Pakistan Suffered Highest Inflation Globally in 2020, SBP Says in Report

The State Bank of Pakistan has released Inflation Monitor for the month of April and it has been shared that Pakistan faced the highest inflation globally in 2020. Despite now coming down gradually, January witnessed 12-year highest inflation of 14.6 percent.

The SBP to curtail the impact of inflation increased interest rates to 13.25 percent. The move further backfired as it “further increased inflation while the private sector stopped borrowing costly money hampering industrial growth and services” Dawn said in a report.

However as Coronavirus hit the country by mid-March, inflation started to slow down and as of May stands at 8.2 percent – this is in contrast to SBP’s earlier predictions of 11 to 10.9% for the month. Furthermore, in the past three months, interest rates have also been brought down to 5.25%.

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In a graph released by the state bank, Pakistan faced the highest inflation in comparison with both developed countries and emerging economies. The graph showed inflation of China, Thailand, India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka where Pakistan’s rates are highest.

To give relief pandemic struck and inflation facing industries, SBP provided relief through “principal payments deferrals, debts rescheduling and lending on easier terms”.