LAHORE, May 24 (APP): Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has urged the State Bank of Pakistan to lower banking spread in the State Bank Financing Scheme for renewable energy and other sectors.
The LCCI spokesman told media here Monday that in a letter to the Governor State Bank of Pakistan Dr. Reza Baqir, the LCCI President Mian Tariq Misbah said that business community appreciates the positive role of the State Bank in recent times to facilitate the businesses affected by COVID-19, particularly through the reduction in policy rate by 625 bps, one-year extension in principal payment, Rozgar Scheme to prevent layoffs and Temporary Economic Refinance Facility (TERF). He said that these measures have helped to inject liquidity in the economy and helped businesses to revive their operations.
Mian Tariq Misbah said that the cost of doing business in the recent times has escalated significantly due to a hike in the electricity tariff. “In this context, it is imperative for us as a nation to make our energy mix more efficient and cost-effective by increasing the share of renewable energy (Solar, Wind etc.), which currently stands at even less than five percent in our total electricity generation,” he added.
The LCCI President requested the government to lower banking spreads to encourage borrowings by the private sector.
He said that there is a need to focus on the banking sector and to improve access to credit by discouraging preferential treatment. Lowering of banking spreads would help more capital available to private sector of the economy and it should be the part of the government’s agenda, he added.
Mian Tariq Misbah said, private sector is the engine of growth. “There is a need to improve the economic management, he said, adding if the government wants to broaden the tax net it would have to facilitate the private sector by curtailing banking spread.
The LCCI President hoped that while keeping in view the ground realities, the State Bank of Pakistan would decrease its end user rate in the SBP Financing Scheme for renewable energy and other sectors by decreasing the bank spread which currently ranges from three to four percent.
