Govt urged to pump cash into economy

Experts call for printing more banknotes for Ehsass distribution

ISLAMABAD: Countries around the world have initiated various measures to mitigate the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, and nothing could stop them from printing more money for the purpose.

Pakistan should also print more money and distribute it through nationwide relief programs, such as ‘Ehsaas’, to boost spending and jumpstarting the economy, an eminent economist and former federal secretary finance has advised.

The views were shared at a webinar titled ‘Pakistan’s Economic Outlook and Way Forward’, which was organised by Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) as part of its webinar series ‘Covid-19: Global Challenges, National Response’, by Dr Waqar Masood Khan, former secretary finance and member of IPS National Academic Council.

IPS Executive President Khalid Rahman chaired the webinar attented by Syed Muhammad Ali, senior research fellow IPS, Mirza Hamid Hasan, former federal secretary water and power, Air Commodore (r) Khalid Iqbal, and Zaheeruddin Dar, executive consultant and external expert, Center for the Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries.

Dr Masood said the economy needs cash infusion instead of austerity and this can be done by increasing money supply in the system. In this regard he suggested raising the amount being paid under the Ehsaas Emergency Cash program from Rs12,000 to Rs60,000 split into two tranches.

He said the savings from less dollar payments due to declining global oil prices will compensate for the reduction in remittances by overseas Pakistanis and drop in export earnings.

These will help spur the economy while the country’s vital dollar reserves will not decline.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2020.