ISLAMABAD: Government said on Friday that its economy is on course to grow 3.94 percent in the current financial year that ends in June, almost double the IMF’s and World Bank's projections, as it recovers from the worst impact of the pandemic.

The planning ministry said its provisional estimate was based on data for the year so far on growth in the agricultural, industrial, and services sectors.

"This growth in a period in which COVID placed a huge challenge to the economy is extremely gratifying," minister for planning Asad Umar said in a tweet. Country’s economy was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic last year. On Friday the ministry also revised down GDP growth for the financial year that ended on June 30, 2020 to -0.47%, from -0.38%.

The IMF has estimated GDP for the 2020/21 fiscal year will grow 1.5%, and the World Bank estimates growth of 1.3%.-Reuters

INP adds: In a Twitter message, Asad Umar said that the national accounts committee has finalised the GDP growth estimate, adding, “Alhamdulillah the GDP growth has come in at 3.94%.”

He said that the GDP growth in a period in which COVID-19 placed a huge challenge to the economy is extremely gratifying and proof of the success of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s economic policies.

In another tweet, Asad Umar said that per capita income of Pakistan jumped by 13.4 per cent this year from $1361 to $1543 due to a combination of GDP growth and strengthening of the Pakistani rupee against the US dollar. “Total GDP increase from $263 billion to $296 billion an increase of $33 billion which is the highest ever increase in any year.”

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021

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