Bloomberg terms Pakistani rupee worst performer in a basket of 13 currencies

The currency has plunged more than 20 percent in the past year.

(Web Desk) – Pakistan’s rupee weakened to a record yesterday in an apparent devaluation, four days after the South Asian nation secured a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that investors speculate includes tough conditions to reform the economy, Bloomberg reported.

The rupee dropped 3.6 percent, the most in more than five months, to 146.52 a dollar at close on Thursday, according to central bank data. The currency has plunged more than 20 percent in the past year, making it the worst performer in a basket of 13 currencies in Asia compiled by Bloomberg.

The rupee level reflects demand and supply conditions in the foreign exchange market, Pakistan’s central bank spokesman Abid Qamar said in a statement Thursday, adding that it will help in “correcting market imbalances.” The nation had previously said the IMF had not sought to set a level for the currency.

“A market-determined exchange rate’’ will help the economy, the multilateral lender had said in a statement May 12. The nation’s central bank had devalued the currency five times last year and raised interest rates by 475 basis points as it sought to contain the financial blowouts from Pakistan’s twin current-account and budget deficits.

Pakistan clinched the IMF loan after almost a six-month delay that prompted rating companies to downgrade the nation’s credit score earlier this year. In the process, Prime Minister Imran Khan fired key members of his economic team, including the finance minister and central bank governor, and pledged to carry out deep structural reforms.