Business

Is govt weighing new laws to crack whip on currency hoarders, tax violators?

Published

2 years ago

Farwa

ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to turn up the legislative heat on the hoarders of foreign currencies — especially dollars — through penalties like heavy fines and imprisonment to discourage negative market forces from manipulating the exchange rate to their advantage, sources said Friday.

The new laws will be applicable to the exchange companies and the individuals found guilty of illegally stashing foreign currency in the country.

With few hours left to the unveiling of the budget 2023-24, sources told Geo News that the government was mulling raising the limit of the foreign currency allowed to be brought in from abroad up to $100,000 in a year. No questions would be asked regarding the source of the funds if the amount is less or equal to the aforementioned figure.

Currently, an amount of foreign currency equivalent to Rs5 million can be brought into the country without raising any flags.

The sources said that a proposal to impose penalties on non-filers has also been submitted according to which a maximum of 25% fine will be slapped on violators.

Under Section 165 of the Tax Ordinance, an Rs2,000 fine will be imposed on all those who don’t file their withholding tax statement.

On the other hand, the tax defaulters will face an additional Rs200 per day fine.

The recent development is seen as a hurried regulatory response to the US dollar’s record-breaking surge, reaching an unprecedented level of over Rs300.

The government has spun into action to put brakes on the “undesirable” outflow of foreign currency from Pakistan and promote transparency in foreign currency transactions conducted by exchange companies.

Amidst negotiations to revive a $6.7 billion bailout programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Pakistan is not expected to devalue its currency further, as the pressure on the rupee has subsided, Bloomberg quoted Fitch Ratings as saying.

“We currently do not expect a large further devaluation of the Pakistan rupee,” Krisjanis Krustins, a Hong Kong-based director at Fitch, said in an emailed response to questions Friday.

“Although the currency has been very stable over the past few months, pressure on the reserves of the State Bank of Pakistan has also been contained, which suggests minimal interventions to support the currency,” Krustins said.

The IMF has stated that it is collaborating with Pakistani authorities to address concerns related to the country’s currency market and other matters before resuming the ongoing bailout programme, which is scheduled to conclude this month.

Following a currency devaluation in January, the rupee has depreciated by over 20% this year, rendering it one of the weakest performers globally.

The nation’s dollar stockpile has remained stable at about $4 billion since late February, after falling more than 50% in the past 12 months. Funds will be crucial to prop up the economy beset by supply shortages and avert a sovereign default, with billions of dollars of debt payments approaching.

“We continue to assume that the IMF and Pakistan will conclude the ongoing programme review, likely after the IMF has clarity on the upcoming budget,” Krustins said. “However, the window for this is rapidly closing, with the programme originally set to expire in June, and substantive progress unlikely in the immediate run up to elections due by October.”

Business

The amount of trade between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan hits $700 million.

Published

7 hours ago

Farwa

Through the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), Pakistan’s trade connections with Saudi Arabia have grown significantly, with bilateral trade volume rising from $546 million to $700 million and exports to the Kingdom growing by 22%.

As bilateral economic cooperation continues to grow, Saudi investors have shown a strong interest in Pakistan’s construction, energy, agricultural, and information technology sectors. The objective for exporting IT services between the two countries has been raised from $50 million to $100 million.

Saudi Arabia has set up a help desk dedicated to making it easier for Pakistani IT companies to register in the Kingdom in order to expedite commercial procedures. The goal of this program is to speed up economic collaborations between the two countries and lower administrative barriers.

The well-known Saudi restaurant chain AlBaik has revealed plans to open locations in Pakistan, which is a big step for the food service industry and should lead to the creation of new job possibilities in the area.

Officials have noted that stronger business links between the two countries lead to greater economic stability, and the SIFC has played a crucial role in promoting these trade advancements. For bilateral trade and investment projects, the Council remains a crucial facilitator.

According to a trade official with knowledge of the developments, “the establishment of dedicated support mechanisms, such as the help desk for IT companies, demonstrates a commitment to long-term economic partnership,” The goal of these programs is to improve the conditions for commercial collaboration between the two nations.

The increasing amount of trade and the diversity of investment sectors show that Saudi Arabia and Pakistan’s economic ties are changing as both countries seek to deepen their business alliances in a number of industries.

Business

After more than 50 years, Bangladesh and Pakistan resume direct trade.

Published

7 hours ago

Farwa

After more than 50 years, the two governments will resume direct bilateral trade, with Bangladesh’s food ministry announcing Sunday that it will receive a supply of 25,000 tonnes of rice from Pakistan next month.

After former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was overthrown last August, relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan have begun to improve after decades of tense relations.

Since then, there have been increased bilateral interactions between Bangladesh and Pakistan. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, the interim government’s senior adviser, has met twice with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

According to the food ministry, Dhaka completed an agreement earlier this month to import grains from Pakistan.

“On March 3, the first shipment of 25,000 tonnes will reach Bangladesh,” Zia Uddin Ahmed, a ministry assistant secretary, told Arab News.

“This is the first time that Bangladesh has started importing rice from Pakistan at the government-to-government level since 1971.”

Following direct maritime contact between the two South Asian countries in November—a Pakistani cargo ship stopped in Bangladesh for the first time since 1971 with imports and exports arranged by private companies—their trade relations grew.

Resuming trade with Pakistan is a significant step for Bangladesh, according to Amena Mohsin, a lecturer at North South University and a specialist in international relations.

“We want to see progress in our bilateral relationship with Pakistan. Most significantly, we are currently going through a low point dispute with India, even though we constantly diversify our partnerships.

This most recent move to purchase rice from Pakistan is really significant in this context,” she told Arab News.

Business

The total amount of Pakistan’s liquid foreign reserves is $15.95 billion.

Published

3 days ago

Farwa

As of February 14, Pakistan’s total liquid foreign reserves were $15,947.9 million, with the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) holdings being $11,201.5 million.

Official figures for the week ending February 14, 2025, show that the central bank’s liquid foreign exchange reserves rose by $35 million to $11,201.5 million.

Commercial banks maintained net foreign reserves of $4,746.4 million during the period under review, according to the breakdown of foreign reserves.

The nation’s total liquid foreign reserves as of the week ending February 07, 2025, were $15,862.6 million.

Of these, the central bank held $11,166.6 million in foreign reserves, while commercial banks kept $4,696 million in net reserves.