Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr. Abdul Hafeez Sheikh chaired the 2nd meeting of the think tank, recently constituted under the directions of Prime Minister, to deliberate on COVID-19 related economic downturn and mitigation of ensuing risks.
The forum has been mandated to provide a platform for collective thinking on the emerging situation resulting from the virus-related medical crisis and its spillover to the economy. Its other members include Shaukat Tareen, Dr. Ishrat Husain, Dr. Ijaz Nabi, Sultan Ali Allana, Arif Habib, Dr. Waqar Masood, Advisor to PM on Commerce and Finance Secretary.
After extensive deliberations on emerging themes, the forum identified key areas for policy interventions, including monetary affairs and banking sector, fiscal matters and public finances, social safety nets, SMEs and large businesses, commodity prices, public health challenges, and role of private sector and NGOs.
Advisor to PM on Finance apprised the forum about developments at the G-20 forum regarding the debt relief package. There is potential for $1.8 billion debt deferment for one year, whereas proceeds worth $1.4 billion under IMF have already been received.
Participants highlighted the need for the further downward revision in policy rate coupled with passing on the benefits of slashed oil prices in the global market to the public.
The focus of the deliberations remained on the strengthening aggregate demand and supply of the economy, with emphasis on lower-income groups and small firms. The need for further liquidity for banks was discussed as a strong and vibrant banking sector is essential to boost the economy under such strong recessionary headwinds.
Ways to further encourage remittances, agriculture financing, and timely lifting of crops and vegetables from small farmers were analyzed.
The forum discussed the need and scope for a bailout package for large businesses and exporters apart from gauging the viability of reduction of GST on consumer goods, from 17% to 5%, to kick-start consumer spending for next 2 years. The constraints of FBR amid high revenue targets in a shrinking economy were highlighted by Finance Secretary. The decision in this regard would be made after detailed consultations.
The progress of ongoing cash disbursements under the Ehsaas program was shared. The need for gathering reliable data on recently laid-off works and timely cash transfers to the most vulnerable were emphasized. Economists within the think tank stressed for the need of designing PSDP to facilitate labor-intensive projects apart from crafting robust agriculture financing plans.
The need for public-private partnerships was elaborated to create fiscal space within the public sector through these off-balance sheet financing arrangements which encourage private sector participation in public sector initiatives.
Professionals within the group stressed the need for oil price hedging, power sector debt securitization, and creation of fiscal space through the rescheduling of foreign and domestic debts.
The need for designing lending programs for housing sector participants came under consideration including the facilitation of end-users. The massive scope for mortgage-backed financing in Pakistan was also highlighted.
Advisor to PM on Finance and Revenue took lead in picking the most urgent themes for proper policy deliberations and decisions.
He shared that Prime Minister of Pakistan may participate in the next session to give a boost to the work of this Forum which has been constituted to provide intellectual and professional insights to the Ministry in designing and implementing incentives for the economy in a pragmatic fashion.
Advisor decided that interventions with highest, medium, and low impacts would be sorted out and aligned on the basis of short, medium, and long term time horizons so that most essential tasks are pushed on a priority basis, with proper funding and execution arrangements.
It was also decided that international think-tanks will be engaged for cross-learning for select policymaking players in Pakistan so that robust interventions are designed to bring relief to the economy and most deserving segments of the public.
100 percent same team of Pervaiz Musharraf Sb. who could not prevent a small crisis of stock crash how could they advise on a crisis of such magnitude?