Archives of External Account

1. Current account: On the bright side?

   2011-04-20 10:53:04 GMT : (BR Research - Pakistan Macroeconomics/External Account)

   Finally, it’s that time of the month, when Pakistan’s economic managers can have their feel good moment, while the politicians brag and boast of their performance. And why shouldn’t they? The latest external account numbers released by the central bank confirm the notion that Pakistan’s balance-of-payment position is in safe waters -- $99 million to be precise, for the first nine mont...

2. Remittances: the March factor

   2011-04-12 05:47:17 GMT : (BR Research - Pakistan Macroeconomics/External Account)

   Money doesn’t grow on trees. But when it comes to remittance inflows in Pakistan, the onset of spring sees a rather sharp increase in worker monies coming home to their families. The central bank’s latest data show that remittances inflows jumped 25 percent month-on-month in March 2011 – its highest month-on-month increase since March 2010, when it increased 30 percent over February 2010. ...

3. Current account: the glory might end

   2011-03-21 06:48:41 GMT : (BR Research - Pakistan Macroeconomics/External Account)

   Clocking in at $98 million, the current account deficit during July-February FY11 comes as a breather for Pakistan’s economy in current times. But the thought of future prospects may retard the initial glee. The months gone by of FY11 have benefited from the favourable impact of higher commodity prices in international markets – in particular cotton and rice, two key export items of the ...

4. Pak-China FTA: exploit untapped potential

   2011-03-14 06:42:14 GMT : (BR Research - Pakistan Macroeconomics/External Account)

   Imagine a fruit bowl of juicy summer fruits, diced and chilled, on a sweltering summer afternoon. The bowl’s right in front, but despite immense hunger and thirst, you haven’t been able to reach it. That’s one way of describing the Pak-China FTA. The trade agreement appears quite beneficial for both countries, at least on the face of it: Pakistan has been given tariff concessions for...