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PM Kakar requests China to rollover $2bn loan

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  • Deposit time for loan completes on March 23.
  • China expected to rollover loan upon request.
  • UAE also deferred loan deposits worth $2bn.

After requesting the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to rollover $2 billion in loan for Pakistan, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has also written a similar letter to his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang.

In his letter to China’s premier, the prime minister has requested that Beijing rollover Pakistan’s $2 billion loan for a year, sources told Geo News on Friday.

The Chinese government, according to the sources, is expected to rollover the aforementioned loan amount for a year soon.

The deposit time for the loan is slated to complete on March 23, 2024.

The sources added that the officials from Pakistan’s finance ministry and authorities in China are in contact about the matter.

PM Kakar, in his letter to the Chinese premier, thanked his government for financial support, the finance ministry sources said.

The sources, citing the letter, stated: “China gave a loan to the government of Pakistan in a difficult economic situation.”

A total of $4 billion worth of funds in loans, as per the sources, has been kept as a safe deposit, which has reduced Pakistan’s external payments burden.

Last year in May, Beijing came to Pakistan’s rescue during its struggle to secure the critical pending loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as the Chinese government rolled over more than $2 billion in debt.

The friendly neighbour had committed to help Islamabad meet two crucial debt repayments in June worth $2.3 billion by providing fresh funds immediately after Pakistan was to make the payments.

“The refinancing of the commercial loans worth $1.3 billion and a Chinese government loan of $1 billion would help Pakistan avert immediate default,” a senior government official told The News in May 2023.

Earlier in 2023, China had already rolled over some loans to Pakistan and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang also reiterated Beijing’s financial support for the country on a visit to Pakistan back in May last year.

Recently, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) also promised to roll over deposits worth $2 billion as well, after PM Kakar had written to the UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan requesting one, people familiar with the matter told Geo News.

Two separate deposits were to mature during the ongoing month, the sources said, one on January 17 and the other on January 20. They added that the loans were taken on 3% and 6.5% interest.

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

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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.

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

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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.

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

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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.

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