UAE’s $3b lifeline averts imminent default

The UAE on Thursday agreed to offer a $three billion lifeline to Pakistan in the form of a rollover of the prevailing debt and new financing – assisting Islamabad keep away from defaulting on its loans for a couple of extra months.

The development comes as the united states of america faces a frightening challenge to make $thirteen billion debt repayments in six months.The Gulf kingdom made the decision to defer the maturing $2 billion and quit another $1 billion in extra loan to Pakistan for the duration of a assembly among Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, according to the PM’s Office.

The $three billion lifeline has provided a few respiratory area to Pakistan, but it has now not completely ended the danger of sovereign default due to massive external debt payments with much less than $4.3 billion reserves in hand.

Pakistan is required to make over $13 billion outside debt repayments from January to June 2023 and the UAE’s choice will lower the needs with the aid of much less than one-fourth of the full.

The authorities will ought to attempt hard for the revival of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan programme if it wishes the default hazard to abate completely.

Sources told The Express Tribune that during a meeting between Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and IMF Mission Chief Nathan Porter, the worldwide lender told Pakistan to satisfy all assurances given to it inside the current beyond.

Of the whole $thirteen billion six-month want, Pakistan has up to now repaid approximately $1.2 billion and after the UAE rollover, the total requirement might be all the way down to almost $10 billion.

The $3 billion Chinese deposits are also maturing between March and June in this fiscal yr.

Pakistan has again and again requested China to rollover this debt but there has been no progress thus far.

China has additionally not but rolled over around $325 million guaranteed debt that is maturing this month.

In addition, two Chinese industrial loans, totalling $1.4 billion, are maturing inside the last sector of the contemporary economic year.

Pakistan’s secure path in the short-time period nonetheless passes through the IMF, even though the journey might be a bumpy one.

The authorities will need to take many tough steps that will further erode its reputation among the people.They additionally explored approaches and way to in addition beef up these ties, especially within the fields of alternate, funding and power.

The leaders additionally had an alternate of views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, the statement added.

Both sides agreed to deepen funding cooperation, stimulate partnerships, and permit investment integration possibilities between the two countries, according to the PM’s Office.

In April ultimate 12 months, the UAE had presented to make investments $2 billion in authorities-owned indexed corporations.

However, in the course of the beyond 9 months, Pakistan could not even push a unmarried transaction to a level where the price could be ascertained by independent evaluators.

A day earlier, the finance minister had convened the maiden meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Inter-Governmental Commercial Transactions, however with out an time table on the table.

The huddle had a fashionable discussion about the new law that would pave the manner for the short tune sale of belongings to overseas international locations.

Also on Thursday, Pakistan and the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) signed a $1 billion financing agreement for oil resources, in keeping with the monetary affairs ministry’s press declaration.

The move will assist reduce pressure on the external account.

SFD Chief Executive Officer Sultan Abdulrahman Al-Marshad and Economic Affairs Secretary Dr Kazim Niaz signed the percent to finance oil derivatives worth $1 billion.

The statement study that the SFD CEO and monetary affairs secretary expressed their delight over the pace of consistent development in bilateral family members.

They agreed on the importance of superior bilateral exchanges and normal dialogue in any respect ranges to further solidify and provide momentum to the relationship.

“Aimed at assisting Pakistan’s economic system, quarter boom, and navigating economic challenges, the strategic settlement signed these days comes as a continuation of the support supplied by using the Government of Saudi Arabia to the brotherly united states of america Pakistan to construct a sustainable financial system,” the assertion quoted the monetary affairs secretary as pronouncing.

Earlier, the SFD had provided $4.Four billion in oil financing from 2019 thru 2021. The fresh step is an extension of the previously signed agreements in 2019 and 2021, in keeping with the SFD CEO.