KARACHI, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves jumped by $1.11 billon to $12.96 billion in the week that ended on Aug. 15 as a new tranche of an IMF loan arrived, a central bank spokesman said on Thursday.
The State Bank of Pakistan's reserves rose to $9.47 billion from $8.36 billion a week earlier, while reserves held by commercial banks were unchanged at $3.49 billion, said central bank chief spokesman Syed Wasimuddin.
Reserves rose because of the $1.2 billion received from the International Monetary Fund during the week,' he said.
Pakistan agreed in November to an IMF emergency loan package of $7.6 billion to avert a balance of payments crisis and shore up reserves.
This month, the fund increased the loan to $11.3 billion, and also released a third tranche of $1.2 billion.
Foreign reserves hit a record high of $16.5 billion in October 2007 but fell steadily to $6.6 billion by November of last year, largely because of a soaring import bill.
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