Rupee gains against dollar for sixth consecutive session.
Rupee appreciates by Rs1.62 to reach 228.45 per dollar.
Expectation of Pakistan receiving flood relief also driving factor.
KARACHI: The government’s warning to reign in currency speculation again pushed down the US dollar’s slide against the Pakistani rupee for the sixth consecutive session on Friday.
In the interbank market, the local unit appreciated by Rs1.18 to reach 228.45 per dollar, according to the State Bank of Pakistan up from the previous session’s close of 229.63.
Right after taking charge of the finance ministry earlier this week, Senator Ishaq Dar said that no one would be permitted to manipulate the foreign exchange market.
The new finance czar — who has strongly favored intervention in currency markets in three previous stints in the job — also claims that the value of the local unit is undervalued and he will seek to control inflation by lowering the interest rates.
The warning seems effective as market participants told The News that currency speculation appears to have decreased and the rupee is now gaining ground as a result of this.
Muhammad Saad Ali, a capital market expert, told Geo.tv that it was indeed Dar’s warning of reigning in speculation in the currency market that was driving the dollar’s free fall.
But the depreciation was not limited to the warning as Pakistan is also set to receive external financial assistance in terms of flood relief, which will in turn support the exchange rate, Ali said.
Although the currency has been witnessing appreciation against the greenback, Pakistan’s exports are still not at an ideal position and it is feared that in the coming days, the country will have to import commodities as a result of floods — shrinking the forex reserves.
The floods have also raised questions on whether Pakistan will be able to pay its debts on time, with the local currency not at a desirable stage against the dollar and the forex reserves diminishing over time.
In this regard, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari have sought climate justice to compensate for the destruction as the disaster was climate-induced — and Pakistan produces one of the lowest carbon emissions in the world.
In line with the dominant trend over the last several weeks, the country’s foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) once again declined by 4.07%.
On September 23, the foreign currency reserves held by the SBP were recorded at $8,005.9 million, down $341 million compared with $8,346.4 on September 16, data released by SBP showed on Thursday.
The establishment of “industrial parks” by the Pakistan Economic Zone Development and Management Company and the Special Investment Facilitation Council aims to attract investors and stimulate the economy.
First up is the Malir Industrial Park, which gives companies access to important trade and transportation channels. This park will be different from heavy industry parks in that it will concentrate on small industries and diverse industrial offices. Among Karachi’s industrial zones, it would be noteworthy for providing security and necessary infrastructure.
In order to lower unemployment, the initiative intends to generate more than 200,000 jobs in the first five years. To increase the advantages of the program, the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry will become a member of the Malir Industrial Park Advisory Council.
The park will have easy access to Karachi Port and Jinnah International Airport due to its strategic location at the convergence of key highways, such as the National Highway and Malir Motorway. This would guarantee effective access to both domestic and foreign markets.
He emphasised how closely Saudi Vision 2030 matches Pakistan’s main strategic goals, strengthening the basis for both countries’ development.
In terms of trade, investment, and economic development, both leaders reaffirmed their dedication to strengthening bilateral cooperation.
A recent visit by a high-level Saudi delegation headed by the Saudi Investment Minister, during which a number of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed to strengthen the economic partnership, was mentioned by Prime Minister Sharif.
Along with talking about the economy, the two leaders acknowledged the serious damage caused by Israel’s continuous aggression in the area and voiced their profound worry about it.
Peace in Gaza is linked to global progress: PM
In his earlier speech to the 8th Future Investment Initiative (FII), Prime Minister Shehbaz emphasised the catastrophic situation in Gaza and stressed that the world would find it difficult to meet its developmental goals unless there was an immediate end to the violence.
Shehbaz, the Saudi prime minister
With the topic “Infinite Horizons: Investing Today, Shaping Tomorrow,” the FII brought together prominent individuals to discuss investments in important fields such as robots, artificial intelligence, education, energy, finance, healthcare, and sustainability.
Pakistan’s worries over the worsening situation in Gaza were highlighted by PM Sharif’s direct remarks, which also highlighted the necessity of international cooperation in fostering peace.
A 10-member Task Force has been formed by the government to digitize the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in partnership with the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).
Improving FBR’s systems and completely digitizing its operations are part of the Task Force’s mandate. Policy interventions, data automation, software installation, and collaboration with provincial revenue authorities are among the main goals.
Together with developing a track-and-trace system through integrated automation, the task force will also establish an Automated Supply Chain System for distributors and wholesalers.
Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited would become a stand-alone IT bureau for planning and data preparation.
In order to create a unified national tax strategy, the project seeks to maximize revenue collection, increase transparency, and simplify Pakistan’s tax system while encouraging cooperation between the federal and provincial tax authorities.