The Government of Pakistan is fully committed to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program and is keenly engaged with the lender to reach an amicable solution regarding budget 2023-24, the Ministry of Finance said in a press statement on Friday.
“The Ministry of Finance has reviewed the press statement of the Resident Representative of IMF. While we are firmly committed to the IMF Program, and our negotiations are on-going; however, since some specific issues have been raised in the press, we think that it would be appropriate to clarify our position on these issues,” it stated.
Finance Division recalled that the 9th IMF Review was conducted in early February 2023 and the government completed all technical issues at a fast pace. The only outstanding issue was of external financing which was also amicably resolved in the Prime Minister’s telephonic call on 19th May 2023, with the Fund’s Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.
“Though the Budget FY 24 was never a part of the 9th Review, however in line with PM’s commitment to the MD IMF, we shared the Budget numbers with the IMF Mission. And we are continuously engaged with them even on the Budget,” the statement added.
Response to IMF’s objections
The Finance Division also responded to specific issues regarding the new fiscal year budget raised by IMF Country representative Esther Perez Ruiz.
FBR
“As far as the broadening of the tax base is concerned, the FBR has added 1,161,000 new taxpayers i.e. 26.38% to its tax base in the last 11 months. This is an on-going exercise and will continue. The 0.6% advance adjustable withholding tax on cash withdrawals over Rs. 50,000 is another big step in this direction,” it said.
The tax exemptions that have been announced in the Budget are “triggers” of growth in the real sectors of the economy. This is the sustainable path to provide employment and livelihood to the common citizen. In any case, the amount is fairly small, the statement explained.
BISP
The statement read, “On BISP allocation, the pro-poor initiatives in the Budget are not limited to BISP beneficiaries whose budget, in any case, has been increased from 400 to 450 Billion. (This was last raised by GoP in Feb 2023 from Rs. 350 to Rs. 400 Billion)”.
It also said, “There are millions of vulnerable people above the poverty line and the Budget provides Rs. 35 Billion for targeted subsidies on five main items of food consumption through the Utility Stores Corporation for families up to a PMT scorecard 40. This facility is also available for BISP beneficiaries”.
‘Amnesty’ on Remittances by Overseas Pakistanis
“As far as the “amnesty” is concerned the only change is to “dollarize” the value of an existing provision of I.T. Ordinance. This facility, which has always been there, is available under section 111(4) of the I.T Ordinance. The cap of Rs. 10 Million (approx. $ 100,000 equivalent) was introduced in FY 2016. The cap set in FY 2016 is being resolved in terms of Rupee equivalence of $100,000,” the Finance Division explained.
In conclusion, the Finance Division reiterated that the government is fully committed to the IMF program and is keen to at least complete the 9th Review. “The Coalition Govt has already taken many difficult and politically costly decisions in this context. We are not “doctrinaire” about any element of the Budget FY 24 and are keenly engaged with the IMF to reach an amicable solution,” it stated.
