PAKISTAN Interviews Here
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION Photo. Shutterstock Read full PAKISTAN interviews here www.globalbusiness.uk.com “We started our aggressive implementation of our decided agenda as Vibrant Growth part of a manifesto and promise to the country. Pakistan was basically facing four challenges, or the four E’s: economy, energy shortage, extremism, education/health/social safety net.” Entices FDI Having tackled these hurdles head on, Pakistan has sent a clear message to the international community that it is open for business The ambitious country has made across its entire fiscal spectrum as it looks to maximize returns on its plentiful natural and human resources. tremendous strides through structural “There is great potential in Pakistan and real economic growth reforms and is now an investment magnet. along with a strategic location and very attractive fiscal incentives for investors,” Dar adds. “Multinationals have been here for decades and are very happy, as we offer protection of foreign investment and oasting a diversified and well-managed, stable property. Pakistan has a huge consumer market and provides very economy, Pakistan continues to perform impressively against the backdrop of lower commodity prices and global economic downturn, as structural reforms act “Our economy has experienced as a catalyst for fiscal growth and substantial foreign direct investment (FDI). an amazing turnaround in a much BMacroeconomic reforms have vastly improved the prospects of shorter period than expected.” the country, which, with 200 million people, remains the region’s Mohammad Ishaq Dar outstanding investment hotspot courtesy of its pro-business climate, Minister for Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics and Privatization prudent monetary policy, low inflation, and currency stability. Spearheading this proactive approach to the wide-ranging and successful fiscal overhaul was the Minister for Finance, Revenue, attractive rates of return on investment. Macroeconomic stability has Economic Affairs, Statistics and Privatization, Mohammad Ishaq Dar. returned, and foreign-exchange reserves are at a level where investors “Our economy has experienced an amazing turnaround in a much feel comfortable.” shorter period than expected,” he states proudly. “Structural reforms Privatization is a key cog of Pakistan’s comprehensive strategic have brought down the deficit, accelerated economic growth, averted socioeconomic development plan—“Vision 2025.” The blueprint a potential default in 2014, and increased foreign exchange reserves. promises to transform the nation’s economy within a decade through S1 www.fortune.com/adsections SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION that helps private sectors to undertake investment. All the growth will come through the private sector–led initiatives. This is our basic approach. “Because of this comprehensive process it takes a lot of time to complete the transaction, as it has to go through many levels. There is an evaluation committee; a transaction committee; directors drawn primarily from the private sector; and a cabinet committee on privatization.” Partially privatized, the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) is a Mohammad Ishaq Dar Mohammad Zubair Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Minister for Finance, Revenue, Minister of State for Minister for Petroleum and major commercial bank with interests such as corporate investment, Economic Affairs, Statistics Privatization Natural Resources retail and consumer banking, agricultural financing, and treasury and Privatization services. With more than 1,400 domestic branches—and over 20 a multipronged approach in all industries and throughout the public international branches—the financial giant is a leading player in the and private sectors. debt-equity market and has a growing interest in promoting and de- Several major state-owned enterprises are poised to pass along veloping small and medium-size enterprises, while at the same time the privatization pipeline in the next few years, most notably Fais- fulfilling its social responsibilities as a corporate citizen. alabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO), Pakistan International Operating out of modern headquarters in Karachi, the institution Airlines (PIA), and Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM). continues to act as trustee of public funds and as the agent to the Next in the shopwindow are Lahore Electric Supply Co. (LESCO), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in areas where SBP has yet to establish Islamabad Electric Supply Co. (IESCO), and Northern Power Genera- a presence. tion Company Ltd. (NPGCL). Their passing into nonpublic control will Despite the recent fall in crude oil prices, opportunities abound help the country’s energy shortage. Such candidates hope to emulate in the oil and gas sector as the country looks to satisfy its energy the success of Allied Bank, which has become an international appetite. “Oil operations have always been successful, and no oil financial titan since its transfer to private hands a decade or so ago. company has ever lost money in Pakistan,” says Shahid Khaqan Ab- “It is not the job of the government to run commercial organizations,” basi, minister for petroleum and natural resources. “Every company in states Mohammad Zubair, minister of state for privatization. “The the industry has worked here. The returns are good for pipelines and job of the government is to create a conducive business environment LNG (liquid natural gas) terminals.” www.fortune.com/adsections S2 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION The upbeat report came as no surprise to Dar, who said weeks prior to its release, “National reserves are at a historic high. We went Economy back in the international sovereign market after seven years; returned to the Sukuk market after nine years; and went back in the international equity market.” in Overdrive Pakistan’s banking sector is extremely competitive: Up to 40 financial service providers battle for a share of the fast-growing middle- Fiscal progress wins praise from global class market through mortgages, consumer finance, credit cards, loans, institutions and is a platform for growth. and savings and checking accounts. Large foreign players have also arrived in droves as they compete for investment, commercial, and retail customers. akistan’s remarkable macroeconomic turnaround over Industry leader National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) is currently financ- the past few years has not gone unnoticed by respected ing portions of the $50 billion of pioneering infrastructure projects global financial institutions such as the World Bank and under the CPEC, as president and CEO Syed Iqbal Ashraf, explains: the International Monetary fund (IMF). “CPEC is the turning point for Pakistan. It is a game changer as it will In August 2016, a group of experts from the IMF generate a lot of income for the good of the country. Before this govern- met with Finance Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and ment, we had a lot of our factories, textile mills, and other facilities that Pgovernment officials before publishing a glowing update on the coun- only operated at 30% to 35% capacity due to energy shortages. try’s fiscal progress, noting the government has laid the foundation for “This was a huge problem, but we will soon benefit from an addi- more inclusive growth. tional 3,600 megawatts of power capacity. One in Punjab is for 1,200 “Growth is expected to reach 5% in fiscal year 2016–17, sup- megawatts, and NBP, together with Habib Bank Limited (HBL), has ported by buoyant construction activity, strengthened private sector underwritten the whole $1 billion project. This is the first time in the credit growth, and an investment upturn related to the China-Pakistan history of Pakistan local banks have underwritten an entire project of Economic Corridor (CPEC),” the IMF noted. “Average inflation is ex- such magnitude. pected at around 5.2%, remaining well-anchored by continued prudent “NBP acts in line with government thinking, and we serve monetary policy. Gross international reserves reached $18.1 billion at around 1.6 million pensioners each month—the only bank to perform end-June 2016, covering over four months of prospective imports.” this activity.” S3 www.fortune.com/adsections SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION Meanwhile, as well as growing its conventional branch network, NBP is expanding its portfolio of branches that handle Islamic banking products, looking to tap into a market that has been growing around 35% a year. “We now have more than 110 Islamic branches at NBP and plan to apply for a license for an Islamic Bank with SBP, so we have a wholly owned subsidiary of Islamic banking,” he adds. Islamic banking practices fully compliant with Sharia law are also increasingly at the heart of other financial institutions’ activities, includ- ing Faysal Bank. A medium-size commercial bank, the group boasts Nauman Ansari Sirajuddin Aziz Syed Iqbal Ashraf a robust corporate investment banking business and more than 300 President and CEO President and CEO President and CEO, NBP branches across 80 cities. Faysal Bank HabibMetro Bank “Our asset deposit/ratio has always been above market,” says Faysal Bank president and CEO Nauman Ansari. “Our strengths are our a significant quantum of Pakistan’s trade business, and in 2015 the employees and customers, both on the wholesale and the retail side. Asian Development Bank recognized us as its leading partner in Paki- This is why we are poised for growth—opportunities that may come stan due to our role in the promotion of regional trade.” from the CPEC infrastructure-development side, or an uptake on the