According to the Statement of Affairs of the State Bank of Pakistan, for the week ended November 23, 2002, both notes in circulation and those issued maintained the rise in the week under review. Notes in circulation stood at Rs511,751.475 million against earlier week’s figure of Rs511,539.046 million, showing a rise of Rs212.429 million.

When compared to the corresponding week a year ago when it was Rs453,098.960 million, the current week’s figure is higher by Rs58,440.086 million.

Total notes issued also recorded a rise in the current week. At Rs511,919.323 million it was larger by Rs188.875 million over the figure of Rs511,730.448 million recorded a week earlier. In the corresponding week last year it amounted to Rs453,202.800 million, which shows current week’s figure to be higher by Rs58,716.523 million over last year’s figure.

Approved foreign exchange rose further in the week to Rs379,589.273 million, larger by Rs15929.586 million over preceding week’s figure of Rs363,659.687 million recorded a week earlier. When compared to the corresponding week a year ago, when the figure was Rs133,545.099 million, the current week’s figure was higher by Rs246,044.174 million.

Balances held outside Pakistan in approved foreign exchange declined in the week under review. It stood at Rs42,651.816 million over preceding week’s figure of Rs44,048.623 million, showing a fall of Rs1396.807 million. Compared to last year’s corresponding figure of Rs57,729.502 million, the current week’s figure is lower by Rs15077.686 million.

Loans and advances of scheduled banks to the three sectors - agricultural, industrial and export show a mixed picture in the week under review. The agricultural sector received Rs54,005.026 million similar to last week’s figure. The current week’s figure is larger by Rs137.657 million over last year’s corresponding figure of Rs53867.369 million.

There was an inflow of Rs3243.142 million to the industrial sector during the week under review, depicting a decline of Rs3.559 million over previous week’s Rs3246.701 million. When compared to last year’s corresponding figure of Rs3921.433 million, the current week’s figure is lower by Rs678.291 million.

The export sector received Rs47,457.262 million over previous week’s figure of Rs50,495.490 million, showing a fall of Rs3038.228 million. Current week’s figure was lower by Rs4925.151 million over last year’s corresponding figure of Rs52,382.413 million.