Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ISLAMABAD3699
2008-11-25 08:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:  

PAKISTAN FINALLY REQUESTS IMF PROGRAM, POST GETS SUMMARY

Tags:  ECON ETRD EAID EFIN ENGY PK 
pdf how-to read a cable
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ISLAMABAD 003699 

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REF: A. ISLAMABAD 03532

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EAID EFIN ENGY PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN FINALLY REQUESTS IMF PROGRAM, POST GETS SUMMARY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ISLAMABAD 003699

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

REF: A. ISLAMABAD 03532

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EAID EFIN ENGY PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN FINALLY REQUESTS IMF PROGRAM, POST GETS SUMMARY


1. (SBU) SUMMARY. At a meeting for G7 countries, the International
Monetary Fund's (IMF) Resident Representative to Pakistan, Paul
Ross, presented an overview of the Stand-By Agreement (SBA) Board
members will consider on November 24. Ross emphasized that the
program fits well with Pakistan's own reform strategy. Pakistan
will borrow about USD 7.56 billion over two years, with USD 3
billion available three business days after Board approval. If
donors do not provide additional funds the SBA can still work, but
it would reduce Pakistan's overall growth potential. The SBA
projects that foreign donors will need to provide USD 4 billion over
the next two years. Ross identified several challenges to program
success, including: persistent electricity subsidies, poor tax
equity, weak social-safety nets, and rampant "law and order"
problems. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) On November 21, EconCounselor and EconOff attended a
briefing for G7 countries, by the International Monetary Fund's
(IMF) Resident Representative to Pakistan, Paul Ross. Ross
presented an overview of the program that Board members will
consider at the anticipated November 24 meeting. Local
representatives from Italy, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan,
Germany, and the United States asked numerous questions about the
implications of the pending IMF program

--------------
SBA DESCRIPTION
--------------


3. (SBU) Ross emphasized the congruity between the policy reforms
planned by the Government of Pakistan (GOP) and the requirements of
the SBA. For example, the GOP has already taken action on the
elimination of fuel subsidies and introducing the Benazir Income
Support Program (BISP). The design of the BISP, in particular the
targeting and delivery, will be reviewed in the first half of 2009
in consultation with the World Bank.


4. (SBU) The SBA focuses on macroeconomic indicators with minimal
prescriptions for specific policy adjustments, placing the
responsibility for achieving the results on the GOP. For example,
when asked whether the program contained guidance on food subsidies,
defense spending, or a tax on the agricultural sector, Ross said
that the program does not contain specific policy requirements, but

the budget deficit is a central measure of GOP program performance.
In discussions, Ross identified two major challenges to program
success: reducing electricity subsidies in the short term and tax
reform in the medium term.


5. (SBU) Ross said he was told that the November 19 Cabinet meeting
to discuss the SBA was very lively but noted that despite strong
initial concern, all but one minister left the meeting in favor of
the program. Ross believes that this is the first time that the
Cabinet was able to consider an IMF program before Board approval,
which he thinks is an important milestone and will make
implementation more successful.

--------------
SBA DETAILS
--------------


6. (SBU) The SBA currently equals about USD 7.56 billion (500
percent of Pakistan's IMF quota or Special Drawing Rights 5.169
billion),with a USD 3 billion upfront disbursement. This initial
amount would be available three business days after Board approval.
The disbursements would be in 8 declining quarterly installments
over the next 23 months, with a 2.25 grace period and planned
repayment period of 2 to 4 years. The interest rate is variable,
but will range between 4 and 6 percent (depending on amount
disbursed) at current rates.


7. (SBU) According to the SBA, the GOP will shrink its fiscal
deficit from 7.8 percent in Fiscal Year (FY) 08 to 4.2 percent in
FY09, with a target of 3.3 in the medium term. The GOP has already
increased the policy interest rate from 13 percent to 15 percent and
may tighten monetary policy further. Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
growth will drop from 5.8 percent of GDP last year to between 3 and
3.5 percent, rise to 5 percent in FY10, and rise gradually to 6.5
percent by FY13. Head line consumer price index inflation is

ISLAMABAD 00003699 002 OF 003


currently 25 percent, but the goal is to reduce it to 20 percent on
average by June 2009 and maintain 7 percent in the medium term.


8. (SBU) The first review of the SBA implementation will be in March
with an IMF team visit in February. The SBA includes quantitative
targets on: non-concessional borrowing, federal borrowing from the
central bank, deficit spending, foreign exchange reserves
accumulation, and central bank lending to the domestic banking
sector. The SBA also includes structural adjustments of: improving
the effectiveness of the central bank to monitor private banks,
increasing social-safety net spending, improving central bank
operational autonomy, eliminating foreign-exchange support for oil
imports, resolving the circular-debt problem to the domestic energy
companies, and consolidating treasury accounts from various
commercial banks into one governmental account. It is important to
note that IMF funds are not budgetary support, but will go directly
into foreign reserves. While the GOP may smooth exchange rate
volatility, the rupee will be allowed to float. Under the SBA, the
GOP will need to meet monthly foreign exchange reserve targets to
remain eligible for later disbursements.

--------------
DONOR ASSISTANCE
--------------


9. (SBU) The IMF anticipates that foreign donors will need to
provide additional funds and Ross noted that the SBA projects a need
of an additional USD 4 billion over the next two years. The SBA
projections only include donor money with a high degree of certainty
and thus did not include any potential oil concessions from Saudi
Arabia or other Middle Eastern countries. Ross said the SBA does
include "about USD 4 billion" of programmed projects from the World
Bank and the Asian Development Bank.


10. (SBU) Ross said that if donors do not provide the full USD 4
billion amount the SBA can still work but it would be more
difficult, and noted that any shortfall in donor resources would
require additional domestic resources which would reduce Pakistan's
overall growth potential.
Ross mentioned that the Chinese will likely give an additional USD
500 million soon. The program prescribes using additional funds
first for social safety net expenditures (about .6 percent of GDP),
then expanding development spending (.5 percent of GDP),then to
build foreign exchange reserves.

--------------
POTPOURRI
--------------


11. (SBU) Ross noted that specific reductions in military spending
are not mentioned in the SBA but said that greater transparency in
military spending would be an added benefit to the program. Ross
was asked what he thought of the recent arrests of money changers.
He observed that there has been a lot of foreign exchange leaving
the country. This contributed to macroeconomic weakness which, in
turn, lead to the eagerness of both the regulators and speculators.


12. (SBU) Ross responded to questions on evaluating the
implementation of program elements, such as the Benazir Income
Support Program and the reduction of electricity subsidies, by
citing the macroeconomic target in the SBA that the IMF would track
but said that the World Bank was responsible for monitoring. He
said there will be coordination, but that there should be a division
of labor based on comparative advantage.


13. (SBU) Ross noted that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) should
have greater operational autonomy. To arrest the inflationary
practice of central bank financing of the fiscal deficit, the SBP
and Pakistan's Ministry of Finance agreed to a zero net borrowing
policy. The SBP will phase out its current policy of providing
foreign exchange for oil imports. The SBP will also improve
commercial bank supervision and prepare contingency plans for small
bank failures. Ross did not know who the GOP was considering for
replacement of SBP's current Governor Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, whose
term ends December 31. (reftel A)


14. (SBU) When asked whether the SBA required any action on the

ISLAMABAD 00003699 003 OF 003


proposed stock market support mechanisms, Ross said any measures to
remove the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) trading floor or the use of
support measures for the KSE requires prior IMF consultation. He
said a floor should not have been used, but now that it is in place
removal is problematic. The use of public funds to support the
stock market appears to assist only the wealthy while depleting
scarce resources. If the floor remains in place, however, Pakistan
may be removed from the major emerging market indices, forcing some
institutional investors to divest.


15. (SBU) COMMENT. The SBA includes significant risks. The GOP
will have to broaden the tax base by taxing the untaxed and
under-taxed sectors, like agriculture and services. The National
Assembly's resistance to date demonstrates this will be very
difficult. Pakistan's lack of reliable energy and poor security
situation threaten GDP growth rate and foreign investment prospects.
Slow economic growth and higher prices have increased poverty
levels, requiring well-targeted and implemented social safety net
programs.


16. (SBU) COMMENT CONTINUED. Discussion following the meeting
between the G7 representatives concerned a potential donors'
conference. Among our counterparts, enthusiasm for a USD 4 billion
package was low given the severity and range of domestic issues
donors face and the inconsistent GOP support for the SBA. Various
comments about how this donor's conference could possibly be kept
separate from the efforts of the Friends of Pakistan underscore a
need to clarify the process for a donor's conference as soon as
possible. END COMMENT.

PATTERSON