![]() With the tenure of the current government ending in August, Dastgir said it had put in place an "aggressive medium-to-long-term plan" to increase renewable energy which was only possible if long-term assistance is available. "Reform does not, must not, mean raising tariff endlessly," said Pakistan's Minister for Power Khurram Dastgir. He announced a 7.5 rupee a liter increase in diesel prices late Friday night, saying petrol prices will remain unchanged for next 15 days. He also said petroleum levy will be capped at 60 rupee a liter. The IMF said it would want steadfast policy implementation by Pakistan to overcome challenges, "particularly in the energy sector", where it expects a rise in electricity prices.ĭar said the hike will come before the IMF board's meeting, saying the rebasing to be done in July will make about three to four rupees a unit difference. Reforms in the energy sector, which has accumulated nearly 3.6 trillion Pakistani rupees ($12.58 billion) in debt, has been a cornerstone of the IMF talks. Porter also pointed out the power sector's buildup of arrears and frequent power outages. "Given these challenges, the new arrangement would provide a policy anchor and a framework for financial support from multilateral and bilateral partners in the period ahead." Liquidity conditions in the power sector also remain acute," Porter said. "Despite the authorities' efforts to reduce imports and the trade deficit, reserves have declined to very low levels. The new arrangement builds on the 2019 programme, IMF official Nathan Porter said in a statement, adding that Pakistan's economy had faced several challenges in recent times, including devastating floods and rising commodity prices. "This will support near-term policy efforts and replenish gross reserves," the IMF said. Long-time allies Saudi Arabia, the UAE and China have already pledged or rolled over billions of dollars in loans. The deal will also unlock other bilateral and multilateral financing. "This new programme is far better than our expectations," said Mohammed Sohail of Topline Securities in Karachi, adding it would "definitely help restore some investor confidence". ![]() The $3 billion short-term IMF funding is higher than expected as it looks set to replace the remaining $2.5 billion from a $6.5 billion Extended Fund Facility agreed in 2019. The gains were most pronounced in shorter-dated bonds, reflecting lingering scepticism over the longer-term fiscal outlook for the country. Pakistan's sovereign dollar bonds were trading higher after the announcement, with the 2024 issue enjoying the biggest gains, up more than 8 cents at just above 70 cents in the dollar, according to Tradeweb data. "We have stopped the decline, now we have to turn to growth," he added. The new deal, which came hours after Dar told Reuters exclusively that it could happen anytime, will disburse an upfront amount of $1.1 billion shortly after the IMF board's meeting in July, he said.ĭar said Pakistan aimed to boost the central bank's foreign exchange reserves up to $15 billion by July end. Pakistan will receive formal documents on the deal later on Friday, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar told Reuters, which he said he would "sign, seal and return by tonight". It was reached only after Sharif held marathon meetings with IMF head Kristalina Georgieva on June 22, which he termed "a turning point". With sky-high inflation and foreign exchange reserves barely enough for a month of imports, analysts say Pakistan's economic crisis could have spiralled into a debt default in the absence of the bailout. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said it would put Pakistan "on the path of sustainable economic growth". The new nine-month standby arrangement was struck hours before a current IMF agreement expires, offering a relief to Pakistan's acute balance of payments crisis. The IMF said it had reached an agreement on the deal with the 220 million nation, which will now be subject to approval by its board in July. LAHORE, Pakistan, June 30 (Reuters) - Pakistan secured a badly-needed $3 billion short-term financial package from the International Monetary Fund on Friday, giving the South Asian economy a much-awaited respite as it teeters on the brink of default. $1.1 bln to be disbursed after July IMF board -FinMin.Pakistan to target primary surplus of 0.4% of GDP -IMF.IMF points out power sector's 'acute' conditions.Nine-month deal is more than Pakistan expected.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |