Banks have agreed to buy/subscribe to Rs 150 billion of Term Finance Certificates (TFCs) to adjust circular debt. The ministry of finance is likely to issue the long-term bonds by the end of this month.
Sources in the banking sector told Business Recorder on Wednesday that the much-talked about issue of circular debt is going to be resolved as it has been decided, in principle, between banks and the ministry of finance to replace about Rs 150 billion of loans, provided to the government-owned power companies on government guarantees with long-term investment bonds. The federal government has been facing circular debt issue since 2007 due to rising oil subsidies and prices of petroleum products on the international front, besides less than targeted revenue collection.
According to sources, over the last few months, banks remained engaged and are in correspondence with the ministry of finance to discuss and manage bank debt in power sector because the issues related to delay in payments were creating several problems for banking industry, and causing an adverse impact on banks' balance sheets.
Following a number of discussions between banks and the MoF, finally, it has been decided to adjust circular debt through subscription of TFCs to effect related payments.
According to sources, a team of the ministry of finance led by Masroor Ahmed Qureshi, Director General Debt Policy and Co-ordination, Tuesday held meetings with presidents and heads of treasuries of several banks in Karachi to remove the apprehensions of banks in connection with subscription of TFCs against loans to power sector.
Sources said after detailed meetings with a federal government team, almost all banks agreed to subscribe to TFCs against the loans to power sector and as per initial projection, banks will subscribe Rs 145 to Rs 150 billion TFCs against the circular debt. TFCs against the circular debt will be for a period of five years with an expected mark-up rate of KIBOR plus 1.5 to 2 percent. These TFCs are likely to be issued later this month, sources added.
"The government is making serious efforts to resolve the circular debt issue, therefore banks have agreed to subscribe these TFCs," said bankers, who attended the meeting. It is expected that this transaction will be completed by the end of this month. It would help banks convert their credit risk into a healthy investment, they added. They said that, in the initial phase banks will buy Rs 150 billion worth of TFCs with a demand of KIBOR plus 2 percent mark-up.
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