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Biometric verification to be made mandatory for purchase of $500 and above

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  • SIFC briefed on SBP’s proposed reforms on January 3.
  • FIA to be tasked to launch crackdown against illegal forex operators.
  • Reforms to be made public when SIFC meeting approves them.

ISLAMABAD: In a bid to stop hoarding of the greenback, the State Bank of Pakistan devised a plan under which biometric verification will be made mandatory for anyone purchasing $500 and above from exchange companies, reported The News on Friday.

“The top notches of the central bank informed the meeting of the SIFC (Special Investment Facilitation Council) Apex Committee’s participants on January 3, 2024, that this is part of the comprehensive reforms in the exchange companies sector,” an official at SIFC Secretariat told the publication on the condition of anonymity.

Pakistan faces a dollar crisis as exports and remittances are not up to the mark and major chunks of greenback are utilised to finance the imports. Furthermore, unscrupulous elements take advantage of the situation and hoard US dollars to make windfall profits.

SIFC was also told that the SBP has also reduced the US dollar purchase limit for travel purposes from $10,000 to $5,000 and annual from $60,000 to $30,000.

Any customer purchasing $2000 or above from exchange companies has to pay from their Pak Rupee account.

For an individual, the central bank has fixed the US dollar purchase limit of $10,000 per day and annual purchase of $100,000.

Under the reforms, the Federal Investigation Agency will be tasked to launch an effective crackdown against illegal foreign exchange operators in coordination with the State Bank of Pakistan and relevant stakeholders.

“These reforms will be made public when the next SIFC meeting approves them,” the official said.

Last year, when the dollar crossed the 300 mark the government launched a crackdown against dollar smuggling, hoarding.

The Ministry of Interior had developed a list of the groups involved in the crimes after the identification of facilitators of the government officials and their patrons.

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Pakistan’s gold prices are still declining; see the most recent

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The price of 10-gram gold reduced by Rs943 to settle at Rs207,733, while the price of gold dropped by Rs1200 to close at Rs242,300 a tola, according to the Sindh Sarafa Jewellers Association.

In the global market, the price of the precious metal fell by $10 to $2,349 per ounce, resulting in losses.

At 04:48 GMT, the spot price of gold had dropped by 0.2% to $2,354.77 per ounce. In the previous session, prices reached a two-week high.

American gold futures dropped 0.6% to $2,361.

Spot silver decreased by 0.4% to $28.03 per ounce, while palladium remained steady at $978.03 and platinum decreased by 0.1% to $992.89.

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Pakistan and the IMF begin talks for a new loan.

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Pakistan is requesting a $6 to $8 billion bailout package from the international lender over the next three to four years to address its financial troubles.

A mission team led by Nathan Porter, the IMF’s Mission Chief in Pakistan, is meeting with a Pakistani delegation led by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.

According to sources familiar with the situation, Islamabad may face more difficult options, such as raising power and gas bills.

Mr. Aurganzeb informed the IMF team that the country’s economy has improved as a result of the IMF loan package, and Islamabad is ready to sign a new loan programme to further develop.

The IMF mission expressed satisfaction with Islamabad’s efforts to revive the country’s struggling economy.

The IMF praised Pakistan’s economic growth in its staff report earlier this week, but warned that the outlook remains challenging, with very high downside risks.

The country nearly avoided collapse last summer, and its $350 billion economy has stabilized since the end of the last IMF program, with inflation falling to roughly 17% in April from a record high of 38% last May.

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Petrol prices are likely to drop significantly beginning May 16.

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According to sources, the government is set to decrease petrol prices by Rs 14 per litre and diesel prices by Rs 10 on May 16 for the next fortnight’s revision.

Last month, the government reduced the price of fuel and high-speed diesel by Rs5.45 and Rs8.42 per fortnight, respectively.

The current fuel price is Rs288.49 per litre, while the HSD price is Rs281.96.

Meanwhile, oil prices fell further on Monday, as signs of sluggish fuel consumption and comments from U.S. Federal Reserve officials dimmed optimism for interest rate reduction, which may slow growth and reduce fuel demand in the world’s largest economy.

Brent crude prices down 25 cents, or 0.3%, to $82.54 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell 19 cents, or 0.2%, to $78.07 per barrel.

Oil prices also declined on signals of poor demand, according to ANZ analysts, as gasoline and distillate inventories in the United States increased in the week before the start of the driving season.

Refiners throughout the world are dealing with falling diesel profitability as new refineries increase supply and warm weather in the northern hemisphere and weak economic activity reduce demand.

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