KARACHI – Pakistan’s economic outlook received a major boost today as the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) confirmed the receipt of US$2 billion from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The funds, which carried a value date of April 15, 2026, have been successfully credited to the central bank’s accounts, providing an essential lifeline for the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
This significant inflow comes at a time when Pakistan is working closely with international lenders to maintain financial stability. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, currently representing Pakistan at the World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings in Washington, hailed the deposit as a testament to the “iron-clad” friendship between Islamabad and Riyadh. He noted that this $2 billion is the first instalment of a larger $3 billion support package pledged by the Saudi Ministry of Finance.
The timing of this deposit is strategically vital. Pakistan is preparing to settle a $3.5 billion debt repayment to the UAE later this month. Without this Saudi intervention, the central bank would have faced significant pressure on its liquid reserves. This “timely bridge” ensures that the country meets its international obligations without depleting the reserves needed to cover essential imports.
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