Financing relief: supportive, but not the whole story
Alongside energy-related measures, the government also announced a 300 basis point cut in export refinance rates, bringing them to 4.5%. The objective is clear: improve working capital affordability and ease liquidity constraints for exporting firms.
Lower refinance rates:
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Reduce financing stress during long receivable cycles
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Support capacity utilization and order execution
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Offer temporary breathing space in a tight credit environment
However, exporters themselves consistently point out that interest rates are rarely the binding constraint once a firm is operational. The heavier friction lies in taxation complexity, customs procedures, banking documentation, logistics reliability, and compliance overheads.
Financing relief helps exporters move.
Systemic reform determines how far they can go.
The fiscal and IMF lens
Any reduction in cross-subsidies raises a legitimate question: who absorbs the cost. Whether through reallocation across consumer categories or explicit budget support, the fiscal math must hold—especially under Pakistan’s ongoing engagement with the International Monetary Fund.
If this reform is to be durable, transparency will matter more than rhetoric. Export competitiveness cannot be rebuilt on hidden distortions without reintroducing pressure elsewhere in the system.
