Textile council decries discontinuation of SBP’s TERF facility

KARACHI: In view of the recent news about the SBP’s now discontinued Temporary Economic Refinance Facility, TERF, Pakistan Textile Council believes it is pertinent to put some facts on record.

SBP had launched TERF as part of the Covid package in April-May 2020, with a sunset date of March 2021. Those were unprecedented times. Pakistan like the rest of the world also went about supporting its manufacturing and social bases. This package, however, added to its productive industrial capacity with more employment opportunities. It helped push the economic frontier.

It may be recalled that SBP’s MPC in its May 15, 2020, meeting had reduced the policy rate by 100 bps to 8 percent, after a cut of 525 bps in the last two months. LSM had witnessed a steep decline of 23 percent (y/y) in March, 2020. In trying to outpace the contracting impact of reduced economic activity the rate was further cut to 7% on June 25, 2020.

It is in that context that SBP had launched various initiatives including TERF to put a floor under the falling economic activity and consumer confidence.

TERF was well defined, focused with the aim to reach wider economy and give the investors capacity to not only tide over Covid uncertainty but to make them better prepared for the post-Covid era. It was successful in achieving all its objectives.

TERF financed machinery only, not land, not building, just new machinery imported or local against import LCs or inland LCs. TERF funding for equipment had a multiplier effect and brought in additional investment in building and ancillary facilities etc. It may further be noted that TERF loans were priced at a maximum of 7 percent, whereas the policy rate was cut to 7 percent in June 2020.

TERF advantage put Pakistan on a spree of capital investment whose benefits would keep accruing in the coming years. Subsequent surge in exports can also be, at least in part, explained by the newer, more productive and energy efficient TERF funded investments.

Like other sectors textile sector invested in its entire value chain and that has contributed to better products, more capacity and higher exports.

It again highlights the larger issue of non-availability of long-term funding at rates where an exporter can invest and still be competitive internationally. TERF addressed it productively, but it was a one-off event. Pakistan needs to work on real issues like development of capital markets where long-term capital can be made available at competitive rates.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023