Economic Affairs Minister Hammad Azhar. Facebook
Year-on-year, deficit shows a reduction of 73 percent, going from $1,166 million in 2018 to $319 million now
Pakistan’s current account slipped into deficit once more in November, though the overall current account deficit remains 73 percent lower than its value a year ago, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan.
The monthly report of the central bank showed that the current account deficit last month stood at $319 million—a drastic drop from the $1,166 million it stood at in November 2018. However, month-on-month, the current account went from a surplus of $70 million in October—the first such surge in four years—to $319 million deficit in November.
Similarly, the State Bank report reveals that during July-November, the current account deficit was posted at $1.821 billion against the $6.733 billion from the same time period a year ago. Observers say the sharp reduction has helped Islamabad buttress its foreign currency reserves and start the process of stabilizing the exchange rate against the U.S. dollar.
The major factor in the reduction of the current account deficit appears to be a cut in the import bill, which was reduced by 21.79 percent to $5.11 billion in July-November 2019. It stood at $6.53 billion during the same period last year.
Meanwhile, the data shows a reduction in goods imports by 21.13 percent—to $18.311 billion from $23.218 billion last year. Services imports similarly dropped from $7.837 billion to $3.784 billion.
Exports, increasing which has been a major goal of the incumbent Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led government, did not show a substantial jump. According to the State Bank, they increased to $10.309 billion in the five-month period under consideration, a mere 4.66 percent boost from $9.85 billion last year.
Economic Affairs Minister Hammad Azhar hailed the 73 percent reduction in the current account deficit in a statement issued on Friday. He said the economy was on the right track thanks to strenuous efforts of the PTI-led government and Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Azhar said the International Monetary Fund had indicated that the government’s economic reforms were paying off, adding investment tracker Moody’s upgrade of Pakistan’s financial outlook from negative to stable was a result of the PTI’s efforts during the past 15 months.
Consistency and continuity of policies was imperative for complete restoration and progress of economy, he added.