A two-member delegation of Standard & Poor's, a credit rating agency, is scheduled to visit Pakistan from September 4-6, 2018 to hold discussions with concerned government authorities on Pakistan's annual sovereign rating review.
Sources told Business Recorder here on Thursday that the meeting with the visiting delegation has been scheduled in the chair of finance secretary on September 4 at Pak Secretariat. The meeting is related to the Standard & Poor's sovereign rating review of Pakistan.
The agenda of the meeting covers fiscal year (2017-18) budget execution. The government has given responsibility to the Budget Wing, Finance Division Expenditure Wing, Finance Division, to deal with the issue and respond to the queries of the Standard & Poor's delegation.
The agency would also review fiscal year 2018-19 budget and medium-term fiscal outlook including key government projects. The government has given responsibility to the Budget Wing, Finance Division and Ministry of Planning, Development & Reform to deal with the issue and respond to the questions of the agency.
The agenda of the meeting covers macroeconomic performance and outlook, and monetary policy. The government has given responsibility to the EA Wing, Finance Division, State Bank of Pakistan, to deal with the issue and respond to the queries of the Standard & Poor's delegation.
The agency would also review progress in privatization areas. The government has given responsibility to the Privatization Commission, Corporate Finance Wing, Finance Division EDG, IERU, Finance Division, to deal with the issue and respond to the questions of the agency.
The agenda of the meeting covers government debt stock, composition and outlook. The government has given responsibility to the DG (Debt), Finance Division, Economic Affairs Division, to deal with the issue and respond to the queries of the Standard & Poor's delegation. The agency would also review support to state-owned enterprises. The government has given responsibility to the corporate Finance Wing, Finance Division, to tackle the issue and respond to any query of the agency.
The agenda of the meeting covers developments in oil and gas sector and its outlook. The government has given responsibility to the Ministry of Energy, Petroleum Division, to deal with the issue and respond to the queries of the Standard & Poor's delegation.
The agency would also review progress on CPEC projects. The government has given responsibility to the CPEC Cell, Ministry of Planning, Development & Reform, to deal with the issue and respond to the questions of the agency.
The agenda of the meeting covers energy sector reforms and performance. The government has given responsibility to the Ministry of Energy, Power Division EDG, IERU, Finance Division, to deal with the issue and respond to the queries of the Standard & Poor's delegation. The agency would also review tax reforms. The government has given responsibility to the Federal Board of Revenue to deal with the issue and respond to the questions of the agency.
The agenda of the meeting covers Pakistan's trade balance. The government has given responsibility to the Ministry of Commerce to deal with the issue and respond to the queries of the Standard & Poor's delegation. The agency would also review CFT/AML. The government has given responsibility to the Internal Finance Wing, Finance Division, to deal with the issue and respond to the questions of the agency.
Sources said that the S&P's visit is significant in determining Pakistan's sovereign credit rating and outlook. Well prepared senior level representatives would be deputed to attend the meeting.