Rupee likely to ‘become top performer globally in September’

As the interim government ramps up its crackdown on illegal dollar trade it is likely that the Pakistani rupee may turn out to be the top performer globally in September, Bloomberg, reported. 

The local currency rose around 6% this month against the dollar — an amazing feat despite the Thai baht and South Korean won tumbling against the greenback.

Major currencies lost ground against the dollar on speculations that the US interest rates will stay elevated for longer.

The rupee increased 0.1% to 287.95 per dollar on Thursday, after sliding to a record low of about 307 this month. Pakistan's currency market will remain closed for the Eid Miladun Nabi holiday on Friday.

"Many leakages were happening through illegal channels of hawala and hundi trade from the open market," Khurram Schehzad, chief executive officer of Alpha Beta Core Solutions Pvt Ltd, told the publication.

"When the dollar rate reverses everybody, the hoarders, the exporters who are holding their export proceeds, start selling their dollars," Schehzad said.

The interim rulers have intensified efforts by launching a crackdown on people involved in the illegal dollar trade, allowing the currency to gain some lost ground.

The Federal Investigation Agency, Bloomberg reported, conducted raids across the country and security officials in plainclothes were deployed at money exchanges to monitor dollar sales as part of the crackdown.

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar this week said the rupee’s gain is "fostering optimism for stability."

For its part, the State Bank of Pakistan raised the capital requirements of smaller exchange companies and ordered large banks to open their own exchange companies to make the retail foreign exchange market more transparent and easier to monitor.