Pakistani economic crisis (2022–present)
The 2022 Pakistan economic crisis is an ongoing economic crisis in Pakistan, that has caused severe economic challenges for months due to which food, gas and oil prices have risen.[1][2]
Background
Pakistan's economic crisis was at the centre of a political standoff between Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and his predecessor Imran Khan earlier this year, which led to Khan's ouster in April 2022. Sharif accused Khan of economic mismanagement and mishandling of the country's foreign policy, forcing him to step down in a no-confidence vote.
Timeline
Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb told a news conference on 19 May 2022, that last month, Pakistan was committed to "controlling rising inflation, stabilizing foreign exchange reserves, strengthening the economy and reducing the country's dependence on imports". Import of unnecessary and luxury items was banned. Sharif had said at the time that the decision would "save the country's precious foreign exchange" and that Pakistan would have to "pursue austerity."[3]
In late May 2022, the government lifted the cap on fuel prices - a condition for advancing the long-stalled bailout deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal told reporters on 14 May 2022, that Pakistanis could reduce their tea consumption to "one or two cups" a day as imports were putting additional financial pressure on the government. "The tea we import is imported on credit," Iqbal said, adding that businesses should be shut down first to save electricity. According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, the South Asian nation of 220 million is the world's largest tea importer, having bought more than $ 640 million worth of tea in 2020.[4][5]
Federal budget
On 10 June 2022, the government unveiled a new 47 billion budget for 2022-23 to persuade the IMF to resume the 6 billion bailout deal, which was agreed upon by both sides in 2019.[6]
References
- ^ "Economic crisis and default fear". 12 June 2022.
- ^ "Goods transporters suspend nationwide operations after fuel hike". 16 June 2022.
- ^ "'Emergency situation': In a first, complete ban imposed on non-essential items, says Marriyum Aurangzeb".
- ^ Mogul, Rhea (June 15, 2022). "Pakistanis told to drink less tea as nation grapples with economic crisis". CNN.
- ^ Islamabad, Associated Press in (June 15, 2022). "Pakistanis told to drink less tea to help fight economic crisis". the Guardian.
- ^ "Pakistan's New Budget Aims to Please the IMF".