ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s rating would likely be upgraded if the government’s liquidity and external vulnerability risks decreased materially and durably, says Moody’s Investors Service (Moody’s).
Moody’s also warned that the rating would likely be downgraded if Pakistan were to default on its debt obligations to private-sector creditors and the expected losses to creditors as a result of any restructuring were larger than consistent with a Caa3 rating.
Pakistan’s ratings, including its Caa3 long-term issuer rating, with a stable outlook remain unchanged.
The rating agency has completed a periodic review of the ratings of Pakistan and other ratings that are associated with this issuer.
The review was conducted through a rating committee held on 22 February 2024 in which Moody’s reassessed the appropriateness of the ratings in the context of the relevant principal methodology (ies), and recent developments.
This publication does not announce a credit rating action and is not an indication of whether or not a credit rating action is likely in the near future, the rating agency added.
Key rating considerations and rationale are given as; Pakistan’s ratings, including its Caa3 long-term issuer rating, with a stable outlook remain unchanged.
Pakistan’s credit profile reflects the government’s very high liquidity and external vulnerability risks as the very low levels of foreign exchange reserves remain well below what is required to meet its very high external financing needs over the near to medium term. The country’s very weak fiscal strength and elevated political risks also constrain its credit profile. At the same time, Pakistan’s credit profile takes into account its large economy and moderate growth potential, which contribute to its moderate economic strength.
Pakistan’s government liquidity and external vulnerability risks remain very high, even as the caretaker government has maintained economic stability and pushed through some reforms over the past few months, unlocking financing from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other multilateral and bilateral partners and resulting in a modest accumulation of foreign exchange reserves.
While Pakistan is likely to meet its external debt obligations for the fiscal year ending June 2024, there is limited visibility regarding the sovereign’s sources of financing to meet its very high external financing needs after the current IMF Stand-By Arrangement ends in April 2024.
The rating agency further stated that in addition, political risks are high, following a highly controversial general elections held on 8 February 2024. Although a coalition government looks set to be formed primarily by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party and Pakistan People’s Party, there is high uncertainty around the newly elected government’s willingness and ability to quickly negotiate a new IMF program soon after the current one expires in April.
The forthcoming coalition government’s electoral mandate may not be sufficiently strong to pursue difficult reforms that will likely be required by a successor program. Until a new program is agreed to, Pakistan’s ability to secure loans from other bilateral and multilateral partners will be severely constrained, the agency added.
Pakistan’s “baa3” economic strength balances the country’s large economy and moderate GDP growth potential against its low per capita income. The score also incorporates Pakistan’s high exposure to extreme weather events, such as heat waves and floods, which can create negative economic and social costs.
Pakistan’s institutions and governance strength score is at “b3”, reflecting the country’s weak governance and low monetary and fiscal policy effectiveness. The “ca” fiscal strength reflects the country’s large debt burden and very weak debt affordability.
The high debt-servicing requirements associated with the large stock of debt will reduce the fiscal flexibility to undertake key expenditures on infrastructure and social initiatives. Pakistan’s susceptibility to event risk is at “caa”, driven by very high government liquidity and external vulnerability risks.
The stable outlook reflects Moody’s assessment that the pressures that Pakistan faces are consistent with a Caa3 rating level, with broadly balanced risks. Continued IMF engagement, including beyond the current programme, would help support additional financing from other multilateral and bilateral partners, which could reduce default risk if this is achieved urgently and without further raising social pressures.
At the same time, the large amount of external financing required over the medium term, combined with Pakistan’s very low reserves position, imply material default risks if there were delays in funding from the IMF and other partners. Social pressures and weaknesses in governance may also raise challenges in meeting criteria for future IMF funding.
The rating would likely be upgraded if Pakistan’s government liquidity and external vulnerability risks decreased materially and durably. This could come with a sustainable increase in foreign exchange reserves. A resumption of fiscal consolidation, including through implementing revenue-raising measures, pointing to a meaningful improvement in debt affordability would also be credit positive.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2024
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