Pakistan unveils $47 billion federal budget, allocates 41% to debt servicing

Pakistan's Finance Minister Miftah Ismail is presenting the annual budget 2022-23 in the National assembly on June 10, 2022. (AFP)
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Updated 11 June 2022
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Pakistan unveils $47 billion federal budget, allocates 41% to debt servicing

  • Government sets an inflation target of 11.5%, raises salaries of employees by 15%
  • Country earmarks $7.4 billion for defense, $3.9 billion for development projects 

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Miftah Ismail on Friday presented Rs9.52 trillion ($47 billion) federal budget for fiscal year (FY) 2022-23, allocating around 40 percent to service the South Asian country’s foreign and domestic debts. 

Grappling with a widening current account deficit, currency depreciation and record inflation, the Pakistani government targets 5 percent GDP growth in FY23 that is lower than the 5.97 percent of the outgoing year. 

The budget is aimed at fiscal consolidation to convince the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to release the much-needed bailout payments for the cash-strapped South Asian nation of 220 million. 

“The total expenditures of the federal government will be Rs9,502 billion ($47 billion) out of which the debt servicing would be Rs3,950 billion ($19.5 billion), while for the next year, the PSDP (Public Sector Development Program) would be Rs800 billion ($3.9 billion),” Ismail said, while presenting the budget in the lower house of Pakistan parliament, the National Assembly. 

“For the defense of the country, Rs1.5 trillion ($7.4 billion) and for Civil administration’s expenditures Rs550 billion ($2.7 billion) have been earmarked, and for payments of pension Rs530 billion ($2.6 billion) have been allocated.” 

During his speech, Ismail said Budget 2022-23 was a “growth budget,” based on a well-thought-out strategy to boost economic growth, control inflation and increase revenue generation. 

The finance minister said the government had set an inflation target of 11.5 percent and a tax-to-GDP ratio of 9.2 percent. The fiscal deficit target has been set for 4.9 percent of the GDP, while the export target has been set at $35 billion. 

He said the government would provide targeted subsidies to protect the marginalized segments of the country in the next fiscal year. 

“To facilitate the public, a targeted subsidy of Rs699 billion ($3.4 billion) has been allocated, while in the form of grants, Rs1242 billion ($6.2 billion) have been included in BISP (Benazir Income Support Program) and Bait-ul-Mal [semi-autonomous charity organization].” 

The Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) revenue collection has been estimated at Rs7 trillion ($34.6 billion) for the next fiscal year.  

“This includes Rs4.1 trillion ($20.3 billion) share of provinces. The net revenue with the federal government will be Rs4,904 billion ($24.2 billion). The non-tax revenue will be Rs2 trillion ($9.8 billion),” Ismail said. 

The country has raised the tax rate on banking companies from 39 percent to 42 percent, including 3 percent “Super Tax,” which is expected to raise Rs15-20 billion ($74.2-$98 million) in revenue, according to the budget. 

The capital gains tax on the sale of immovable property has been increased to 15 percent, if sold within one year. This rate will become zero over the period of six years. Withholding tax on filers and non-filers on the acquisition of property has been increased to 2 percent and 5 percent, respectively.  

The finance minister announced that immovable property, meant to park money and valued above Rs25 million ($0.127 million), would be subject to a deemed tax. The income for such deemed tax would be 5 percent of the fair value of such property, he added. 

“The major part of the wealth of rich people is parked in the real estate sector in Pakistan. This is a double-faceted menace. It leads to the accumulation of unproductive assets and raises the prices of housing for the poor and lower-income groups,” finance minister said. 

“We intend to correct this imbalance. Therefore, all persons who have more than one immovable property exceeding Rs25 million situated in Pakistan shall be deemed to have received rent equal to 5 percent of the fair market value of the immovable property and shall pay tax at the rate of 1 percent of the fair market value of the said property. However, one house of each individual will be excluded.” 

The government has decided to impose an advance tax of 1 percent on foreign transactions through debit/credit cards, which would be 2 percent for non-filers. 

Speaking of the relief measures, the finance minister announced a 15 percent increase in salaries of government employees, along with the merger of ad hoc allowances. 

He said the tax exemption slab for salaried class has also been increased from Rs600,000 ($2,968) to Rs1.2 million ($5,937). 

“This step will benefit the salaried class and enhance business activities and consumption. The slab for business individuals and associations of persons has been also been increased from Rs 400,000 to Rs 600,000,” Ismail said. 

“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wants to provide maximum relief to the people of the country, particularly those who are unable to bear the burden of rising inflation.” 

He also announced tax exemption on the import and local supply of solar panels, saying soft loans from banks would be arranged to purchase solar panels for people with less than 200 units of power consumption. 

Financial experts, however, believe the Rs7 trillion revenue generation target, which is 17 percent higher than the target in FY22, would be hard to achieve, owing to the slow economic growth.  

“It will be a challenge to achieve this target due to economic slowdown and lower collection from oil sales. Please note that tax collection (sales tax, duties, petroleum levy) from oil is roughly around 22 percent of total tax collection,” Muhammad Sohail, the chief executive of Topline Securities, a brokerage house, told Arab News. 

“Budget FY23 is an attempt to satisfy the IMF on key matters relating to revenue collection, subsidy reductions and attainment of fiscal discipline.” 

The IMF and Pakistani officials concluded talks last month, with the fund asking for bailout program objectives, including fiscal consolidation, to be put back on track. 

It is unclear when the global lender plans to consider clearing the release of over $900 million of the latest tranche of the $6 billion, 39-month program Pakistan entered in 2019. 

One of the key steps, a removal of costly fuel subsidies, has already been implemented by the government, with fuel prices being raised by 40 percent. 

Economists say they were not expecting an “expansionary budget” under the current situation. 

“The budget under the present circumstances couldn’t be expansionary. Debt servicing and defense alone take the largest chunk. The net tax and non-tax income of the federal government is too inadequate to meet current expenses, what to speak of the development outlay,” Dr. Ikram ul Haq, a Lahore-based economist, said. 

“The twin menaces of fiscal deficit, coupled with current account and trade deficits, are hard to counter in the coming days, given the high inflation and the unsustainable debt burden.” 

Industrialists and traders say the budget is contrary to the expectation of a tougher one. 

“The budget is not a difficult one as was expected. The government of the few months has presented a good budget,” said Zubair Motiwala, chairman of Businessmen Group at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). 

“We are thankful for removing duty on solar panels. The decision of a dispute resolution mechanism is a welcoming step it was our persistent demand. The decision of tax adjustment on industrial raw material is also a good one.” 

The federal government has allocated Rs24 billion for health sector and Rs17 billion for imparting training in the information technology (IT) sector, providing youth with laptops, improving network and promoting IT exports. 

Irfan Iqbal Shaikh, president of the Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), said presenting the budget in the current situation was a “daunting task.” 

“The FPCCI had given proposals for the budget and many have been accommodated in the budget. The GDP target of 5 percent for the next fiscal year is a right move,” he said. 


Pakistan court directs government to engage with Imran Khan’s party over Nov. 24 protest

Updated 8 sec ago
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Pakistan court directs government to engage with Imran Khan’s party over Nov. 24 protest

  • Islamabad High Court says law and order remains government’s priority if there is no breakthrough
  • Chief Justice Aamer Farooq hopes PTI will have ‘meaningful communication’ with the administration

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday directed the government to form a committee to engage in talks with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership regarding the party’s planned protest in Islamabad on Nov. 24, emphasizing the need to avoid disruptions during the visit of the Belarusian president.
IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq issued the directive while hearing a petition by local trade association, instructing the government to constitute the committee that is preferably headed by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, with Islamabad Chief Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa and other officials.
The committee is tasked with negotiating with PTI leaders to address the “sensitivity over the weekend due to the movement of the President of a foreign country.”
“It would be appropriate that respondent No. 1 (government) constitute the committee ... to engage with the leadership of respondent No. 5 (PTI party), informing them of the sensitivity over the weekend,” said the court.
“In case no breakthrough is made, the law and order is the responsibility of respondents No. 1,” it continued, adding: “In this regard, no protest or rally or for that matter sit-in shall be allowed.”
Chief Justice Farooq urged the government to maintain law and order in Islamabad with “minimum disruption to the life of ordinary citizens,” expressing hope that PTI would “engage in meaningful communication” with the committee.
The court also directed a report on the matter to be submitted at the next hearing, scheduled for Nov. 27.
The directive followed a petition filed by Jinnah Super Traders Association (JSTA) President Asad Aziz, who sought the court’s intervention to prevent the PTI protest, citing disruptions to daily life and financial losses for the business community.
“Islamabad is a very expensive city with high property and rent prices,” Aziz told Arab News. “If your business is shut on top business days, how can these businessmen survive?“
He highlighted the financial strain caused by protests, particularly for shopkeepers in areas like Super Market, Jinnah Super Market and Blue Area.
Aziz claimed that 20 percent of shopkeepers had shut their businesses in recent months due to recurring disruptions caused by political demonstrations.
Protests in Islamabad have frequently caused disruptions to their lives of it residents. In September, a similar PTI demonstration led the government to lock down the city with containers, creating significant inconvenience for people and business owners.
Earlier this year, Pakistan’s parliament passed a law regulating public gatherings in Islamabad, specifying timings for rallies and designating specific areas. The law prescribes three-year jail terms for participants in illegal assemblies and 10-year imprisonment for repeat offenders.
Pakistan’s interior ministry has already approved the deployment of paramilitary forces in Islamabad to manage the anticipated law and order situation during the protests.
The security situation has also become a paramount concern due to Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko’s three-day visit to Islamabad starting Monday, during which several investment deals and memorandums of understanding are expected to be signed between the two countries.
 


In rare message, Imran Khan’s wife says he won’t seek revenge if back in power

Updated 42 min 59 sec ago
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In rare message, Imran Khan’s wife says he won’t seek revenge if back in power

  • Bushra Bibi says the protest date will only change from Nov. 24 if Khan shares another public course of action
  • Her message marks a rare foray into the public eye, underscoring her emerging role as a central PTI figure

ISLAMABAD: In a rare public message on Thursday, Bushra Bibi, the wife of Pakistan’s jailed ex-prime minister Imran Khan, assured state institutions he harbors no plans for revenge upon returning to power, as she rallied support for a protest planned by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) next week.
The PTI is organizing the rally in Islamabad on November 24, demanding Khan’s release, who has been in prison since August last year following his arrest on corruption charges.
The protest also aims to highlight the party’s allegations of electoral rigging in the February 8 general elections. The planned demonstration reflects the deepening political polarization in Pakistan, with Khan’s supporters and other political factions locked in an increasingly bitter political conflict.
Khan’s combative rhetoric against state institutions, including the powerful military— whom he has accused of orchestrating his ouster in an April 2022 no-confidence vote— has further entrenched divisions.
Despite his incarceration, Khan has remained defiant, which many interpret as evidence of his determination to seek retribution against rivals if he regains power. In her video message, however, Bibi dismissed the perceptions, emphasizing Khan’s commitment to forgiveness and unity.
“I want to tell the [state] institutions that it is completely wrong to think that Khan will take revenge on anyone,” she said in the video. “Khan says taking revenge on people after coming into power is akin to inviting God’s displeasure.”
“He has said that the time he has spent in jail has brought him closer to God,” she continued. “He has also said that he has learned that when you come into power, you should open the door to forgiveness, not the door to oppression.”
Bibi’s appeal marked a rare foray into the public eye, underscoring her emerging role as a central figure in the PTI’s efforts to build momentum for Khan’s release. She remained in the same jail with Khan in a case involving the illegal sale of state gifts before her release on bail in October.
Bibi called on party supporters to participate in the November 24 rally, saying there was no plan to change the protest date.
“The date can only be changed on one condition that Khan comes out and himself announces the next course of action to the public,” she said. “Otherwise, under no circumstances can the date of Nov. 24 be changed.”
Khan’s arrest and imprisonment have become a flashpoint for political tensions in Pakistan. The PTI alleges that the cases against Khan are politically motivated, aimed at sidelining the former premier and dismantling his party.
Meanwhile, the coalition government has taken measures to suppress PTI’s rallies, citing concerns over public safety and order, particularly in light of the planned protest in Islamabad.
Bibi asked people to come out and protest in her message, calling it their duty to fighter for the rule of law in the country.
 


Pakistan government open to talks with Imran Khan’s party, refuses to allow Nov. 24 protest

Updated 21 November 2024
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Pakistan government open to talks with Imran Khan’s party, refuses to allow Nov. 24 protest

  • Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi says negotiations cannot take place amid ‘threats’ from PTI
  • He says it is not possible to allow a rally in Islamabad ahead of a Belarusian delegation visit

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday suggested the government was open to talks with former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party but ruled out allowing its planned protest in Islamabad on November 24, ahead of a high-level visit by a Belarusian delegation.
The PTI has announced a “long march” to Islamabad on November 24, primarily demanding the release of Khan, who has been imprisoned since August last year on charges the party contends are politically motivated.
Additionally, the party’s protest is also meant to raise its voice against alleged rigging in the February 8 general elections while calling for measures to ensure judicial independence, which it believes has been undermined by the 26th constitutional amendment.
On Monday, Islamabad’s district magistrate imposed a two-month-long ban on gatherings of more than five people in the capital, invoking Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. This provision allows the government to prohibit political assemblies, rallies, demonstrations, sit-ins and other activities for a specified period.
Addressing the media in Islamabad, the interior minister said the government was fully prepared to stop the protest, with Punjab police, Rangers and Frontier Constabulary (FC) troops assisting the Islamabad police in operational duties.
“Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Barrister Gohar Khan met Imran Khan twice in the past two days,” Naqvi said, amid speculation that the PTI leaders discussed the option of negotiating with the government. “If they wish to initiate talks [with the government], they should do it. If they want to hold talks, they should tell us.”
The minister added, however, that no talks were possible if the PTI headed to Islamabad and “wielded sticks against us” on November 24.
“Let me tell you one thing: negotiations don’t take place with threats, though I personally feel talks should take place between everyone,” he said.
In response to a question, Naqvi clarified that no talks were currently underway with Khan, who is facing a new case related to violence at a PTI rally that took place in September while the ex-premier was in jail.
Highlighting the upcoming visit of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and his 10 cabinet ministers to Pakistan on a three-day visit next week, Naqvi said no permission could be granted for any rally or protest in the federal capital.
He added that a decision on whether to suspend mobile signals in Islamabad ahead of the protest would be finalized by Friday night.
Just a day earlier, it emerged that Pakistan’s interior ministry had authorized the deployment of paramilitary Punjab Rangers and FC forces in Islamabad since November 7 to maintain law and order.
Pakistan’s parliament also passed a law earlier this year to regulate public gatherings in Islamabad, specifying timings for rallies and designating specific areas. The law prescribes three-year jail terms for participants in illegal assemblies and 10-year imprisonment for repeat offenders.
 


Pakistani stocks surge past 97,000 as investor confidence grows on economic reforms

Updated 21 November 2024
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Pakistani stocks surge past 97,000 as investor confidence grows on economic reforms

  • Analysts attribute rally to strong economic data, rising optimism over government reforms
  • Stock market has remained bullish since the government slashed policy rate in November

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Thursday gained 1,700 points, surging past the 97,000 mark during intra-day trading for the first time, with analysts attributing the rally to strong economic data and rising investor optimism over government reforms.
The benchmark KSE-100 index rose by 1,781.94 points, or 1.86 percent, to close at 97,328.39. It touched an unprecedented peak of 97,437.15 during intra-day trading.
Analyst Ahsan Mehanti of Arif Habib Corporation said surging foreign exchange reserves and speculations over the government’s decisions on economic reforms and privatization “played a catalyst role in the record surge at the PSX.”
“Stocks are bullish, led by scrips across the board as investors weigh a drop in government bond yields and robust economic data for current account surplus, remittances, exports and foreign direct investments,” Mehanti told Arab News.
In October, Pakistan’s external current account recorded a surplus of $349 million, marking the third consecutive month of surplus and the highest in this period. The current account reflects a nation’s transactions with the world, encompassing net trade in goods and services, net earnings on cross-border investments and net transfer payments.
A surplus indicates that a country is exporting more than it is importing, thereby strengthening its foreign exchange reserves.
A bullish trend has been observed in the stock market since Pakistan’s central bank cut its key policy rate by 250 basis points, bringing it to 15 percent earlier this month. Economic indicators have also steadily improved since securing a 37-month, $7 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in September.
In the past, the country faced a prolonged economic crisis that drained its foreign exchange reserves and saw its currency weaken amid double-digit inflation. Last year, Pakistan narrowly avoided a sovereign default by clinching a last-minute $3 billion IMF bailout deal.


Saudi mission in Pakistan condemns militant attack that killed 12 soldiers this week

Updated 21 November 2024
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Saudi mission in Pakistan condemns militant attack that killed 12 soldiers this week

  • The embassy extends condolences to victims’ families and the Pakistani people in a statement
  • The statement reiterates the kingdom’s position ‘rejecting all forms of violence and terrorism’

ISLAMABAD: The Saudi embassy in Pakistan on Thursday condemned a militant attack on a joint security checkpoint in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that killed 10 army soldiers and two Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel, extending condolences to the victims’ families and the Pakistani people.
The attack, which occurred on Tuesday, targeted a joint army and paramilitary check post in the Mali Khel area of Bannu District, where militants detonated an explosive-laden vehicle after troops repelled their attempt to storm the post, according to the Pakistan military. Six militants were killed during the exchange of gunfire that followed.
“The Embassy expresses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s condemnation of the attack on a joint checkpoint in the city of Bannu in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, which resulted in the death and injury of a number of people,” the Saudi diplomatic mission in Islamabad said in a statement.
“The Embassy reiterates the Kingdom’s position rejecting all forms of violence and terrorism,” it added. “The Embassy extends its deepest condolences and sincere sympathy to the families of the victims, the government and the people of Pakistan, and wishes the injured a speedy recovery.”
Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has experienced a resurgence of militant violence in recent months, with a growing number of attacks on security forces and infrastructure despite the country’s efforts to combat militancy.
The region has long been a hotspot for insurgent activity, with militants frequently targeting military and paramilitary personnel.
Saudi Arabia has consistently expressed its support for Pakistan’s fight against extremist violence, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation to tackle militancy and ensure regional stability.