Saudi Arabia deposits $2bn with SBP taking the reserves to $11.7bn

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar said here on Tuesday that the brotherly country Saudi Arabia has deposited $2 billion with State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), increasing the total foreign exchange reserves to around $11.7 billion, says APP.
“Our brotherly country Saudi Arabia had made an announcement recently that it would deposit its $2 billion with State Bank of Pakistan. They have placed the deposits and the amount has been credited to SBP,” the minister said at a press conference.
He said, this would be a straight away increase in the country’s foreign exchange reserves that stood at around $9.7 billion on last Friday he said, however added the new position of exchange reserves would be reflected from coming Friday.
The Minister on behalf of Prime Minister, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff, Asim Munir, and the nation thanked Saudi Leadership particularly King Salman, Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman for this support.
He said Saudi Arabia has been playing role of a brother for Pakistan and stands with it at every occasion.
The minister said that some more good developments would follow and lead the economy towards growth, adding that the economy of the country has already been stabilized with the efforts of the incumbent government.
It is pertinent to mention here that on Monday the Fitch Ratings has upgraded Pakistan’s Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to ‘CCC’ from ‘CCC, indicating a positive development towards the betterment of the country’s economy
Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar in a tweet said it was another positive development towards current economic revival journey.
The rating agency has identified key indicators that contributed to the positive development rating for the country which include improvement in easing external financing risks.
The upgrade in ratings reflects Pakistan’s improved external liquidity and funding conditions following its Staff-Level Agreement (SLA) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on a nine-month Stand-by Arrangement (SBA) in June.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday extended his “deep gratitude” to the leadership and brotherly people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the US$2 billion deposit with the State Bank of Pakistan.
“I would like to especially thank my brother Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman for ensuring this financial support to Pakistan,” he wrote on Twitter.
The prime minister hoped that the deposit would strengthen Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves and reflected the growing confidence of the brotherly countries and the international community in the country’s economic turnaround.
“We remain committed to making all necessary efforts to improve Pakistan’s economy,” he said.