Economic Update July 2023
Economic Update July 2023
Monthly
July 2023
Government of Pakistan
Finance Division
Economic Adviser’s Wing
Executive Summary 01
Contents
Economic Outlook 07
Economic Indicators 10
M O N T H LY E C O N O M I C U P D AT E & O U T L O O K
F
Y2023 was a challenging fiscal year,
however, it has witnessed
noteworthy fiscal and current Interna onal
account balance improvements. The
government's stern decisions and Performance and
stabilization measures have steered the
country towards a sustainable path. Growth
Outlook
targets of 3.5% are anticipated to be met
through Kissan package, industrial support, OECD economic outlook estimated global
export promotion, encouragement of the IT growth to be 2.7% in 2023, with a modest
sector, and resource mobilization efforts. pick-up to 2.9% in 2024 – both well below
the average growth rate in the decade
On the global front, the economic activity in preceding the COVID-19 pandemic. Global
major advanced economies is still showing GDP growth slowed substantially
signs of weakness, mainly due to the throughout 2022, but several of the factors
continuation of monetary tightening weighing negatively are now unwinding.
measures. Inflation has fallen in some Falling energy prices and headline inflation,
economies due to lower energy prices, but easing supply bottlenecks and the
food and services prices continue to rise, reopening of China's economy coupled with
contributing to persistent high inflation. strong employment, all contribute to a
Monetary tightening measures are still in projected recovery. Significant uncertainty
place. about economic prospects remains, and the
major risks to the projections are on the
Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation has
downside. One key concern is that inflation
declined to 29.4 percent in the month of
could continue to be more persistent than
June 2023 from 38.0 percent recorded in
expected.
May 2023. The food inflation (urban) has
declined from 48.1 percent to 40.8 percent. Emerging-market economies face
Sensitive price indicator (SPI) also declined challenges from tight global financial
by 0.07 percent on week ended 20th July, conditions: higher debt servicing costs,
2023. capital outflows, and reduced credit
availability from foreign lenders. Moreover,
The fiscal front has seen an important
rising geopolitical tensions and concerns
improvement, with the primary deficit
about supply chain security have prompted
reducing significantly from Rs. 945.3 billion
several countries to implement trade and
last year to Rs. 112.0 billion during Jul-May
investment restrictions. Increasingly
FY2023. Furthermore, the fiscal deficit is
restrictive trade policies risk curtailing the
also expected to decline from the previous
gains from global trade and harming the
year 7.9% of GDP, largely due to a 12%
development prospects of low-income
reduction in non-markup spending.
countries.
In order to contain persistently rising
Asian Development Outlook for July-2023
inflationary pressures and to maintain
projects Developing Asia's outlook
external sector stability, SBP had to
optimistic, as the China reopening and
increase the policy rate by 100 basis points
domestic consumption and investment
to 22 percent in its last monetary policy
continue to underpin growth in the region.
committee meeting.
The regional growth forecast is maintained
The current account deficit has also at 4.8% for 2023 and marginally revised
declined by 85.4 percent as compared to downward to 4.7% for 2024. It is projected
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The economic situation of Pakistan's major 2023, urea offtake was 459 thousand
trading partners also showed through CLI, tonnes, which increased by 10 percent
of which China, UK and US showing while DAP offtake was 66 thousand tonnes,
increasing growth momentum in the month which decreased by 30.1 per cent over May
of June as compared to May, however the 2022.
euro area as a whole witnessed growth
2.1-b Manufacturing
below its potential level (Fig-2, page # 2).
Large Scale Manufacturing remained on a
The FAO food prices index (FFPI) averaged
negative trajectory with the observed
122.3 points in June 2023, declined by 1.7
decline of 9.87 percent during Jul-May
points from May. The decline in June was
Fy2023 due to supply chain disruptions,
driven by a significant decline in the price inflationary pressures and resultant hikes in
indices for vegetable oils, cereals and dairy, input prices, and continued contractionary
while the meat price index remained policy stance at the domestic level to
unchanged. correct the macroeconomic imbalances. On
Global commodity prices fell in June 2023. a YoY basis, LSM nosedived by 14.37
Energy prices declined by 1.8 percent, led percent in May 2023 and on MoM basis, it
by coal 13.1 percent and oil 1.2 percent. grew by 5.88 percent. During the period, 4
Non-energy price fell by 1.9 percent. Food sectors witnessed positive growth which
prices down by 3.5 percent. Fertilizer prices includes Wearing apparel, Leather
dropped 9.3 percent. Metal price declined Products, Furniture, and others (Football).
0.4 percent led by zinc 4.0 percent and The automobile sector continues to face
aluminum 3.7 percent which were offset by challenges due to an unfriendly economic
gains in iron ore 7.9 percent. Precious metal environment as the total production
eased by 2.7 percent. witnessed a decline of 37.4 percent in
FY2023 and total sales dipped by 37.8
Monthly Perfor- percent. The poor performance in the Cars,
Tractors and Trucks & Buses remain the
mance of Pakistan's major contributors to the overall decline of
this sector as Car production and sale
Economy decreased by 55.0 percent and 58.7
percent, Tractors production and sale
decreased by 46.1 percent and 47.5
2.1Real Sector
percent, and Trucks & Buses production
2.1-a Agriculture and sale decreased by 40.3 percent and
41.0 percent, respectively.
According to the initial estimates, the cotton
Fig-3: Fiscal Indicators % of GDP (Jul-May)
area sown in Punjab was recorded at 1.947
million ha which comprises 96.43 percent of Fiscal Deficit Primary Deficit
the target (2.019 million ha). Whereas 6.0
cotton cultivation area in Sindh stood at 5.5
5.2
0.625 million ha, 92.98 percent of the target
(0.672 ha). The total sown area stood at
2.676 million ha showing 96.7 percent of 4.0
target (2.767 million ha). Further, improved
quality of cotton seed has been used both in
Punjab and Sindh which will auger well to
achieve current year's target of 12.77 2.0
million bales. 1.4
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The sale of petroleum products was down Fig-4: FBR Tax Collection (Rs. bn) (Jul-Jun)
by 26 percent in FY2023 to 16.6 mn tons
from 22.6 mn tons in the same period last
year. Oil sales clocked in at 1.3 mn tons in
3,272
June 2023, a 31.0 percent decline on YoY
basis.
2,592
2,532
In FY2023, total cement dispatches
2,285
declined by 15.7 percent to 44.579 mn tons.
In June 2023, demand for cement
dispatches declined by 22.8 percent to
4.063 mn tons (5.264 mn tons in June
1,011
935
2022). Local cement sales by the industry
370
321
came in at 3.487 mn tons in June 2023, a
substantial decline of 30.0percent from the
last year. Whereas exports surged by 102.6 FY2023 FY2022
percent from 284,471 tons to 576,309 tons Source: FBR
during the same period.
the comparable period of last year.
2.2 Inflation
Net federal revenues grew by 24.4 percent
CPI inflation recorded at 29.4 percent on a to Rs.4,166.6 billion in Jul-May FY2023
year-on-year basis in June 2023 as against Rs 3,349.5 billion last year. The
compared to 21.3 percent in June 2022 major contribution in revenues came from a
whereas it increased to 38 percent in the 31 percent increase in non-tax collection on
previous month and average CPI inflation account of higher collection from petroleum
for July-June FY2023 stood at 29.2 percent levy during the period under review.
compared to 12.2 percent during the same Besides, other components like markup
period of last year. (PSEs & others, dividends, passport fees,
On a Month on Month (MoM) basis, it royalties on oil/gas, and windfall levy
decreased to 0.3 percent in June 2023 against crude oil also contributed to
compared to an increase of 1.6 percent in increasing the non-tax collection. In
the previous month. The non perishable absolute terms, non-tax revenues increased
items and perishable items declined by 0.9 to Rs 1,476.1 billion during Jul-May FY2023
percent and 1.6 percent respectively on from Rs 1,124.1 billion last year.
MoM basis. Similarly, the declined observed Net provisional Tax collection, on the other
in Housing, water, electricity, gas & fuels 0.2 hand, grew by 16.6 percent to stand at Rs
percent and Transport 2.2 percent. 7,169.1 billion during Jul-Jun FY2023
However, the increase observed in against Rs 6,148.5 billion last year. Notable,
Furnishing & household equipment domestic tax collection surpassed the target
maintenance 1.6 percent, Restaurant & by Rs 102 billion to reach Rs 6,234.3 billion.
hotels 1.4 percent, Clothing & footwear 1.1 It recorded an increase of 21.3 percent
percent and Education 0.4 percent. during FY2023 owing to higher collection
The SPI for the week ended on 20thJuly from direct tax (43.2 percent), whereas
2023, recorded a decrease of 0.07 percent customs duty reduced by 7.5 percent due to
as compared to previous week. Prices of 09 a significant contraction in imports.
items declined, 12 items remained stable On the expenditure side, total spending
and 30 items increased. grew by 20 percent to reach Rs 8,849.6
2.3 Fiscal billion during Jul-May FY2023 against Rs
7,361.5 billion last year. Within total, current
During Jul-May FY2023, the fiscal deficit expenditure grew by 22 percent to Rs
recorded at 5.5 percent (Rs 4,652.2 billion) 8,337.8 billion during Jul-May FY2023
against 5.2 percent (Rs 3,468.5 billion) in against Rs 6,843.8 billion last year. The
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FDI of $ 622.6 million (42.8 percent of total Fig-5: Trend of Major World Standardized Indices
FDI), Financial Business $ 275.1 million
(18.9 percent), and Oil & Gas Explorations 110.00 KSE-100 S&P 500
$ 135.1 million (9.3 percent). CAC 40 SSE Composite
108.00 Sensex 30
Foreign Private Portfolio Investment has 106.00
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Economic 130
120
102
100
Outlook 110
100
98
96
90
3.1 Inflation 80
94
92
Inflation in July 2023 is expected to ease 70
LSM Cycle (Le Scale)
out compared to in the month of June 2023. 60 90
CLI (Right Scale)
The recent decrease in administered prices 50 88
of petrol and diesel will be transmitted into 40 86
Jun-23
Jul-20
Jul-22
Jan-20
Jan-21
Jan-22
Jan-23
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Mar-21
Mar-22
Mar-23
Nov-19
Nov-20
Nov-21
Nov-22
Jul-19
Jul-20
Jul-21
Jul-22
Jun-23
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ECONOMIC INDICATORS
26 July, 2023
Remi ances ($ bn)
Source: SBP
FDI ($ mn)
PSX Index
25-Jul-2023
25-Jul-2022
25-Jul-2023
25-Jul-2022
25-Jul-2023
25-Jul-2022
* : Formerly Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) Source: PBS, PSX & SECP
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