SBP leaves policy rate unchanged

SBP leaves key policy rate unchanged at 14 per cent for subsequent 2 months.

KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has decided to leave its key policy rate unchanged at 14 per cent for the subsequent two months, SBP Governor Shahid Kardar said on Saturday.

The move comes as a surprise after majority analysts had expected a 50 basis point increase to 14.5 per cent.

The central bank last raised the rate by 50 basis points to 14 percent on Nov 29.

The consumer price index in December rose 15.46 per cent from a year earlier, but fell 0.51 per cent from November and is likely to fall further due to the base effect. However, the main threat to inflation is continued government borrowing from the SBP.

The government borrowed an estimated Rs119.6 billion from the central bank from July 1 to January 15, compared with a net retirement of Rs19.4 billion in the same period last year. This increases the money supply which fuels inflation.

The government's borrowing from commercial banks has also increased substantially to Rs217.5 billion from July 1 to January 15, compared with Rs170.9 billion last year.