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Pakistan

Pakistan may need debt adjustment despite IMF support: Barclays

  • In its report 'Payment halt a possibility', Barclays says lack of new bilateral financing agreements reflects Pakistan’s complex political environment & macroeconomic instability
Published February 22, 2023

Pakistan may require a debt adjustment in some form given the sharp deterioration in its external position, even if some support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and bilateral institutions is materialised, said Barclays Bank.

In its report on Pakistan titled ‘Payment halt a possibility’ released on February 21, Barclays said it maintains an ‘Underweight rating’ on the country’s sovereign debt.

Barclays was of the view that Pakistan’s debt metrics in and of themselves are not yet a cause for alarm.

“But the large debt stock implies that ongoing access to funds and robust economic growth are necessary to keep debt within sustainable levels,” it said.

Rothschild & Co delegation meets Dar, discusses roadmap for economic recovery

“In this context the economic damage caused by the floods, the evolving political crisis, and increasing doubts about the nation’s ability to meet IMF targets could make it more difficult to manage the debt burden.”

Any financing secured from bilateral or multilateral sources will need to be deployed for debt repayments and to support letters of credit for imports. This implies that the drain of FX reserves is unlikely to halt in the absence of relief for debt repayments or incremental financing: Barclays

The report highlighted that Pakistan faces a long list of issues: “deterioration in the current account position, large foreign-currency repayments, limited fiscal space, currency pressures and need for regular central bank intervention, rising cost pressures as well as the damage from record flooding.

“In addition, the credit-rating downgrades and lower bond prices (higher costs of refinancing) have resulted in an effective exclusion from capital markets when the country is facing large rollover risks; creating a potential ‘liquidity’ issue. This leaves limited alternatives and, absent a bilateral/multilateral bailout, growing risk of a debt readjustment sometime in 2023-24,” said the report.

On the IMF programme, Barclays said it remains at a critical juncture after the lender has shown a low tolerance for deviations from its programme targets regarding fiscal adjustments, foreign exchange policy and energy sector reforms.

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Moreover, the lender has leaned on Pakistan’s bilateral creditors to boost available funding.

“We have believed the lack of new bilateral financing agreements reflects Pakistan’s complex political environment and macroeconomic instability–high inflation, slow growth, widening fiscal deficit. We do not expect this situation to change, and believe new bilateral financing agreements will remain piecemeal, focus on investment returns/opportunities rather than strategic partnerships and anchored by an IMF program,” said the report.

Barclays said that the inflation rate is expected to remain high in wake of recent government measures.

Political volatility on a rise

The report said that it believes there is a risk that 2023 may see significant political instability “given the perilous economic situation, growing polarisation regarding civilian-military relations, an uptick in insurgency/terrorist activity, and the prospect of elections being held in October”.

Foreign currency flow crisis

Barclays pointed out that Pakistan’s balance of payments position indicates that the country is already in crisis.

“Given this, any financing secured from bilateral or multilateral sources will need to be deployed for debt repayments and to support letters of credit for imports. This implies that the drain of FX reserves is unlikely to halt in the absence of relief for debt repayments or incremental financing,” it said.

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ALi Akbar Feb 22, 2023 04:06pm
Very nice
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ALi Akbar Feb 22, 2023 04:06pm
Typing wala kam karna chahta hun
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M.H.Naqvi Feb 22, 2023 07:35pm
Pakistan needs "debt waived off" people are dieing from poverty. Europe and developed nations are investing their billions in warfare weapons. Plus billions in space research programs. On the plant Earth poor nations are hand to mouth.
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M Ali Feb 22, 2023 09:48pm
@M.H.Naqvi, why Rich Pakistani does not pay taxes. Why we have such a low tax base. Why our landlords who own swath of lands, have huge agricultural income pay near to none tax. Check your home first before asking others to help. We are brats
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wanker Feb 23, 2023 12:50am
@M.H.Naqvi, Pakistan also spends billions on weapons and warfare. We should reduce the defence budget and spend the money on development, health and education instead.
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bonce richard Feb 24, 2023 01:37am
@M Ali, When F M Punjabi army dominates the country result is zero. I live in Europe they adopted Roti Cloth and shelter for everyone. Our religion teaches us but our corrupted army and Punjabi do not. This is Punjabistan, not Pakistan.
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