ADB’s report on recovery of Pakistan’s economy highly encouraging: Khusro

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Minister for Economic Affairs, Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar on Saturday hailed the Asian Development Bank’s (ADBs) report on recovery of Pakistan’s economy, which was highly encouraging.

The Federal Minister welcomed the ADB’s Asian Development Outlook Supplement (December, 2020) which highlighted improvement in mobility and economic activities in Asia and the Pacific Region despite the persistent challenge of COVID-19, said a press release issued by Ministry of Economic Affairs here.

In its ADO Supplement, ADB has also revised growth projections for South Asia from -6.8% to -6.1% for the year 2020.

While commending Pakistan’s performance, ADB has stated that Pakistan’s economy was recovering, particularly in the manufacturing and construction sectors, supported by the government emergency relief measures.

The Minister for Economic Affairs highlighted that Pakistan’s economic performance was remarkable in the context of second wave of COVID-19 and persistent growth contraction worldwide.

He said that 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 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% in the same quarter last year, Khusro said.

He said the robust momentum of economic recovery was 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.

Foreign Direct Investment has also witnessed 150% 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% 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 Asia Pacific Vaccine Access Facility (APVAX).

Under this initiative, the member countries can access rapid financing facility from ADB for procurement and delivery of COVID-19 vaccine.

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’s initiative remarkable and timely for combating the pandemic.