ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s central bank, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), has received the final $1 billion tranche from Saudi Arabia, completing a $3 billion deposit arrangement aimed at strengthening the country’s external finances.
According to the SBP, the latest inflow was credited on April 20, 2026, following an earlier $2 billion tranche received on April 15. With this, the full amount under the agreement has now been disbursed. The financial support comes shortly after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited Saudi Arabia, where he held talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah. During the meeting, the premier expressed gratitude for Riyadh’s continued backing of Pakistan’s economic stability and reaffirmed support amid evolving regional developments.
Earlier, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb had confirmed that Saudi Arabia would extend $3 billion in fresh financial assistance. He also announced the extension of the Kingdom’s existing $5 billion deposit, removing the previous requirement for annual rollover.
The latest inflows have provided a boost to Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves at a time of external financing pressures. This comes alongside Pakistan’s recent repayment of $2 billion to the United Arab Emirates, which had been held as a safe deposit with the central bank.
Saudi Arabia remains one of Pakistan’s key economic partners, having provided multiple financial support packages in the past, including a $6 billion assistance programme in 2018 that comprised direct deposits and oil facility arrangements.
