According to the Statement of Affairs of the State Bank of Pakistan, for the week ended December 15, 2001, both notes in circulation and those issued showed an increase in the week.

Notes in circulation stood at Rs470,037.585 million against preceding week’s Rs461,453.530 million, showing a rise of Rs8,584.055 million. When compared to the corresponding week a year ago when it was Rs412,444.251 million, the current week’s figure is higher by Rs57,593.334 million.

Total notes issued also showed an increase in the current week. At Rs470,169.753 million it was larger by Rs8,588.523 million over a week earlier figure of Rs461,581.230 million.

In the corresponding week last year it amounted to Rs412,614.710 million, which shows an increase of Rs57,555.043 million over the year.

Approved foreign exchange maintained the rise in the week under review. It stood at Rs138,445.917 million, showing a rise of Rs4,076.398 million over previous week’s Rs134,369.519 million. When compared to last year’s corresponding figure of Rs56,684.598 million, the current week’s figure is substantially higher by Rs81,761.319 million.

Balances held outside Pakistan in approved foreign exchange, declined in the week. It stood at Rs60,621.531 million over preceding week’s figure of Rs62,537.372 million, showing fall of Rs1,915.841 million. Compared to last year’s corresponding figure of Rs24,781.295 million, the current week’s figure is larger by Rs35,840.236 million.

Loans and advances of scheduled banks to the three sectors, agricultural, industrial and export showed a mixed picture in the week under review.

The agricultural sector received Rs53,867.369 million, similar to preceding week’s figure. The current week’s figure is smaller by Rs430.352 million over last year’s corresponding figure of Rs54,297.721 million.

There was an inflow of Rs3,884.120 million in the industrial sector during the week under review, depicting a rise of Rs24.172 million over previous week’s Rs3,859.948 million. Compared to last year’s corresponding figure of Rs4,779.389 million, the current week’s figure is lower by Rs895.269 million.

The export sector received Rs48,742.251 million over previous week’s figure of Rs48,861.110 million, showing a fall of Rs118.859 million. Current week’s figure was lower by Rs29,753.895 million over last year’s corresponding figure of Rs78,496.146 million.