By Asif Shahzad

LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters) -Pakistan secured a badly-needed $3 billion short-term financial package from the International Monetary Fund on Friday, giving the South Asian economy a much-awaited respite as it teeters on the brink of default.

The IMF said it had reached an agreement on the deal with the 220 million nation, which will now be subject to approval by its board in July.

The new nine-month standby arrangement was struck hours before a current IMF agreement expires, offering a relief to Pakistan’s acute balance of payments crisis.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said it would put Pakistan “on the path of sustainable economic growth”.

With sky-high inflation and foreign exchange reserves barely enough for a month of imports, analysts say Pakistan’s economic crisis could have spiralled into a debt default in the absence of the bailout.

It was reached only after Sharif held marathon meetings with IMF head Kristalina Georgieva on June 22, which he termed “a turning point”.

Pakistan will receive formal documents on the deal later on Friday, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar told Reuters, which he said he would “sign, seal and return by tonight”.

The new deal, which came hours after Dar told Reuters exclusively that it could happen anytime, will disburse an upfront amount of $1.1 billion shortly after the IMF board’s meeting in July, he said.

Dar said Pakistan aimed to boost the central bank’s foreign exchange reserves up to $15 billion by July end. “We have stopped the decline, now we have to turn to growth,” he added.

Pakistan’s sovereign dollar bonds were trading higher after the announcement, with the 2024 issue enjoying the biggest gains, up more than 8 cents at just above 70 cents in the dollar, according to Tradeweb data.

The gains were most pronounced in shorter-dated bonds, reflecting lingering scepticism over the longer-term fiscal outlook for the country.

The $3 billion short-term IMF funding is higher than expected as it looks set to replace the remaining $2.5 billion from a $6.5 billion Extended Fund Facility agreed in 2019.

“This new programme is far better than our expectations,” said Mohammed Sohail of Topline Securities in Karachi, adding it would “definitely help restore some investor confidence”.

The deal will also unlock other bilateral and multilateral financing. Long-time allies Saudi Arabia, the UAE and China have already pledged or rolled over billions of dollars in loans.

“This will support near-term policy efforts and replenish gross reserves,” the IMF said.

POWER PRICE HIKES

The new arrangement builds on the 2019 programme, IMF official Nathan Porter said in a statement, adding that Pakistan’s economy had faced several challenges in recent times, including devastating floods and rising commodity prices.

“Despite the authorities’ efforts to reduce imports and the trade deficit, reserves have declined to very low levels. Liquidity conditions in the power sector also remain acute,” Porter said.

“Given these challenges, the new arrangement would provide a policy anchor and a framework for financial support from multilateral and bilateral partners in the period ahead.”

Porter also pointed out the power sector’s buildup of arrears and frequent power outages.

Reforms in the energy sector, which has accumulated nearly 3.6 trillion Pakistani rupees ($12.58 billion) in debt, has been a cornerstone of the IMF talks.

The IMF said it would want steadfast policy implementation by Pakistan to overcome challenges, “particularly in the energy sector”, where it expects a rise in electricity prices.

Dar said the hike will come before the IMF board’s meeting, saying the rebasing to be done in July will make about three to four rupees a unit difference.

He also said petroleum levy will be capped at 60 rupee a liter.

He announced a 7.5 rupee a liter increase in diesel prices late Friday night, saying petrol prices will remain unchanged for next 15 days.

“Reform does not, must not, mean raising tariff endlessly,” said Pakistan’s Minister for Power Khurram Dastgir.

With the tenure of the current government ending in August, Dastgir said it had put in place an “aggressive medium-to-long-term plan” to increase renewable energy which was only possible if long-term assistance is available.

PAINFUL REFORMS

Islamabad has taken a slew of measures demanded by the IMF since its mission arrived in Pakistan in February, including revising its 2023-24 budget and a policy rate hike to 22% in recent days.

It also got Pakistan to raise more than 385 billion rupee ($1.34 billion) in new taxation to meet the IMF’s fiscal adjustments.

The IMF said the central bank should remain pro-active to reduce inflation and maintain a foreign exchange framework.

The painful adjustments have already fuelled all time high inflation of 38% year-on-year in May, the highest in Asia.

“The FY24 budget advances a primary surplus of around 0.4 percent of GDP,” Porter said, adding it will be important that the budget is executed as planned, and authorities resist pressures for un-budgeted spending or tax exemptions.

($1 = 286.1500 Pakistani rupees)

(Reporting by Jahnavi Nidumolu, Asif Shahzad and Gibran Peshimam; Additional reporting by Ariba Shahid; Writing by Shivam Patel and Asif Shahzad; Editing by Alexander Smith and Grant McCool)

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