SBP Reserves Fall $7M to $11.51B Amid IMF Boost

Karachi, June 5 — Foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) dipped by a slight $7 million, dropping to $11.51 billion for the week ending May 30, 2025, data released Thursday reveals. Despite this, Pakistan’s overall liquid foreign reserves—including commercial bank holdings—held firm at $16.60 billion, with net commercial bank reserves steady at $5.09 billion. The SBP stated, “During the week ended on 30-May-2025, SBP reserves decreased by US$7 million to US$11,508.8 million.”

This minor decline follows a massive $1 billion surge the prior week, fueled by the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) second tranche under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF)—SDR 760 million, or $1.02 billion, disbursed earlier in May after the first EFF review. Web context indicates Pakistan’s reserves volatility due to debt repayments, while posts found on X show mixed reactions—some welcome IMF support, others worry about dependency. Critically, the narrative of “stability” may mask underlying fragility—web sources highlight import cover risks, and X sentiment suggests distrust in long-term sustainability, hinting at persistent economic pressures.