ISLAMABAD: The rupee continued its upward trajectory against the dollar, recovering Rs 2.36 on Tuesday. According to rates provided by the State Bank of Pakistan, the dollar fell to Rs161.13, down 1.45 per cent compared to the opening value of Rs163.49. The latest recovery in the local currency came just a day after US oil futures plunged to historic lows. “Oil makes a big chunk of Pakistan’s import bill. The crash in oil prices has been a big factor on traders’ minds. Also import volumes have been very low in the last few days,” said Eman Khan of Tresmark. 

Due to the lower import volumes, demand for the dollar in the segment has been hit badly. On the other hand, inflows from the International Monetary Fund worth $1.386 billion from last week – aid to fight the adverse impact on the economy from the coronavirus – increased supply of the greenback.