KARACHI, Aug 25: Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves fell to $17.96 billion in the week ending Aug 20, from $18.04 billion the previous week, due to scheduled debt repayments, a senior central bank official said on Thursday.

Reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) fell to $14.50 billion from $14.55 billion a week ago, while those held by commercial banks eased to $3.46 billion from $3.49 billion, said SBP chief spokesman Syed Wasimuddin.

Foreign exchange reserves hit a record $18.31 billion in the week ending July 30.

The reserves were boosted in June by inflows of $411 million, including a loan of $191.9 million from the World Bank, and another loan of $196.8 million from the Asian Development Bank.

Higher export proceeds and a record inflow of remittances have helped Pakistan's forex reserves grow steadily.

According to official data, remittances rose 38.57 per cent to $1.1 billion in the first month of 2011-12 fiscal year, compared with $791.18 million in the same period last year.—Reuters