Govt’s dividend collection below target
Once reliable energy sector not so reliable anymore.
KARACHI:
The government has introduced new tax measures to meet the ambitious revenue target but new challenges lie around the corner, amongst which is the expected lower dividend collection from state-run companies.
The government’s dividend collection stood at a mere Rs17 billion, which is only 26 per cent of the full-year target during the first half (July to December) of 2010-11, according to Topline Securities.
Furthermore, the collection is 34 per cent lower than Rs26 billion bagged in the first half of fiscal 2009-10 primarily on account of reduced payout from the energy sector this time around.
Target skewed towards energy sector
The government envisioned a dividend of Rs64 billion in the federal budget for fiscal 2010-11, 0.2 per cent of the gross domestic product, with major contribution coming from the listed energy sector, led by Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDCL) and Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL).
The two heavyweights of the energy sector were budgeted to contribute Rs36 billion or 56 per cent of the total dividend target, said Topline Securities analyst Nauman Khan.
The government aims to collect Rs43 billion from listed firms including heavyweights of the energy sector, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited and a few major banks.
Among unlisted firms, major contributors are Government Holdings Private Limited and Pak-Arab Refinery - both from the energy sector. These two companies are budgeted to contribute 25 per cent of the total target.
Contribution from OGDCL declining
The infamous inter-corporate debt, which is estimated at Rs150 billion, has strained the liquidity position of energy companies and affected their payouts, said Nauman Khan.
OGDCL, the largest contributor, has so far contributed only around Rs10 billion, making the full-year target of Rs30 billion improbable to achieve, according to Topline calculations.
The circular debt forced OGDCL to skip the quarterly dividend in the second quarter of fiscal 2011 for the first time in its history.
On the other hand, PPL contributed around Rs3.4 billion to the government exchequer, compared with a full-year target of Rs6.5 billion.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 25th, 2011.
The government has introduced new tax measures to meet the ambitious revenue target but new challenges lie around the corner, amongst which is the expected lower dividend collection from state-run companies.
The government’s dividend collection stood at a mere Rs17 billion, which is only 26 per cent of the full-year target during the first half (July to December) of 2010-11, according to Topline Securities.
Furthermore, the collection is 34 per cent lower than Rs26 billion bagged in the first half of fiscal 2009-10 primarily on account of reduced payout from the energy sector this time around.
Target skewed towards energy sector
The government envisioned a dividend of Rs64 billion in the federal budget for fiscal 2010-11, 0.2 per cent of the gross domestic product, with major contribution coming from the listed energy sector, led by Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDCL) and Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL).
The two heavyweights of the energy sector were budgeted to contribute Rs36 billion or 56 per cent of the total dividend target, said Topline Securities analyst Nauman Khan.
The government aims to collect Rs43 billion from listed firms including heavyweights of the energy sector, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited and a few major banks.
Among unlisted firms, major contributors are Government Holdings Private Limited and Pak-Arab Refinery - both from the energy sector. These two companies are budgeted to contribute 25 per cent of the total target.
Contribution from OGDCL declining
The infamous inter-corporate debt, which is estimated at Rs150 billion, has strained the liquidity position of energy companies and affected their payouts, said Nauman Khan.
OGDCL, the largest contributor, has so far contributed only around Rs10 billion, making the full-year target of Rs30 billion improbable to achieve, according to Topline calculations.
The circular debt forced OGDCL to skip the quarterly dividend in the second quarter of fiscal 2011 for the first time in its history.
On the other hand, PPL contributed around Rs3.4 billion to the government exchequer, compared with a full-year target of Rs6.5 billion.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 25th, 2011.