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  • Foreign exchange reserves fall by $41 million to $15.02 billion

    Foreign exchange reserves fall by $41 million to $15.02 billion

    KARACHI: The liquid foreign exchange reserves of the country fell by $41 million to $15.02 billion by week ended August 02, 2019 as compared with $15.061 billion a week ago, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said on Thursday.

    The foreign exchange reserves held by the SBP fell by $38 million to $7.729 billion by week ended under review as compared with $7.767 billion by week ended July 26, 2019.

    The SBP said that its official reserves were declined due to external debt servicing and other official payments.

    The foreign exchange reserves held by commercial banks were flat at $7.291 billion by week ended August 02, 2019 as compared with $7.294 billion a week ago.

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  • Hafeez Shaikh briefs US treasury officials on FATF action plan implementation

    Hafeez Shaikh briefs US treasury officials on FATF action plan implementation

    ISLAMABAD: A US delegation led by Ambassador Alice G. Wells, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, along with the US Treasury officials comprising Scott Rembrandt, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Grant Vickers, David Galbraith and others held a meeting with Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance & Revenue today at Finance Division, Islamabad.

    A statement on Tuesday said that the adviser briefed the visiting delegation on measures pertaining to economic reforms being undertaken by the government of Pakistan to ensure economic discipline, efforts being made towards implementation of FATF Action Plan and the key challenges being faced.

    He emphasized the importance of bilateral engagement with the US and the need to encourage entrepreneurs from private sector of both the countries which will lead to enhanced trade.

    The Adviser informed that over the past three months, the Government has taken significant steps to bring financial discipline that include reduction in Current Account deficit, focus on increasing revenue generation, measures to reduce fiscal expenditures, reduce fiscal borrowings, efforts to enhance foreign exchange reserves through bilateral and multilateral support, arrangement of petroleum credit facility with KSA and IDB and IMF Program.

    Further, as part of its institutional development initiative, SBP and FBR are being resourced and empowered. At the same time to support economic growth and facilitate the people below the poverty line, various Programs to support our export oriented industries and health insurance schemes have been introduced for the poor.

    Regarding, implementation of FATF Action Plan, the Adviser briefed that the government is putting in all-out efforts to complete the Action Plan, involving all relevant authorities at the federal and provincial levels, supported by capacity building through international partners.

    The Adviser expressed Government of Pakistan’s commitment to enhance the effectiveness of its AML/CFT Framework being undertaken by the government of Pakistan, with the objective to ensure that all the actions that are being taken to curb Terror Financing are irreversible and sustainable.

    The Adviser urged for continued support of the international community for strengthening of the AML/CFT Framework over a longer period of time. Ms. Alice G. Wells appreciated the briefings and expressed that the US would continue to remain engaged with Pakistan in its economic reforms efforts and help build an environment that facilitates business development between the two countries.

  • SECP notifies regulations to promote electronic trading of commodities

    SECP notifies regulations to promote electronic trading of commodities

    ISLAMABAD: Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has notified regulations to promote warehouse receipt financing and electronic trading of agricultural commodities.

    The SECP on Friday issued Collateral Management Companies (CMC) Regulations, 2019 under the Companies Act, 2017 to promote warehouse receipt financing and electronic trading of agricultural commodities.

    Under these Regulations, any public limited company with a minimum paid-up capital of Rs. 200 million will be eligible for seeking permission of SECP to register as a CMC.

    A CMC, through its accredited warehouses, will provide storage and preservation services for a range of agricultural commodities.

    In doing so, a CMC, through its electronic warehouse receipt system, will issue warehouse receipts which can be used by farmers/depositors of agricultural commodity for financing from financial institutions and trading of electronic warehouse receipt at the exchange.

    The CMC will play an effective role in the agriculture value chain by ensuring security of collateral stored in the accredited warehouse through its robust oversight mechanism.

    Earlier, the SECP through a notification dated July 2, 2019 issued draft regulations for public consultation.

    During this consultative process, comprehensive deliberations were carried out with key stakeholders including the State Bank of Pakistan, Pakistan Banks Association, Pakistan Agricultural Coalition, Pakistan Mercantile Association and commercial banks.

    After incorporating comments of the stakeholders, the regulations have been notified.

    Salient amendments, after public consultation, include reduction in the registration fee of a CMC, removal of requirement for periodic accreditation, easing of documentary requirements for sponsors of a CMC, allowing electronic warehouse receipt to be traded on the exchange, and according enforcement powers to the CMC for cancelling accreditation of warehouse upon occurrence of certain events.

    SECP envisages that these amendments would help support its overall strategic objective of promoting ease of doing business.

    Promulgation of these regulations, in addition to providing a well-designed collateral management system, is envisaged to complement the agenda of the Government for uplifting agriculture sector which entails improved access to finance for farmers, improved farmer profitability and reduced risk for creditors through secure collateral.

  • Headline inflation increases by 10.3pc in July 2019

    Headline inflation increases by 10.3pc in July 2019

    ISLAMABAD: The headline inflation based on Consumer Price Index (CPI) has increased by 10.3 percent on year-on-year basis in July, 2019, said Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Thursday.

    The inflation has been increased as compared to an increase of 8.9 percent in the previous month and 5.8 percent in July 2018.

    On month-on-month basis, it increased by 2.3 percent in July 2019 as compared to an increase of 0.4 percent in the previous month and an increase of 0.9 percent in corresponding month i.e. July 2018.

    Core inflation measured by non-food non-energy CPI (Core NFNE) increased by 7.8 percent on (YoY) basis in July 2019 as compared to an increase of 7.2 percent in the previous month and 7.6 percent in July 2018. On (MoM) basis, it in-creased by 1.7 percent in July 2019 as compared to an increase of 0.3 percent in previous month, and an increase of 1.2 percent in corresponding month of last year i.e. July 2018.

    Core inflation, measured by 20 percent weighted trimmed mean CPI (Core Trimmed) increased by 8.0 percent on (YoY) basis in July 2019 as compared to 7.3 percent in the previous month and by 5.9 percent in July 2018.

    On (MoM) basis, it increased by 1.7 percent in July 2019 as compared to an increase of 0.4 percent in the previous month and an increase of 0.9 percent in cor-responding month of last year i.e. July 2018.

    Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) based inflation on YoY basis increased by 12.2 percent in July 2019 as compared to an increase of 10.6 percent a month earlier and an increase of 3.6 percent in July 2018.

    On MoM basis, it increased by 2.6 percent as compared to an increase of 1.6 percent in the previous month and an increase of 1.2 percent in corresponding month of last year i.e. July 2018.

    Wholesale Price Index (WPI0 inflation on YoY basis increased by 13.5 percent in July 2019 as compared to an increase of 12.7 percent a month earlier and an increase of 10.5 percent in July 2018.

    WPI inflation on MoM basis increased by 3.1 percent in July 2019 as compared to an increase of 0.3 percent a month earlier and an increase of 2.4 percent in corresponding month of last year i.e. July 2018.

  • Foreign exchange reserves increase to $15.062 billion

    Foreign exchange reserves increase to $15.062 billion

    The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has reported a significant boost in the country’s liquid foreign exchange reserves, which surged by $200 million to reach $15.062 billion as of the week ending July 26, 2024. This increase marks a notable improvement from the $14.862 billion recorded the previous week.

    (more…)
  • ECC approves 10 percent regulatory duty on cotton import

    ECC approves 10 percent regulatory duty on cotton import

    ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on Wednesday approved imposition of 10 percent regulatory duty on import of cotton.

    (more…)
  • Foreign exchange reserves down by $387 million to $14.486 billion

    Foreign exchange reserves down by $387 million to $14.486 billion

    KARACHI: The liquid foreign exchange reserves of the country have declined by $387 million to $14.486 billion by week ended July 19, 2019 as compared with $15.249 billion a week ago, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said on Thursday.

    The reserves held by the central bank fell by$389 million to $7.612 billion by week ended July 19, 2019 as compared with $8.001 billion a week ago. The central bank said that its reserves were reduced due to external debt servicing and other official payments.

    The reserves held by commercial banks were flat at $7.250 billion as compared with $7.248 billion.

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  • Imran Khan discusses economic reforms with IMF chief

    Imran Khan discusses economic reforms with IMF chief

    WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday met David Lipton, Acting Managing Director of International Monetary Fund to discuss economic reform program.

    David Lipton, Acting Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), issued the following statement today, following his meeting with the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan:

    “I was pleased to meet Prime Minister Khan of Pakistan today in Washington, DC. We discussed recent economic developments and the implementation of the authority’s economic reform program supported by the IMF.

    “Their program aims to stabilize the economy, strengthen institutions, and thereby put Pakistan on a path of sustainable and balanced growth.

    “I highlighted the need to mobilize domestic tax revenue now and on into the future to provide reliably for needed social and development spending, while placing debt on a firm downward trend.

    “The IMF, together with other international partners, is working closely with the government of Pakistan to support the implementation of the authorities’ economic reform program.”

  • Textile exports decline by 15pc in June on budgetary measures

    Textile exports decline by 15pc in June on budgetary measures

    KARACHI: Pakistan’s textile exports fell by 15 percent in June 2019 to $1.01 billion as compared with $1.19 billion in the same month of the last year, according to export data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Friday.

    The exports of June 2019 has also exhibited 14.55 percent decline when compared with $1.18 billion in May 2019.

    Analysts said that uncertainty in exchange rate and budgetary measures have negatively impacted the exports in the month of June 2019.

    They said that the currency fluctuated massively during past two months, which increased the cost of imported raw material. Further budgetary measures including elimination of sales tax zero-rating for five export sectors also caused in export decline.

    The overall exports of textile products fell by 1.42 percent to $13.33 billion during fiscal year 2018/2019 as compared with $13.52 billion in the preceding fiscal year.

    The experts said that despite several incentives given by the government to this particular sector the exports were remained stagnant. They said that the government in terms of incentives had granted rebate and credit on duty and taxes.

    The exports of knitwear and readymade garments have supported the overall textile exports. The export of knitwear grew by 7 percent to $2.89 billion during fiscal year 2018/2019 as compared with $2.711 billion in the preceding fiscal year.

    Similarly, the export of readymade garments exhibited growth of three percent to $2.65 billion in the fiscal year under review as compared with $2.577 billion in the fiscal year 2017/2018.

    The export of raw cotton and cotton year witnessed decline of 65 percent and 18 percent during the comparative fiscal years.

    However, export of bead wear was remained flat at $2.262 billion in fiscal year 2018/2019 as compared with $2.261 billion in the preceding fiscal year.

    The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in its third quarterly report on Pakistan Economy said that the stagnation in overall textile exports stemmed from a slowdown in export growth (in value terms) of readymade garments and knitwear items, and Year on Year (YoY) declines in cotton fabric and yarn exports.

    Except for yarn, export values of all these major products suffered from a drop in unit prices, as quantum exports grew appreciably. The drop in dollar-based unit prices was mainly owed to exchange rate adjustments, as exports rose significantly in Pak Rupee terms, the SBP said.

    In rupee term the textile exports registered 22 percent growth during 2018/2019 as compared with preceding fiscal year.

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  • Foreign exchange reserves increase to $15.249 billion

    Foreign exchange reserves increase to $15.249 billion

    KARACHI: The total liquid foreign exchange reserves of the country increased by $990 million to $15.249 billion by week ended July 12, 2019 as compared with $14.259 billion a week ago, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said on Thursday.

    The official reserves of the SBP increased by $918 million to $8 billion during the week under review as compared with $7.083 billion in the preceding week. The central bank said that the official reserves were increased due to inflows of $991.4 million from International Monetary Fund (IMF) as first tranche of $6 billion extended fund facility for Pakistan.

    The reserves held by commercial banks also increased by $73 million to $7.248 billion by week under review as compared with $7.175 billion in the preceding week.