The PPP-led government was on its last legs when 2013 dawned. Policy inactions during the first half of the year severely damaged the economy. Therefore, when the PML-N took the reins midyear, it had to go into firefighting mode rather than having a chance at implementing a well-structured economic policy.
The bad and the ugly
The 2008 economic crisis led the country to knocking at to door of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Then, once again, Pakistan found itself in the same place in 2013.
Foreign currency reserves had started depleting due to the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) irrational move to defend the sliding rupee. A jarring $3.4 billion were lost in the process. Furthermore, the bulk of IMF payments under the 2008 programme were approaching.
The icing on the cake was that Pakistan remained unable to attract foreign investment that could supplement the declining reserves.
The gap between national income and expenditures widened alarmingly due to uncontrolled expenses on power subsidies and the spending spree that preceded the elections. The last blow came from weak tax administration.
Power shortage reached 6,000 megawatts and the masses dealt with 12 to 16 hours of daily load-shedding.
Taking all this into account, the difficult political decision of entering into yet another IMF programme seemed inevitable.
However, then president Asif Ali Zardari decided not to go the Fund, due to fears that an IMF programme would make his party unpopular in the May 2013 general elections, and because of assurances given by SBP Governor Yaseen Anwar and then minister of state for finance Saleem Mandviwalla that they could arrange up to $4 billion.
Caretakers too could not take effective decisions to halt the downward slide. Resultantly, the fiscal year 2012-13 ended on June 30 with budget deficit of 8.2% of GDP, and SBP’s reserves standing at slightly over $6 billion, having depleted by $4.2 billion.
Onto another’s shoulders
PML-N came to power in early June and was faced with the immediate and gigantic task of presenting the next year’s budget that would provide some direction to the economy.
It also decided to take IMF loan that the fund approved in September.
Premier Nawaz Sharif declared that reviving the economy hinged on overcoming the chronic menace of load shedding and addressing terrorism.
Measures were taken to lessen power outages and Rs503 billion were paid to reduce circular debt in the energy sector. Electricity generation increased by 1700 MW.
From July to November, the government also lowered the budget deficit as compared to the previous year’s July-November period.
According to Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, the country’s economic growth in the first quarter of the current fiscal year (July-September) has increased to 5% from 2.9%.
However, the government has yet been unable to stabilize the external front. Foreign currency reserves fell to a 12-year low, despite the IMF programme. The rupee has depreciated over 7%. The increase in the price of oil and electricity has translated into inflation.
The government has reversed many important decisions, seemingly having succumbed to pressure exerted by industrialists. Uncertainty is bound to prevail until the centre can take a clear stand.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 31st, 2013.
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To add to my last comment, even today 85% of Pakistan's GDP is generated by consumption. This despite the fact that banks stopped lending to consumers ages ago. Now all the do is lend to the government. Consumption is ingrained in the Pakistani psyche. I suppose the constant depreciation of the Pakistani rupee discourages saving.
@Oats: The consumerism wasn't that bad was it? I mean it certainly is not responsible for our current problems. Pakistan has always had more consumers than savers. The biggest mistake they made was not increasing oil prices when they should have. That shock to both the forex reserves and the fiscal deficit continues to haunt us to this day.
@Oats; okay well Musharraf has been out for more than 5 years. What did your great democrats achieve in this timeframe? I guess you deserve the Pakistan given by PPP and PML.
@Ali S:You really need to try to understand how Musharraf and Shaukat Aziz destroyed the economy and fabric of Pakistan by their easy money lending and consumerism without base. All of the current problems in Pakistan have their root in Musharraf's dictatorship so please stop throwing around phoney numbers from the Musharraf era. We all know how he destroyed Pakistan's economy. Did the energy problem start now? Bush has great numbers too and he did the same thing in the US before the current worldwide repression caused by his failed policies too!
Under Musharraf, the national debt decreased by $12 billion dollars. And look at how he is now being rewarded for it. This is the fate of a country that cannot differentiate between those who do it good and those who harm it.
Ch.Iftikar along with PPP destroyed the economy of pakistan...he did not allowed privatized steel mill during Mushraf time