Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar has directed the State Bank of Pakistan to repay a loan of $ 500 million to the Chinese State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE), upon its maturity on 23rd January 2017. The loan in the form of a deposit was taken in January 2009, due to the weak current account situation at that time and placed with the State Bank of Pakistan. Since then the deposit was rolled over annually, with the latest maturity date set at 23rd January, 2017.
Instead of yet another roll over for a year, it has been decided to repay the loan, in view of the strong macro economic performance and stable foreign exchange reserves position of the country. Finance Minister has already obtained approval of the Prime Minister for the repayment of the said loan and has directed the State Bank of Pakistan to make payment of US$500 million to SAFE China on 23rd January, 2017.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has formally expressed his deep appreciation to the Prime Minister and Government of China for the critical support provided through the SAFE deposit for stabilising the current account since 2009.-PR