The $41.6b remittance divide

Foreign remittances to Pakistan have reduced by 6.9 per. PHOTO: REUTERS KARACHI: Sardar Liaquat Khan left his home nestled among the middle Himalayas near Banjosa Lake in Kashmir and his one-month-old bride to seek a better life. Three years later, he has not returned yet. His life is a quintessential story of the pain and…

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Hub water crisis threatens industries

KARACHI: Industries across Hub are grinding to a halt as an acute water crisis spirals out of control, even as the Hub Dam stands almost full, with leaders of the Hub Chamber of Commerce & Industry alleging that industries, farmers and residents are being systematically deprived of their due share of water. Former Hub Chamber…

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Goods transporters announce indefinite nationwide strike after talks fail

Decide to keep the protest peaceful by parking the vehicles instead of blocking roads The All Pakistan Goods Transporters Alliance on Saturday announced an indefinite nationwide strike after negotiations with the Federal and Sindh governments failed to resolve their longstanding demands. Speaking at a press conference held at the Karachi Press Club, alliance president Malik…

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PVARA nears licensing regime

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State and Chairman of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA), Bilal Bin Saqib, has said that Pakistan is moving closer to establishing a comprehensive licensing regime for virtual asset service providers, marking a significant milestone for the country’s virtual assets sector. He made these remarks while chairing the third meeting of…

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Cases in international courts swallow billions

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s government is currently fighting several cases pertaining to the power sector in international courts and is spending billions of rupees, which sparks questions about consistency of investment policy. These cases have been filed by different investors, who allege breach of contracts by the government of Pakistan. Earlier, in a case related to the…

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IFC invests $20m in Novatex

ISLAMABAD: The International Finance Corporation has announced an investment of up to $20 million in plastic packaging manufacturer Novatex Limited to support imports of raw materials and equipment, strengthen export competitiveness and promote sustainable production, a World Bank news release said on Friday. The IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, said the financing…

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Short-term inflation increases 9.29% YoY

IMF projects 7.2% inflation this fiscal year, up from its earlier 6.3% estimate. PHOTO: PIXABAY ISLAMABAD: The pace of inflation accelerated during the first week of August 2026, reversing the slowdown recorded in the final week of the previous month. The weekly inflation rate rose 0.28%, while the annual inflation stood at 9.29%. During the…

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$60b digital economy at risk without action

LAHORE: In a world increasingly defined by data, Pakistan stands at a pivotal crossroads. While the nation’s youth bulge and entrepreneurial spirit are well-documented, the infrastructure to harness their potential in the digital age remains a glaring gap. This was the central theme of a think tank session held at the Pakistan China Joint Chamber…

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48% ghee samples fail quality test

ISLAMABAD: About 48% of total vanaspati ghee samples collected from markets, 75% of refined palm oil and 44% packaged milk were found substandard and could cause serious heart diseases among the people, according to alarming findings released by the government on Friday. The findings, which the Ministry of Planning officially released, were based on 491…

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Middle East conflict weighs on PSX

KARACHI: Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) slipped into negative territory on Friday as cautious investor sentiment and fears of an escalation in the Middle East conflict triggered selling across major sectors. The benchmark KSE-100 index closed at 181,430.02, down 346.57 points, or 0.19%, after hitting the intra-day high of 181,647.27 and the intra-day low of 180,620.08….

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