ogood2054

A holding operation, not a growth budget

Debt servicing consumes 69% of revenue while development spending stays compressed ISLAMABAD: The federal budget for FY 2026-27 arrives at a moment of relative macroeconomic calm, but not yet economic confidence. Pakistan has moved away from the crisis conditions of 2022-23: inflation has eased, reserves have improved, and the current account deficit has been tamed….

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Political leadership welcomes US–Iran understanding, praise diplomacy

President hailed Pakistan for consistently supporting dialogue and diplomacy throughout the period of tensions President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar Political leadership, including President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, on…

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Energy shock revives solar, EV push

ISLAMABAD: As tensions around the Strait of Hormuz fuel inflation and energy insecurity, Pakistan is once again confronting a familiar challenge: how to shield its economy from imported energy shocks. “When petrol becomes expensive, everything becomes expensive,” said Jabbar Khan, a father of nine. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), Pakistan’s headline inflation…

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Man, son gunned down over land dispute

Police say assailants intercepted their vehicle and opened fire before fleeing the scene RAWALPINDI: A man and his son were shot dead while two passing women were injured in a double murder incident over a land dispute in the Chakri area of Nasirabad Police Station limits, Rawalpindi. According to police, the victims identified as Syed…

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Failing to break IMF cycle

Pakistan's economic trajectory over the past several years has been closely linked to its engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Faced with recurring balance-of-payments crises, rising inflation, mounting external debt obligations and dwindling foreign exchange reserves, Pakistan once again turned to the IMF to restore macroeconomic stability and rebuild investor confidence. The current IMF-supported…

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Under war clouds, revenues falter, debt costs rise

Avoiding full-scale fiscal crisis requires lower tax rates, expenditure rationalisation & accelerated documentation ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s fiscal crisis is no longer a warning; it is a lived reality. Recurrent expenditures continue to rise while federal revenues falter, leaving little room for development spending. Every year, the government accepts ambitious tax and non-tax revenue targets under IMF…

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Traffic hits a rough patch as Lasbela dug up

Water pipeline work outside mosque leaves roads in disarray, testing patience of worshipers With no immediate restoration in sight, mosque administration resorts to temporary fixes, placing wooden planks over the dug-up sections. Photo: express KARACHI: City’s Lasbela Chowk has turned into a daily test of patience, where broken roads and rising dust now speak louder…

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Strong winds to lash Karachi till Tuesday

KARACHI: The Meteorological Department has forecast stronger-than-usual winds across the city until Tuesday, bringing a brief spell of relief from persistent heat while also raising the possibility of dusty gusts in parts of the metropolis. According to the Early Warning Centre of the Pakistan Meteorological Department, moderate to strong sea breezes are expected to continue,…

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