Rupee flourishes further against dollar after Ishaq Dar warning

• Dollar losses 2.5 against rupee in interbank market.
• Rupee closes at 229.62 against dollar in interbank market.
• Rupee's recovery seen after Ishaq Dar takes charge of finance ministry.

The Pakistani rupee continued its upward trend in the interbank market as the dollar further weakened against the local unit for the fifth consecutive session on Thursday, after newly appointed finance minister Ishaq Dar's warning against manipulation of Pakistani currency.

The dollar lost 2.5 against the rupee and closed at Rs229.62 during intraday trade, up in value from yesterday's close of 232.12.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar warned that no one would be allowed to play tricks with the local currency. 

Currency dealers and analysts have cited that the return of Ishaq Dar — a close aide of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif — to Pakistan as the finance minister has helped improve sentiment and the fall in international commodity prices boosted the rupee’s rise.

The current account deficit — fortunately — will likely remain in check on account of declining international commodity prices and administrative measures taken by the government.

Inflation, too, has most likely peaked and is expected to come down over the coming months, The News reported.

Talking to Geo.tv, economist and former adviser to the federal ministry of finance Dr Khaqan Hassan Najeeb said the first aspect is a change in market sentiment driven by a leadership change at the finance ministry.

"The new team is regarded to be more conscious of rupee movement and thus leaning to more orderly movement," the former adviser said.

Secondly, he noted that some fundamentals have improved, especially a decline in oil prices as well as other key commodity prices, which may help reduce the quantum of imports.

"Thirdly, the confirmation by multilateral lenders to extend flood support is a market supporting development," Dr Najeeb said.

Lastly, a bit farfetched but the possibility of reconsideration and leniency in some conditions by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) due to flood impact is driving a positive sentiment toward the rupee, Najeeb added.