KARACHI: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Tuesday received $1 billion from two international financial institutions to mitigate adverse economic impact of COVID-19.
The SBP said that it had received $500 million each from Asian Development Bank (ADB) and World Bank.
Pakistan and three international financial institutions (IFIs) including World Bank, ADB and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) have signed $1.5 billion loans agreement as each of the IFI has provided $500 million facility.
This is concessional financing in the form of budgetary support that is being provided by the three IFIs that will help mitigate socio-economic impact of COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen health, education, and social safety nets systems.
The Asian Development Bank is extending financial support of $500 million for this programme with the objective to support the government of Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen the health system and mitigate socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is extending co-financing of $500 million for the CARES to augment the government’s efforts to mitigate the direct and indirect impacts of COVID-19 pandemic
The scope of the CARES programme covers: (i) social protection for the poor and vulnerable, (ii) an expanded health sector response to the pandemic; and (iii) a pro-poor fiscal stimulus package to ensure recovery in growth and employment.
Securing Human Investments to Foster Transformation (SHIFT) $500 million: It aims to strengthen the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics, health and education systems essential for human capital accumulation; recognise and support the contribution of women to economic productivity; and improve efficiency of the national safety nets.
Noor Ahmed, Secretary Ministry of Economic Affairs, signed the three loan agreements on behalf of government of Pakistan, while Patchamuthu Illangovan, Country Director WB Ms Xiaohong Yang, Country Director, ADB and Konstantin Limitovsriy, Vice President, AIIB signed agreements on behalf of the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and AIIB respectively.
