PVARA chairman terms it a foundational step in bringing virtual assets into the formal financial system of Pakistan State Bank of Pakistan. Photo: File The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has allowed banks to open accounts for licensed virtual asset service providers, overriding a 2018 ban, as the country moves to integrate digital assets into the…
Compliance with tax regulations is mandatory, including a valid NTN and active filer status with the FBR ISLAMABAD: Engineering Development Board (EDB) CEO Hamad Ali Mansoor has issued a comprehensive code of conduct for the import of used vehicles, stating that ensuring transparency, quality standards and consumer protection remains his top priority, according to an…
Agri-committee fixes production targets for essential Kharif crops including rice, maize and sugarcane ISLAMABAD: The government has set cotton production target at 9.64 million bales from plantations over an area of 2.16 million hectares during the upcoming Kharif sowing season 2026-27. Pakistan is currently facing a cotton crisis as the government is largely focusing on…
Gold and silver prices extended their upward trend in both international and local markets on Wednesday, reflecting continued strength in global bullion demand. In the international bullion market, the price of gold rose by $35 per ounce to reach $4,811, marking a further increase during the week. Following the global trend, local bullion markets also…
KOKO TECH to tap into consumer financing for youth, freelancers and small businesses ISLAMABAD: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has granted a licence to KOKO TECH Pakistan (Private) Limited (KTPL) to operate a Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) business in Pakistan, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday. KTPL is owned…
KARACHI: Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has urged rice exporters to set an ambitious target of $10 billion in exports, assuring them of full support from his ministry and port authorities during a visit to the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP), according to an official statement issued on Tuesday. The…
The government has agreed to the need for a mini-budget if revenues fall short of expectations by end-December 2025, according to the IMF. Photo: file ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday lowered Pakistan’s economic growth forecast to 3.5% and raised its inflation projection to 8.4% for the next fiscal year due to the…
Aurangzeb says this would help reinforce foreign exchange reserves, strengthen the country’s external account Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb along with the Governor, State Bank of Pakistan and Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, held a detailed meeting with Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan. PHOTO: MINISTRY OF FINANCE ON X The Kingdom of Saudi…
As 2025 comes to a close, the city grapples with consequences of unfinished development projects — broken roads, blocked sewers, and rising pollution continue to endanger public health. Photo: Express ISLAMABAD: The government has further deepened the cut on the development budget to Rs173 billion, or 17% of annual allocations. The move aims to offset…
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Power Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari has said that nearly 25% of Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) consumers have been equipped with Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) meters, which amounts to around 1.1 to 1.2 million meters and is a key step towards modernising the power sector. Speaking during his visit to the…