Virtual meeting between FinMin, US trade representative notes proposed framework advanced ‘significantly’ Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb speaks during a Reuters interview in Islamabad, Pakistan, June 15, 2026. PHOTO: REUTERS Pakistan and the United States made “significant” progress in negotiations on a reciprocal trade framework and are aiming to agree “at the earliest”, Pakistan’s Finance Ministry…
LAHORE: The widening gap in Pakistan’s vehicle taxation policy has opened a new fault line within the country’s auto industry, as established local manufacturers question a tax structure that they say favours expensive imported and premium new energy vehicles while leaving middle-class consumers with a heavier tax burden. The rift has intensified after the government…
Joint border markets, Gwadar port cooperation on agenda as neighbours revive economic ties Iranian and Pakistani national flags are displayed along a street ahead of the arrival of Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian in Islamabad, Pakistan, June 23, 2026— REUTERS ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: Pakistan and Iran have agreed to increase bilateral trade to $10 billion and expedite the…
Brent crude fell nearly 5% to $79.82 a barrel after earlier climbing to a session high of $86.33 US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was down $4.32, or 5.38%, at $76.02 a barrel after touching a session high of $82.33. PHOTO: PEXELS Oil prices fell as low as 5% on Tuesday to a three-week low…
ISLAMABAD: Mari Energies has finally allocated gas to Universal Gas Distribution Company (Pvt) Ltd from the Spinwam discovery in the Waziristan block of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa following a warm response from the private sector. Mari Energies is the operator of the Waziristan block having 55% working interest along with Oil and Gas Development Company and Orient Petroleum…
LAHORE: Cement despatches increased by 6.02% in July 2026, with total volumes reaching 4.476 million tonnes compared to 4.222 million tonnes during the same month last year, according to data released by the All-Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA). Local despatches by the industry rose 17.28% to 3.771 million tonnes in July 2026 from 3.215 million…
PRICE MOVEMENTS: The price of onions – an essential kitchen item – rose 75% year-on-year, while milk products became nearly 10% more expensive. However, potato prices fell 35%, and sugar prices dropped 21% due to sufficient stocks and the government’s resistance to millers’ export demands. PHOTO: FILE ISLAMABAD: Despite food inflation surging to its highest…
Rebound in oil prices following attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz added to market uncertainty KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) experienced a volatile session on Tuesday, with the benchmark KSE-100 index swinging between gains and losses before slipping into negative territory by midday as investors resorted to profit-taking amid mixed regional cues….
BENGALURU: US shale producers are expected to report their strongest quarterly profits since 2022 after the Iran war sent crude prices soaring, with analysts expecting much of the windfall to be returned to shareholders rather than spent on expanding production. ConocoPhillips, Occidental Petroleum, EOG Resources, Diamondback Energy and Devon Energy are among the producers expected…
Easing Gulf situation drives optimism; investors focus on banking, cement, fertiliser sectors KARACHI: Renewed investor optimism lifted the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Monday as the benchmark KSE-100 index surged more than 2,100 points, driven by a robust buying momentum across major sectors following a sharp decline in international oil prices. The KSE-100 settled at…