KARACHI: In a significant development for Pakistan’s financial sector, bank deposits have surpassed Rs32 trillion for the first time in history. According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), total deposits stood at Rs32.32 trillion by the end of April 2025, registering a 13.72% year-on-year increase from Rs28.42 trillion in April 2024.
Month-on-month, deposits rose by 2.18% compared to Rs31.63 trillion in March 2025, indicating strong depositor confidence despite prevailing economic uncertainties.
The increase in deposits comes amid a shift in the SBP’s monetary policy stance, with the central bank gradually reducing interest rates to stimulate economic growth. The latest policy move saw the benchmark interest rate cut by 100 basis points to 11%, down from the record high of 22% last year.
Analysts credit the rise in deposits to the rapid adoption of digital banking and mobile payments, which have expanded the reach of the formal banking system and improved financial inclusion.
Meanwhile, credit activity has also grown, with bank advances rising to Rs13.14 trillion by April 2025 from Rs12.03 trillion a year earlier. Advances had previously peaked at Rs16 trillion in December 2024, driven by regulatory targets for advances-to-deposits ratios.
Experts suggest that the concurrent rise in deposits and advances signals renewed confidence in the banking sector and points to a gradual economic recovery backed by monetary and fiscal support.
