KARACHI: Chairman of National Business Group Pakistan, President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum, and All Karachi Industrial Alliance, and former provincial minister Mian Zahid Hussain on Wednesday said the second hike in the interest rates by the central bank in 25 days is worrisome. The move will increase the cost of doing business and hit the economic activities as the bank has increased interest rates by one percent, he said. Mian Zahid Hussain said that the hike may prove insufficient and the State Bank may increase interest rates again in January. Online
Talking to the business community, the veteran business leader said that policy rates have been pushed to 9.75 percent in a bid to contain inflation and current account deficit and improve balance of payments.
One of the purposes of raising interest rates is to curb rising imports, which, if achieved, will help the rupee recover to some extent, he added.
He said that in view of falling crude oil prices in the international market, it would have been better for industry and trade if interest rates had not been raised.
The decision of the SBP will shrink the economy and employment will decline but it may not reduce inflation and the current account deficit which is set to exceed the estimates of the SBP.
