ISLAMABAD: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) announced on Tuesday that it had received $1 billion from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Finance, marking the second tranche of a recently agreed $3 billion financial support package.
In a statement, the central bank said the first tranche of $2 billion had been received on April 15, 2026, while the latest inflow completes the full amount committed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Last week, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said Saudi Arabia had pledged an additional $3 billion in deposits to help strengthen Pakistan’s external account position, with disbursement expected shortly.
He also noted that the existing $5 billion Saudi deposit, which had previously been renewed annually, would now be extended for three years instead of following the earlier rollover arrangement.
Speaking to reporters in Washington, Aurangzeb had said the new funding follows Riyadh’s decision to prolong the rollover of the existing $5 billion deposit.
A spokesperson for Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Finance also confirmed to Reuters that the kingdom had agreed to provide the $3 billion deposit to support Pakistan’s balance of payments.
Pakistan is currently facing pressure on its foreign exchange reserves due to a $3.5 billion repayment due to the United Arab Emirates this month, an amount equivalent to nearly 18% of its reserves.
Saudi Arabia has frequently provided financial assistance to Pakistan during times of economic difficulty. In 2018, Riyadh announced a $6 billion support package that included a $3 billion deposit with Pakistan’s central bank and $3 billion worth of oil supplies on deferred payment terms.
