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….
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…
Compared to Rs3 billion in the previous fiscal year, the subsidy has been raised to Rs7.3 billion this year RAWALPINDI: The federal budget 2026-27 has brought major relief for residents of Rawalpindi and Islamabad in the public transport sector, with a significant increase in subsidy for the Metro Bus and Green Electric Bus services. The…
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…
PM Shehbaz states there will be immediate, permanent termination of military operations on all fronts A staff member removes the Iranian flag from the stage after a group picture with foreign ministers and representatives of the US, Iran, China, Russia, Britain, Germany, France and the European Union during Iran nuclear talks at the Vienna International…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…