As a result of the ruling PML-N’s defeat in the Punjab by-elections, which has caused political turmoil in the nation, the Pakistani rupee (PKR) on Monday fell to an all-time low of Rs214 against the US dollar in interbank trade.
Today’s intraday trade saw Rs3.79 depreciation of the local currency against the US dollar. It is still unknown where the local currency will end up after the day’s trading.
The local currency has reached an all-time low because the US dollar was trading for Rs214.74 on the interbank market, according to the Exchange Companies Association of Pakistan (ECAP).
Pakistani rupee’s record low against the dollar was Rs211.48 on June 21. Since then, the currency has remained erratic.
The Pakistan Stock Exchange’s (PSX) benchmark KSE-100 index is also down, with the bears controlling trading at the bourse. As of 11:34 am, the index was trading at 41,532.46 points, down nearly 550 points.
Pressure on import payments and political unpredictability, according to Samiullah Tariq, Head of Research at Pakistan-Kuwait Investment Company, are to blame for the rupee’s decline.
The results of the by-election on Sunday, according to the analyst, provided clarity, but the market is still waiting for a plan of action.
PKR is weakening, but Arif Habib Limited analyst Ahsan Mehanti expressed optimism that it would soon rebound because all predictions favour the local currency.
Mehnti was of the view that Pakistan will benefit greatly from the funds it will receive from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as a result of the staff-level agreement.
