Business

‘Close’ to agreement with Pakistan on review: IMF chief

Published

1 year ago

Farwa

Policy-level talks close to success, say sources.
Windfall tax to be levied for financial years 2021, 2022.
IMF, economic team likely to prepare MEFP today.

International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said that the review of the policy talks with Pakistan is expected to come within this week.

“I expect an agreement of the review to come within this week. So any day now,” said the global lender’s chief told Bloomberg on Wednesday while assuring the anchor that a deal was very “close”, as Pakistan inches closer to successful policy-level talks with the IMF.

“The Pakistani authorities and the minister of Finance deserve credit for, in a very difficult time, sticking to the programme that they had,” said the IMF chief.

She continued to say that the major issue in Pakistan was tax collection. “The country today collects 12% tax to GDP. We are saying [that] it has to be at least 15% to have the revenues, to sustain the functioning of your economy.”

“So, please, for the people in Pakistan that can pay taxes, collect it from them,” she added.

Meanwhile, officials privy to the ongoing talks between Pakistan and the IMF mission told Geo News, on the condition of anonymity, that Islamabad has agreed to impose a 40% windfall tax on the profits of the banking sector under the global lender’s conditions in a bid to secure the second tranche for the staff-level agreement under the $3 billion Standby Arrangement (SBA).

The IMF mission — led by Nathan Porter — and the Pakistani economic team have also completed discussions on all sectors, added the sources.

The Pakistani delegation was led by Caretaker Finance Minister Shamshad Akhtar and comprised State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Jameel Ahmad, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Malik Amjed Zubair Tiwan, and officials from the finance and energy ministries.

The sources further said that windfall taxes of up to Rs55 billion will be levied for the financial years 2021 and 2022. The taxes on the profits earned by the banks will be received in the month of December.

According to sources within the Finance Ministry, the Finance Bill does not require any amendments for the imposition of windfall tax on the banking sector.

“However, approval from the federal cabinet will have to be sought for the windfall tax,” added the sources.

Moreover, the IMF delegation and the economic team are likely to prepare the Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies (MEFP) draft today, said the sources.

The parties have also agreed to not increase the interest rate further, added the Finance Ministry sources.

Business

With its second-largest surge ever, PSX approaches 114,000 points.

Published

2 days ago

Farwa

Driven by renewed activity from both private and government financial institutions, the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) saw its second-largest rally in history on Monday.

The market regained many important levels in a single trading session as it rose with previously unheard-of momentum.

Intraday trading saw a top increase of 4,676 points, and the PSX’s benchmark KSE-100 Index gained 4,411 points to settle at 113,924 points. This impressive rebound demonstrated significant investor confidence by reestablishing the 100,000, 111,000, 112,000, and 113,000-point levels.

The market also saw the 114,000-point limit reestablished during the trading session.

The positive tendency was reflected when the market’s heavyweight shares touched its upper circuits. Among the most busiest trading sessions in recent memory, an astounding 85.78 billion shares worth a total of Rs55 billion were exchanged.

Experts credited the spike to heightened institutional investor activity and hope for macroeconomic recovery. Considered a major market recovery, the rally demonstrated the market’s tenacity and development potential.

Business

In interbank trade, the Pakistani rupee beats the US dollar.

Published

1 week ago

Farwa

In the international exchange market, the US dollar has continued to weaken in relation to the Pakistani rupee.

The dollar fell to Rs278.10 from Rs278.17 at the beginning of interbank trading, according to currency dealers, a seven paisa loss.

In the meantime, there was a lot of turbulence in the stock market, but it recovered and moved into the positive zone. The KSE-100 index recovered momentum and reached 116,000 points after soaring 1,300 points.

Both currency and stock market swings, according to analysts, are a reflection of ongoing market adjustments and economic uncertainty.

Business

Phase II of CPEC: China-Pakistan Partnership Enters a New Era

Published

1 week ago

Farwa

The cornerstone of economic cooperation between the two brothers and all-weather friends is still the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the initiative’s flagship project.

In contrast to reports of a slowdown, recent events indicate a renewed vigour and strategic emphasis on pushing the second phase of CPEC, known as CPEC Phase-2, according to the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives.

According to the statement, this crucial stage seeks to reshape the foundation of bilateral ties via increased cooperation, cutting-edge technology transfer, and revolutionary socioeconomic initiatives.

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal is leading Pakistan’s participation in a number of high-profile gatherings in China, such as the 3rd Forum on China-Indian Ocean Region Development Cooperation in Kunming and the High-Level Seminar on CPEC-2 in Beijing.

His involvement demonstrates Pakistan’s commitment to reviving CPEC, resolving outstanding concerns, and developing a strong phase-2 roadmap that considers both countries’ long-term prosperity.

At the core of these interactions is China’s steadfast determination to turn CPEC into a strategic alliance that promotes development, progress, and connectivity.

Instead of being marginalised, CPEC is developing into a multifaceted framework with five main thematic corridors: the Opening-Up/Regional Connectivity Corridor, the Innovation Corridor, the Green Corridor, the Growth Corridor, and the Livelihood-Enhancing Corridor.

With the help of projects like these, the two countries will fortify their partnership, and CPEC phase-2 will become a model of global economic integration and collaboration that benefits not just China and Pakistan but the entire region.