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External debt, liabilities go up to $74.6 billion

Stephen Cohen

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https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/183475-External-debt-liabilities-go-up-to-746-billion

Debt Policy Statement 2017



ISLAMABAD: The government has submitted Debt Policy Statement 2017 before the Parliament, stating that the country’s total external debt and liabilities stocks have risen to $74.6 billion till end September in current fiscal as external public debt has jumped up by around $1 billion during the first quarter of 2016- 17.

However, the Debt Policy Statement 2017, a copy of which is available with The News, states that there is a limited pressure from external debt repayments in the medium term. The projected principal repayments to the IMF against Extended Fund Facility (EFF) are stretched over a longer timeframe, starting at $0.2 billion in 2018 and rising to $0.8 billion in 2020, with the final payment due in 2025. An amount of $0.75 billion due in June 2017 is the only Eurobond maturing until 2019. Repayments for Official Development Assistance from the Paris Club began in 2016, but over a 23-year period.

The Debt Policy Statement 2017 prepared by Finance Ministry and submitted into the Parliament, states that the external debt and stocks (EDL) was $73.1 billion as at end June 2016 compared with $60.9 billion as at end June 2013 out of which external public debt was $57.7 billion as at end June 2016 as compared with US$ 48.1 billion as at end June 2013. Apart from net external inflows, public external debt witnessed an increase on account of revaluation loss due to depreciation of US Dollar against other major currencies.

The gross public debt was Rs20,538 billion as at end September 2016, while net public debt was Rs18, 278 billion. Domestic debt recorded an increase of Rs772 billion during the first quarter of 2016-17 while government domestic borrowing for financing of fiscal deficit was Rs369 billion during this period.

This differential is mainly attributed to increase in government credit balance with SBP/commercial banks during the first quarter of 2016-17 which was mostly utilized by the government in October 2016. Hence, the pace of domestic debt increase is expected to be smoothened in second quarter of 2016-17.

The external public debt increased by around $1 billion during first quarter of 2016- 17 and recorded at $58.7 billion. Government mobilised $1.83 billion during first quarter of 2016-17, mainly from commercial banks ($900 million), bilateral sources contributed $423 million (mainly funded by China amounting $405 million and IMF ($102 million) and multilateral development partners ($405 million). Government also repaid $1.08 billion during the first quarter of 2016- 17. Rest of the increase in external public debt was contributed by translational losses on account of depreciation of US Dollar against other foreign currencies.

Going forward, there is limited pressure from external debt repayments in the medium term. Projected principal repayments to the IMF against Extended Fund Facility (EFF) are stretched over a longer timeframe, starting at $0.2 billion in 2018 and rising to $0.8 billion in 2020, with the final payment due in 2025. An amount of $0.75 billion due in June 2017 is the only Eurobond maturing until 2019. Repayments for Official Development Assistance from the Paris Club began in 2016, but over 23 years.

The debt policy statement 2017 also confirmed The News report published few days back by stating that further, the government undertook hedging on limited scale during 2015-16 to minimize the risk of its short term external public debt portfolio emanating from adverse movement of other foreign currencies against US Dollar.

As at end June 2016, the forex reserves of SBP were $18.1 billion and external public debt stood at $ 57.7 billion, thus net external indebtedness was $39.60 billion. Therefore, net external indebtedness of the country improved by $4.50 billion as compared with end June 2013.

Significant reduction was observed in primary and revenue deficits during 2015-16 as the government adhered strictly to its objective of fiscal consolidation. Revenue deficit was reduced to 0.7 percent of GDP during 2015-16 from 1.7 percent during 2014-15 as the growth in total revenue (13 percent) outpaced the growth in current expenditure (6 percent) during 2015-16. Similarly, primary deficit was reduced to 0.2 percent of GDP during 2015-16 from 0.5 percent during 2014- 15 as the growth in total revenue overshadowed the growth in non-interest expenditure during 2015-16.

The debt burden is only understood in comparison to its relation with the GDP. The analysis of public debt to GDP ratio during last 15 years reveals that in the period of high inflation, public debt to GDP ratio performed relatively better as the denominator becomes larger and this ratio mostly hovered close to 60 percent even when real GDP growth was merely half a percent. For instance during the tenure of previous government (2009-2013), the average inflation remained around 12 percent while real GDP was 2.8 percent.

Whereas, during the tenure of present government, the average inflation remained around 5 percent while real GDP was over 4 percent. The higher inflation could help reducing the public debt to-GDP ratio yet it has other adverse repercussions for the economy. Therefore, It may be noted that net public debt to GDP ratio (60.2 percent as at end June, 2016) remained at the same level of end June 2013 despite reduction in fiscal deficits during last three years. The non-fiscal deficits factors like revaluation losses on account of cross currency movements and loans from IMF contributed to this increase.

The IMF loans are only applied towards Pakistan’s balance of payments, add to foreign currency reserves and do not come as an extra resource in the budget.
 
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http://www.brecorder.com/2017/02/01/336090

ISLAMABAD: Pakistans external and domestic debts increased by $1 billion and Rs772 billion respectively during the first quarter of the current financial year, reveals Debt Policy Coordination Office, Ministry of Finance, in its fiscal policy statement 2016-17.

The significant rise in external public debt is attributed to mobilization of US$1.83 billion mainly from commercial banks (US$ 900 million). Bilateral sources contributed US$ 423 million (China accounted for US$ 405 million and IMF US$ 102 million) and multilateral development partners disbursed US$ 405 million. The government repaid US$ 1.08 billion during the first quarter of 2016-17.

Domestic debt recorded an increase of Rs.772 billion during the first quarter of 2016-17. Pakistans domestic interest payments constituted around 72 percent of total debt servicing due to increasing volume of domestic debt in overall public debt portfolio. Domestic debt servicing revealed that large portion was paid against PIBs Rs.483 billion, followed by treasury bills Rs175 billion, market related treasury bills Rs163 billion, Bahbood Saving Certificates Rs93 billion and Special Savings Certificates and accounts Rs71 billion.

The statement acknowledges that the Fiscal Responsibility and Debt Limitation (FRDL) Act, 2005 requires federal government to reducing total public debt and maintain it within prudent limit of 60 percent by 2017-18. However, gross public debt was recorded at 66.5 percent of GDP while net public debt stood at 60.2 percent of GDP as at end June, 2016. Public debt to GDP ratio witnessed increase in 2015-16 but the government stated that it is committed to reduce public debt to 60 percent of estimated GDP by 2017-18, and thereafter a 15-year transition has been set towards a debt-to-GDP ratio of 50 percent.

Gross public debt was Rs20,538 billion as at end September 2016, while net public debt was Rs18,278 billion. The government domestic borrowing for financing of fiscal deficit was Rs.369 billion during the said period. This differential is mainly attributed to an increase in government credit balance with State Bank of Pakistan/commercial banks during the first quarter of 2016-17 which was mostly utilized by the government in October 2016.

The policy statement claims that an improvement was observed in most of the public debt risk indicators during the last three fiscal years in line with the objectives set forth in Pakistans first Medium Term Debt Management Strategy (2013).

Refinancing risk of the domestic debt portfolio declined through lengthening of the maturity profile as percentage of domestic debt maturing in one year was reduced to 51.9 percent at the end of June 2016 compared with 64.2 percent at the end of June 2013.

The government updated its Medium Term Debt Management Strategy (2015/16-2018/19) as the macroeconomic realities have changed since 2012-13. While it incorporates the new economic realities such as new market conditions and the overall economic cycle yet it focuses on the same principles as laid out in the first MTDS (2013) i.e. the guiding principle remains lengthening of the maturity profile of domestic debt and mobilization of sufficient external inflow in the medium term while making appropriate tradeoffs between the cost and risks. Encouragingly, the public debt risk indicators have improved during all four quarters of 2015-16 and are on track to achieve the targets set under the updated MTDS, the statement contends.

The public debt is defined as the debt of the government (including federal government and provincial governments) serviced out of consolidated fund and debt owed to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Gross public debt was Rs.19,678 billion as of end June 2016 while net public debt stood at Rs17, 825 billion.

Although government has been able to contain the fiscal deficit, increase in public debt was higher than financing of fiscal deficit during 2015-16, the policy statement further notes. Apart from the fiscal deficit, increase in the government credit balances with State Bank of Pakistan (SBP)/commercial banks, debt from the IMF and dual revaluation loss on account of depreciation of US Dollar against other foreign currencies as well as depreciation of the Pak rupee against the US dollar contributed to the increase in public debt. The cumulative growth in external public debt was around 6.2 percent during last three years (2013/14-2015/16).

The average cost of the external loans obtained by present government comes to around 3 percent of GDP ( GDP was specified in the statement), which is significantly lower than the domestic financing cost even after one builds a margin of capital loss due to exchange rate depreciation.

In rupees term, external public debt as a percentage of GDP declined from 21.4 percent in 2013 to 20.4 percent in 2016, the statement maintains.
 
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Our biggest threat are our current leaders

No, China plays a part too.

India and Bangladesh all have similar leaders like Pakistan.

CPEC is becoming a burden on Pakistan accounts, however when CPEC is operational, the debt will go down very quickly
 
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Finance is needed

Debt will increase as we expand the vital projects needed to secure the country's future

Most of these things should have been done years ago
 
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China has trillions of dollars as reserves.$75 billion is chump change for them. Why dont China pay of Pakistan debt?
 
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No, China plays a part too.

India and Bangladesh all have similar leaders like Pakistan.

CPEC is becoming a burden on Pakistan accounts, however when CPEC is operational, the debt will go down very quickly

Our debt-to-GDP is similar to india's lol

Now they will mortgage whole country

We aren't hindus that mortgage their sisters for small debts.

We don't have such things in our culture. So we won't be mortgaging our country
 
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Now they will mortgage whole country
What a great contribution u have made to this thread. Shows ur vast knowledge and grasp on the subject matter.

With massive tax evasion that has been a plague for decades...sluggish economic growth specially during the last decade of WoT...there was no capital to speak of at the domestic level to invest in such projects. Naturally loans had to be taken, which made the debt sky rocket. However if executed right this investment would more than pay for itself wiping off the debt. It's a big IF(see what I did there :P). Lets just hope that the whole nation can benefit instead of just a few who stack their wealth elsewhere.
 
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I'd hate to burst the party of the hopping high on hash indians but this debt is not even an issue for us. Pakistan sits on a pile of trillions of dollars worth of gold, oil and other precious metals. Removing this debt at will is not a problem for us and will do so when the time is right.

Okay now go back to your hopping high on hash party. ;)
 
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Pakistan sits on a pile of trillions of dollars worth of gold, oil and other precious metals. Removing this debt at will is not a problem for us and will do so when the time is right.
Are u serious. Pakistan recently took a loan from IMF to pay their debts. Is there any right time to remove debts
 
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No, China plays a part too.

India and Bangladesh all have similar leaders like Pakistan.

CPEC is becoming a burden on Pakistan accounts, however when CPEC is operational, the debt will go down very quickly
CPEC costs is not added to this. Because all loans are given directly to contractors by the lenders. Govt not involved in this.. Actually debt will go up after CPEC Payment start..
 
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Are u serious. Pakistan recently took a loan from IMF to pay their debts. Is there any right time to remove debts
Oh I'm dead serious. Most debts can (and will) eventually be written off. A pay off is an option that'll be practiced only when no write-off is possible. Further, why bother paying it off using our natural resources when it is very manageable. Even the u.s. takes debts to finance debts and they are flat lined at 1% gdp growth. Pakistan has a near 6% gdp. It's not a problem.
 
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Oh I'm dead serious. Most debts can (and will) eventually be written off. A pay off is an option that'll be practiced only when no write-off is possible. Further, why bother paying it off using our natural resources when it is very manageable. Even the u.s. takes debts to finance debts and they are flat lined at 1% gdp growth. Pakistan has a near 6% gdp. It's not a problem.
There is difference between US and Pakistan.
1. It is a superpower
2. It has eaten up others money in the past also
3. It is above law and wont face any isolation or sanctions for defaulting
 
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