KCCI demands reversal of failed policies

KARACHI: The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and Businessmen Group (BMG) have urged the federal government to avoid repeating policy mistakes that have damaged exports, discouraged investment and undermined industrial competitiveness. In a joint statement, KCCI leadership said many fiscal measures introduced over the past two years had been opposed by the chamber…

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Gold slides on ceasefire hopes, US jobs data

In the local bullion market, the price of gold per tola fell to Rs452,233 after a decline of Rs3,094 KARACHI: Gold prices in Pakistan declined on Monday in line with a subdued international market trend, as easing geopolitical risk from reports of a possible Israel-Iran ceasefire and stronger-than-expected US labour data kept bullion under pressure,…

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Privileged few game the system

Pakistan's economic discourse has become increasingly dominated by a single phrase: elite capture. It describes a quiet diversion of public policy, state resources, and institutional authority away from the national interest and toward private gain. It is embedded in important areas of Pakistan's economic framework, particularly in tariff structures, tax policy, and sector-specific concessions. These…

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PSX sheds 1,486 points amid geopolitical jitters

Broad-based selling keeps KSE-100 index firmly in red as banks, energy, cement and auto stocks lead losses  The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) remained under intense selling pressure on Monday as investors reacted to rising geopolitical concerns, dragging the benchmark KSE-100 index sharply lower during intraday trade. The market opened in the red and extended losses…

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The tax we don’t pay, the growth we don’t get

Agriculture, retail and real estate stay undertaxed while the salaried class and corporate sector carry the load KARACHI: We often hear about the challenges Pakistan faces when it enters an International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, yet we seldom spend enough time reflecting on our own structural shortcomings. It is always easier to criticise an external…

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The supplementary budget trap

Pakistan should not depend on foreign institutions for assessment of its budget. An Independent Fiscal Council with statutory authority will provide parliament with its own expert voice, independent of the executive’s fiscal claims. photo: file ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s fiscal strategy and productivity landscape have been marred by years of perpetual firefighting. Beyond the International Monetary Fund’s…

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Building internationally competitive auto industry

Globally competitive industry cannot be developed behind walls, without assuming additional risk If Pakistan wants to build globally competitive cars and export them, it must lower its protectionist walls, access lower cost parts, and frictionlessly integrate into GVCs. photo: file ISLAMABAD: In the 1990s, two new auto assemblers in Pakistan, Toyota and Honda, joined Suzuki,…

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