Business

Pakistan’s current account deficit shrinks by 45% to $1.2bn

Published

2 years ago

Farwa

Decline in current account deficit largely reflects a sharp decline in energy imports.
“Narrower deficit is the result of wide-ranging measures taken in recent months,” SBP notes.
Primary reason behind yearly deficit is a decline in remittances.

KARACHI: The three-month import ban imposed by the coalition government bore fruits as Pakistan’s current account deficit — the gap between the country’s higher foreign expenditure and low income — shrank by a massive 45% month-on-month.

The current account deficit clocked in at $1.21 billion in July 2022 in comparison to a deficit of $2.2 billion (revised figure) in June, data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) showed.

“The current account deficit shrank to $1.2 billion in Jul from $2.2 billion in June, largely reflecting a sharp decline in energy imports and a continued moderation in other imports,” the central bank said in a brief note released on its Twitter handle.

“The narrower deficit is the result of wide-ranging measures taken in recent months to moderate growth and contain imports, including tight monetary policy, fiscal consolidation and some temporary administrative measures.”

1/2 The current account deficit shrank to $1.2bn in Jul from $2.2bn in Jun, largely reflecting a sharp decline in energy imports & a continued moderation in other imports. Visit #EasyData https://t.co/kiWKKJLduD pic.twitter.com/Kt3Ev5BjMt
— SBP (@StateBank_Pak) August 23, 2022

On a year-on-year basis, the primary reason behind the deficit was an 8% (yearly) decline in remittances along with a 0.4% (year-on-year) increase in total imports to $6.2 billion.

However, total exports increased by 4% year-on-year during July. Data showed that imports of goods stood at $5.39 billion in July, compared to $7.03 billion in June. At the same time, imports of services stood at $790 million in July compared to $1.32 billion in June.

Previously, widening the current account balance being an important indicator of Pakistan’s economy led to an outflow of US dollars, which had put additional pressure on the currency that has continued to struggle against the greenback.

SBP, PBS trade figures reveal discrepancies

However, the SBP and Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) trade figures revealed discrepancies. The data available showed that SBP imports exceed PBS imports in the first month of the fiscal year (July) — “a seldom event seen historically”.

According to the data released by the central bank, the total imports of the petroleum group clocked in at $2.4 billion while the figures of the bureau highlight the amount of $1.4 billion — reflecting a difference of $984 million.

Similarly, for the textile group, SBP data showed that the imports were around $379 million while PBS said that the imports clocked in at $309 million — which calculates to a difference of $70 million.

Business

In January 2025, RDA inflows reach 9.564 billion USD.

Published

3 days ago

Farwa

Remittances under the Roshan Digital Account (RDA) increased from US $9.342 billion at the end of 2024 to US $9.564 billion by the end of January 2025.

The most recent data issued by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) revealed that remittance inflows in January totaled US$222 million, compared to US$203 million in December and US$186 million in November 2024.

Millions of Non-Resident Pakistanis (NRPs), including those who own a Non-Resident Pakistan Origin Card (POC), desire to engage in banking, payment, and investing activities in Pakistan using these accounts, which offer cutting-edge banking options.

Nearly 778,697 accounts were registered under the scheme by the end of January 2025, according to the data.

By the end of January, foreign-born Pakistanis had contributed US $59 million to Roshan Equity Investment, US $479 million to Naya Pakistan Certificates, and US $799 to Naya Pakistan Islamic Certificates.

Business

FBR lowers Karachi’s built-up structure property valuation rates

Published

3 days ago

Farwa

A year-by-year breakdown of the depreciation value of residential and commercial built-up properties is included in the updated property valuation rates for Karachi that the FBR has announced.

The notification said that built-up structural values on residential property will be gradually reduced.

A residential home’s built-up structure, which is five to ten years old, will lose five percent of its worth.

In a similar vein, constructions between the ages of 10 and 15 will lose 7.5% of their value, while those between the ages of 15 and 25 would lose 10%. Built-up structures that are more than 25 years old will be valued similarly to an open plot.

Furthermore, age will also be used to lower the valuation of built-up properties, such as apartments and flats.

Structures that are five to ten years old will depreciate by ten percent, while those that are ten to twenty years old will depreciate by twenty percent. A 30% depreciation will be applied to properties that are 20 to 30 years old, while a 50% reduction will be applied to those that are above 30 years old.

In terms of commercial built-up properties, buildings that are 10 to 15 years old will lose 5% of their value, while those that are 15 to 25 years old will lose 8%. The value of properties that are more than 25 years old will drop by 10%.

In contrast, there would be a 15% boost in the value of commercial properties in the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) that face any Khayaban.

Business

Remittances Increase 25.2% in January 2025: $3.0 Billion Inflow

Published

4 days ago

Farwa

Remittances from Pakistani workers totalled US$3.0 billion in January 2025, representing a 25.2% increase from the previous year.

The cumulative remittances for July through January of FY25 were 20.8 billion dollars, up 31.7 percent from 15.8 billion dollars during the same period in FY24.

In January 2025, the United States of America contributed 298.5 million dollars, the United Kingdom contributed 443.6 million dollars, the United Arab Emirates contributed 621.7 million dollars, and Saudi Arabia contributed 728.3 million dollars.