SBP’s minor discount rate cut a good sign for economy: PIAF

F.P. Report

LAHORE: The Pakistan Industrial & Traders Associations Front has appreciated the State Bank of Pakistan’s decision of lowering the discount rate by 75 basis points to 12.5 percent, terming it a good sign, observing that the central bank was doing a right move but that was not enough to attract investment in the industry.

PIAF chairman MianNaumanKabir, in a joint statement along with senior vice chairman NasirHameed and vice chairman JavedIqbal, said that the PIAF had been demanding at least 200 basis points cut in the discount rate, but they still believe that the decision would help boost economy especially central bank new measures to provide subsidized credit to industry to help meet the challenges posed by the growing pandemic..

He said that by cutting down the discount rate by just 0.75 percent the country cannot promote exports. However, the nominal cut in discount rate would also yield some positive impact.

NaumanKabir said that in the last monetary policy announcement the SBP kept the interest rate unchanged at 13.25 %, creating hardships in to access to finance for the business community as a whole and for SMEs in particular. He said that the cost of doing business and cost of production have shot up to the level of un-competitiveness. Under this, the cost of borrowing is huge and capital financing become more expensive. He said that a significant cut of at least 2 percent in the discount rate could have injected fresh blood to the industrial sector which was facing a number of internal and external challenges.

MianNaumanKabir said that the State Bank approach toward monetary policy had been rather conservative and is based on its own analysis of the situation. The government must come up with concrete policies to reduce rampant corruption in state-owned organisations, eradicate poverty and unemployment. He urged the governor SBP to review all other economy related banking policies and facilitate the private sector that was engine of the growth.

PIAF Senior vice chairman NasirHameed stated that cut in discount rate in monetary policy will spur the economic activities. He said that reduction in interest rates cuts cost of production, strengthens debt repayment ability and improves the credit worthiness. This encourages businessmen to make investment in the productive activities, increasing the wealth of the nation.

NasirHameed observed that such initiatives also result in job creation, leading to increased employment opportunities. Such financing helps businessmen enhance their working capital and better manage their inventory, he added. He believes the decrease in borrowing costs coupled with the decline in energy price may raise the exports by 15 to 20 per cent in times to come.

NasirHameed said the government should bring down electricity rates, logistics in the falling oil price scenario.

PIAF Vice chairman JavedIqbal said that lower interest rate triggers borrowing and investments. He added that excessive use of bank borrowing by the government led to excessive rate of inflation, reduced the supply of credit to the private sector and increased the nominal lending rates, reflecting high inflation, attractive return offered by the government and high interest rate spread.

He stated that the SBP would have to make a large cut in interest rate for the revitalisation of the country’s economic growth. JavedIqbal said that Pakistan has no employment generation, as industries are being closed down and non-performing loans are rising, posing a threat to industrial growth.