Pakistan implementing economic reforms critical for robust recovery: World Bank

Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan is implementing an ambitious, credible and clearly communicated economic reform plan critical for robust recovery and poverty reduction, the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) quoted the World Bank as saying on Tuesday.

Pakistan’s economy is expected to grow by only 1.8% in the current fiscal year ending June 2024. According to the World Bank’s latest Pakistan Development Update titled 'Fiscal Impact of Federal State-owned Enterprises', this subdued recovery reflects tight monetary and fiscal policy, continued import management measures aimed at preserving scarce foreign reserves, and muted economic activity amid weak confidence.

The Update also highlights the high fiscal costs of federal stateowned enterprises (SOES) and the critical reforms needed to improve their performance, efficiency and governance through privatisation.

After a contraction in FY23, the economic activity has strengthened over the first half of FY24 on the back of strong agricultural output, the report said.

According to the report, together with improved confidence, also supported some recovery in other sectors. But growth remains insufficient to reduce poverty, with 40% of Pakistanis now living below the poverty line. Macroeconomic risks remain very high amid a large debt burden and limited foreign exchange reserves. The structural reforms needed to durably improve the economic outlook are known.

In a statement carried by APP, Najy Benhassine, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan, said, "Developing a clearly articulated reform implementation plan that is ambitious, credible and that shows quick progress is now essential to restore confidence. In particular, better fiscal management will help to lower inflation, narrow the current account deficit, improve financial sector stability and increase credit to the private sector, all of which are critical for robust economic recovery.”

A sustained medium-term recovery will require a prudent macroeconomic policy mix coupled with reforms to improve the quality of expenditures, broaden the tax base, address regulatory constraints to private sector activity, reduce state presence in the economy—including via privatisations, address challenges in the energy sector, and increase public investments to improve human development outcomes, he said.

The Update includes a list of key reforms in ten areas that should be considered for priority implementation to initiate a strong, durable and povertyreducing economic growth recovery.

“The current macroeconomic outlook projects growth that is below Pakistan’s potential, with little poverty reduction and continued erosion of living standards,” said Sayed Murtaza Muzaffari, lead author of the report. “Risks to this outlook remain high, including uncertainty around policy commitments and reform implementation, financial sector risks, potential increases in world energy and food prices in the context of intensification of regional geopolitical conflicts, slower global growth, and tighter than expected global financing conditions.”

The update highlights the high fiscal costs of SOES operating in key sectors of the economy. These SOES have been consistently making losses since 2016, and the government has been providing significant financial support through subsidies, grants, loans, and guarantees, leading to large and growing fiscal exposure.

“Direct government support to SOES in the form of subsidies, loans, and equity investments accounted for 18 percent of the federal budget deficit and 2% of GDP in FY22,” said Qurat Ul Ain Hadi, co-author of the report.