PKR Stability Reflects Dollar Market Confidence
The Pakistani rupee (PKR) extended its record-breaking momentum on Monday, closing in positive territory against the U.S. dollar (USD) for the 105th consecutive session. The local currency appreciated by one paisa to settle at Rs279.55 against the dollar, reflecting continued stability in the domestic foreign exchange market.
According to closing rates for February 23, 2026, the rupee gained 0.0113 to end at 279.5515 against the greenback. The sustained upward trend against the dollar has been viewed as a sign of steady market sentiment and relative confidence in currency management.
The rupee also recorded marginal gains against Gulf currencies. It strengthened by 0.0124 to close at 76.1088 against the UAE dirham (AED) and rose by 0.0150 to settle at 74.5222 against the Saudi riyal (SAR). These currencies are closely linked to remittance inflows, making their stability significant for Pakistan’s external sector.
However, the rupee posted losses against several major global currencies. It depreciated by Rs1.72 against the euro (EUR), closing at 330.4439, and fell by Rs1.6761 against the British pound (GBP) to settle at 377.9257. The local unit also weakened against the Australian dollar (AUD), declining by 87 paisas to 197.8945, and slipped by 29 paisas against the Canadian dollar (CAD) to close at 204.5374.
Against Asian currencies, movements were relatively limited. The rupee gained a marginal 0.0016 against the Chinese yuan (CNY) to close at 40.4640, while it declined by 31 paisas against the Malaysian ringgit (MYR), settling at 71.9381.
While the rupee’s continued gains against the dollar highlight stability, its mixed performance against other major currencies reflects ongoing volatility in global foreign exchange markets.
