Tag Archives: coronavirus

Sindh Budget The Sindh government presented the budget for FY2020-21 with a total outlay of Rs1.24 trillion with an estimated narrow deficit despite falling inflows from the federal divisible pool. Sources mentioned that the province is hoping to generate revenue receipts worth Rs1.22 trillion against its total expenditure. The provincial government has also not proclaimed any new taxes and envisaged a deficit of Rs18.38 billion for the upcoming fiscal year. …

The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for the global economy, and financial sector in particular, are still unpredictable. It has crippled economic activities, overturned supply chains and crumpled the demands for goods. The virus has forced both the consumers and the businesses to spend and invest less. The consensus amongst most economists is the slow downing and eventually downward revisions in GDP growth targets. Countries have introduced stimulus programs to …

Pakistan Day is celebrated with great fervor every year, but this year the circumstances are very different. People are living under extreme fear due to coronavirus pandemic, not only in Pakistan but around the world. The death of dozens of people from the pandemic, reminds us hundreds and thousands of people, who were assassinated after the partition of subcontinent. This also reminds the helplessness and the difficult administrative and financial conditions prevailing at …

Pakistan has been able to beef up its image globally. Plenty of foreign diplomats have been visiting Pakistan recently. Pakistan is being considered one of the most worth-visiting countries these day. There is very likelihood that once the fear of coronavirus subsides across the world, visitors from across the world would visit Pakistan. Mr. Emil Wyss, the former Consul General of Switzerland in Karachi from 2014-16, and his spouse, Arie …

At its meeting on 17th March 2020, the State Bank of Pakistan’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided to cut the policy rate by 75 bps to 12.50 percent. The decision reflected the MPC’s view that the outlook for inflation has improved in light of the recent deceleration in domestic food prices, significant decline in consumer price expectations, sharp fall in global oil prices, and slowdown in external and domestic demand due to …

On 29th of January, 2020, the Government of China has officially reported that it is facing a chaotic epidemic of a viral infection named coronavirus which has already infected over 7000 people and the number is rising. 170 deaths have already been reported and number is sure to rise. The WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom has made multiple emergency meetings and held press conferences urging the world to come together to avoid a global catastrophe. …

Most of our Chinese customers are back at work according to emails we received last week. Right when the coronavirus has hit Europe, China slowly seems to finally gain more control of the situation. What happened? For the first time, there is almost no container equipment in Europe and Northern America due to the carriers blank sailings. They want to be ready in China, waiting for the economy to go …

Interview with Mr S. M. Muneer — leader of the business community of Pakistan PAKISTAN & GULF ECONOMIST had an exclusive conversation with Mr S. M. Muneer regarding Pakistan Day celebrations and the current economic scenario of Pakistan in particular and the world in general. Following are the excerpts of the conversation: Pakistan Day celebrations this year have been called off which is a very prudent decision. I stand by the government in …

The analysis of economic survey of Pakistan FY2019 showed that the growth momentum of the Pakistani economy, at 5.5 percent in FY2018, became unsustainable because of growing macroeconomic imbalances i.e. high and rising fiscal and current account deficits. In Pakistan’s economy the twin deficits always persisted, however, in FY2018 trade deficit was historically high both in monetary value ($ 32 billion) and as a percent of GDP (10.1 percent), while the fiscal …

The week ended on 13th March 2020 can be termed one of horrific weeks for crude oil producers and traders as prices went down about 50 percent since the start of the year. Oil rebounded a bit on Friday following movement in the US Congress to pass a coronavirus economic relief bill. Nevertheless, the near-term looks dire for oil markets, with supply rising quickly as demand continues to collapse. The added threat is likely …