Pakistan has received fresh financial backing from Saudi Arabia, which has pledged an additional $3 billion in deposits and extended its existing $5 billion facility for a longer term, according to Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.
The announcement comes at a critical juncture for Pakistan’s external account, as the country prepares to repay a $3.5 billion loan to the United Arab Emirates this month, a move expected to place renewed pressure on foreign exchange reserves and test targets under the International Monetary Fund programme.
Saudi Arabia Announces USD 3 Billion Additional Support, Extends USD 5 Billion Deposit: Finance Minister
— Ministry of Finance, Government of Pakistan (@Financegovpk) April 15, 2026
Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, has informed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has committed USD 3 billion in additional deposits, with… pic.twitter.com/E8dXPg6g9Y
Speaking to the media in Washington on the sidelines of the World Bank–IMF Spring Meetings 2026, Aurangzeb said the Saudi support would help reinforce foreign exchange reserves and strengthen external stability. He added that the existing $5 billion Saudi deposit would no longer require annual rollover and would instead be maintained on a longer-term basis, improving predictability in external financing.
Pakistan’s reserves currently stand at around $16 billion, covering roughly three months of imports. The government has committed to raising reserves to about $18 billion by the end of the fiscal year, in line with conditions under its IMF-supported programme with the International Monetary Fund.
Aurangzeb confirmed that Pakistan had recently repaid $1.4 billion in Eurobond obligations, describing the repayment as a “non-event” and reaffirming that all external obligations would be met on time. He said the country’s financing strategy was clearly mapped out, including planned issuances under a Global Medium-Term Note programme and an inaugural Panda Bond to diversify funding sources.
The finance minister said he had recently held detailed meetings with Saudi officials, including Finance Minister Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, expressing gratitude for continued support. He also acknowledged coordination between Pakistani leadership, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar.
Aurangzeb said international financial institutions, including the World Bank, had expressed growing confidence in Pakistan’s macroeconomic direction. He also pointed to Pakistan’s recent diplomatic role in facilitating dialogue between previously non-engaging parties as a factor improving international sentiment.
He concluded that Pakistan remained committed to macroeconomic stability, timely debt servicing, and continued reforms, adding that a more detailed briefing would be shared at the end of his Washington visit.