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Import payment pressure weighs rupee down by nearly Re1

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  • Rupee closes at 220.68 against dollar.
  • Currency snaps gaining streak due to import payment pressure.
  • Analyst says currency to consolidate between 215 to 220.

KARACHI: The Pakistani rupee lost nearly Re1 against the dollar in the interbank market after coming under pressure due to import payments and political uncertainty.

The local currency was gaining ground against the greenback in the last three consecutive sessions and gained Rs1.1 and was trading below 219.

The rupee closed at 220.68 after losing Rs0.95, or 0.43%, against the greenback in the interbank market compared to Tuesday’s close of 219.73

Commenting on the rupee’s movement, Arif Habib Limited’s Head of Research Tahir Abbas told Geo.tv that the local unit is facing a “little pressure” in the interbank market. 

He said that it seems like Pakistan has received funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the foreign exchange reserves stand in a better position. 

“Most likely, allocation of $2 billion in funds from the World Bank will be received in November or December,” he said, adding that the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) review scheduled in November will provide some relaxation and some targets will be eased up. 

He further added that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to China next month is expected to tap into new investment opportunities and there might be talks about rescheduling. 

“This is a daily basis depreciation, however, the currency will consolidate between 215 to 220,” he added. 

Speaking to Geo.tv, Pakistan-Kuwait Head of Research Samiullah Tariq said that the rupee movement is market-determined, so the supply drives the demand. 

He added that there is a bit of pressure from the imports and the political uncertainty impacted the currency. 

Tariq maintained that the market depended on the ADB’s funds and that it would reverse the impact. However, according to the recent government system, the number of dollar outflows will be the same as inflows. 

He added that the effect of backlog from the two-three days can be seen on the parity. 

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Irfan Siddiqui meets with the PM and informs him about the Senate performance of the parliamentary party.

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The head of the Senate’s Foreign Affairs Standing Committee and the PML-N’s parliamentary leader paid Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif a visit in Islamabad.

Senator Irfan Siddiqui gave the Prime Minister an update on the Parliamentary Party’s Senate performance.

Additionally, Senator Irfan Siddiqui gave the Prime Minister an update on the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs’ performance.

He complimented the Prime Minister on his outstanding efforts to bring Pakistan’s economy back on track and meet its economic objectives.

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SIFC Increases Direct Foreign Investment: Investment in the Energy Sector Rises by 120%

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The Special Investment Facilitation Council is intended to help Pakistan’s energy sector attract $585.6 million in direct foreign investment in 2024–2025. The amount invested at the same time previous year was $266.3 million.

This is a notable 120% rise, mostly due to investments in gas exploration, oil, and power. Such expansion indicates heightened investor confidence and emphasizes the development potential in important areas.

The State Bank reports that foreign investment in other vital industries has increased by 48% to $771 million.

This advancement is a blatant testament to SIFC’s efficient investment procedure and quick project execution.

The purpose of the Special Investment Facilitation Council is to establish Pakistan as an investment hub by aggressively promoting regional trade and investment in the energy sector and other critical industries.

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Discos report losses of Rs239 billion.

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When compared to the same period last year, the data indicates that discos have decreased their losses in the first quarter of the current fiscal year.

The distribution businesses recorded losses of Rs239 billion in the first three months of the current fiscal year, a substantial decrease from the Rs308 billion losses sustained during the same period the previous year.

Additionally, the distribution businesses’ rate of recovery has improved. It has increased to 91% in the first quarter of this year from 84% in the same period last year, indicating success in revenue collection.

Regarding circular debt, the Power division observed a notable change. Last year, between July and October, the circular debt grew by Rs301 billion. Nonetheless, this year’s first four months saw a relatively modest increase in circular debt, totaling about Rs11 billion.

These enhancements show promising developments in the electricity sector’s financial health in Pakistan, where initiatives are being made to accelerate recovery rates and slow the expansion of circular debt.

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