Reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) rose to $13.74 billion from $13.66 billion in the week ending Jan. 22, while those held by commercial banks fell to $3.56 billion from $3.62 billion, said SBP.

Analysts said that it was because of a rise in remittances from overseas Pakistanis.

According to official data, remittances rose 17 percent to $5.3 billion in the first six months of the fiscal year 2010/11 (July-June).

Foreign exchange reserves were boosted this month by more than $633 million from the U S for providing military and logistical support to fight Islamist militancy.

In May, country received $1.13 billion -- the fifth tranche of an $11 billion International Monetary Fund bailout programme.