KARACHI/PAKISTAN: Standard & Poor’s raised Pakistan’s credit rating by a notch to B on Wednesday, citing improved political and institutional stability that helped implement tough reforms. Political stability has bolstered the government’s capacity to implement reforms. On July 22, 2026, S&P Global Ratings raised its long-term sovereign credit rating on Pakistan to B from B…
DIGITALISATION: Over the medium term, the sector is expected to benefit from regulatory pushes towards a documented, cashless economy, which should structurally enhance the low-cost deposit base. PHOTO:FIL KARACHI: Pakistan’s commercial banking sector is expected to face a squeeze on profitability in the second quarter of 2026 as elevated provisions, narrowing margins and weaker non-funded…
Discussions focus on reform agenda, including tax, energy sector reforms, privatisation, debt management Finance Minister Muhammad Auranzgeb held a series of meetings with senior International Monetary Fund officials including First Deputy Managing Director Dan Katz, Deputy Managing Director Nigel Clarke, Middle East and Central Asia Department Director Jihad Azour, and IMF Mission Chief for Pakistan…
KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange remained in positive territory by mid-day on Thursday, with the KSE-100 Index trading at 174,533.28, up 103.36 points or 0.06 percent from the previous close of 174,429.92. The benchmark index opened higher and touched an intra-day high of 175,237.59 before retreating to a low of 174,144.11. Trading activity was moderate,…
The sun sets behind oil pumps outside Vaudoy-en-Brie, near Paris, France, March 18, 2026—REUTERS Oil prices rose more than 1.5% in Asian trade on Thursday to stand at their highest in more than six weeks, as Yemen’s Houthis targeted oil tankers in the Red Sea and the United States launched a new round of strikes…
Jumps Rs4,600/tola amid global rally on soft dollar, ME tensions; rupee edges up to 277.91/$ Gold prices in Pakistan increased on Wednesday, tracking gains in the international market, where bullion rose to its highest level in two weeks due to a softer US dollar, technical buying and lingering Middle East tensions. In the local market,…
BEIJING/ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s exports to China reached $1.874 billion in the first half of 2026, reflecting a substantial 50.7% surge compared with exports of $1.244 billion recorded in the same period of 2025, according to the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC). Monthly performance demonstrated a consistent growth momentum throughout the period, with March 2026…
Agency cites stronger institutional capacity, sustained implementation of IMF reforms for move Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Global on Tuesday upgraded Pakistan’s long-term sovereign credit rating to ‘B’ from ‘B-‘. Pakistan was last assigned a ‘B’ rating between October 31, 2016 and February 3, 2019. S&P Global also raised Pakistan’s transfer and convertibility assessment to ‘B’…
ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet has approved another special allowance for top bureaucracy – the second in four years – and sanctioned Rs1.8 billion budget in the middle of a further extension in austerity measures and a 7% raise for all government employees. The decision was taken during the special cabinet meeting that approved the budget…
KARACHI: Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) ended the trading session on Tuesday with a thin increase as profit-taking and uncertainty about geopolitical developments wiped off most of the early gains, which were sparked by a strong rally over hopes of a ceasefire between the US and Iran. The benchmark KSE-100 index surged 2,442 points to touch…