Minister welcomes Asian Development Outlook Supplement of ADB

ISLAMABAD: Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs welcomed the ADB's Asian Development Outlook Supplement (December, 2020) which highlights improvement in mobility and economic activities in Asia and the Pacific Region despite the persistent challenge of Covid-19, said a press release issued on Saturday.

In its ADO Supplement, the ADB has also revised growth projections for South Asia from -6.8 percent to -6.1 percent for the year 2020. While commending Pakistan's performance, the ADB has stated that Pakistan's economy is recovering, particularly in the manufacturing and construction sectors, supported by the government's emergency relief measures.

The Minister for Economic Affairs highlighted that Pakistan's economic performance is remarkable in the context of the second wave of the Covid-19 and persistent growth contraction worldwide. With the pre-Covid improvements in macroeconomic fundamentals, and strong policy response during the pandemic helped us save lives and livelihood of the people. The economy is poised to pick up from where it was before the Covid-19 outbreak, he added.

As a result of the government's strong support for industrial sector, especially construction and textile, large scale manufacturing (LSM) has expanded by 4.8 percent (y/y) in the first quarter of FY2020-21 against a contraction of 5.5 percent in the same quarter last year.

The robust momentum of economic recovery is evident from growing production of cement, textile, automobile, and home appliances in the first five months of this fiscal year. This revival of industrial growth has also created huge employment opportunities and surpassed the pre-corona level. The Foreign Direct Investment has also witnessed 150 percent YoY increase in October 2020 from $126 million in October, 2019 to $317 million in October, 2020.

During the first five months of FY21, workers' remittances have reached an unprecedented level of US $11.77 billion, 26.9 percent higher than the same period last year. This increase in external inflows reflects the confidence of international investors, business community and overseas Pakistanis on the successful policies of the present government.

The Minister for Economic Affairs also appreciated the ADB for launching a $9 billion vaccine initiative under the Asia Pacific Vaccine Access Facility (APVAX). Under this initiative, the member countries can access rapid financing facility from the ADB for procurement and delivery of the Covid-19 vaccine.

The APVAX will play a critical role in helping our developing members to overcome the corona pandemic and bring them back on a path of economic growth and sustainable development. Pakistan may access this emergency financing facility for vaccine procurement to the extent needed. The minister termed this ADB initiative remarkable and timely for combating the pandemic.-PR

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020