KARACHI – The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has reported a positive development in the country’s economic indicators as the liquid foreign exchange reserves increased by $91 million to reach $20.133 billion by the week ending February 26, 2021.
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Investors redeem Rs115 billion against suspended Rs25,000 prize bonds
ISLAMABAD: Investors have redeemed/enchased to the tune of Rs115 billion against bearer prize bonds of Rs25,000 denomination which were suspended by the government in December 2020.
According to state media on Tuesday, the Central Directorate of National Savings (CDNS) had paid encashment of Rs 115 billion by February 28 to the investors against the suspension of prize bonds of Rs 25,000.
An official of the CDNS quoted as saying that around Rs 115 billion had been paid to the customers during last three months and remaining 45 billion out of total Rs 160 billion would also be paid by May 30, 2021.
On December 10, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) issued following instructions to the president and CEOs of all commercial banks regarding option to replace / encash the bonds:
i. The Bonds can be converted to Rs. 25,000/-denomination Premium Prize Bonds (Registered) through the 16 field offices of SBP Banking Services Corporation, and branches of six authorized commercial banks i.e. National Bank of Pakistan, Habib Bank Limited, United Bank Limited, MCB Bank Limited, Allied Bank Limited and Bank Alfalah Limited.
ii. The authorized commercial banks shall also issue Rs. 25,000/-denomination Premium Prize Bonds (Registered)as per the prescribed procedure, with immediate effect. Stock of the same has already been delivered to authorized commercial banks.
iii. The bondholder shall be required to submit a written request for conversion of bearer bonds to Rs. 25,000/-Premium Prize Bonds (Registered) on the prescribed application form.
iv. The bondholder shall also be required to submit prescribed application forms for registration / purchase of Premium Prize Bonds as per the procedure in vogue.
Replacement with Special Savings Certificate (SSC) / Defence Savings Certificate (DSC)
i. The Bonds can be replaced with SSC / DSC through the 16 field offices of SBP Banking Services Corporation, authorized commercial banks and National Savings Centers.
ii. All authorized commercial banks shall, therefore, accept requests for replacement of bearer bonds with SSC or DSC on the prescribed application form.
iii. The bondholder shall also be required to submit application form for purchase of SSC / DSC (SC-1) as per the prescribed procedure
Encashment at Face Value
i. The Bonds will only be encashed by transferring the proceeds to the bond holder`s bank account through the 16 field offices of SBP Banking Services Corporation, at authorized commercial bank branches and to the Savings Accounts at National Savings Centres.
ii. All commercial banks shall receive requests for encashment of bearer bonds on the prescribed application form.
A copy of the application form (Annexure A), duly signed and stamped, shall be provided to the bondholder as an acknowledgement receipt.
Moreover, the prize bonds encashed / replaced by the general public may be surrendered to the concerned SBP BSC office through the respective regional office of the commercial bank.
The government has already canceled prize bonds of Rs 40,000 and CDNS repaid to the investors the encashment worth of Rs 258 billion in 2019-20.
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SBP updates panel of chartered accountancy firms for audit of banks
KARACHI: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has updated the list of panel of chartered accountancy firms for conducting audit of banking companies.
The SBP through a circular issued on Friday informed that “RSM Avais Hyder Liaquat Nauman, Chartered Accountants’, listed in the Category ‘B’ of SBP’s Panel of Auditors is being upgraded to the Category ‘A’ of the panel.
The central bank also enlisted two chartered accountancy firms in the category ‘C’ of the SBP’s Panel of auditors with an immediate effect:
J.A.S.B & Associates, Chartered Accountants 1104, Uni Tower, I.I. Chundrigar Road, Karachi. Phone: 021-32468154-55 Web: www.jasb-associates.com
Mazars M.F. & Co., Chartered Accountants 3rd Floor, 44-C, Badar Commercial, Street 10, DHA Phase V, Karachi. Phone: 021-35342801-06, Web: www.mazars.pk
The SBP issued the updated list of chartered accountancy firms:
Category ‘A”
Audit Firms in Category “A” are eligible to conduct audit of all Banks and DFIs
A1. A.F. Ferguson & Co. State Life Building No. 1/C, I.I. Chundrigar Road, Karachi. Tel: +92 (021) 32426711-15, Fax: +92 (021) 32415007, Web: www.affco.com.pk
A2. Baker Tilly Mehmood Idrees Qamar, 4th Floor, Central Hotel Building, Civil Lines, Mereweather Road, Karachi. Tel: +92 (021) 35644872-77, Fax: +92 (021) 35694573 Email: [email protected], Web: www.bakertillymiq.com.
A3. BDO Ebrahim & Co. 2nd Floor, Block ‘C’ Lakson Square, Building No. 1, Sarwar Shaheed Road, Karachi. Tel: +92 (021) 35683030 Fax: +92 (021) 35684239 Email: [email protected] Web: www.bdo.com.pk
A4. Crowe Hussain Chaudhury & Co. 25-E, Main Market, Gulberg II, Lahore. Tel: +92 (042) 37759223-5 Fax: +92 (042) 35759226 Email: [email protected] Web: www.crowe.pk
A5. EY Ford Rhodes, 6th Floor, Progressive Plaza, Beaumont Road, Karachi. Tel: +92 (021) 111-113-937 Fax: +92 (021) 35681965 E. mail: [email protected] Web: www.ey.com
A6. Grant Thornton Anjum Rahman, 1st & 3rd Floor, Modern Motors House, Beaumont Road, Karachi. Tel: +92 (021) 35672951-56 Fax: +92 (021) 35688834 Email: [email protected] Web: www.gtpak.com
A7. Ilyas Saeed & Co. A-4, Sea Breeze Homes, Shershah Block, New Garden Town, Lahore. Tel: +92 (042) 35861852, 35868849 Fax: +92 (042) 35856145 Email: [email protected] Web: www.ilyassaeed.com
A8. KPMG Taseer Hadi & Co. 1st Floor, Sheikh Sultan Trust Building No. 2, Beaumount Road, Karachi. Tel: +92 (021) 35685847 Fax: +92 (021) 35685095 Email: [email protected] Web: www.kpmg.com.pk
A9. Kreston Hyder Bhimji & Co. Suite No. 1601, 16th Floor, Kashif Centre, Main Shahrah-e-Faisal, Karachi. Tel: +92 (021) 35640050-52 Fax: +92 (021) 35640053 Email: [email protected] Web: www.krestonhb.com
A10. Muniff Ziauddin & Co. F/17/3, Business Executive Centre, Block No. 8, Clifton, Karachi. Tel: +92 (021) 35375127-28, 35872283 Fax: +92 (021) 35820325 Email: [email protected] Web: www.mzco.com.pk
A11. Naveed Zafar Ashfaq Jaffery & Co. 1st Floor, Modern Motors House, Beaumount Road, Karachi. Tel: +92 (021) 111-774-422, 35671909 Fax: (021) 5210626 Email: [email protected] Web: www.nzaj.com.pk
A12. Rahman Sarfaraz Rahim Iqbal Rafiq, Rahman Sarfaraz House, 54-P, Gulberg II, Lahore. Tel: +92 (042) 35875965-67 Fax: +92 (042) 35758621 Email: [email protected] Web: www.rsrir.com
A13. Riaz Ahmad & Co. 10-B, Saint Mary Park, Main Boulevard, Gulberg III, Lahore. Tel: +92 (042) 35718137-39 Fax: +92 (042) 35718136 Email: [email protected] Web: www.racopk.com
A14. RSM Avais Hyder Liaquat Nauman, Suite No. 407, Progressive Plaza, Beaumont Road, Karachi. Tel: +92 (021) 35655975-76 Fax: +92 (021) 35655977 Email: [email protected] Web: www.rsm.global/pakistan
A15. Yousuf Adil, Cavish Court, A-35, Block 7 & 8, K.C.H.S.U. Shahrah-e-Faisal, Karachi. Tel: +92 (021) 34546494-97 Fax: +92(021) 34541314 Email: [email protected] Web: www.yousufadil.com
Category ‘B’
Audit Firms in Category “B” are eligible to conduct audit of Banks and DFIs having assets up to Rupees 100 billion or branches up to 160.
B1. Amin Mudassar & Co. 4th Floor, IEP Building, 97-B/D-1, Main Boulevard, Gulberg III, Lahore. Tel: +92 (042) 35717261-62 Fax: +92 (042) 35717263 Email: [email protected]
B2. Reanda Haroon Zakaria & Co. M1-M4, Mezzanine Floor, Progressive Plaza, Beaumont Road, Karachi. Tel: +92 (021) 35674741-44 Fax: +92 (021) 35674745 Email: [email protected] Web: www.hzco.com.pk
B3. HLB Ijaz Tabussum & Co. 303, Sawan Road, G-10/1, Islamabad. Tel: +92 (051) 32354801-03 Fax: +92 (051) 32354800 Email: [email protected]; [email protected]; Web: www.hlbitc.com
B4. IECnet S.K.S.S.S. Suite No. 209, Parsa Tower, PECHS Block 6, Main Shahrah-e-Faisal, Karachi. Tel: +92 (021) 34150811-13 Fax: +92 (021) 34150814 Email: [email protected] Web: www.iecnet.com.pk
B5. Mudassar Ehtisham & Co. 50/2, Lawrence Road, Lahore. Tel: +92 (042) 36370215, 35466618 Fax: +92 (042) 36363614 Email: [email protected] Web: www.mudassarehtisham.com
B6. Mushtaq & Co. 407, Commerce Centre, Maulana Hasrat Mohani Road, Karachi. Tel: +92 (021) 32638521-24 Email: [email protected]
B7. Nasir Javaid Maqsood Imran, Office No. 807, 8th Floor, Plot No. 11/2, Q.M. House, Ellander Road, Opp. Shaheen Complex, Off. I.I. Chundrigar Road, Karachi Tel: +92 (021) 32212382-83, 32211515-16 Fax: +92 (021) 32211515 Email: [email protected] Website: www.njmi.net
B8 Parker Randall – A.J.S. 6-C, 2nd Floor, ST Plaza, Kohinoor Town, College Road, Faisalabad. Tel: +92 (021) 32621703-04 Fax: +92 (021) 32621701 Email: [email protected] Web: www.parkerrandallajs.pk
B9. PKF F.R.A.N.T.S. 16/II, ‘N’ Lane, Commercial Avenue, Phase IV, D.H.A, Karachi. Tel: +92 (021) 35315275 Fax: +92 (021) 35315276 Email: [email protected] Website: www.pkf.com.pk
B10 Riaz Ahmad Saqib Gohar & Co. 5-Nasim, C.H.S. Major Nazir Bhatti Road, Off Shaheed-e-Millat Road, Karachi. Tel: +92 (021) 34945427, 34946112 Fax: +92 (021) 34932629 Email: [email protected] Web: www.rasgco.com
B11. ShineWing Hameed Chaudhri & Co. H.M. House No. 07, Bank Square, Off Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam, Lahore. Tel: +92 (042) 37235084-87 Fax: +92 (042) 37235083 Email: [email protected] Website: www.hccpk.com
B12. Suriya Nauman Rehan & Co. House No. 02, Street No. 02, F-7/3, Islamabad. Tel: +92 (051) 32610931-32 Fax: +92 (051) 32610954 Email: [email protected] Web: www.nrcca.pk
B13. Tariq Abdul Ghani Maqbool & Co. 173-W, Block-2, P.E.C.H.S, Karachi Phone: +92 (021) 34322582-83, (021) 34322606-07 Fax: +92 (021) 34522492 Email: [email protected] Website: www.tagm.co
B14. UHY Hassan Naeem & Co. 193-A, Shah Jamal, Lahore. Tel: +92 (042) 35403550-51, 35403588 Fax: +92 (042) 35403599 Email: [email protected] Web: www.uhy-hnco.com
B15. Zahid Jamil & Co. 1st Floor, Al-Jamil, 7-Madina Town Ext, Kohinoor Chowk, Off. Jaranwala Road, Faisalabad. Tel: +92 (041) 38725065-68 Fax: +92 (041) 38725070 Email: [email protected] Web: www.zahidjamilco.com
Category ‘C’
Audit Firms in Category “C” are eligible to conduct audit of banks and DFIs having assets up to Rupees 15 billion or branches up to 30.
C1. Fazal Mahmood & Co. 147 – Shadman I, Lahore. Tel: +92 (042) 37426771-73 Fax: +92 (042) 37426774 Email: [email protected] Web: www.fmc.com.pk
C2. Feroze Sharif Tariq & Co. 4-N/4, Block No. 06, P.E.C.H.S. Karachi. Tel: +92 (021) 34540891, 34542607 Fax: +92 (021) 34540891 Email: [email protected]
C3. H.A.M.D & Co. 302, Land Mark Plaza, Mohammed Bin Qasim Road, Off I.I Chundrigar Road, Karachi. Tel: +92 (021) 32630651 Fax: +92 (021) 35872521 Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
C4. Ibrahim Shaikh & Co. 259-260 Panorama Centre, Fatima Jinnah Road, Saddar, Karachi. Tel: +92 (021) 35210577, 35671853 Fax: +92 (021) 35676591 Email: [email protected]
C5. J.A.S.B & Associates 1104, Uni Tower, I.I. Chundrigar Road, Karachi. Tel: +92 (021) 32468154-55 Fax: +92 (021) 32468157 Email: [email protected] Web: www.jasb-associates.com
C6. Junaidy Shoaib Asad 1/6-P, Block No. 06, P.E.C.H.S, Mohtarma Laeeq Begum Road, Off Shahra-e-Faisal. Karachi. Tel: +92 (021) 34371910-13 Fax: +92 (021) 34371916 Email: [email protected] Web: www.jsa.com.pk
C7. H.Y.K & Co. SKP House, 321 Upper Mall, Lahore. Tel: +92 (042) 111-772-000, 35789330-1 Fax: +92 (042) 35789182 Email: [email protected] Web: www.hyk.com.pk
C8. Khalid Majid Rehman & Co. 7-A, Street No. 65, F-8/3, Islamabad. Tel: +92 (051) 32287713-17 Fax: +92 (051) 32287710 Email: [email protected] Web: www.kmr.com.pk
C9. Mazars M.F. & Co. 44-C, 3rd Floor, Badar Commercial, Street 10, Phase V, DHA, Karachi. Tel: +92 (021) 35342801-06 Web: www.mazars.pk
C10. Qavi & Co. Suites No. 717 & 718, Caesars Tower, Shahrah-e-Faisal, Karachi. Tel: +92 (021) 32791966-68Fax: +92 (021) 32791969 Email: [email protected] Web: www.qaviandco.com
C11. Rafaqat Mansha Mohsin Dossani Masoom & Co. Suite No. 113, 3rd Floor, Hafeez Centre, A/34, K.C.H.S, Block No. 07 & 08, Shahrah-e-Faisal, Karachi. Tel: +92 (021) 34392361-62 Fax: +92 (021) 34320693 Email: [email protected] Web: www.mmdk.com.pk
C12. Sarwars, Office No. 12 & 14, 2nd Floor, Lahore Centre, 77-D, Main Boulevard, Gulberg III, Lahore. Tel: +92 (042) 35782920-22 Fax: +92 (042) 35773825 Email: [email protected] Web: www.saewarsca.com
C13. S. M. Suhail & Co. Suite No. 1001-1014, 10th Floor, Uni Centre, I.I. Chundrigar Road, Karachi Tel: +92 (021) 32414057, 32414163 Fax: +92 (021) 32416288 Email: [email protected], Web: www.smsco.pk
C14. Uzair Hammad Faisal & Co. 37- Main Gulberg, Lahore. Tel: +92 (042) 35877470, 35879310 Email: [email protected] Web: www.uhf.com.pk
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Weekly foreign exchange reserves ease to $20.042 billion
KARACHI: The weekly position of foreign exchange reserves of the country eased to $20.042 billion by week ended February 19, 2021, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said on Thursday.
The foreign exchange reserves of the country were at $20.059 billion by week ended February 12, 2021.
The official foreign exchange reserves held by the central bank slightly increased to $12.909 billion by week ended February 19, 2021 as compared with $12.890 billion a week ago.
Similarly, the foreign exchange reserves held by the commercial banks fell to $7.133 billion by week ended February 19, 2021 as compared with $7.169 billion a week ago.
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SBP asked to restore biometric verification for online banking services
KARACHI: The Banking Mohtasib has asked the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to restore the verification through biometric system for activation/re-activation of online banking services.
The non-availability of biometric verification system is creating unsafe environment for banking customers, according to annual report for the year 2020 issued by the office of Banking Mohtasib Pakistan on Thursday.
The Mohtasib said that the SBP vide its PSD Circular No. 9 of 2018, (dated November 28, 2018), made it mandatory for banks to have biometric verification at any branch of their banks for activation/ re-activation of online banking services, including internet/mobile banking for their customers.
The above instructions were suspended vide PSD Circular No. 2 of 2020 (dated March 18, 2020) which inter-alia was one of the measures to control the spread of pandemic of COVID-19.
However, it has been observed from complaints received in Banking Mohtasib Pakistan office that the fraudsters are taking advantage of suspension of bio-metric verification conditionality as since suspension the number of complaints relating to IBFT/internet banking transactions are increasing day by day.
“The SBP is, therefore, recommended to lift the suspension, if considered appropriate, or some alternate for bio-metric be introduced to reduce/avoid miseries of innocent account holders.”
In other recommendations to SBP, the Banking Mohtasib office pointed out systemic deficiencies and control weaknesses within banks.
Such weaknesses are brought to the attention of banks’ senior management. For issues of a serious nature, a report is submitted to the State Bank of Pakistan for action as it may consider appropriate.
Some of the issues which have been brought to the notice of State Bank of Pakistan for appropriate regulatory intervention are as under:
• It has been observed that instructions issued by SBP from time to time vide their different circulars are not followed by banks in letter and spirit. One of the reasons may be the inflow of variety of circulars and change in instructions or various modifications on the same subject which cannot be grasped / adopted by banks due to frequent changes in the instructions and influx of certain information from time to time.
It is, therefore, recommended that a Master Circular on each subject may be issued so that all the Instructions / modifications may be centralized and incorporated in a Master Circular in order to facilitate banks as well as all the stake holders.
• A comprehensive consumer complaints data is available, but at present it is dispersed among individual banks, SBP and Banking Mohtasib office. SBP and Banking Mohtasib Pakistan office have published some statistics in this regard, but there is a need for a consolidated data base of all consumer complaints which would facilitate the regulator as well as banks to better identify and address recurring problems and areas of weak controls. It is recommended that a data on all consumer complaints be made for effective analysis.
• Section 82 B (4) (b) of Part IV A of the Banking Companies Ordinance, 1962, confers the power and responsibility to the Banking Mohtasib to facilitate an amicable resolution of complaints after hearings. However, this is rendered impossible for the reason that the managers or officers of banks appearing at the hearing have no such authority from their institutions to negotiate and arrive at an amicable settlement and they tend to refer the simple issues to their Head Offices which not only delays the process of speedy justice, but also leads to a series of further communications.
Further, Banking Mohtasib Pakistan has noticed many instances where banks agree to make payment to complainants, but the process of their internal approval is largely found to be time consuming which defeats the very basic purpose of providing speedy justice.
The banks are thus required to make their complaint resolution mechanism compatible to relevant law to ensure prompt payment to the customer in case of complaints attaining finality under law or resolved by process of amicable settlement.
• Reducing of notice period of complaint from customers from 45 to 15 days as it appears to be a long period which deprives the Complainant from early resolution of their complaint.
• As per Section 82 D (1) of Banking Companies Ordinance, 1962, the Complainant is required to file his Complaint on Oath. However, It is suggested that amendment may be made in the relevant section and Complainant may be allowed to submit an undertaking instead of an attestation by the Oath Commissioner.
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SBP allows five days sale, purchase of forex
KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Wednesday allowed five days forward sales and purchase of foreign exchange against export proceeds in order to facilitate managing exchange rate risks associated with realization of export proceeds.
The SBP issued following two circulars in this regard.
Five Days Forward Sale Facility against Export of Permissible Foreign Currency Notes
The SBP invited attention all Exchange Companies is invited to the instructions contained in Para (9)(i)(e), Chapter (3) of the Exchange Companies Manual whereby Exchange Companies are allowed to sell foreign exchange in Ready, Tom and Spot value dates, with banks as counterparty (Interbank Market).
2. In order to facilitate Exchange Companies in managing exchange rate risks associated with realization of export proceeds against export of permissible foreign currency notes, it has been decided that Exchange Companies may enter into forward sale transaction with banks up to 5 working days against export proceeds in US Dollars.
3. Accordingly, a new sub-para (e) (i) at Para (9) of Chapter (3) ibid has been added as under:
“Exchange Companies may sell forward the export proceeds received from abroad in US Dollars to banks against the export of permissible foreign currencies made on consignment basis through cargo/security companies subject to adherence of following terms and conditions:
a. Forward sale facility may be availed up to maximum five working days (including both transaction and settlement days).
b. In case Exchange Companies sell forward the export proceeds for less than five working days, forward sale period may be extended provided that the total period of forward sale, including the extended period, does not exceed five working days (including both transaction and settlement days). However, such extensions will be made by closing out the original contract and booking of a fresh contract at the new rate.
c. Forward sale may be booked before or after the export shipment.
d. Exchange Companies are required to bring export proceeds within 5 working days from the date of shipment. In case forward sale is booked on or after the shipment date, maximum maturity date of forward sale facility may be up to 5th working day of shipment date.
e. Forward sale may be booked for full or partial value of export proceeds against export shipment.
f. Forward sale will be booked based on specific export shipment. For this, Exchange Company shall provide copy of export documents including deal ticket confirmed with foreign buyer to the bank. In case of advance booking, Exchange Companies will submit copy of deal ticket confirmed with foreign buyer to the bank, while copy of other export documents will be submitted subsequent to the shipment.
g. No substitution is allowed for settlement of export proceeds.
h. Forward contracts, which are not taken up, may be closed out on the date of maturity at prevailing spot rate. Exchange gain, if any, will not be passed on to the Exchange Company, rather the same will be deposited in favor of State Bank of Pakistan by the bank. To this effect, the Exchange Companies are required to provide their consent/agreement in writing as prescribed by the bank before entering into forward contract.
4. Further, sub-para (i) of Para (4) of Chapter (5) ibid stands revised as under:
“Exchange Companies exporting permissible foreign currencies shall repatriate equivalent US Dollars in their foreign currency accounts maintained with banks in Pakistan. Such US Dollars against exports must be credited in foreign currency accounts within five working days from the date of export of foreign currencies”.
5. F.E. Circular No. 03 dated February 24, 2021 issued to Authorized Dealers is attached herewith for ready reference.
6. All other instructions relating to the subject shall remain unchanged.
Five Days Forward purchase Contract with Exchange Companies against Export of Permissible Foreign Currency Notes
The SBP invited attention of all Authorized Dealers is invited to the instructions contained in Chapter (4) of the Foreign Exchange Manual in terms of which Authorized Dealers may enter into contracts for forward purchase or sale of foreign currencies subject to the regulations set out in this chapter.
2. In order to facilitate Exchange Companies in managing exchange rate risks associated with realization of export proceeds against the export of permissible foreign currency notes, it has been decided that Authorized Dealers may enter into forward purchase transactions with Exchange Companies.
3. Accordingly, a new Para ‘3A’ has been added in Chapter (4) ibid as under:
“Forward Purchase of foreign exchange in US Dollars against export of foreign currencies by Exchange Companies licensed by SBP”.
i. Authorized Dealers may purchase forward the export proceeds in US Dollars received from abroad against export of permissible foreign currencies by Exchange Companies, subject to adherence of following terms and conditions:
a. Forward purchase facility may be provided up to maximum five working days (including both transaction and settlement days).
b. In case Authorized Dealers purchase forward the export proceeds in US Dollars against exports of permissible foreign currencies for less than five working days, Authorized Dealers may extend the maturity date provided that the total period of forward purchase, including the extended maturity period, does not exceed five working days (including both transaction and settlement days). However, such extensions will be made by closing out the original contract and booking of a fresh contract at the new rate.
c. Forward purchase may be booked before or after the export shipment.
d. Exchange Companies are required to bring export proceeds within 5 working days from the date of shipment. In case forward purchase is booked on or after the shipment date, maximum maturity date of forward purchase facility may be up to 5th working day of date of shipment.
e. Forward purchase may be booked for full or partial value of export proceeds against export shipment.
f. Forward purchase will be booked based on specific export shipment. For this, Authorized Dealers shall obtain copy of export documents from Exchange Companies. In case of advance booking, copy of confirmed deal ticket shall be obtained from Exchange Companies, while copy of other export documents shall be obtained subsequent to the shipment.
g. No substitution is allowed for settlement of export proceeds.
h. Forward contracts, which are not taken up, may be closed out on the date of maturity at prevailing spot rate. Exchange gain, if any, will not be passed on to the Exchange Company, rather the same will be deposited in favor of State Bank of Pakistan by Authorized Dealer. In case of exchange loss, the same will be recoverable from Exchange Company by Authorized Dealer. To this effect, the Authorized Dealer should get consent/agreement signed by the concerned Exchange Company before entering into forward contract. The exchange gain shall be deposited in favor of the State Bank through RTGS Clearing Account No. 427517. In this respect, a consolidated statement regarding all such cases shall be submitted by Head/Principal Office of Authorized Dealers to the Director, Off-Site Supervision & Enforcement Department on monthly basis as per prescribed format (Appendix V-145) in excel file at email [email protected]
4. In addition to above, Authorized Dealers may continue to purchase foreign exchange in Ready, Tom and Spot value dates, from Exchange Companies.”
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Current account posts $912 million surplus in seven months
KARACHI: The current account recorded a surplus of $912 million during first seven months of the current fiscal year as compared with a deficit of $2.54 billion in the corresponding months of the last fiscal year, according to balance of payment (BOP) data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Monday.
The balance of trade in goods posted a deficit of $13.74 billion during the first seven months of the current fiscal year as compared with the deficit of $11.598 billion in the corresponding months of the last fiscal year.
The balance of trade in services posted a deficit of $1.115 billion during July – January of the current fiscal year as compared with the deficit of $1.89 billion in the same period of the last fiscal year.
The balance of primary income posted a deficit of $3.06 billion during the first seven months under review as compared with the deficit of $3.612 billion in the same months of the last fiscal year.
The inflow of workers’ remittances grew to $16.477 billion during July – January 2020/2021 as compared with $13.278 billion in the same period of the last fiscal year.
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No paper-based foreign exchange operation after June: SBP
KARACHI: All the banks will discontinue paper-based foreign exchange operation after June 2021, Managing Director of State Bank of Pakistan’s Banking Services Corporation Muhammad Ashraf Khan said on Monday.
He said that digitalization of foreign exchange, which started in March 2020, has been expanded from 8 to 13 banks and majority of the banks will be processing 88 percent of foreign exchange digitally by the end of February 2021 and 98 percent by April whereas the banks will completely discontinue paper-based submissions after June 2021.
MD SBP-BSC, while speaking at a meeting during his visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) on Monday, added that the initiative to digitalize foreign exchange operation was taken to create ease for the business community by completely eradicating the paperwork and expediting the overall process which has successfully been implemented by many banks.
Head of Foreign Exchange Operations Department SBP Shakeel Muhammad Paracha, Director Exchange Policy Department SBP Arshad Mehmood Bhatti, Vice President KCCI Shamsul Islam Khan, Chairman of KCCI’s Banking & Insurance Subcommittee Qazi Zahid Hussain, Advisor Banking & Insurance Subcommittee Ateeq ur Rehman and others attended the meeting.
MD SBP-BSC further stated that everything has been transferred from manual to digital processing and the customers have the freedom to get online anytime either from their home or office to apply for delivery of remittances without any paperwork while the customers will receive updates and objections (If any) about his transaction on his/ her registered email address.
While assuring full support and cooperation, he stressed that the business and industrial community must come forward to adopt the digital mode for foreign exchange in which the customers can get registered themselves and track progress of case while relevant bank staff is also intimated about the progress and history of all the transactions is also maintained in a paperless environment.
Vice President KCCI Shamsul Islam Khan, in his remarks, pointed that the State Bank, in any economy, plays the role of a heart in the economic development of the country by ensuring smooth circulation of funds and it was heartening to see that the State Bank has also been responsibly playing its role in an efficient manner which can be gauged from improved economic indicators particularly exports and remittances which have witnessed substantial growth.
“However, the growth in remittances being witnessed nowadays may not last long hence, the State Bank needs to come up with some kind of the effective policy or incentive package which encourages Non-Resident Pakistanis (NRPs) to invest in numerous sectors of the economy.
Encouraging such investments by NRPs would prove would not only help in dealing with economic crises but would also promote industrialization and create abundant employment opportunities on long term”, he added.
He also stressed the need to take concrete measures for effectively dealing with the menace of smuggling which terribly hinders the legal trade and causes losses to the national exchequer.
In this regard, he particularly suggested to establish Common Industrial Zone or Common Industrial Park near Pak-Iran border where all Custom Duties/ taxes should be kept at minimum level while this zone should be fully equipped with required infrastructure and the gas and electricity supplies should be provided by Iran which would surely bring down the cost of doing business due to cheaper electricity and gas tariffs that would attract a large number of industrialists to set up their units and warehouses in this particular zone.
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Foreign direct investment plunges by 27 percent in seven months
KARACHI: The foreign direct investment FDI) has declined by $432 million or 27 percent during first seven months of the current fiscal year as compared with same months of the last fiscal year, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said on Monday.
The net inflows of FDI fell to $1.145 billion during July – January 2020/2021 as compared with $1.577 billion in the corresponding months of the last fiscal year.
The inflows of FDI were at $1.792 billion during the period under review as compared with $2.04 billion in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year. Similarly, the outflows increased by 39.5 percent to $647 million during July – January 2020/2021 as compared with $464 million in the same period of the last fiscal year.
The portfolio investment in the capital market witnessed massive outflow during the period under review. The outflows from the capital market recorded $237 million during first seven months of the current fiscal year as compared with inflow of $21.5 million in the corresponding months of the last fiscal year.
The overall investment, including foreign public investment, fell by 78 percent to $755 million during first seven months of the current fiscal year as compared with $3.438 billion in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.
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SBP governor to moderate dialogue on ‘banking on equity’ hosted by World Bank
KARACHI: The World bank is hosting a webinar on ‘Consultative Dialogue on the State Bank of Pakistan’s Gender Financial Inclusion Policy – Banking on Equality’ on Tuesday, February 23, 2021, a statement said on Sunday.
During the webinar, Governor SBP, Dr. Reza Baqir will moderate a high profile international panel discussion.
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has developed a draft policy titled ‘Banking on Equity’, which aims to introduce a gender lens within the financial sector through targeted measures to bring a shift to women friendly business practices and to significantly increase women’s financial inclusion in Pakistan, a statement said on Sunday.
This policy is currently in a public consultation phase and is expected to be launched shortly. SBP has held several Focus Group Discussions led by Governor SBP, Dr. Reza Baqir and Deputy Governor Sima Kamil with key stakeholders including government, financial institutions, regulatory bodies, academia, business federations, gender policy experts, civil society and women entrepreneurs.
This Webinar will draw on global experiences of gender responsive policies to inform how these may work effectively in the context of a developing country like Pakistan.
During the webinar, Governor SBP, Dr. Reza Baqir will moderate a high profile international panel discussion. Joining him will be Ms. Caren Grown (Global Director, Gender, World Bank), Ms. Mary Ellen Iskenderian (President & CEO, Women’s World Banking) and Ms. ParwatiSurjaudaja (President Director, Bank OCBC NISP Indonesia).
The panelists are renowned global experts with rich experience in women’s financial inclusion and the benefit of their insights will help conclude the consultative phase of this policy.
The program will include views from Hartwig Schafer (Vice President for the South Asia Region, World Bank), Alfonso Garcia Mora (Vice President for Asia and Pacific, IFC) while Deputy Governor SBP Ms. Sima Kamil will present the key pillars of the policy.