The State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) foreign exchange reserves increased by $15 million during the week ended October 2, 2026, reaching $21.454 billion, according to data released by the central bank on Thursday. The latest figures indicate a modest improvement in the reserves held by the country’s central bank compared with the preceding week, when its foreign exchange holdings stood at $21.439 billion. The increase comes as Pakistan continues to monitor its external financial position, including foreign currency availability and the overall level of liquid reserves held across the banking system.
Pakistan’s total liquid foreign exchange reserves reached $26.798 billion as of October 2, according to the reported figures. This amount included $21.454 billion held by the State Bank of Pakistan and $5.344 billion maintained by commercial banks. The combined total provides an overview of the country’s foreign currency holdings across the central bank and commercial banking sector. While SBP reserves represent the holdings managed by the central bank, commercial banks maintain their own foreign currency reserves as part of their banking operations. Both figures contribute to the reported total of Pakistan’s liquid foreign exchange reserves.
The latest increase follows a larger rise recorded in the preceding week. During the week ended September 25, 2026, the SBP’s foreign exchange reserves increased by $39 million to $21.439 billion. The subsequent $15 million gain brought the central bank’s holdings to $21.454 billion by October 2. Comparing the two weekly reports shows that reserves continued to increase, although the latest weekly addition was smaller than the previous one. These week-to-week changes provide a snapshot of movements in the country’s foreign exchange holdings, while longer-term trends are needed to assess whether reserve levels are strengthening consistently.
Foreign exchange reserves are an important component of a country’s external financial position because they help the central bank manage international payments and meet foreign currency requirements. Reserve holdings can be affected by external debt repayments, official inflows, foreign currency purchases, and other international transactions. Changes in the SBP’s reserves therefore need to be considered alongside developments in external financing, imports, exports, remittances, and other sources of foreign currency. The $15 million increase reported for the week ended October 2 reflects the movement recorded during that period and does not, by itself, establish the direction of reserves over a longer timeframe.
The commercial banking sector held $5.344 billion in foreign exchange reserves during the reported week, contributing to Pakistan’s total liquid reserves of $26.798 billion. The distinction between central bank holdings and commercial bank reserves is important when reviewing the country’s external position, as the two categories represent different components of the overall foreign currency stock. Monitoring both figures helps provide a broader picture of foreign exchange availability within Pakistan’s financial system. However, the reported data does not specify the individual transactions or inflows responsible for the latest weekly increase.
The SBP’s reserve figures are closely followed by financial institutions, businesses, investors, and economic analysts assessing Pakistan’s external stability. Reserve levels can influence assessments of the country’s capacity to meet external payment obligations and manage periods of pressure on foreign currency availability. The latest report places the central bank’s holdings at $21.454 billion, while total liquid foreign exchange reserves, including commercial banks, stand at $26.798 billion. Further weekly releases will help establish whether the increase continues and how Pakistan’s overall reserve position develops during October 2026.
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