Pkrevenue.com

Category: Money & Banking

Money and banking drive economic activity by facilitating transactions, savings, and investments. Banks manage financial resources, offer credit, and regulate money supply, ensuring stability and growth in Pakistan’s financial sector.

  • Rupee gains 40 paisas on funds inflow expectations

    Rupee gains 40 paisas on funds inflow expectations

    KARACHI: The Pak Rupee gained 40 paisas against dollar on Friday as expectation of improved foreign exchange reserves following disbursement of payment by the IMF.

    The rupee ended at Rs166.79 to the dollar from previous day’s close of Rs167.19 in interbank foreign exchange market.

    The rupee made gain for the third consecutive days owing to reports that the IMF board meeting scheduled for next week may approve $1.4 billion for Pakistan.

    Currency experts said that the IMF disbursement would help the country to improve foreign exchange reserves.

    The experts said that the rupee likely to gain further in future owing to lower import payment demand after decline in international oil prices.

    The import bill of the country has declined by 21 percent in March 2020 over the previous month owing to lockdown to contain coronavirus pandemic.

    The import bill was at $3.3 billion in March 2020 as compared with $4.185 billion in February 2020, according to data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Friday.

    Similarly, the pandemic also adversely affected the country’s exports. The exports fell by 15.56 percent to $1.8 billion in March 2020 as compared with $2.14 billion in February 2020.

    The total import bill during July – March 2019/2020 fell by 14.42 percent to $38.81 billion as compared with $40.68 billion in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.

    However, the exports registered increase of 2.23 percent during first nine months of current fiscal year to $17.45 billion as compared with $17 billion in the corresponding months of the last fiscal year.

    The trade deficit during first nine months contracted by 26.45 percent to $17.36 billion as compared with the deficit of $23.61 billion in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.

  • Bank deposits hit record high at Rs15.13 trillion

    Bank deposits hit record high at Rs15.13 trillion

    KARACHI: Bank deposits hit record high at Rs15.13 trillion by end of March 2020, according to data released by State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

    The deposits of the banking sector grew by 12.4 percent YoY and 2.1 percent MoM in March 2020 to Rs15.13 trillion. The deposits are also up 3.4 percent in YTD 2020.

    Analysts at Topline Securities said that banks’ focus for deposit mobilization remained more towards Investments compared to Advances during the period given the high yields on govt. papers.

    As a result, Investments grew by 61.7 percent YoY and 6.6 percent MoM to Rs9.30 trillion in March 2020, with Investment to Deposit Ratio (IDR) increasing to 61.5 percent in March 2020 from 42.7 percent in March 2019 and 58.9 percent in Feb-2019. The Investments are also up 5.6 percent in YTD 2020.

    On the other hand, Advances grew by just 4.7 percent YoY and 0.6 percent MoM in March 2020 hindered by high interest rates and slowdown in overall economic activity.

    The Advances are up only 1.2 percent during YTD 2020. As a result, ADR dropped to 54.6 percent in March 2020 from 58.6 percent in March 2019 and 55.4 percent in Feb-2020.

    As per the available 2M2020 numbers, Advances to the textile and consumer sectors increased by 9 percent YoY each.

    The Currency in Circulation (CIC) in YTD 2020 has registered an increase of 6.5 percent to Rs5.6 trillion. Additionally, CIC as a percentage of M2 clocked in at 29 percent above the historic 5-year average of 27 percent.

    Going forward, we see limited Deposit growth in the range of 6-7 percent during 2020 (vs. historical average 3-year growth of 11 percent), in line with the nominal GDP growth amidst slowdown in economic activity because of the outbreak of Covid-19. We expect Advances to grow by around 5 percent during the year (vs. historical average 3-year growth of 14 percent).

  • Rupee gains 57 paisas against dollar

    Rupee gains 57 paisas against dollar

    The Pakistani Rupee gained significant ground against the US Dollar on Thursday, appreciating by 57 paisas, closing at Rs167.19 from the previous day’s rate of Rs167.76 in the interbank foreign exchange market.

    (more…)
  • Rupee recovers 14 paisas against dollar

    Rupee recovers 14 paisas against dollar

    KARACHI: The Pak Rupee recovered 14 paisas against dollar on Wednesday after witnessing significant decline a day earlier.

    The rupee closed at Rs167.76 to the dollar from previous day’s closing of Rs167.90 in interbank foreign exchange market.

    The local unit fell significantly a day earlier and lost 91 paisas against the greenback.

    Currency experts said that the rupee was under massive pressure due to outflow of hot money during the past couple of month.

    The outbreak of coronavirus jolted the financial markets across the globe, which also forced the investors to consolidate their funds.

    A huge amount was also taken out by foreign investors from domestic debt market, which resulted pressure the local currency.

    The experts said that the rupee likely to gain further in future owing to lower import payment demand after decline in international oil prices.

    The import bill of the country has declined by 21 percent in March 2020 over the previous month owing to lockdown to contain coronavirus pandemic.

    The import bill was at $3.3 billion in March 2020 as compared with $4.185 billion in February 2020, according to data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Friday.

    Similarly, the pandemic also adversely affected the country’s exports. The exports fell by 15.56 percent to $1.8 billion in March 2020 as compared with $2.14 billion in February 2020.

    The total import bill during July – March 2019/2020 fell by 14.42 percent to $38.81 billion as compared with $40.68 billion in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.

    However, the exports registered increase of 2.23 percent during first nine months of current fiscal year to $17.45 billion as compared with $17 billion in the corresponding months of the last fiscal year.

    The trade deficit during first nine months contracted by 26.45 percent to $17.36 billion as compared with the deficit of $23.61 billion in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.

  • Bank timings during lockdown

    Bank timings during lockdown

    KARACHI: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Tuesday extended the office timings of the central bank and commercial banks during the lockdown period.

    Many parts of the country are facing lockdown in order to contain the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

    The SBP issued a notification dated March 26, 2020 and directed to observe office timings: Monday to Thursday 10:00AM to 4:00PM; and Friday (10:00AM to 1:00PM).

    The SBP said that the above timings shall continue till April 14, 2020 (date included), unless modified or withdrawn earlier.

    Accordingly, banks/development financial institutions/microfinance banks have also been directed to observe the mentioned timings in letter and spirit.

  • Rupee depreciates by 91 paisas on import payment demand

    Rupee depreciates by 91 paisas on import payment demand

    KARACHI: The Pakistan rupee witnessed a sharp decline on Tuesday, falling by 91 paisas against the US dollar. The rupee closed at Rs167.90 per dollar in the interbank foreign exchange market, down from the previous day’s rate of Rs166.99. The depreciation was primarily driven by increased demand for dollars, largely due to rising import payments.

    (more…)
  • SBP exempts service charges on payment made to PM Corona Relief Fund

    SBP exempts service charges on payment made to PM Corona Relief Fund

    KARACHI: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has exempted services charges on donations made to Prime Minister Corona Relief Fund through payment cards.

    The SBP in a statement on Tuesday said that it previously issued a circular on August 06, 2018 on Service Charges on Donations/ Payments to Supreme Court of Pakistan’s Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand Dam Fund through Payment Cards.

    In this regard, it has been decided that the scope of the Circular would also cover Payments/Donations made to the Prime Minister’s as well as provincial governments’ Covid19 Pandemic Relief Funds.

    Accordingly, all issuing and acquiring banks in Pakistan shall not charge any service fee including Interchange Reimbursement Fee (IRF), Merchant Discount Rate (MDR), Merchant ID Fee, on boarding fee or any other fee that may be applicable on any transactions made to the said account.

    The issuing and acquiring banks/microfinance banks/payment schemes are advised to meticulously comply with these instructions.

  • SBP relaxes loan conditions for hospitals combating coronavirus

    SBP relaxes loan conditions for hospitals combating coronavirus

    KARACHI: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Monday further relaxed conditions for refinance facilities for hospitals that are engaged in combating the coronavirus (COVID-19).

    The central bank in a statement said that since the outbreak of COVID‐19, the SBP has taken a number of measures to support the economy. One of the earliest measures taken by SBP was to support the hospitals, which have been at the fore front in combating the disease, by providing them a facility to meet their financial needs namely the SBP Refinance Facility to Combat COVID‐19 (RFCC) on March 17, 2020.

    Since then SBP received several suggestions by stakeholders to further improve it. Keeping in view such suggestions, SBP has provided more flexibility under RFCC to facilitate the health sector further.

    Hospitals and medical centres engaged in fight against COVID‐19 will now be allowed to avail financing against their existing equipment and purchase of refurbished equipment as well, provided the same are used in creation of special facility/isolation ward to deal with COVID‐19.

    Moreover, maximum coverage of 60 percent of civil works for setting up separate /isolation facility, has also been enhanced to 100 percent. Banks have been directed to ensure that financing extended under this facility is utilized for the intended purpose.

    It is believed that above changes would help hospitals/medical centres avail SBP’s refinance facility with much ease.

  • Rupee ends down 23 paisas against dollar

    Rupee ends down 23 paisas against dollar

    KARACHI: The Pak Rupee ended down 23 paisas against dollar on Monday owing to demand for import payments.

    The rupee ended Rs166.99 to the dollar from last Friday’s closing of Rs166.76 in interbank foreign exchange market.

    The dealers said that the rupee was under pressure due to higher demand for import payment. They said that mostly demand was come from foreign buying related to commodities for the month of Ramazan.

    The dealers said that the rupee however likely to gain in future owing to lower import payment demand after decline in international oil prices.

    The import bill of the country has declined by 21 percent in March 2020 over the previous month owing to lockdown to contain coronavirus pandemic.

    The import bill was at $3.3 billion in March 2020 as compared with $4.185 billion in February 2020, according to data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Friday.

    Similarly, the pandemic also adversely affected the country’s exports. The exports fell by 15.56 percent to $1.8 billion in March 2020 as compared with $2.14 billion in February 2020.

    The total import bill during July – March 2019/2020 fell by 14.42 percent to $38.81 billion as compared with $40.68 billion in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.

    However, the exports registered increase of 2.23 percent during first nine months of current fiscal year to $17.45 billion as compared with $17 billion in the corresponding months of the last fiscal year.

    The trade deficit during first nine months contracted by 26.45 percent to $17.36 billion as compared with the deficit of $23.61 billion in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.

  • SBP sets up direct helpline to facilitate banking consumers

    SBP sets up direct helpline to facilitate banking consumers

    KARACHI: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has facilitated consumers of banks by setting up direct helpline for quick disposal of complaints amid difficult situations due to coronavirus.

    In a statement issued on Monday, the central bank said it had taken additional measures to facilitate bank customers that are faced with extraordinary challenges arising out of COVID-19 situation in the country.

    They can now approach SBP through its helpline service in case their queries or complaints are not being responded by banks.

    The SBP also encourages public to use digital payment services as much as possible to help banks providing their services with minimal staff to ensure their safety.

    SBP has taken notice of phone calls to banks’ customers by fraudsters seeking personal information taking advantage of the current conditions. Following are the details of measures taken.

    To facilitate banking consumers, SBP has advised all banks to ensure that their call centers/helplines are available 24/7 for instant customer support.

    Banking consumers are encouraged to approach banks through helpline for queries or lodging complaints. In case complainants do not get an appropriate response from banks, they may approach SBP helpline at 021-111-727-273, which will remain available during office hours.

    To cater to the needs of the public for facilitation and guidance, SBP has enhanced its helpline capacity by deploying more agents at its call center.

    The general public is encouraged to take appropriate safety measures in the context of the coronavirus and use alternate delivery channels where possible.

    SBP recognizes that the employees of banks and other financial institutions are providing services amid the difficult working conditions arising due to COVID-19.

    For the protection of bank employees and customers, work place safety and to meet the operational challenges in serving the bank customers, banks have been advised to implement guidelines issued by World Health Organization, the Government of Pakistan and the Provincial Governments in letter and spirit.

    Nevertheless, bank employees and customers still facing difficulties or having concerns over arrangements may bring this to the notice of SBP.

    For this purpose, queries, concerns, complaints may be emailed to SBP at [email protected].

    SBP has time and again advised the general public through various channels of communication not to disclose or share any personal information about their bank accounts or credit/debit cards including CNIC number, debit or credit card number, passwords, PINs and one-time password (OTP), etc. on incoming phone calls or messages.

    It has been brought to the notice of SBP that fraudsters, imitating as officials of SBP, bank or any other government agency, have been attempting to seek personal information from the public on the pretext of verification of account due to emergency conditions under COVID-19 pandemic.

    It is reiterated that SBP, banks or any other agency are not collecting information from banking customers regarding their bank accounts or cards.

    The SBP never asks for any personal information directly from bank customers. The general public is, therefore, advised again not to disclose personal information on incoming calls.

    Details of any such call or message received by the public may also be reported to SBP Helpline at 021-111-727-273 or emailed at [email protected]