Pakistan has received $2 billion from Saudi Arabia, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) confirmed on Thursday.
In a brief statement, the central bank said the funds were received with a value date of April 15, 2026, providing temporary support to the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
The development comes as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is visiting Saudi Arabia as part of a diplomatic effort aimed at promoting peace and stability in the Middle East.
Additional Saudi financial support
A day earlier, Saudi Arabia pledged an additional $3 billion in deposits for Pakistan and agreed to extend its existing $5 billion financial facility for another three years.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said the previously arranged $5bn Saudi deposit would no longer follow the earlier annual rollover mechanism and would instead remain in place for a longer-term period.
Pressure on foreign reserves
The inflow comes at a time when Pakistan faces significant pressure on its external accounts. The country is expected to repay a $3.5 billion loan to the United Arab Emirates later this month, which could weigh on its foreign exchange reserves and complicate compliance with conditions under the International Monetary Fund programme.
According to official figures, Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves stood at $16.4bn as of March 27, enough to cover nearly three months of imports.
However, the repayment obligation to the UAE has raised concerns about the country’s near-term financing needs, particularly after Islamabad failed in March to secure a rollover of the $3.5bn facility — the first such setback in seven years.
External risks remain
Economists say Pakistan’s external financing position remains fragile, especially amid rising global oil prices and economic uncertainty linked to tensions in the Middle East.
While the latest inflow from Saudi Arabia offers short-term relief, analysts note that maintaining financial stability will depend on continued support from international partners and progress under IMF-backed economic reforms.