SBP cuts key interest rate by one percent

• The new rate has come down from 9 percent to 8 percent.
• The SBP has reduced the interest rate by 5.25 percent since March 17.
• The interest rate has been reduced keeping in view the coronavirus situation in the country.

(Karachi) The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Friday cut its key interest rate by one percent. The new rate has come down from 9 percent to 8 percent.

The State Bank's Monetary Policy Committee announced the decision. The interest rate has been reduced keeping in view the coronavirus situation in the country. The SBP has reduced the interest rate by 5.25 percent since March 17.

Earlier, the SBP announced that it will provide loans to health facilities on 3% markup to counter coronavirus outbreak. The SBP declared that inflation rate will come down in the coming months while the prices of petroleum products will also decrease.

Local businesses and exporters have lately been protesting at high borrowing costs, which they said was harming investment.

In January, the SBP  left the interest rate unchanged at 13.25 percent. The SBP announces a target rate every two months, which serves as the benchmark interest rate for overnight funds in the interbank market. It is one of the tools the central bank uses to ensure price stability in the economy.

Read SBP's Monetary Policy Statement here: MPS-May-2020-Eng