By Moaaz Manzoor
The Pakistani rupee today showed a calm performance in the first week of November, holding steady against major world currencies. Despite a few ups and downs, the local currency ended the week slightly stronger, helped by steady foreign inflows and signs of improvement in the country’s external balance.
Pakistani Rupee Today: Stability Against the Dollar
According to data from the State Bank of Pakistan, the rupee started November 3, 2025, at 280.6730 for buying and 281.1049 for selling against the US dollar. By the end of the week on November 7, it inched up to 280.5684 and 281.0003, showing a small gain of about 0.03 percent.
Performance of the Rupee Against Major Currencies
In the euro market, the rupee began at 323.8120 and 324.3063, dropped midweek to 322.4297 and 322.9200, but recovered by Friday to 323.6541 and 324.1444.
The British pound saw slightly more movement. It opened at 368.9410 and 369.5028, slipped midweek to 365.5492 and 366.1214, then rebounded to 368.0501 and 368.6342 by week’s end.
The Saudi riyal moved within a tight range, starting the week at 74.8377 and 74.9475 and closing just a touch lower at 74.8053 and 74.9154. The Japanese yen strengthened a bit, going from 1.8209 and 1.8236 to 1.8303 and 1.8330.
The Chinese yuan stayed mostly steady, with rates moving slightly between 39.4856 and 39.4455.
Remittances Strengthen Economic Outlook
This reporter noted that according to Arif Habib Limited, the rupee’s 0.03 percent gain against the dollar brought it to an even 280.8. The brokerage also highlighted that overseas Pakistanis sent home USD 3.42 billion in October 2025, a 12 percent rise from the USD 3.05 billion sent in the same month last year.
Compared to September, that was a 7 percent increase. Overall remittances for the first four months of the current fiscal year (July to October FY26) reached USD 12.96 billion—up 9 percent from the same period last year.
Trade Deficit Widens Despite Monthly Gains
But trade figures told a more complex story. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the country’s trade deficit widened to USD 3.2 billion in October 2025. Exports came in at USD 2.8 billion—down 4.5 percent from a year ago, but 14 percent higher than the previous month.
Imports, on the other hand, rose to USD 6.1 billion, up 20.2 percent year-on-year and 3.6 percent month-on-month. The total trade deficit for the first four months of FY26 reached USD 12.6 billion, 38 percent higher than last year’s figure.
Reserves and Bond Market Offer Mixed Signals
There was some good news on the reserves front. AKD Securities reported that Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves grew by USD 31 million during the week, reaching USD 14.5 billion as of October 31, 2025.
The rupee’s 0.03 percent gain week-on-week was also confirmed, closing at 280.82 per US dollar. Meanwhile, in the Pakistan Investment Bond auction, the State Bank raised PKR 489 billion against a target of PKR 400 billion, keeping yields between 11.33 percent and 12.34 percent for bonds ranging from 2 to 15 years.
Market Experts Caution Over External Pressures
Market watchers said the rupee’s steady performance reflected a sense of calm in the currency market, backed by regular inflows and stronger investor confidence.
However, they also warned that external challenges—like higher import bills and global market uncertainty—could test this stability in the coming weeks.
Author Profile
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Moaaz Manzoor is a business correspondent who meticulously tracks Pakistan’s crucial but neglected natural resource industries.
He specializes in exposing inefficiencies and charting the course of modernization, highlighting how efforts to mechanize mining have dramatically cut marble and granite wastage, driving a recovery and attracting vital investment.
