ZCZC
BCN-33
UAE-PAKISTAN-ECONOMY
UAE to deposit $3 bn in Pakistan central bank
ABU DHABI, Dec 21, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – The United Arab Emirates will deposit
$3 billion in the central bank of Pakistan to help “enhance liquidity” as the
country struggles with a balance of payments crisis, state media said.
The transfer of 11 billion dirhams by the government-owned Abu Dhabi Fund
for Development (ADFD) is expected to be carried out in the “coming days”,
the WAM news agency said.
Quoting a statement from the ADFD, the state news agency said the amount
is meant “to support the financial and monetary policy of the Islamic
Republic of Pakistan”.
It will “enhance liquidity and monetary reserves of foreign currency” at
the central bank, it added.
Pakistan is facing a widening balance of payments crisis. The rupee
plunged almost five percent to a record low at the end of November, after
what appeared to be a sixth devaluation by the central bank in the past year.
A team from the International Monetary Fund in November visited Pakistan
for talks with officials on a possible IMF bailout but the discussions ended
without any agreement.
Pakistan — a regular borrower from the IMF since the 1980s — last
received an IMF bailout in 2013 to the tune of $6.6 billion.
It also secured $6 billion in funding from Saudi Arabia and struck a 12-
month deal for a cash lifeline during Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to
the kingdom in October.
Islamabad also received billions of dollars in Chinese loans to finance
ambitious infrastructure projects.
BSS/AFP/HR/1448