Pakistan has successfully repaid a total of $3.45 billion in deposits to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as confirmed by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Friday.

According to the central bank, $1 billion was returned to the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development on April 23, while the remaining $2.45 billion had already been repaid earlier in the month. This marks the full settlement of UAE deposits that were originally extended in 2019 to support Pakistan’s balance of payments.

An earlier statement from a senior official indicated that Pakistan had planned to repay approximately $3.5 billion to the UAE by the end of April. The decision, the official noted, reflects the country’s commitment to maintaining national dignity, even at the cost of putting pressure on its foreign exchange reserves.

The repayment follows a setback in March, when Pakistan was unable to secure a rollover agreement for the same financial facility from the UAE — the first such instance in seven years. This development raised concerns regarding short-term external financing and reserve stability.

However, during the same period, Pakistan received significant financial support from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A total of $3 billion was deposited in two tranches, with the second installment of $1 billion arriving on April 21, helping to cushion the impact on reserves.

Overall, the repayment highlights Pakistan’s evolving external financing strategy, balancing debt obligations with efforts to sustain economic stability.