Pakistan's central bank, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), announced its intention to repay $1.5 billion of the $3.5 billion loan to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by April 23. This decision follows the recent repayment of $2 billion to the UAE, which was made possible by a $2 billion deposit from Saudi Arabia. The Finance Minister, Muhammad Aurangzeb, indicated that Pakistan anticipates receiving an additional $1.2 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as part of a Staff Level Agreement (SLA). The IMF's Executive Board is set to convene in mid-May to review this agreement, which is crucial for unlocking further financial support for Pakistan. The UAE's request for the immediate return of funds was reportedly influenced by regional tensions related to the US-Israel conflict. As of March 27, Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves stood at $16.4 billion, enough to cover nearly three months of imports, though the country faces ongoing pressure on its external financial buffers.