The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) announced on Thursday that it had increased the interest rate by 300 basis points (bps) to 20 per cent \u2014 the highest level since October 1996 \u2014 citing rising inflation.
\nThe announcement came after a meeting of the bank\u2019s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).
\nThe central bank said the decision reflected the \u201cdeterioration in inflation outlook\u201d and its expectation amid recent external and fiscal adjustments.
\n\u201cMPC believes this outlook warrants a strong policy response to anchor inflation expectations around the medium-term target of 5-7pc,\u201d it stated.
\nThe SBP noted that the reduction in the current account deficit (CAD) was important but required concerted efforts to improve the external situation, emphasising that any significant fiscal slippage would undermine monetary policy effectiveness in the context of achieving price stability.
\nAccording to the SBP press release, the MPC had highlighted in its meeting in January the near-term risks to the inflation outlook from external and fiscal adjustments.
\n\u201cMost of these risks have materialised and are partially reflected in the inflation outturns for February,\u201d it said. \u201cThe national CPI inflation has surged to 31.5pc year-on-year, while core inflation rose to 17.1pc in urban and 21.5pc in a rural basket in February 2023.\u201d
\nThe press release stated that the recent fiscal adjustments and exchange rate depreciation had led to a significant deterioration in the near-term inflation outlook and a further upward drift in inflation expectations.
\n\u201cThe Committee expects inflation to rise further in the next few months as the impact of these adjustments unfolds before it begins to fall, albeit at a gradual pace,\u201d the central bank said.
\nThe SBP also said that \u201cvulnerabilities continued to persist despite a substantial reduction in the current account deficit (CAD)\u201d.
\nIt highlighted that scheduled debt repayments and a decline in financial inflows amid rising global interest rates and domestic uncertainties continued to pressurise the forex reserves and the exchange rate.
\n\u201cIn this regard, the conclusion of the ongoing 9th review under the International Monetary Fund\u2019s Extended Fund Facility will help address near-term external sector challenges,\u201d the central bank said.
\nThe press release added that \u201cbarring unexpected future shocks\u201d, today\u2019s decision had pushed the real interest rate into a \u201cpositive territory on a forward-looking basis\u201d.
\n\u201cThis will help anchor inflation expectations and steer inflation to the medium-term target of 5-7 pc by the end of FY25,\u201d it concluded.
\n\u2018IMF condition\u2019
\nCommenting on the development, Khurram Schehzad, CEO of Alpha Beta Core, said that the policy rate was aimed at fulfilling the International Monetary Fund\u2019s (IMF) demand.
\nHe also said that the hike to 20pc was last seen in 1996.
\nIntermarket Securities\u2019 Head of Equity Raza Jafri also agreed that the SBP\u2019s decision coincided with other steps taken to complete the IMF programme.
\n\u00a0
\nExpected increase
\nPakistan is undertaking key measures to secure IMF funding, including raising taxes, removing blanket subsidies, and artificial curbs on the exchange rate. While the government expects a deal with the IMF soon, media reports say that the agency expects the policy rate to be increased as well.
\nEarlier, market participants in a treasury bill auction expected at least a 200 basis points increase in the policy rate, which previously stood at 17pc. The expected increase was based on the rates the government set in the auction to raise the funds.
\nThe government raised Rs258 billion in the auction on February 22. The cut-off rates for the three-month, six-month, and 12-month tenors jumped 195 bps, 206 bps, and 184 bps higher than the previous auction.
\nThe SBP has hiked rates by 725 bps since January 2022, with the last rise of 100 bps coming in January. At the time, the bank had said the move was aimed at tackling rampant inflation.
\nBut shortly after that, annual inflation for January clocked in at a five-decade high of 27.5pc.
\nThe recent hikes in gas tariffs and the general sales tax are yet to be incorporated, which is leading to expectations of the CPI jumping close to 30pc in February.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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