ISLAMABAD: Two schools of thought have emerged in the recent debate on the 18th constitutional amendment, which brought a structural shift towards devolution. One school – let’s call it centralists – has argued that the federal government is now structurally weak and in a perpetual fiscal crisis, since 57.5% of divisible resources are transferred to…
ISLAMABAD: The government has constituted a ministerial committee to finalise its nominee for the appointment to the coveted post of senior adviser to the executive director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which will pick a name out of three candidates recommended by the finance ministry. The Prime Minister’s Office has set up the committee…
ISLAMABAD: The Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC) has backed the government’s decision to review oil prices every day, paving the way for market deregulation, which has been discussed for two decades. Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik on Saturday chaired a meeting with key stakeholders, including the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra), OCAC,…
KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has introduced a separate category for start-ups under its revised Prudential Regulations for SME Financing, a policy shift that could reshape access to formal finance for early-stage businesses. Experts caution, however, that regulatory recognition alone is unlikely to transform lending without broader banking reforms. For the first time,…
Pakistan, China pledge to deepen healthcare cooperation, improve access to advanced devices ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China signed agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) worth $1.492 billion during the two-day Pakistan-China Pharmaceutical and Healthcare B2B Investment Conference, with participants reaffirming their commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation in healthcare and improving access to advanced medical services. A…
According to Chairman Port Qasim Authority, Rear Admiral (retd) Moazzam Ilyas, the first phase of the $250 million dredging project has begun. Upon completion, modern large vessels with an 18-metre draft will be able to berth easily. photo: EXPRESS KARACHI: Work is underway on development projects worth billions of dollars to transform Port Qasim, Pakistan’s…
FARNBOROUGH, ENGLAND: Boeing maintained its forecast for strong global demand for new commercial aircraft over the next 20 years, according to the US planemaker’s market projection released in England on Saturday, ahead of the Farnborough Airshow. The forecast was almost identical to its 2025 outlook. Boeing anticipated industry-wide global deliveries of 43,625 new jetliners and…
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Board of Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh held a meeting with a delegation of Shandong Hi-Speed Group, led by its Chairman Xu Xiang, along with Wang Zhenrong, Country Director, and representatives of the Tabani Group. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the ongoing Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference in the pharmaceutical,…
KARACHI: The KSE-100 index extended its losing streak at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) in the outgoing week, declining 3.5%, or 6,439 points, on a week-on-week basis to close at 175,803. The market witnessed heightened volatility as escalating regional tensions initially triggered broad-based selling, with the benchmark index plunging 6,408 points on Tuesday. On a…
Nvidia’s rally loses momentum as investors shift focus from AI spending to earnings resilience BENGALURU: Apple overtook Nvidia on Friday to become the world’s most valuable company, reshuffling the top ranks of tech heavyweights as investors reassess the outlook for artificial intelligence. Apple was last valued at $4.88 trillion as its shares held steady, while…