KARACHI - State Bank of Pakistan’s third quarterly report on the state of Pakistan’s economy was released on Friday. The report said that decline in exports and worker remittances and increase in imports led to a higher current account deficit as compared to the last year. On the financing side, the official external inflows in July-March period (FY17) stood at around the same level as last year, while both FDI and FPI inflows increased. Although SBP’s FX reserves declined during this period, these are sufficient to comfortably finance more than four months of imports.
Regarding fiscal situation, the report observed an increase in the fiscal deficit to 3.9 percent of GDP during Jul-Mar FY17. The expenditure side of the fiscal operations remained well-managed with a contained growth in current expenditure and a robust growth of about 15 percent in the development expenditures. However, growth in tax revenues remained less than the target.
The report noted growth in real GDP remained at its upward trajectory, and increased to a decade-high of 5.3 percent in FY17. Economic indicators like private sector credit and investment also posted encouraging picture, whereas inflation remained below the target.
The report also highlighted the revival in the agriculture sector during FY17, which was supported by favorable policy measures, including subsidy on fertilizer, reduction in sales tax on tractors, and increased access to finance. Better agriculture had, in turn, positive spillover for trade and manufacturing sectors, argued by the Report. Further, PSDP and CPEC-related activities also continued to boost construction related industries.
The overall improvement in business sentiments along with supportive policies (historic low interest rate, high infrastructure spending and better law and order) has encouraged a number of firms to pursue expansion plans, the SBP report observed. This was reflected in a significant surge in private sector credit off-take during FY17, with a sizable share of fixed investment loans. At the same time, an increase in machinery imports was also noted.
The report also underscored the importance of sustainable levels of current and fiscal accounts in order to maintain the prevailing growth momentum, and hard-earned economic stabilization.
ZAMIR SHEIKH
