{
  "id": 11838664,
  "title": "SBP seen holding tight policy as mid-term inflation target appears out of reach",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/04/sbp-seen-holding-tight-policy-as-mid-term-inflation-target-appears",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-04T03:37:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn Business",
    "slug": "dawn-business",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2034674/sbp-seen-holding-tight-policy-as-mid-term-inflation-target-appears-out-of-reach"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is expected to maintain a cautious monetary policy as inflationary pressures look set to remain above its mid-term target. Analysts predict the consumer price index-based inflation will average around 7.5% this year if oil prices rise back to $80 per barrel, or climb to 8.2% if oil hovers near $100 per barrel. The inflation rate currently stands at 10.3% in September, indicating that both businesses and consumers will have to absorb the cost-push inflation. The SBP is not anticipated to lower interest rates to boost economic activity; instead, it will stick to a tight monetary stance. This stance is geared towards supporting 'sustainable' growth, a trajectory that has been deemed insufficient by the government and the central bank. Experts argue that the government's and the SBP's preference for low but sustainable growth of around 3 to 3.7% annually has not addressed the pressing issue of poverty in Pakistan, where 44% of the population lives below the poverty line.",
  "summary": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2034576",
  "key_points": [
    "State Bank of Pakistan to maintain tight monetary policy",
    "Inflation expected to stay above 7.5% this year",
    "Low but sustainable growth of 3-3.7% not addressing poverty"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}