Forex reserves down 0.58pc

KARACHI: The total liquid foreign exchange reserves held by the country declined 0.58 percent to $15.943 billion as of February 20, 2015 as compared to $16.036 billion on February 13, 2015, the central bank said on Thursday.
During the week, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) made payments of $161 million on account of external debt and other official payments, which include $136 million payment to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under the standby arrangement facility.
During the same period, the SBP received $43 million from multilateral, bilateral and other sources, it said.
During the week ended February 20, 2015, the central bank’s liquid forex reserves decreased by $119 million to $11.075 billion as compared to $11.194 billion in the previous week.
Net foreign exchange reserves held by commercial banks stood at $4.868 billion as of February 20, 2015 as compared to $4.842 billion in the previous week.