Economic Crisis

Pakistan signs $1 bn syndicated financing deal for 5 years amid crisis

Pakistan signed a five-year long-term syndicated financing facility for USD 1 billion, indicating strong support from leading financiers amid the country's ongoing economic crisis. The Dubai Islamic Bank acted as the Sole Islamic Global Coordinator while Standard Chartered Bank is the Mandated Lead Arranger and Book-runners, a finance ministry statement said on Wednesday. Other financiers include Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank as the Mandated Lead Arranger and Sharjah Islamic Bank, Ajman Bank and HBL as Arrangers, it said. The Ministry of Finance has signed a syndicated term finance facility of USD 1,000 million partially guaranteed by a policy-based guarantee of the ADB (Asian Development Bank) programme Improved Resource Mobilisation and Utilisation Reform', said the statement. The facility is a landmark transaction for the Government of Pakistan that demonstrates strong support from leading financiers in the region. This is a five-year multi-tranche facility including both Islamic and .

Trump calls for Fed rate cuts as tariff push, economic concerns intensify

Trump ultimately prevailed in the election and has mused in the past about seeking to exert more influence over the central bank, which traditionally maintains independence from the White House

In close touch with Male: India on Maldives' looming economic crisis

As the Maldives faces a looming economic crisis, India on Friday said it is in close touch with the island nation regarding the situation. The economy of the Maldives is reeling under increasing pressure, largely because of debt distress. "We remain in close touch with Maldivian authorities on the situation facing them," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. He was responding to a question at his weekly media briefing. Jaiswal also referred to some recent agreements signed by the Maldivian government, saying they are likely to result in revenue loss and that it is a matter of concern. "We would, obviously, need to take that into account while framing our own policies," he said. To a separate question on the upcoming talks between the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB), Jaiswal said India expects all mutually-agreed agreements to be honoured. The director general-level talks between the BSF and the BGB are scheduled from .

BS In-Depth: Why is Pakistan always in an economic crisis?

Why does Pakistan repeatedly face economic crises? This video delves into the deep-rooted causes of the country's financial struggles, from historical missteps and political instability

Pak's delay in materialising loans concern in implementation of loan: IMF

The IMF has flagged Pakistan's tax shortfall and a delay in materialising foreign loans, among other issues, as challenges in implementing the USD 7 billion loan package. At the end of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission, which for five days held in-depth meetings with Pakistan officials about the implementation of conditions linked with the loan, the global lender also expressed concerns about Punjab's new agriculture income tax law which is still not fully aligned with the federal legislation and deviated from the National Fiscal Pact, The Express Tribune reported. A source said the IMF mission flagged two major concerns on Friday: the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) 's underperformance and a delay in finalising the loans to fill the USD 2.5 billion gap. The global lender again asked Pakistan to contact Riyadh to secure oil on deferred payments and request Beijing to reschedule debt. In addition, the IMF had concerns about the delay in the privatisation of the power ...

SL prez holds more pledges as campaigning closed for parliamentary polls

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake concluded his campaigning for Thursday's parliamentary election by pledging economic consolidation under his new government. The snap parliamentary elections was called by President Dissanayake after he won polls in September on a promise to combat corruption and improve the country's economic situation. The ex Marxist group, National People's Power (NPP) seeks a fully powered assembly to carry out mainly their anti-corruption policies where they allege that all politicians from major political parties who had ruled the country from 1948 were responsible. Since being elected the government has reopened some of the past cases. However, the government has faced criticism for its failure to reverse some of the hard-hit economic reforms of the previous administration of President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Dissanayake addressing his final campaign rally on Monday said in the new government budget to be presented in March there will be drastic cuts of the

Maldives' strategic shift: Domestic priorities induce a thaw with India

As debt looms and foreign reserves dwindle, Muizzu's invitation to PM Narendra Modi and the push for increased Indian tourism highlight a pragmatic approach to foreign relations

IMF team to hold talks with Sri Lanka govt on loans for economic recovery

A high-level team of the International Monetary Fund will arrive in Sri Lanka on Wednesday to meet the new government headed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and discuss the latest economic reforms supported by the global lender. On September 24, the IMF said that they would begin talks with the new Lanka government led by President Dissanayake. The global lender said it will discuss the timing of the third review of its ongoing economic reform under a 48-month loan. Former president Ranil Wickremesinghe-led government was negotiating with the IMF for the release of the fourth tranche of the USD 2.9 billion facility. A high-level team led by Krishna Srinivasan, Director for the Asia Pacific Department will be visiting Colombo October 2-4 to meet with President Dissanayake and the new economic team to discuss the latest economic developments and economic reforms under Sri Lankas economic programme supported by the IMF," a release said. This will be the National People's Power .

Pakistan government plans to privatise several institutions or shut them

Earlier on August 22, the federal cabinet approved the privatization of two departments under the Petroleum Division, ARY News reported

Dissanayake's push for Sri Lanka economic change leaves IMF deal in limbo

Adding to the challenge, the prime minister's resignation on Monday meant the cabinet has been dissolved

Here's what is at stake in Sri Lanka's 1st election since economic collapse

Sri Lanka will hold its presidential election on Sept. 21 in a crucial vote that will decide the future of the South Asian nation still struggling to recover from its economic collapse in 2022, which provoked mass protests and forced the former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee the country and later resign. The election is seen as a referendum on President Ranil Wickremesinghe's two-year-long rule that has overseen a fragile recovery of the country's economy. He faces a tough challenge from the leader of the opposition in parliament, as well as from a left-leaning politician with a powerful alliance, who is gaining popularity among young voters. Almost 17 million of Sri Lanka's 22 million people are eligible to vote, and 38 candidates are running for office. Who are the main candidates? Wickremesinghe, whose United National Party has been weakened by a split, is running as an independent candidate. Even though Wickremesinghe remains unpopular for carrying out austerity measures

Explained: Himachal's financial woes and efforts to regain fiscal control

Himachal Pradesh government has revoked pensions for disqualified MLAs, withdrawn subsidies, and adjusted salary and pension payments to save costs amid mounting debt and fiscal pressures

WATCH: Thrift store looted on launch day in Karachi amid economic crisis

The incident occurred as cash-strapped Pakistan grapples with a severe economic crisis, making it the slowest-growing economy in South Asia

Bangladesh begins with economic clean-up after Sheikh Hasina's exit

From a distance, Bangladesh was widely perceived as an economic success story, propelled by the world's second-largest garment exports industry

Bangladesh's crisis leaves Adani Power chasing $800 million in dues

The economic crisis in Bangladesh has deepened, with overall arrears reportedly reaching $2 billion

Spiraling electricity bills overtake rent costs for some people in Pakistan

The South Asian nation - where nearly half the population survives on less than $4 a day - has seen electricity prices surge 155 per cent since 2021

Under Milei, worst economic crisis puts Argentine ingenuity to test

In the crush of anti-government protests paralysing downtown Buenos Aires in the last months, some Argentines saw a traffic-induced headache. Others saw a reaction to President Javier Milei's brutal austerity measures. Alejandra, a street vendor, saw people with nowhere to urinate. Plazas provided no privacy and cafes insisted on pricey purchases to use the toilet. With little more than a tent and a bucket, Alejandra started a small business that has surged alongside Argentina's angry rallies and sky-high inflation rate. She charges whatever people are willing to pay. I haven't had a job for a year, it's now my sole income, said Alejandra, who declined to give her last name for fear of reprisals from neighbours. Every four or five patrons, she puts on gloves and empties her bucket into the trash. The political establishment's failure to fix decades of crisis in Argentina explains the tide of popular rage that vaulted the irascible Javier Milei, a self-declared anarcho-capitalist,"

Sri Lanka central bank cuts interest rates to help fuel economic recovery

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) cut the Standing Deposit Facility Rate to 8.25 per cent and the Standing Lending Facility Rate to 9.25 per cent

Sri Lanka strikes pvt debt restructuring deal with bondholders, says min

Sri Lanka has reached a debt restructuring deal with the international sovereign bondholders after protracted negotiations, state finance minister Shehan Semasingher said on Thursday, calling it a "crucial step" in the cash-strapped country's efforts to restore debt sustainability. In a statement, State Minister of Finance Semasinghe said that an agreement on restructuring terms was reached on Wednesday, completing Sri Lanka's debt restructuring process. ISBs (International Sovereign Bonds) account for USD 12.5 billion out of the total external debt of USD 37 billion. This agreement is a crucial step in our efforts to restore debt sustainability, Semasinghe said. He added that the agreement with private bondholders was subject to the approval by the official creditor committee of nations, including India. "This marks another key milestone in our journey towards economic revival and strengthening," he said. Officials said the expected haircut agreed upon would amount to 28 per cent

Debt restructuring deal aids Sri Lanka's economic revival: Wickremesinghe

President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Tuesday said substantial progress" has been achieved in Sri Lanka's debt restructuring, which he said provided the much-needed breathing space for the cash-strapped country to transform its bankrupt economy into a resilient and stable one. Briefing Parliament on the country's resulting benefits of the correct course of action, President Wickremesinghe also countered the Opposition's criticism of the debt restructuring agreement with major bilateral creditors and promised to table all agreements and documents related to it to a Parliamentary panel. In April 2022, the island nation declared its first-ever sovereign default since gaining Independence from Britain in 1948. The unprecedented financial crisis led President Ranil Wickremesinghe's predecessor Gotabaya Rajapaksa to quit office in 2022 amid civil unrest. Earlier last week, President Wickremesinghe announced that debt restructuring agreements were finalised with bilateral lenders, including ..