While Pakistan can continue reforming its tariff regime over the coming years before pursuing major bilateral agreements, it cannot afford to ignore regional developments. photo:file ISLAMABAD: The summit meeting between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping was overshadowed by rising tensions in the Middle East, yet trade issues remained high on the agenda. While…
Behavioural fixes like pre-filled returns and ring-fenced funds could boost compliance Research conducted by Australia’s tax authorities revealed that the first communication a new taxpayer receives affects their long-run compliance behaviour. photo: file ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s tax-to-GDP ratio has remained around 9% to 10% for several decades now – a figure that is alarmingly low for…
Formal sector and salaried class pay high taxes because they are visible, while undocumented and big fish remain comfo View of business offices and under construction residential apartments in Karachi, Pakistan September 23, 2025 Photo: Reuters ISLAMABAD: I run the kind of business Pakistan says it wants and needs. I produce goods, employ people, file…
Delegation tour StarCharge Group, a global leader in EV charging and smart energy technology in more than 60 countries CHANGZHOU: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar Khan and Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain have visited leading industrial enterprises in Changzhou to strengthen industrial collaboration with China. The delegation toured…
The International Monetary Fund logo is seen during the IMF/World Bank spring meetings in Washington, U.S., April 21, 2017. REUTERS ISLAMABAD: The executive board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has described Pakistan’s overall performance on implementation of programme conditions as “exceptional” and turned down Indian propaganda about the use of loan proceeds, officials privy…
DPM says over $13b in MoUs and joint ventures have been signed through bilateral B2B engagements Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal reach Beijing on Sunday. PHOTO: ISHAQ DAR/ X Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan was “open for business” as he addressed the Pakistan-China B2B Investment…
LAHORE: Indus Motor Company (IMC) Chief Executive Ali Asghar Jamali has said that Toyota has made a direct investment in Pakistan of $736 million in the past 35 years, and the company has planned to further invest $335 million over the next five years. These investments will make IMC the first automotive company in Pakistan…
Zaki Ijaz cites limited finance, high costs and regulatory hurdles as key challenges LAHORE: Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) CEO Nadia Jahangir Seth has said the authority is working to create an enabling ecosystem for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to grow and contribute more effectively to the national economy, according to…
Minister says PIA privatisation completed, three power distribution companies next RAWALPINDI: Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani has said the government intends to reduce the tax burden on the salaried class in the upcoming budget, but limited fiscal space under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme restricts major relief, according to a statement…
KARACHI: Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) extended gains during the outgoing week, when the benchmark KSE-100 index rose over 2,248 points amid easing geopolitical concerns linked to expected progress in US-Iran negotiations and improving investor confidence. On a day-on-day basis, the bourse commenced the week with a plunge of nearly 3,800 points, triggered by stalled US-Iran…