Business

FinMin Dar meets UAE envoy as Pakistan scrambles to secure IMF deal

Published

2 years ago

Farwa

Top UAE diplomat in Pakistan calls on Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.
Both discuss enhancing bilateral economic and financial relations.
Pakistan needs friendly countries’ assurance to unlock IMF loan.

Minister for Finance and Revenue Ishaq Dar Wednesday met the United Arab Emirates (UAE) top diplomat in Pakistan as the country scrambles to unlock the stalled International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme.

The meeting comes as the IMF, according to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, wants external financing commitments fulfilled from friendly countries before it releases bailout funds.

The Washington-based lender has been in talks with the Pakistani authorities since end-January to resume the $1.1 billion loan tranche held since November, part of a $6.5 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) agreed upon in 2019.

The IMF funding is critical for Pakistan to unlock other external financing avenues to avert a default on its obligations. The State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) reserves are at a critical level of $4.6 billion and cover four weeks of imports.

An IMF statement said substantial progress had been made in discussions towards policies in recent days and financial assurances were standard in IMF programs.

“All IMF program reviews require firm and credible assurances that there is sufficient financing to ensure that the borrowing member’s balance of payments is fully financed in the next 12 months, with good prospects for financing over the remainder of the program. Pakistan is no exception,” the statement to Reuters said.

Several friendly countries — including Saudi Arabia, China and the UAE — have made commitments to help Pakistan fund its balance of payments as the nation tries to avert a possible default.

IMF’s Director of Strategic Communications Julie Kozack has said that timely financial assistance from external partners is critical to support the authorities’ policy efforts and ensure the successful completion of the review with Pakistan.

In a statement, the Ministry of Finance said UAE’s ambassador to Pakistan, Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salim Al-Zaabi, called on the finance minister in Islamabad.

H.E. Mr. Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salim Al-Zaabi, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates called on Finance Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, today and exchanged views on further enhancing bilateral economic and financial relations between the two countries.🇵🇰🇦🇪 pic.twitter.com/WeSlFL41qp
— Ministry of Finance (@FinMinistryPak) March 29, 2023

The two sides exchanged views on further enhancing bilateral economic and financial relations between the two countries, the statement read.

The UAE is among Pakistan’s largest trade partners and has supported the nation financially in the past with deposits in the State Bank of Pakistan.

Business

PEL Ships Transformers to Start US Exports

Published

17 hours ago

Bilal

Through stable and efficient trade regulations, the Special Investment Facilitation Council has helped promote Pakistani industrial exports internationally.

With the first shipment of transformers departing Pakistan for the United States on March 13, 2025, Pak Electron Limited formally started exporting its goods to the United States.

PEL wants to increase its worldwide visibility and investigate new overseas prospects. Under its power and appliances segment, the company produces high-quality goods like transformers and home appliances.

Additionally, PEL has alliances with major global corporations including General Electric, Mitsubishi, and Hitachi.

Business

The FBR has extended the deadline for sales tax returns until March 27.

Published

17 hours ago

Bilal

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) extended the deadline for submitting Sales Tax and Federal Excise reports to March 27, 2025, to assist taxpayers.

The FBR has issued an official notification concerning the prolongation, as per reports.

The initial deadline for submitting Sales Tax and Federal Excise reports for the February 2025 tax period, originally set for March 18, 2025, has been extended to March 27, 2025.

The determination has been rendered pursuant to Section 74 of the Sales Tax Act 1990 and Section 43 of the Federal Excise Act 2005.

FBR officials indicated that the extension is intended to alleviate challenges encountered by taxpayers, permitting them to complete their returns within the specified timeframe without inconvenience.

Taxpayers are encouraged to utilize the extended deadline and submit their returns punctually to evade any possible fines.

The FBR regularly extends tax return deadlines to assist the corporate sector and facilitate seamless tax compliance.

Business

Stocks fall as PSX is under selling pressure.

Published

2 days ago

Bilal

The benchmark KSE-100 Index dropped more than 600 points during Monday’s opening trading hours, sending the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) plunging.

The benchmark index had dropped 635 points and was now trading at 117,806.25.

The PSX’s decline was attributed primarily to selling pressure.

Important industries include fertilizer, auto assemblers, refineries, OMCs, and oil and gas exploration firms. Due to widespread selling, index-heavy stocks such as EFERT, INDU, MARI, OGDC, PPL, and PSO saw negative trading.

Remember that throughout the past week, the PSX has been in a bullish trend, reaching historical highs.

This prolonged increase was fueled by hope for a possible staff-level deal for the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) $1 billion second EFF tranche.