800,000 women open digital wallets as IT ministry pushes inclusion under four-year KOICA ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT), which chairs the national steering committee for the Digitalisation for Women Economic Empowerment (D4WEE) project, convened a high-level meeting at the UN Women Country Office in Islamabad to review progress on the four-year…
KARACHI: Pakistan’s broad money supply (M2) recorded a strong 21.3% year-on-year (YoY) growth as of March 27, 2026, reflecting a significant expansion in liquidity driven by rising deposits and increased currency circulation in the economy. The latest data shows that total bank deposits grew by 18.7% YoY to Rs30.6 trillion, indicating sustained inflows into the…
Pakistan has stepped up efforts to address the energy security challenge. Photo: file ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb on Monday held a virtual meeting with representatives of the electric fan industry, led by members of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and Pakistan Electric Fan Manufacturers Association, to discuss…
White paper frames national control of AI as key to security, governance and economic development BEIJING: The Pakistani Embassy in China joined the launch of a sovereign artificial intelligence (AI) white paper at the Zhongguancun Forum in Beijing on Friday, alongside partners from China, Brazil, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and Kazakhstan. The document defines sovereign…
LAHORE: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Monday announced that it had abolished all fare discounts and reduced its international flight operations in response to continuously rising aviation fuel prices amid austerity measures. In a statement issued by the spokesperson, the flights to Beijing and Kuala Lumpur would be suspended from April 11 and April 14,…
Project aims to expand cotton cultivation and address challenges affecting production in the region BAHAWALPUR: The Punjab government has introduced a subsidy programme for farmers in Bahawalpur to promote cotton cultivation and increase production through model farms and mechanisation support. According to a spokesperson for the Punjab Agriculture Department, the initiative includes financial incentives for…
KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Monday remained highly volatile, reflecting its vulnerability to regional shocks and domestic macroeconomic uncertainty, and the benchmark index shed over 4,850 points, or 3.2%. A sense of nervousness prevailed since the morning as investors awaited the outcome of Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East….
Gold prices surged on Monday, the first trading day of the week, in both international and local markets, while silver prices declined. According to the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA), gold per tola increased by Rs 1,100 to Rs 491,462, while the price per 10 grams rose by Rs 943 to Rs 421,349….
Launches new framework to empower youth to save securely and develop responsible financial habits State Bank of Pakistan. Photo: File The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said on Wednesday it has launched a new framework for teenagers’ accounts, enabling them to independently own and operate bank accounts and digital wallets. In a press release, the…
ISLAMABAD: A delegation of the American Business Forum (ABF) called on Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb at the Finance Division and shared proposals for tax policy rationalisation, reduction in compliance burden, incentivisation of exports and facilitation of foreign exchange inflows, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance on Thursday. The delegation, led by…