Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves at $26.83 billion; SBP holds $21.49 billion after a $19 million rise

Pakistan's total liquid foreign exchange reserves were $26.83 billion in the week ended 16 October 2026, down about $30 million on the week, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) data released on Thursday 22 October showed, Business Recorder reported. The SBP's own reserves rose $19 million to $21.49 billion, while commercial banks' reserves fell about $49 million to $5.34 billion.

The weekly numbers

It is the third small weekly gain in a row for the SBP's holdings, after $15.8 million in the week to 9 October. The fall in the total came from commercial banks, whose reserves are dollars held by exporters, importers and account holders and move with trade payments from week to week. The SBP did not give a reason for either change.

Updated 22 October 2026 with the week to 16 October. The previous week's report follows.

Week to 9 October: total liquid reserves rose $65.9 million to $26.863 billion, with SBP reserves at $21.470 billion and commercial banks at $5.394 billion, according to SBP data reported by ProPakistani. At that week's pace of imports the reserves covered about 3.04 months of imports, a level usually read as comfortable for a country of Pakistan's size and well above the few weeks of cover the country was down to in early 2023.

How we got here

The SBP's reserves jumped by just over $3 billion in a single week in mid-September and passed $21.39 billion, a level the central bank had targeted for June 2027: our earlier report, SBP reserves pass a target set for June 2027. Since then they have held steady around $21.4 to $21.5 billion, with small weekly gains.

What it means for you

• The rupee: steady reserves give the SBP room to keep the exchange rate calm. The interbank dollar was about Rs 276.85 on 22 October, little changed over the week; see the daily reading on our dollar rate page and convert any amount with the currency converter.
• Importers and travellers: a stable rupee keeps the cost of imported phones, cars and fuel from jumping. Petrol and diesel follow world oil prices more than reserves, but a weak rupee would add to any rise.
• Remittances: families in Lahore, Karachi or Peshawar receiving money from the Gulf or the UK get a steadier rupee amount from month to month.

The SBP publishes reserves every Thursday for the week ending the previous Friday. The next figures, for the week to 23 October, are due on Thursday 29 October; this page is updated each week.