The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has received $1 billion from the Ministry of Finance Saudi Arabia, marking the second installment of a recently agreed $3 billion deposit, the central bank announced on Tuesday.
According to the SBP, the second tranche was credited with a value date of April 20, 2026. This follows the earlier receipt of $2 billion on April 15, 2026, bringing the total funds received under the arrangement to $3 billion.
The inflow comes shortly after Shehbaz Sharif visited Jeddah, where he held talks focused on regional stability and strengthening bilateral ties. During the visit, he met Mohammed bin Salman and expressed gratitude for Saudi Arabia’s continued financial support to Pakistan, while also reaffirming solidarity amid evolving regional developments.
Earlier, on April 16, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb had confirmed that Saudi Arabia would extend an additional $3 billion in financial assistance, with funds expected to be released soon. He also noted that Riyadh had prolonged the duration of its existing $5 billion deposit, eliminating the need for annual renewal.
This financial support has bolstered Pakistan’s external account position, particularly after the country repaid $2 billion to the United Arab Emirates, where the funds had been held with the central bank as a deposit.
Saudi Arabia remains a crucial economic partner for Pakistan, having repeatedly stepped in with financial packages during challenging periods. Notably, in 2018, the Kingdom provided a $6 billion support package that included direct deposits and oil facility arrangements, helping stabilize Pakistan’s economy.
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