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Pakistan not planning to freeze foreign currency accounts: minister

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1 year ago

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  • Minister says no plans being considered to freeze forex accounts.
  • Pasha says IMF asked to conclude ninth review at the earliest.
  • “All our friendly countries have also given their assurances to IMF.”

ISLAMABAD: State Minister for Finance and Revenue Dr Aisha Ghaus Pasha said Monday the federal government had no intention of freezing foreign currency accounts despite the nation facing a severe dollar crunch.

“We do not plan on freezing foreign currency accounts and there have been no proposals to take such an action,” the state minister told journalists outside the parliament in Islamabad.

In May 1998, the then-government of prime minister Nawaz Sharif froze all currency accounts after the country’s first nuclear tests.

Pakistan’s foreign reserves today, standing at rock bottom, cover less than a month’s imports as the economy creaks under twin deficits and record-high inflation.

The risk of default remains high, and the struggling nation remains in a deadlock with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over a much-needed bailout programme.

The minister said the government had shared the fiscal year 2023-24 budget numbers with the lender, and the IMF is still negotiating with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar unveiled a Rs14.5 trillion (around $50.5 billion) budget last Friday, with over half set aside to service 7.3 trillion rupees of debt, and experts believe it would not help the government’s case mich in unlocking the loan.

“We have told IMF to conclude the ninth review at the earliest. We have less time and a lot of tension for completing the ninth review,” the state minister noted.

The minister said the Fund will not have any issues with the budget.

Pasha said IMF MD Kristalina Georgieva had assured the Pakistani authorities that her organisation would complete the latest review.

“All our friendly countries have also given their assurances to the IMF.”

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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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2 days ago

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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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Business

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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Business

Discos report losses of Rs239 billion.

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2 days ago

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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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