Business

Pakistan striving to rebound strongly from current economic challenges: SBP chief

Published

1 year ago

Farwa

SBP chief briefs investors, fund managers on current challenges, way forward.
Says challenges largely driven by “adverse global shocks, domestic developments”.
Inflation expected to ease in coming months; financing uncertainty to end after IMF deal.

State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Jameel Ahmad has said that the country was striving to rebound strongly from the current economic challenges, including external financing woes and record inflation.

He stressed that Pakistan’s economy had “always rebounded strongly after undergoing severe shocks”.

“No doubt, this time, we have faced not one but a series of domestic and global shocks. But we strive to rebound strongly from the current challenges as well.”

He made the remarks while addressing international investors and fund managers at an event organised by Barclays in Washington, United States on Pakistan’s economic challenges and the way forward.

A statement issued by the central bank said Ahmad briefed the attendees about the challenges Pakistan is facing, the policy responses and the way forward.

The SBP chief noted that the economic challenges, including high inflation and balance of payments pressures, were largely driven by “adverse global shocks and domestic developments”.

Even though global commodity prices had fallen from the peak reached in 2022, they were still “significantly high” and thus, were taking a toll on domestic inflation and the current account, he elaborated. The rupee has depreciated sharply over the last few months, which has increased the cost of living for consumers in the heavily import-dependent country.

At the same time, the SBP chief said, tightening global financial conditions have made it harder for emerging markets such as Pakistan to access international financial markets. Consequently, this put stress on the country’s foreign exchange reserves, which have fallen to critically low levels in recent months, and the exchange rate. The devastating floods of 2022, which caused damages of $30 billion, had worsened the country’s economic distress, he pointed out.

Ahmad also spoke about the country’s external balance of payments situation, noting that Pakistan had met all its obligations in a timely manner contrary to earlier market expectations.

“The country’s debt repayments have been rather front-loaded, whereas inflows have been gradual,” he explained.

He said the country was receiving fresh financing in addition to loan rollovers ahead of the expected revival of a loan programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Policy response

Elaborating on the central bank’s policy measures, the SBP chief said it had raised the benchmark interest rate by 1,400 points to 21% in the last 18 months and tightened regulations to rein in inflation and reduce the current account deficit.

In addition, the exchange rate had adjusted over the last few months, which he termed the “first line of defence against emerging external imbalances”.

The fiscal deficit had reduced due to the government’s contractionary fiscal policy, despite flood rehabilitation-related expenditure. The primary balance was also in surplus so far compared to a deficit last year, he noted.

“The country is on its way to achieving macroeconomic stability, as the impact of policy measures is already playing out in the economy. The current account deficit has narrowed and foreign exchange reserves, albeit low, are increasing,” he remarked.

Inflation was expected to decrease in the coming months while the revival of the IMF programme would remove uncertainties regarding external financing, Ahmad added.

Business

Exchange achieves all-time high: KSE-100 index surpasses 72,500 points

Published

23 hours ago

Farwa

With the benchmark KSE-100 index hitting a record-breaking high of 72,501 points, the Karachi Stock Exchange saw yet another incredible rise.

Within Pakistan’s financial environment, investors demonstrated a strong sense of trust in the market as the bullish trend continued.

As a result of the significant inflow of investment and optimism among market players, the index had an amazing 450-point rise during the trading session.

In their analysis of the market’s remarkable performance, financial analysts pointed to a number of causes for the upward trend, such as encouraging economic data, robust company profits, and the government’s proactive measures to promote economic expansion.

The durability and upward momentum of the market have also been greatly aided by continuous infrastructural investments and efforts meant to boost investor confidence.

In the meantime, interbank rates increased by six paisas, and the US dollar’s value saw a slight rise in the currency market. As a result of the current market conditions and the dynamic nature of foreign exchange swings, the dollar was quoted at Rs 278.45 in the interbank market.

Business

The investment plan for K-Electric will be audited every three months.

Published

23 hours ago

Farwa

In light of K-Electric’s inability to persuade NEPRA with its Rs. 484 billion investment plan, the regulatory body has decided to hold off on making changes to the utility’s Transmission & Distribution Investment Plan until FY 2030.

As stated in the order, the NEPRA will select the terms of reference (ToR) for the third-party audit in addition to announcing the quarterly audit. A report on the company’s investment plan’s progress will need to be submitted every quarter.

A performance report would also be required under the investment plan by K-Electric, Karachi’s only power distribution utility, according to the statement. A secure mechanism to avoid electrical mishaps was also mandated by the authority to the utility.

In the meantime, the power distribution firm stated in a statement that the investment plan will boost the utility’s infrastructure to meet present and future demands, decrease transmission and distribution losses, and increase customer base growth.

With investments totaling Rs. 544 billion, KE has been able to more than halve its T&D losses and quadruple its customer base and power consumption since privatisation, according to the statement.

A hearing in March 2023 was held to inform stakeholders about the projects that KE management had planned for FY2024–FY2030, and the statement claimed that the plan had been presented in compliance with regulatory requirements.

In terms of investment areas including expansion, energy loss reduction, network rehabilitation, maintenance, and safety, KE claimed to have clearly defined priorities and projects for this era.

The plan calls for the construction of transmission lines and grids, which will increase the dependability of KE’s network and make it possible to take on more electricity from the National Grid.

In order to manage the city’s needs through targeted investments and tech-based interventions, CEO KE Moonis Alvi said, “We are looking to invest $2 billion in Transmission and Distribution over the next 7 years.” The work of all the stakeholders who have contributed to this trip and who will help us modernise our infrastructure and get ready for the future is something I’d like to acknowledge.

The investment plan is a supplement to the business’s Power Acquisition Programme, which outlines KE’s goal of having 30% renewable energy in its generation mix by 2030. As part of its efforts to provide everyone with access to reasonably priced energy, the firm has also been granted regulatory permission for its RFPs for 640 MW of renewable projects.

Business

$399 million in airline revenue is being blocked by Pakistan. IATA

Published

24 hours ago

Farwa

Pakistan and Bangladesh have been urged by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to promptly release airline profits that are being withheld in violation of international agreements.

“Airlines are unable to repatriate over $720 million ($399 million in Pakistan and $323 million in Bangladesh) of revenues earned in these markets, resulting in a severe situation,” an IATA statement stated.

“Money-denominated expenses like lease agreements, spare parts, overflight fees, and fuel must be paid for in a timely manner by repatriating revenues to their home countries.”

Delaying repatriation raises exchange rate risks for airlines and violates bilateral agreements’ international commitments. In order for airlines to effectively continue to offer the aviation connectivity that both of these countries depend on, Pakistan and Bangladesh must immediately release the more than $720 million that they are blocking, according to Philip Goh, Regional Vice President for Asia-Pacific at IATA.

Pakistan needs to make the difficult repatriation procedure less complicated. According to the statement, this presently includes the need to present audit certifications and tax exemption certificates, both of which create needless delays.

Approximately 425,000 jobs and $2.8 billion in economic activity were supported by Pakistan’s aviation industry prior to COVID-19. Passenger numbers are predicted to increase by more than 2.5 times by 2040 after returning to pre-COVID levels in 2023, according to the statement.