Pakistani economic crisis (2022–present) explained

Pakistani economic crisis
(2022–2024)
Date:2022 – 2024
Location:Pakistan
Type:Economic crisis
Cause:Political reactions to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Israel–Hamas war, rising fuel prices, excessive external borrowings, poor governance, low productivity per capita, cost of living crisis, floods, political instability
Outcome:
  • Severe economic challenges, Rise in food, gas and oil prices, Balance of payment crisis

Pakistan has experienced an economic crisis as part of the 2022 political unrest. It has caused severe economic challenges for months due to which food, gas and oil prices have risen.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused fuel prices to rise worldwide. Excessive external borrowings by the country over the years raised the spectre of default, causing the currency to fall and making imports more expensive in relative terms. By June 2022, inflation was at an all time high, along with rising food prices.[1] [2] [3] [4]

Poor governance and low productivity per capita in comparison with other low to middle-income developing countries have contributed to a balance of payment crisis, where the country is unable to earn enough foreign exchange to fund the imports that it consumes.[5] Pakistan's economic crisis is the biggest crisis since its independence.[6] [7]

Background

According to Indian strategic affairs specialist Sushant Sareen, Pakistan has doubled its national debt roughly every five years over the last 25-year period. Starting from a debt of ~ at the beginning of General Musharraf regime in 1999, the debt stood at ~ at the end of the Imran Khan government in 2022. While the debt grew at around 14 percent per year on average, the GDP was growing at only 3 percent per year on average. This led to an unsustainable debt burden. In the fiscal year 2022–23, the debt servicing obligations of Rs. 5.2 trillion exceed the entire federal government revenue.[8] In 2022, Pakistan experienced a trifecta of challenges, as political unrest, an economic crisis, and destructive floods gripped the nation. Economically, the country is grappling with severe inflation, a declining currency, and critically low foreign reserves, posing significant concerns for its financial stability.[9]

In 2019, after inheriting an economy from the outgoing PMLN govt that had the biggest fiscal and current account deficit in Pakistan's history,[10] Imran Khan secured a bailout package from the IMF to prevent bankruptcy.[11] [12] Under Khan's govt, the Pakistani economy saw stable expansion and increase in exports and remittances, peaking at 6% GDP growth in his last year in power.[13] This period of growth promptly came to an end after Khan's ouster in a no-confidence motion that was backed by the US govt, as seen in leaked ISI documents[14] and in a démarche endorsed by the entire military and political leadership in April 2022.[15] Rapid outflows from foreign reserves and currency devaluations ensued soon after the arrival of the Shahbaz Sharif govt, with the Rupee hitting an all-time low about a month after he took oath.[16] [17] These factors, in addition to systemic economic flaws and the spiraling military-police crackdown on political dissidents [18] exacerbated the socioeconomic climate in the country, causing the Shahbaz Sharif government to seek another bailout from the IMF.[19]

Timeline

2022

Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb told a news conference held on 19 May 2022, that Pakistan was committed to "controlling rising inflation, stabilizing foreign exchange reserves, strengthening the economy and reducing the country's dependence on imports". Import of unnecessary and luxury items was banned. Sharif had said at the time that the decision would "save the country's precious foreign exchange" and that Pakistan would have to "pursue austerity."[20]

In late May 2022, the government lifted the cap on fuel prices - a condition for advancing the long-stalled bailout deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). IMF also insisted Islamabad to raise electricity prices, ramp up tax collection and make sizeable budget cuts.[21]

Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal told reporters on 14 May 2022, that Pakistanis could reduce their tea consumption to "one or two cups" a day as imports were putting additional financial pressure on the government. "The tea we import is imported on credit," Iqbal said, adding that businesses should be shut down first to save electricity. According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, the South Asian nation of 220 million is the world's largest tea importer, having bought more than $640 million worth of tea in 2020.[22] [23]

Inflation in Pakistan rose to 21.3% in June, the highest since December 2008 when inflation stood at 23.3%.[24]

Finance Minister Miftah Ismail said that a loan of $2.3 billion from a Chinese consortium of banks had been credited to the Pakistani central bank's account in late June.[25]

2022 Pakistan floods in summer cause over $30 billion dollars in economic losses in Pakistan.[26]

At the end of March 2022, the State Bank of Pakistan's reserves stood at $11.425bn, but they gradually tanked to an almost four-year low of $6.715bn on 2 December. Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves equal to just five weeks of merchandise imports.[27]

The consistent depreciation of the rupee is said to be deepening the economic crisis.[28] At the end of March, the rupee stood at 183.48 to $1. On 9 December 2022, it closed at 224.40.[27]

2023

In January 2023, Muhammad Aurangzeb, the CEO of Pakistan's largest bank, Habib Bank commented publicly on the prevailing economic situation that it could be a "big blow to the economy" if the stakeholders didn't make the right decisions swiftly.[29]

In late January, Pakistan lifted the artificial cap on its currency, causing the rupee to plunge 20% against the dollar in a few days. The government raised fuel prices by 16%. And the Pakistani central bank raised its interest rate by 100 basis points to battle the country's highest inflation in decades, expected to be as high as 26% in January.[30]

In February 2023, a Moody economist predicted that inflation in Pakistan could average 33% in the first half of the year 2023.[31] China lent Pakistan further 700 million dollars to shore up Forex reserves.[32] Pakistan's Consumer price index (CPI) further jumped to 31.5%, the highest annual rate in 50 years.[33] Also Fitch downgrades Pak's sovereign credit rating from CCC+ to CCC-. The New York-based ratings agency warned that a default could be a "real possibility".[34]

In March 2023, the food inflation rate in Pakistan witnessed a significant increase, with urban areas experiencing a rate of 47.1 percent and rural areas facing a slightly higher rate of 50.2 percent.[35] Moody's downgrades Pakistan's rating to Caa3; changes outlook to stable from negative. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said that China approved a rollover of a $1.3 billion loan for cash-strapped Pakistan, which would help shore up its depleting foreign exchange reserves.[36] The World Bank further recorded the Consumer price index (CPI) for food items on a year on year basis at 45.1%, the second highest in South Asia after Sri Lanka.[37] The Consumer price index (CPI) raced to 35.4 per cent in the highest annual rise in prices on record, driven mainly by skyrocketing costs of food, electricity, beverage, and transport. The inflation number was the highest annual rate since available data - July 1965 - according to the research firm Arif Habib Ltd, and is expected to rise in the upcoming months.[38]

In April 4, the World Bank projected about 4 million Pakistani people falling below the lower middle-income ($3.6/day) poverty line amid economic growth plummeting to just 0.4% against a target of 5pc.[39]

In May 2023, Pakistan's inflation rate reached 38%, surpassing Sri Lanka to become the highest country in Asia.[40]

In June 2023, the Pakistani government unveiled a "Economic Revival Plan" according to which, plans on investments in key areas of production such as on agriculture, mining, Information Technology, defence and the energy sector were discussed.[41] PM Shehbaz Sharif also lauded China for assisting his country in the current economic crisis.[42]

2024

The United Nations report in January believed that Pakistan's economy will be back on its track in 2024, with GDP growth expected.

Situation in Pakistan will be better after the 2024 election, and economic data shows that Pakistan's economic crisis will end. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the inflation rate stood at 28.7% in January and 23.5% in February. Pakistan also has to manage roughly $30 billion in annual external debt obligations, as its foreign currency reserves continue to fluctuate. As of Feb. 9, total liquid foreign reserves stood at $13.15 billion, having previously fallen to just $4.1 billion in June 2023. According to State Bank of Pakistan data, Pakistan requires $6.1 billion for debt servicing before the end of the fiscal year (June 30). Pakistan's inflation rate will remain between 12.5-11% in June–July.[43]

Federal budget

See main article: 2022–23 Pakistan federal budget and 2023–24 Pakistan federal budget. On 10 June 2022, the government unveiled a new 47 billion budget for 2022-23 to persuade the IMF to resume the 6 billion bailout deal, which was agreed upon by both sides in 2019.[44] However, the IMF expressed dissatisfaction with the budget for 2023-24 submitted by Pakistani authorities two weeks before the bailout expired, which indicated that Pakistan would not receive its bailout.[45] On June 25 a revised Budget featuring new taxes, a raised the Petroleum Development Levy (PDL), a lifting of all restrictions on imports and various expenditure cuts were presented to the National Assembly and accepted the next day. These came after talks between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.[46] Ishaq Dar, who presented the Budget claimed that the new budget would "make our fiscal deficit much better", adding “I hope, God willing, that we will have an agreement with the IMF."[47] The new federal budget included an expenditure of Rs14.46 trillion, supported by a net revenue of Rs12,163 trillion, of which Rs5,276 trillion was transferred to the provinces, leading to Federal revenues of Rs6,887 trillion.[48] The remaining expenditures were to be paid through privatization proceeds, external receipts, non-bank and bank borrowing (T-Bills, PIBs, Sukuk).[49] The budget saw Rs7,303 trillion earmarked for debt repayment. The government in the revised budget would place the fiscal deficit at a targeted rate of 6.53% of the GDP or Rs. 7,505 trillion, with the Federal Government seeking to cover it with multilateral/bilateral sources, national saving schemes, government securities, commercial/Euro bonds, the GP fund and deposits and reserves. Within the Federal Budget the raising of withholding taxes on supplies, contracts, services, commercial imports, increasing the rate of the General Sales Tax (GST) on Tier-1 Retailers from 12% to 15%, new taxes on cash withdrawals by non-filers, broadening of the Federal Excise Duty, and measures to stop the outflow of foreign currency were all included.[50]

Five days after the Federal Budget was first presented to the National Assembly, the IMF would approve its $3 Billion bailout for Pakistan on 30 June. Analysts said that the deal averted the threat of default hanging over the country. This following politically risky measures taken by the Sharif government including raising taxes, reversing subsidies in power and export sectors, increasing energy and fuel prices, agreeing to a market-based currency exchange rate, cutting spending and revising the 2023-24 Federal Budget. Micheal Kugelman writing "Islamabad waited until the very final hour to take the (politically risky) fiscal policy steps that the IMF had been hoping to see for months. If it had taken those steps earlier, much of the drama and fraught negotiations of recent months likely wouldn't have had to play out."[51] The IMF would state that the FY24 Federal Budget was “in line with the goals of supporting fiscal sustainability and mobilising revenue, which will enable greater social and development spending”.[52] However the Budget has come under significant criticism from experts, analysts, and industrial figures, calling the targets in the budget unrealistic, with a lack of any real structural reforms while committing to populist election year policies during an economic crisis.[53] [54] [55]

Impact on industry

In October 2022, the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) announced that 1,600 garment mills were closed across the country due to withdrawal of power subsidies and, as a result, five million people lost their jobs.[56] In December 2022, APTMA stated that mills across the country were running at less than 50% capacity utilization and textile exports could fall further from 2023.[57]

A number of leading companies listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange announced closure of plants. Car assemblers such as Pak Suzuki Motors,[58] Toyota Indus,[59] and Honda Atlas Cars,[60] whose production relies completely on parts imported from other countries, shut down assembly plants after they failed to secure letters of credit due to foreign exchange curbs imposed by the government.[61] Other notable companies to shut factories due to low demand and poor economic conditions include Millat Tractors,[62] Ghandhara Tyre & Rubber Company,[63] Nishat Chunian,[64] and Fauji Fertilizer Bin Qasim.[65]

Shortage of foreign exchange reserves and depreciation in Pakistani rupee created difficulties in importing crude oil, leading to a temporary closure of Pakistan's largest petroleum refinery–Cnergyico, in February 2023.[66] [67]

Delays in securing letters of credit resulted in ships and containers of pharmaceutical raw material, medicines and healthcare devices imported from other countries to be stuck at seaports for prolonged periods. Several pharmaceutical companies shut down due to "unaffordable cost of production". As a consequence, a shortage of medicines and equipment was reported across the country, forcing hospitals to postpone surgeries and treatment.[68] [69]

In April 2023, almost all of the country's 30 mobile phone assembly units, including three run by foreign brands, shut down, affecting 20,000 employees.[70]

In June 2023, Shell plc announced that it would exit the Pakistani market by selling its entire 77.42% stake in Shell Pakistan.[71]

International opinion

See also: National debt of Pakistan. Chinese officials blamed the West for Pakistan’s economic crisis,[72] and state media continues to talk about the strengths of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.[73] “Only China has given a full plan. From this perspective, it is the Western world that ‘abandoned’ Pakistan, and China is the one that extended a helping hand. And if Pakistan wants complete self-help, it cannot completely rely on China, it still has to fight for itself,” wrote Liu Qingbin, senior researcher at the China Digital Economy Institute.

The US has expressed serious concerns about Pakistan’s debt to China. “We have been very clear about our concerns not just here in Pakistan, but elsewhere all around the world about Chinese debt, or debt owed to China,” said US State Department Counselor Derek Chollet during his visit to Islamabad on 15 February 2023.[74]

Since the Gulf Arab states that have traditionally supported Pakistan are now unwilling to continue to provide economic assistance, outside analysis indicates that Pakistan can only seek further loan support from China.[75] Even though Islamabad may rely heavily on its bilateral partnerships with Gulf countries to secure a routine rollover of bilateral debt (and is likely to see some success on this front), its vulnerable external position will sustain concerns about a potential default and make it challenging to secure multilateral financing.

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Talat Anwar . Economic crisis and default fear . The Express Tribune . 12 June 2022 . 14 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220614131811/https://tribune.com.pk/story/2361264/economic-crisis-and-default-fear . live .
  2. Web site: Goods transporters suspend nationwide operations after fuel hike . ARY News . 16 June 2022 . 16 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220616055034/https://arynews.tv/goods-transporters-suspend-nationwide-operations-after-fuel-hike/ . live .
  3. Web site: Food prices soared by up to 30% in Pakistan: WB . The Express Tribune . 7 August 2022.
  4. News: GWYNNE . DYER . Pakistan bound for crisis amid changed reality . en . Bangkok Post . 2023-04-06.
  5. Web site: Khawaja . Haroon . 2023-02-27 . Beyond default — Iran via the US . 2023-02-27 . DAWN.COM . en.
  6. Web site: 2023-04-06 . Pakistan's Existential Economic Crisis . 2023-06-22 . United States Institute of Peace . en.
  7. Web site: 2023-01-19 . Pakistan's economic crisis . 2023-06-22 . Brookings . en-US.
  8. Sushant Sareen, Pakistan’s troubles are an opportunity to make it a normal country, Observer Research Foundation, 6 February 2023.
  9. Web site: Pakistan's economic crisis . 2023-08-05 . Brookings . en-US.
  10. Web site: pldt . 2019-07-25 . Did PTI inherit the biggest current account and fiscal deficit compared to previous governments? . 2024-05-22 . PILDAT . en-US.
  11. Web site: Griffiths . Sophia Saifi, James . 2019-05-13 . Pakistan agrees to 13th bailout in 30 years from the IMF . 2024-05-22 . CNN . en.
  12. Web site: Pakistan seeks more loans from China to avert currency crisis . 2024-05-22 . www.ft.com.
  13. Web site: Report . Recorder . 2023-11-13 . PTI issues ‘white paper’ on state of economy . 2024-05-22 . Brecorder . en.
  14. Web site: Hussain . Ryan Grim, Murtaza . 2023-08-09 . Secret Pakistan Cable Documents U.S. Pressure to Remove Imran Khan . 2024-05-22 . The Intercept . en-US.
  15. Web site: 2022-04-01 . Pakistan Sends US Demarche Over Alleged Political Meddling . 2024-05-22 . Voice of America . en.
  16. Web site: Mohamed . 2023-04-05 . IntelBrief: Pakistan’s Political Crisis Compounds Economic Distress . 2024-05-22 . The Soufan Center . en-US.
  17. Web site: 2022-05-19 . Pakistani rupee hits historic low of 200 against US dollar Here's why . 2024-05-22 . India Today . en.
  18. Web site: Gabol . Zulqernain Tahir Imran . 2022-05-24 . Crackdown belies govt claims of tolerance to PTI march . 2024-05-22 . DAWN.COM . en.
  19. Web site: Pakistan says IMF approved revival of huge loan programme . 2024-05-22 . Al Jazeera . en.
  20. Web site: 'Emergency situation': In a first, complete ban imposed on non-essential items, says Marriyum Aurangzeb . 2022-06-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220616062609/https://www.geo.tv/latest/417812-emergency-situation-in-a-first-complete-ban-imposed-on-non-essential-items-says-marriyum-aurangzeb . live .
  21. Web site: Pakistan's foreign policy reset hits a dead end . 13 July 2022 . The Australian Strategic Policy Institute . 13 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220713024621/https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/pakistans-foreign-policy-reset-hits-a-dead-end/ . live .
  22. Web site: Pakistanis told to drink less tea as nation grapples with economic crisis. Rhea. Mogul. June 15, 2022. CNN. June 16, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220616063610/https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/15/asia/pakistan-tea-economy-intl-hnk/index.html. live.
  23. Web site: Pakistanis told to drink less tea to help fight economic crisis. Associated Press in. Islamabad. June 15, 2022. the Guardian. June 16, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220616063610/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/15/pakistanis-told-to-drink-less-tea-amid-economic-crisis. live.
  24. News: Pakistan Inflation Hits 21.32% in June on Costly Oil . Bloomberg . July 2022 . 2022-07-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220701094210/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-01/pakistan-inflation-accelerates-to-21-32-in-june-on-costly-oil . live .
  25. Web site: $2.3 bn Chinese loan credited to State Bank of Pakistan: Finance minister . Business Standard . 25 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220625041006/https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/2-3-bn-chinese-loan-credited-to-state-bank-of-pakistan-finance-minister-122062500105_1.html . live .
  26. Web site: Pakistan suffers over 30 bln USD loss to economy due to floods: minister . Xinhua . 2022-12-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221207033346/https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/pakistan-suffers-over-30-bln-usd-loss-to-economy-due-to-floods-minister/ar-AA14WutX . live .
  27. Web site: Forex crisis deepens . Dawn . 12 December 2022 . 12 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221212061319/https://www.dawn.com/news/1725953/forex-crisis-deepens . live .
  28. Web site: 'Pakistan in financial emergency' . 6 December 2022 . The Express Tribune . 6 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221206042451/https://tribune.com.pk/story/2389724/pakistan-in-financial-emergency . live .
  29. News: Alam . Kazim . Systemic risk lurks ahead, says Habib Bank CEO . Dawn . 15 January 2023 .
  30. News: 2023-01-23 . Pakistan power cut: Major cities without electricity after grid breakdown . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-06-16.
  31. News: Bhat . Swati . Peshimam . Gibran Naiyyar . 2023-02-15 . Inflation in Pakistan could average 33% in H1 2023, says Moody's economist . Reuters .
  32. Web site: China lends Pakistan further $700 mln to shore up FX reserves . Reuters . 22 February 2023.
  33. Web site: Pakistan's CPI soars to highest rate in nearly 50 years . 2023-03-01 . www.aljazeera.com . en.
  34. Web site: 2023-02-08 . Fitch downgrades Pakistan's Issuer Default Rating What happens if the country defaults on its debt . 2023-04-06 . cnbctv18.com . en.
  35. Web site: 2023-04-06 . Pakistan food crisis: People continue to fight over food, as death toll from stampede rises to 16 . 2023-06-16 . cnbctv18.com . en.
  36. News: China approves $1.3 bln loan rollover for Pakistan -finance minister . 3 March 2023 . Reuters . 4 March 2023 . Shahzad . Asif .
  37. Web site: Amin . Tahir . 2023-03-16 . Consumer price inflation in Pakistan second highest in South Asia: World Bank . 2023-03-18 . Brecorder . en.
  38. Web site: Raheel Raza: Pakistan is in crisis — and that should worry us all . 2023-04-06 . Nationalpost . en-CA.
  39. Web site: Kiani . Khaleeq . 2023-04-05 . Lenders trim Pakistan's growth forecast to 0.4pc . 2023-04-07 . DAWN.COM . en.
  40. Web site: ANI . 2023-06-02 . Inflation in Pakistan surges to 38 pc, surpasses Sri Lanka's figure in May . 2023-06-04 . ThePrint . en-US.
  41. Web site: Khan . Sanaullah . 2023-06-20 . At high-level meeting, govt unveils 'Economic Revival Plan' . 2023-06-21 . DAWN.COM . en.
  42. Web site: Amid IMF deal uncertainty, Pakistani premier lauds China for aiding struggling economy . 2023-06-22 . Yeni Şafak . en-US.
  43. Web site: Arsla . Jawaid . Pakistan's election and what's next? . 2024-02-21 . Middle East Institute . en.
  44. Web site: Pakistan's New Budget Aims to Please the IMF . 2022-06-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220616014021/https://thediplomat.com/2022/06/pakistans-new-budget-aims-to-please-the-imf/ . live .
  45. News: Shahid . Ariba . 2023-06-14 . IMF says Pakistan's 2024 budget a missed opportunity as loan deal deadline looms . en . Reuters . 2023-06-18.
  46. Web site: 2023-06-25 . Pakistan's Parliament Approves Revised Budget to Clinch IMF Deal . 2024-04-19 . Voice of America . en.
  47. Web site: 2023-06-24 . Pakistan changes FY2024 budget as dictated by IMF to clinch stalled funds . 2024-04-19 . Arab News PK . en.
  48. Web site: Dawn.com . 2023-06-09 . 'No new taxes' in Rs14.5tr FY24 budget presented by FM Dar . 2024-04-19 . DAWN.COM . en.
  49. Web site: Federal Budget 2023-24 Budget In Brief . Ministry of Finance (Pakistan).
  50. Web site: ڈار . اسحاق . نحمدہ و نصلی علی رسولە الکریم . Ministry of Finance (Pakistan).
  51. Web site: 2023-06-30 . Pakistan Gets IMF Approval for Crucial Short-term $3 Billion Bailout Loan . 2024-04-19 . Voice of America . en.
  52. Web site: 2023-06-30 . Pakistan secures critical $3bn nod from IMF in nick of time . 2024-05-02 . DAWN.COM . en.
  53. Web site: Kiani . Khaleeq . 2023-06-10 . BUDGET 2023-24: 'Populist' measures in trying times . 2024-04-19 . DAWN.COM . en.
  54. Web site: Dawn.com . 2023-06-09 . 'Plain vanilla': Finance gurus weigh in on the 2023-2024 budget . 2024-04-19 . DAWN.COM . en.
  55. Web site: Shahid . Ariba . June 10, 2023 . Expert and industry views on Pakistan's Federal budget for FY24 . .
  56. News: 1,600 mills already shut: APTMA announces nationwide closure of textile factories . 5 October 2022 . Pakistan Today.
  57. News: APTMA rejects reports over closure of textile mills across Pakistan . Business Recorder . 26 December 2022 .
  58. News: Inventory shortages force Pak Suzuki to extend plant closure . 18 February 2023 . Geo .
  59. News: Indus Motors shuts down production plant in Pakistan on delay in import approvals . Dawn . 19 December 2022 .
  60. News: Shahid . Ariba . Pakistan's Honda Atlas shuts production to end-March on import difficulties . 13 March 2023 . Reuters . 8 March 2023 . en.
  61. News: Cars, Tires, Textile Factories Have Shut in Crisis-Hit Pakistan . 13 March 2023 . Bloomberg.com . 18 February 2023 . en.
  62. News: Millat Tractors shut down for indefinite period on low demand, cash crunch . 18 February 2023 . Geo .
  63. News: Ahmad . Daniyal . Ghandhara Tyre announces plant shut down for February . Pakistan Today . 10 February 2023.
  64. News: One of Pakistan's largest textile companies, Nishat Chunian to partially suspend operations . Dawn . 28 December 2022 .
  65. News: Fauji Fertilizer Bin Qasim shuts down DAP plant amid economic downturn . Business Recorder . 22 December 2022 .
  66. News: Pakistan's largest oil refinery shuts down . 13 March 2023 . The Business Standard . 5 February 2023 . en.
  67. News: Pakistan's oil industry on 'brink of collapse' as liquidity crunch worsens . 13 March 2023 . Geo . en.
  68. News: Pakistan: Drug firms face shutdown amid economic crisis . 13 March 2023 . Deutsche Welle . en.
  69. News: Junaidi . Ikram . Pharma industry blames govt for 'lack of self-reliance' in medicine production . 13 March 2023 . Dawn . 12 February 2023 . en.
  70. Web site: 2023-04-02 . Workers in peril as phone makers in Pakistan shut down operations . 2023-04-07 . Samaa . Samaa Web Desk . en.
  71. News: Shell Plans to Sell Stake in Pakistan Unit Amid Economic Crisis . 19 June 2023 . Bloomberg.com . 14 June 2023 . en.
  72. Web site: West behind Pakistan's economic crisis: China . News Agencies . 3 March 2023.
  73. Web site: Zhao Shiren . Consul-General of China in Lahore . 2023-03-01 . Pak-China ties are beyond reproach . 2023-03-01 . DAWN.COM . en.
  74. Web site: Brar . Aadil . 2023-03-01 . How are Chinese discussing Pakistan economic woes? State media quiet, social media buzzing . 2023-03-01 . ThePrint . en-US.
  75. Web site: DAVID . BREWSTER . Why the Pakistan crisis spells trouble for our region . 2023-06-22 . Lowy Institute . en.