The power system in Pakistan has long been a source of frustration and difficulty for its citizens. The latest power outage, which left millions without electricity, is just the latest example of a chronic problem that has plagued the country for years.
A prolonged shortage of dollars is wreaking havoc throughout the economy and a nationwide power outage this week underscored the razor-thin margins for error in Pakistan's energy sector.
On January 6 the Forex reserves in the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) touched the lowest mark of USD 4.343 billion just enough for two weeks. The recurring economic crises in Pakistan are primarily caused by a persistent fiscal deficit, which is a result of the government's tendency to overspe
At present, the US dollar represents slightly more than 60 per cent of global foreign exchange reserves at central banks, compared to more than 80 per cent in the early 1970s.
Banks are refusing to issue new letters of credit for importers due to a shortage of dollars. This has hit the economy which is already suffering due to soaring inflation in the country.
Notably, India last year took over the UK to become the fifth largest economy in the world and is aiming to be the third largest economy in the world by 2037, while Pakistan's economy is running on financial assistance from the global community.
According to RBI's latest data, India's foreign currency assets, the biggest component of the forex reserves, declined by USD 1.747 billion to USD 496,441 billion.
According to sources, the development left Pakistan with an import cover of only under a month, as the country grapples with a deteriorating economic crisis while trying to bring down imports amid a dollar shortage.