SBP holds policy rate at 10.5% in first 2026 MPC meeting
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) decided on Monday to keep its benchmark policy rate unchanged at 10.5% in its first Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting of 2026. SBP Governor Jameel Ahmad announced the decision in a press conference. Inflation in Pakistan could be above 7% in some months of the current fiscal year’s second half, he said. The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) would grow by 3.75% to 4.75% this year, Ahmad envisaged. What MPC says The central bank later issued a detailed MPC statement on its decision to maintain the status quo. It said: