The inquiry has been recommended by the Finance Minister, Senator Mohammed Ishaq Dar, in his capacity as Chairman of Monetary and Fiscal Policies Coordination Board, said a press release here.

It is mentioned here that, after concluding a meeting on this matter with the Presidents/CEOs of Banks on 6th July 2017, the Finance Minister held a press talk in which he conveyed that a detailed inquiry will be held into the matter, and those responsible will be held to account.

The PKR-US$ exchange rate in the interbank market deteriorated by 3.1% from Rs 104.90 per US$ on 4th July 2017 to Rs. 108.25 per US$ on 5th July 2017.

The sudden depreciation of PKR versus the US$ led to speculation and anxiety in the foreign exchange market. On the same day, i.e. July 5, 2017, the Finance Minister took immediate notice and action on this matter.

He called for a detailed report from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on this artificial and unnatural deterioration in the PKR-US$ exchange rate. He called an emergent meeting with Presidents / CEOs of Banks on 6thJuly 2017.

The Finance Minister's immediate notice and action resulted in stabilization of Pak-US$ exchange rate in the interbank market to Rs 105.50 per US$ on 6th July 2017 when the financial markets opened.

It may be noted that, under the State Bank of Pakistan Act 1956, the Monetary and Fiscal Policies Coordination Board, comprising of the Federal Minister for Finance (Chairman) and other members, including Governor SBP and Finance Secretary, is responsible for coordinating the exchange rate policy as well as the fiscal and monetary policies, to ensure consistency among macroeconomic targets.

However, the sharp deterioration of the exchange rate on 5th July 2017 occurred due to the fact that members of the Monetary and Fiscal Policies Coordination Board, including the Finance Minister and Finance Secretary, were not taken on-board on the matter.