffer. According to an investment review published by Topline Securities, this aggressive accumulation strategy has successfully enhanced the national import cover ratio to two point eighty-seven months, a notable improvement compared to the two point fifty-four months calculated during the same period last year. This expanded timeline provides a stronger defensive shield against unpredictable external economic shocks and speculative currency devaluations.

Follow the PakBanker Whatsapp Channel for updates across Pakistan’s banking ecosystem.