The US dollar reached a new high against the Pakistani rupee, going past Rs300 in the interbank market on Thursday. At 11:15 am, it was at Rs300.4 as per the Forex Association of Pakistan. In the open market, it was valued at Rs314.
The day before, the dollar ended at Rs299.64 and went up to Rs315 in the open market. The Exchange Companies Association of Pakistan (ECAP) reported buying and selling prices at Rs309 and Rs312.
As the dollar keeps going up, experts are asking the government to do something about the black market. Saad bin Naseer from Mettis Global said that even though it’s hard to find dollars in the interbank market, they’re easily available in the open market at higher prices.
Naseer didn’t like that the central bank kept the interest rate at 23 per cent because people prefer investing in foreign currencies over the local economy. Malik Bostan, who leads the Forex Association of Pakistan, warned against hoarding dollars, thinking their price will keep rising.
Bostan noticed regular people buying dollars thinking they’ll become more valuable due to the increase in the interbank market. He also mentioned that removing import restrictions from the IMF made the rupee weaker.
Zafar Paracha, from the Exchange Companies Association of Pakistan, blamed the rupee’s decline on more unnecessary imports. He agreed with Bostan and urged people not to buy more dollars during this uncertain time for the rupee.
