Saudi Arabia Financial Support to Boost Pakistan’s Foreign Reserves

(MENAFN) Pakistan has received a $2 billion inflow from Saudi Arabia, offering a boost to its foreign exchange reserves at a time when the country is dealing with significant external repayment pressures.

According to the State Bank of Pakistan, the funds were transferred from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Finance, with a value date of April 15, 2026. The central bank confirmed the transaction in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

The disbursement followed a recent meeting in Jeddah between Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, highlighting continued financial coordination between the two countries.

Earlier in the week, Pakistan’s finance minister stated that Saudi Arabia had committed a total of $3 billion in assistance, with the remaining portion expected to arrive in the coming week.

The latest inflow comes as Pakistan prepares for a $3.5 billion debt repayment to the United Arab Emirates before the end of the month, adding further pressure on its external financing needs.

Separately, it has been reported that Saudi Arabia and Qatar are jointly expected to contribute around $5 billion in support aimed at helping Pakistan stabilize reserves and meet upcoming external obligations through June.

Pakistan’s foreign exchange position continues to face strain due to rising import expenses, with officials cautioning that reserves could weaken further without additional capital inflows.

At present, the country’s total liquid foreign reserves are estimated at about $21.89 billion, including $16.4 billion held by the central bank and roughly $5.49 billion maintained by commercial banks.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb also noted that Pakistan carried out $1.4 billion in external payments over the past week.

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