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‘Tea crisis’ looms over cash-strapped Pakistan

Web Desk 08:32 PM | 7 Feb, 2023
‘Tea crisis’ looms over cash-strapped Pakistan
Source: File Photo

KARACHI – Pakistan is currently facing hard times due to alarming slump in foreign exchange reserves and another crisis is looming that could affect the tea lovers in the country.

An official of the Pakistan Team Association (PTA) said around 300 containers carrying tea were struck at the Karachi for a month, warning that the commodity could be rare by next month if these were not released timely.

The South Asian country spends over $600 million to import team, making it the world’s largest team importer.

The ongoing decline in forex reserves has forced authorities to place restrictions on import of certain items while the commercial banks are not issuing letters of credit (LCs) to the importers who are upset over non-clearance of their shipments.

“Around 300 [tea] containers are stuck at the Karachi port and if they are not released immediately, tea will become a rare commodity by next month,” PTA top official Aman Paracha told Arab News.

He said the State Bank of Pakistan had asked PTA to submit a request for the release of their containers on a deferred payment basis.

“We wrote to the state bank but then a restriction was made that only Bill of Lading of up until January 18 will be considered,” he said, adding that the non-clearance of containers will not only brew a tea crisis but also caused losses to the importers.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson of the central bank said that the SBP had asked the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) to share the details of containers of each association as it was not possible to speak to every individual. He also assured that the issues of importers will be resolved on priority. 

Web Desk
Web Desk

Daily Pakistan Global Web Desk

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Today's currency exchange rates in Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal rates on March 24, 2023

KARACHI - Following are the foreign currency exchange rates for US Dollar, Saudi Riyal, UK Pound Sterling, U.A.E. Dirham, European Euro, and other foreign currencies in Pakistan open market on March 24, 2023 (Friday).

Source: Forex Association of Pakistan. (last update 09:00 AM)

Currency Symbol Buying Selling
US Dollar ‎USD 283.2 286
Euro EUR 302.5 305.5
UK Pound Sterling GBP 343.5 347
U.A.E Dirham AED 77.2 78
Saudi Riyal SAR 75.4 76.2
Australian Dollar AUD 187 189.4
Bahrain Dinar BHD 749.55 757.55
Canadian Dollar CAD 205 207.2
China Yuan CNY 40.91 41.31
Danish Krone DKK 40.77 41.17
Hong Kong Dollar HKD 35.92 36.27
Indian Rupee INR 3.41 3.52
Japanese Yen JPY 2.06 2.11
Kuwaiti Dinar KWD 919.22 928.22
Malaysian Ringgit MYR 62.85 63.45
New Zealand Dollar NZD 176.66 178.66
Norwegians Krone NOK 26.33 26.63
Omani Riyal OMR 731.97 739.97
Qatari Riyal ‎QAR 77.43 78.13
Singapore Dollar SGD 208 210
Swedish Korona SEK 26.5 26.8
Swiss Franc CHF 305.12 307.62
Thai Bhat THB 8.19 8.34

Today's gold rates in Pakistan – 24 March 2023

KARACHI – The price of a single tola of 24-karat gold in Pakistan is Rs 205,500 on Friday. The price of 10 grams of 24k gold was recorded at Rs174,730.   

Likewise, 10 grams of 22k gold were being traded for Rs163,624 while a single tola of 22-karat gold was being sold at Rs 190,880.

Note: The gold rate in Pakistan is fluctuating according to the international market so the price is never been fixed. The below rates are provided by local gold markets and Sarafa Markets of different cities.

City Gold Silver
Lahore PKR 205,500 PKR 2,350
Karachi PKR 205,500 PKR 2,350
Islamabad PKR 205,500 PKR 2,350
Peshawar PKR 205,500 PKR 2,350
Quetta PKR 205,500 PKR 2,350
Sialkot PKR 205,500 PKR 2,350
Attock PKR 205,500 PKR 2,350
Gujranwala PKR 205,500 PKR 2,350
Jehlum PKR 205,500 PKR 2,350
Multan PKR 205,500 PKR 2,350
Bahawalpur PKR 205,500 PKR 2,350
Gujrat PKR 205,500 PKR 2,350
Nawabshah PKR 205,500 PKR 2,350
Chakwal PKR 205,500 PKR 2,350
Hyderabad PKR 205,500 PKR 2,350
Nowshehra PKR 205,500 PKR 2,350
Sargodha PKR 205,500 PKR 2,350
Faisalabad PKR 205,500 PKR 2,350
Mirpur PKR 205,500 PKR 2,350

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