SBP reserves edge up to $16.21bn; total liquid holdings cross $21.4bn

The foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) rose to $16.21 billion for the week ended February 20, 2026, according to data released by the central bank on Thursday.

The SBP’s reserves increased by $16 million compared to the previous week, reflecting a marginal improvement in the country’s external position.

As of February 20, 2026, Pakistan’s total liquid foreign reserves stood at $21.41 billion. Of this amount, $16.21 billion was held by the central bank, while net foreign reserves maintained by commercial banks totalled $5.2 billion.

In the preceding weekly review, the country’s overall foreign exchange reserves were reported at $21.3 billion, indicating a modest week-on-week rise.

The central bank continues to account for the bulk of the country’s external buffers, with total reserves remaining above the $21 billion level during the period under review.