Good Morning
The prime minister’s think tank at a meeting on Sunday advised the government to consider reducing tax rates and shifting focus of federal and provincial development programmes to high-impact areas while keeping a close eye on an effective rescue and relief campaign to protect vulnerable segments of society from the serious fallout triggered by Covid-19 in the country. Pakistan’s consumer price inflation eased to 8.5 per cent in April, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics said on Friday, extending a months-long decline as the economy tanks due to the coronavirus crisis despite three interest rate cuts. KARACHI: With the arrival of funds from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Pakistan’s total liquid foreign exchange reserves crossed $18 billion mark at the end of last week. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) announced on Friday that it has met the revenue collection target of Rs 200 billion set for April 2020 and collected Rs 256 billion out of revised annual revenue target of Rs 3908 billion for the current Financial Year. A team of financial gurus formed by the prime minister to come up with solutions for injecting some life into the country’s economy and offset the impact of the coronavirus pandemic has decided to limit its advisory role to only six areas and shift its focus away from macroeconomic issues.
Market View: The KSE100 Index gained 952.80 points during Thursday’s trading session. We expect the market to remain stable and range bound in the upcoming session.
Commodities:
Brent oil (USD/bbl): 26.11 (-1.25% D/D)
Crude oil (USD/bbl): 18.78 (-5.06% D/D)
Gold (USD/oz): 1,709.20 (+0.488% D/D)
PM’s think tank asks govt to cut tax rates
ISLAMABAD: The prime minister’s think tank at a meeting on Sunday advised the government to consider reducing tax rates and shifting focus of federal and provincial development programmes to high-impact areas while keeping a close eye on an effective rescue and relief campaign to protect vulnerable segments of society from the serious fallout triggered by Covid-19 in the country.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1554379/pms-think-tank-asks-govt-to-cut-tax-rates
PSX demands incentives a la everyone else
“Eliminate capital gains tax (CGT) for the next 12-24 months,” says the PSX. “If that is not possible, then reduce the CGT rates for (holdings of) up to 12 months at 10 per cent and remove it altogether for holdings of more than 12 months.”
https://www.dawn.com/news/1554390/psx-demands-incentives-a-la-everyone-else
Inflation eases to 8.5pc as Covid-19 hammers economy
Pakistan’s consumer price inflation eased to 8.5 per cent in April, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics said on Friday, extending a months-long decline as the economy tanks due to the coronavirus crisis despite three interest rate cuts.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1553713/inflation-eases-to-85pc-as-covid-19-hammers-economy
Forex reserves exceed $18bn
With the arrival of funds from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Pakistan’s total liquid foreign exchange reserves crossed $18 billion mark at the end of last week.
https://epaper.brecorder.com/2020/05/01/3-page/835511-news.html
Pandemic may bring down export target to $22bn: Dawood
Advisor to Prime Minister on Commerce, Abdul Razak Dawood said the country’s exports target of $25 billion could not be achieved due to ongoing situation the country.
https://epaper.brecorder.com/2020/05/03/3-page/835697-news.html
Pakistan textile exporters get new orders
Pakistan’s exports may not suffer so badly, but moderately as textile manufacturers – the country’s single largest export industry – have reported receipt of new buying orders from different countries after the world slowly softened lockdown imposed to contain the coronavirus pandemic.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2212716/2-pakistan-textile-exporters-get-new-orders/
Economic repairmen limited to six areas only
ISLAMABAD : A team of financial gurus formed by the prime minister to come up with solutions for injecting some life into the country’s economy and offset the impact of the coronavirus pandemic has decided to limit its advisory role to only six areas and shift its focus away from macroeconomic issues.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2213372/1-economic-repairmen-limited-six-areas/
World Bank prepares $247.5m PREP to help Pakistan fight virus
ISLAMABAD : The World Bank (WB) has said that it has prepared a $247.5 million programme to support Pakistan’s frontline healthcare staff and those whose lives have been affected by the novel coronavirus pandemic, which has aggravated the human and economic sufferings across the globe.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2213383/2-world-bank-prepares-247-5m-prep-help-pakistan-fight-virus/
PSDP 2019-20: Rs533.33bn released against budgeted Rs701bn
The federal government has released Rs533.33 billion (76.1 percent) including Rs102.7 billion foreign aid (80.12 percent) for various ongoing and new development projects under the Public-Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2019-20 against the total budgeted allocation of Rs701 billion.
https://epaper.brecorder.com/2020/05/03/8-page/835742-news.html
PSO warns diesel stocks crisis looming
ISLAMABAD: The stock of diesel with the oil marketing companies (OMCs) except the Pakistan State Oil (PSO) have plummeted to an average of three days across that country due to low uplifting from the refineries, hoarding and exploitation of import by some oil firms.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2213000/2-pso-warns-diesel-stocks-crisis-looming/
SBP extends deadline for risk profiling
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has extended deadline for risk profiling of customers and trade-related risk profiling.
https://epaper.brecorder.com/2020/05/03/8-page/835738-news.html
FBR achieves April revenue target
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) announced on Friday that it has met the revenue collection target of Rs 200 billion set for April 2020 and collected Rs 256 billion out of revised annual revenue target of Rs 3908 billion for the current Financial Year.
https://epaper.brecorder.com/2020/05/02/1-page/835589-news.html
SBP increases financing limit by 150pc under RFCC
In order to facilitate the health sector in its fight against COVID-19, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has enhanced financing limit by 150 percent for a single hospital or medical center under the Refinance Facility for Combating COVID-19.
https://epaper.brecorder.com/2020/05/02/1-page/835599-news.html
SBP urged for more cut in policy rate
Industrialists have urged the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) for further cut in key policy rate to address the economic slowdown.
https://epaper.brecorder.com/2020/05/02/7-page/835658-news.html
Cut in POL products prices
Federal government has tactfully avoided losing its revenue by reducing the prices of petroleum products in the country.
https://epaper.brecorder.com/2020/05/02/8-page/835662-news.html
No need for panic buying fuel, Pakistan has ‘sufficient stocks’: Petroleum Division
There was no need for people to panic-buy oil products as Pakistan had “sufficient stocks”, the Ministry of Energy’s Petroleum Division said on Sunday.
Committee’s claims rebutted: T&D losses, taxation cause increase in tariff: IPPs
While rebutting most of the claims of a nine-member committee’s 296-page report, Independent Power Producers (IPPs) asserted that the main reason for high power tariff in Pakistan is higher Transmission and Distribution (T&D) losses and taxation
https://epaper.brecorder.com/2020/05/01/1-page/835486-news.html
Rs30bn SDGs plan being moved from cabinet division
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has decided to transfer the Rs30 billion Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Achievement Programme (SAP) from cabinet division to the parliamentary affairs division, for effective inclusion of parliamentarians in disbursement of funds for small development schemes, it emerged on Friday
https://www.dawn.com/news/1553842/rs30bn-sdgs-plan-being-moved-from-cabinet-division
Foreign Companies: Repatriation of profit, dividends falls by 4pc
Repatriation of profits and dividends by foreign companies operating in Pakistan fell 4 percent during the first nine months of the current fiscal year (FY20).
https://epaper.brecorder.com/2020/05/01/14-page/835583-news.html
Provisional tax collection stands at Rs3.3trn
Despite lockdown and closure of businesses across the country, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has been able to collect Rs242.460 billion during the month of April 2020 against Rs289.905 billion in April 2019, reflecting a decrease of 16.4 percent.
https://epaper.brecorder.com/2020/05/01/14-page/835582-news.html
Ecnec approves four projects of over Rs249bn
A meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) has approved four projects of over Rs249 billion for infrastructure, health as well as agriculture and water sectors (Diamer-Bhasha Dam Project acquisition of land and resettlement).
https://epaper.brecorder.com/2020/05/01/14-page/835585-news.html
Punjab to restructure wheat market with World Bank assistance
Punjab government has decided to restructure its wheat market reform process under the World Bank’s Punjab Agriculture and Rural Transformation Programme.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1554127
Govt takes note of cement price hike
The government is reported to have taken notice of the Rs50 hike in cement bag price by northern zone manufacturers in the immediate run up to the activation of the government’s incentive package for the construction sector.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1553861/govt-takes-note-of-cement-price-hike
Govt predicts surge in cases by May 30
As more cases of the novel coronavirus and deaths were reported across the country on Thursday, the health ministry data suggests that over 150,000 people will be infected with the deadly virus by May 30.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1553649/govt-predicts-surge-in-cases-by-may-30
Govt to debate ease in lockdown after taking all provinces on board: Asad Umar
A decision on whether or not the currently imposed nation-wide lockdown should be eased will be taken after taking all the provinces on board, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar has said.
MSCI review on May 12: Pakistan may come under scrutiny again
Pakistan is expected to once again come under scrutiny in the Morgan Stanley Semi Annual Index Review May-2020 for a potential downgrade from Emerging Markets to Frontier Markets, analysts said.
https://epaper.brecorder.com/2020/05/01/14-page/835580-news.html
International News
Oil firms as OPEC+ begins record cuts; set for weekly rise
NEW YORK: US oil prices were 4pc higher while the front month Brent crude futures rose above $26 per barrel on Friday, with both benchmarks on track for their first weekly gain in four weeks as OPEC and its allies embark on record output cuts to tackle a supply glut due to the coronavirus crisis.
Gold gains as rising US-China tensions dent risk sentiment
Gold prices climbed on Monday as risk sentiment was weakened by rising U.S.-China tensions over the coronavirus, while a firmer dollar capped gains.
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/04/gold-markets-coronavirus-us-china-tensions-in-focus.html
Oil prices lower on US-China trade tension
Oil prices fell in early trade on Monday, paring last week’s gains, on worries the global oil glut may persist as U.S.-China trade tension could hold back an economic recovery even as coronavirus pandemic lockdowns start to ease.
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/04/oil-markets-coronavirus-in-focus.html
Trump’s dig at China over pandemic rattles world markets
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump’s new threat of tariffs against China over the coronavirus sent a shudder through global markets on Friday, as India warned the world’s biggest lockdown would continue for two more weeks.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1553903/trumps-dig-at-china-over-pandemic-rattles-world-markets
KASB Research
