{"id":1737,"date":"2026-01-30T10:27:16","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T10:27:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thefridaynews.com\/?p=1737"},"modified":"2026-01-30T10:27:34","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T10:27:34","slug":"export-refinance-rate-slashed-to-4-5pc-as-pm-shehbaz-unveils-relief-package","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thefridaynews.com\/?p=1737","title":{"rendered":"Export Refinance Rate Slashed to 4.5pc as PM Shehbaz Unveils Relief Package"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday announced a Rs4.4 reduction in the per unit rate of electricity for the industrial sector in a bid to improve productivity and exports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The premier stated this during an address to the country\u2019s major exporters and business figures at a ceremony in Islamabad, which was held to honour their contributions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA Rs4.4 reduction is being made in the electricity unit rate for industries,\u201d said the premier, adding that \u201cif it were in his control, he would reduce it by another Rs10.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHowever, my hands are tied, as you all know well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PM Shehbaz also announced a reduction in wheeling charges for industries, stating that \u201cit will be less than Rs9\u201d. He hoped that the move would help \u201cindustries sell their power to neighbouring industries\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To provide additional relief, the premier said that \u201cwith the cooperation and support of Pakistan\u2019s banks, we are announcing a reduction in the export refinance rate from earlier 7.5pc to 4.5pc\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the outset of his address, the premier lauded business leaders and major exporters for their \u201chard work and efficiency for achieving major milestones in their relevant sectors in the past year\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe billions of rupees you have earned for Pakistan, the entire nation congratulates you [on that],\u201d PM Shehbaz said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The premier recalled that in 2023, the country was on the brink of default.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDay and night, there were reports that Pakistan was going to default,\u201d he said, adding that it was a \u201cbig challenge for the nation\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The premier recalled a meeting with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva in Paris, during which she flagged Pakistan\u2019s inconsistency during previous programmes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He recalled the lending agency\u2019s managing director as saying: \u201cI was told that time was running out, and it will be difficult to offer a new structure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PM Shehbaz added, \u201cI told her that I was giving her my word of honour that we will ensure implementation and commit to the agreement in letter and spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I came back to Pakistan, she called me to tell me [..] that our team will sit down with you and you must honour the commitment you made. This is how Pakistan was saved from default.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shifting his attention to the present situation, PM Shehbaz continued: \u201cAt this moment, in the third quarter, our foreign exchange reserves have doubled, but that includes loans from friendly countries as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PM Shehbaz detailed that he, along with Chief of Defence Forces and the Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, went to many countries for assistance, told them about the IMF programme and requested them for funds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The premier said he was \u201cgrateful to the countries for helping, [\u2026] but you know whoever takes a loan, [\u2026] there are obligations associated with it\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cChina helped us out in the most difficult of times, as well as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar,\u201d he said, adding that \u201cthis is how the programme was stitched\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>\u2018Pakistan has become a stable economy\u2019<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The premier, during his address, also stated that he could now say \u201cwithout hesitation\u201d that Pakistan\u2019s economy had become \u201cstable\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PM Shehbaz noted that the inflation was in \u201csingle digits and the policy rate is at 10.5 per cent\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The premier recalled that \u201cthere was a time when the policy rate used to be 21.5-22pc, and inflation was galloping,\u201d adding that people did not know what was to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe faced a lot of difficulties, and our industrialists and businessmen faced these difficulties head-on,\u201d PM Shehbaz recalled. \u201cThere was hope that maybe there would come a better time, and Pakistan would be on its way to progress.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, he cautioned that while the \u201ceconomy has stabilised, this is not enough\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want to present a harsh reality to you,\u201d he said and went on cite increased poverty and unemployment rates and the dearth of profits from current exports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He noted that industries were struggling to compete with other countries due to higher costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The prime minister also acknowledged that \u201cthe government cannot dictate the private sector,\u201d and stressed the need for moving towards sustainable growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have to grow our economy, and it has to be sustainable, and we must encourage export-led growth,\u201d he said, stressing that there was \u201cno other way\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The premier also spoke in favour of encouraging small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). He stressed that the private sector and the government must \u201chold the hand of SMEs\u201d in order to provide support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PM Shehbaz expressed \u201cfull faith\u201d in business leaders\u2019 \u201cvision and commitment, which he said held the potential to \u201ctransform Pakistan\u2019s economy in a few years\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As he appreciated their role, he also announced blue passports for the exporters awarded during the ceremony and declared them \u201cambassadors at large\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>\u2018Restore PIA to its past glory\u2019<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

During his address, the premier also recalled the recent privatisation<\/a> of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), expressing hope that the airline would soon be restored to its \u201cpast glory\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPIA\u2019s legacy \u2014 \u2018great people to fly with\u2019 \u2014 was on banners in London and Brussels [\u2026] Where did that era go?\u201d he said, adding that it used to be one of the \u201ctop ten\u201d airlines in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think this is what we need to revive,\u201d he stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have full faith that he (Arif Habib) and his partners can revive that era. I want to reiterate that once again, you have the full support of the government,\u201d the premier said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

A consortium led by Arif Habib Corporation Limited had won the auction<\/u><\/a> for 75 per cent shares of PIA in December last year, after making a winning bid of Rs135 billion.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday announced a Rs4.4 reduction in the per unit rate of electricity for<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1738,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1737","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","category-newsbeat"],"yoast_head":"\nExport Refinance Rate Slashed to 4.5pc as PM Shehbaz Unveils Relief Package - The Friday News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/thefridaynews.com\/export-refinance-rate-slashed-to-4-5pc-as-pm-shehbaz-unveils-relief-package\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Export Refinance Rate Slashed to 4.5pc as PM Shehbaz Unveils Relief Package - 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