The rupee gained Rs2.62 against the dollar during early trade in the interbank market on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The PKR was being traded at Rs229.5 per dollar at 11:30am after appreciating 1.12 per cent from yesterday\u2019s close of Rs232.12, data shared by the Forex Association of Pakistan (FAP) showed.<\/p>\n
Today is the fifth consecutive session that the rupee has recovered after falling close to an all-time low of Rs239.94 on Sept 22. It has been on an uptrend since Friday, with its value improving by Rs7.59 or 3.2pc over the last four sessions.<\/p>\n
Exchange Companies Association of Pakistan (Ecap) General Secretary Zafar Paracha said sentiments had changed mainly because of Ishaq Dar\u2019s return as finance minister due to which the rupee was on an uptrend.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe rupee was weakening earlier despite news of funds from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank among others. Overall, the sentiment was negative. Now, there is hope for improvement because of Dar\u2019s reputation for keeping the dollar\u2019s value low and managing the economy better.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dar, who has served as finance minister three times previously as well, is most famous for strong-arming the central bank to liberally inject foreign exchange into the market to prop up the rupee and keeping the dollar\u2019s value around Rs90.<\/p>\n
Paracha acknowledged that the country\u2019s economic situation was different now because of the conditions of the International Monetary Fund\u2019s ongoing programme, under which Pakistan has agreed to a market-based currency exchange regime.<\/p>\n
\u201cDar cannot fix the dollar. He will face difficulties \u2026 but it has to be seen what long-term policies he introduces.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Ecap general secretary said Pakistan\u2019s debt has been reduced by around Rs1 trillion in the last four days because of the rupee\u2019s appreciation. \u201cThis uptrend is very welcome and sentiments have changed after a considerable time.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnti-state elements such as speculators had benefitted because of the government\u2019s wrong policies. The government will have to ensure that this uptrend does not change because of its policies.\u201d<\/p>\n
He pointed out that the country was facing a shortage of foreign exchange in the long run, adding that while Pakistan had to make payments of $30-40 billion this year, arrangements had only been made for $10bn.<\/p>\n
The government should reduce imports and increase exports, and revisit the trade and immigration policies with Afghanistan and Iran because they drained the country\u2019s foreign exchange and reserves, he suggested.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The rupee gained Rs2.62 against the dollar during early trade in the interbank market on Thursday. The PKR was being traded at Rs229.5 per dollar at 11:30am after appreciating 1.12 per cent from yesterday\u2019s close of Rs232.12, data shared by the Forex Association of Pakistan (FAP) showed. Today is the fifth consecutive session that the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":261626,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[181,7105,6490,722,3232],"class_list":{"0":"post-286383","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-business","8":"tag-dollar","9":"tag-interbank","10":"tag-pkr","11":"tag-rupee","12":"tag-usd"},"yoast_head":"\n