China’s SAFE provides $500 million deposit loan in June 2012 to shore up Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves

On June 29, 2012, China’s State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) provided a $500 million deposit loan to State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in order to shore up the country’s foreign exchange reserves (and address the country’s weak current account situation). The estimated borrowing terms of the loan were as follows: an interest rate of 12-month LIBOR plus a 1% margin (2.068%), an 8-year maturity, and an 8-year grace period. The loan, which was backed by a sovereign guarantee (from Pakistan's Ministry of Finance), was eventually repaid in full.

Additional details

1. For the time being, AidData relies on the borrowing terms (8 year maturity, 8 year grace period, and 2.068% interest rate) that the Government of Pakistan voluntarily disclosed to the World Bank's Debtor Reporting System (DRS). See https://www.dropbox.com/s/2sw4f7gluxa52fk/DRS%20Official%20Commitments%20from%20China%20Through%202021.xlsx?dl=0 and https://www.dropbox.com/s/ab8qt4n6jijcbhd/IDS_Average%20interest%20on%20new%20external%20debt%20commitments.xlsx?dl=0 and https://www.dropbox.com/s/949n5rctiue6d7c/IDS_Average_grace_period_and_maturity_on_new_external_debt_commitments.xlsx?dl=0. However, some sources suggest that loan's original maturity length may have been 6 years and it may the loan may been rolled over in the 7th year and 8th year after the original commitment date. These sources indicate that the loan was repayable semi-annually and it was originally scheduled to mature in January 2018. This issue warrants further investigation. 2. An alternative method of estimating the all-in interest rate (2.069%) is to add 1% to 12-month LIBOR in June 2012 (1.069%). 3. The Government of Pakistan loan identification number is CHINA2012 4. The Fiscal Year 2013 Annual Report of SBP identifies ‘two long-term deposits of USD 500 million each received from the State Administration Foreign Exchange (SAFE) China in January 2009 (rolled-over in January 2013) and June 2012 carrying interest at six months LIBOR plus 100 bps and twelve months LIBOR plus 100 bps respectively, both payable semi-annually. These deposits of USD 500 million each have been set off against the rupee counterpart receivable from the Federal Government and have been covered under Ministry of Finance (MoF) Guarantees dated February 7, 2013 and June 29, 2012 whereby the MoF has agreed to assume all liabilities and risks arising from the Group's agreement with SAFE China. Further, this also includes a deposit of USD 500 million received from SAFE in June 2008 carrying interest at six months LIBOR plus 100 bps payable semi-annually. The outstanding balance of this deposit is USD 100 million as on June 30, 2013 (2012: USD 200 million). This deposit is the direct liability of the [SDP].'

Number of official sources

15

Number of total sources

18