Pakistan’s economy received a small but positive boost as the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reported an increase of $21 million in its foreign exchange reserves for the week ending September 26, 2025.
As per official data released on Thursday, the SBP’s reserves now stand at $14.400 billion, compared to $14.379 billion recorded last week. While the rise seems to be modest, it is clearly manifesting continued stability in external accounts and signals that Pakistan is managing to maintain its buffer against international payment pressures.
Breakdown of Total Reserves
The total liquid foreign reserves of the country include both SBP and commercial bank holdings were reported at $19.800 billion. Out of this, commercial banks hold $5.400 billion in net reserves.
This distribution shows that the central bank continues to retain the majority of the country’s external assets, giving it greater control over exchange rate stability and external payments such as debt servicing and imports of essential commodities.
What Does This Increase Mean?
Although the $21 million increase is relatively small, economists view such incremental gains as signs of consistency rather than one-off jumps.
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Stability in reserves helps:
• Reinforce market confidence, particularly among investors and international lenders
• Support the Pakistani rupee by reassuring markets of stronger backing
• Ensure smooth financing of essential imports, including fuel and food supplies
Analysts suggest that the improvement may be linked to receipt of remittances, export proceeds and inflows under bilateral arrangements.
A Gradual Climb
Pakistan has been steadily rebuilding its reserves over the past year amid support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and friendly nations. While challenges remain — particularly high external debt repayments — the latest figures show that Pakistan is holding the line rather than slipping backward.
As the country is making all preparations for the next round of economic reviews, financial experts emphasize the need to sustain this upward trajectory via export growth, higher remittances, and disciplined fiscal management.
For now, the latest data brings a welcome moment of reassurance in Pakistan’s broader economic journey.