Projects include K-P irrigation, Islamabad Jinnah Hospital, Sindh flood rehabilitation, Diamer Basha Dam, ML-1 design Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday chairs a meeting of the National Economic Council (Ecnec). PHOTO: X/ ISHAQ DAR Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday chaired a meeting of the Executive Committee…
KARACHI: The benchmark KSE-100 Index closed lower on Friday, losing 670 points (-0.40% DoD) to settle at 167,844 points as investors opted for profit-booking in the final trading session of the week. Activity remained relatively muted with 170 million shares traded in the KSE-100 universe, reflecting continued cautious positioning, said Ahmed Sheraz of KASB KTrade….
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 budget discussions between Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have remained inconclusive, though both sides covered significant ground except for convergence over the cost of tax relief…
Taameer Group expresses interest in expanding investments in hospitality, hotel, real estate, and construction sectors Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets a Qatar-based investment delegation led by Taameer Group founder Muhammad Hussein Al Ali. GOVT OF PAKISTAN Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday held talks with a delegation from Qatar-based Taameer Group, led by the group’s…
KARACHI: Pakistan has tapped into China’s vast and growing financial system through its inaugural Panda Bond, opening a new low-cost funding channel with fewer political strings attached that policymakers and analysts believe could help diversify the country’s external financing sources beyond traditional dollar- and euro-denominated borrowing. The RMB1.75 billion ($250 million) sovereign bond, issued in…
KARACHI: Pakistan’s foreign exchange buffers strengthened sharply during the week ended May 15, 2026, as the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) reserves increased $1.214 billion to $17.081 billion, driven primarily by multilateral inflows and recent market-based external borrowing. According to official data, the jump in reserves was largely attributed to receipts from the International Monetary…
KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed strong bullish activity on Thursday, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index climbing over 3,000 points in mid-day trading. As of the latest update, the KSE-100 Index stood at 168,082.21, reflecting a robust gain of 3,250.79 points or 1.97% from Wednesday’s closing of 164,831.42. The index touched an intraday high…
The annual volume of oil smuggling is estimated at 2.8 billion litres, which has resulted in a loss of Rs227 billion to the national exchequer. The smuggled oil is mainly sold at unauthorised roadside petrol outlets. photo:file ISLAMABAD: Amid the US-Iran war, smuggled petroleum products from Iran have started flooding Pakistan’s markets, stoking fears among…
ISLAMABAD: The Petroleum Division has opposed increasing the petroleum levy tax target and suggested cutting it to Rs1 trillion while reducing the rate to Rs50 per litre until global prices remain high, warning that higher levies were creating affordability issues and threatening social stability. The division has submitted its budget 2026-27 recommendations to the finance…
ISLAMABAD: The government has formally invited expressions of interest from local and international investors for the privatisation of three major electricity distribution companies(DISCOs): Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO), Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO), and Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), according to a statement on Tuesday. Investors can acquire between 51% and 100% shareholding with management…