FinMin urges banks to boost cyber defence

Virtual meeting focuses on AI-driven threats, REITs reform to formalise real estate investment Pakistan Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb speaks during an interview at the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group’s annual spring meetings in Washington DC, US, April 13, 2026, PHOTO: REUTERS ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue has chaired a virtual meeting…

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25,000MT tuna quota secured

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has secured a quota of 25,000 metric tonnes from the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), including 15,000 tonnes of yellowfin tuna and 10,000 tonnes of skipjack, a landmark achievement expected to generate approximately $200 million in exports, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said on World Tuna Day, according to…

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Dairy sector seeks tax cut from 18% to 10%

ISLAMABAD: To get rid of the undue additional 5.5% taxes imposed to force unregistered businesses to get registered, Pakistan’s documented dairy sector has proposed an 18% sales tax on printed price, which will also discourage tax evasion. As an alternative, the industry is seeking a reduction in the standard sales tax from 18% to 10%,…

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NTC ensures swift dumping action

LAHORE: National Tariff Commission (NTC) Chairman Dr Jawwad Uwais Agha has said that the commission is fully open to industrialists and the business community, and every case will be reviewed personally and decided quickly on merit to protect the local industry from unfair international competition. He said that the commission had expanded its outreach, and…

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Business leaders oppose 286% gas tariff hike

SSGC petition includes Rs312b interest on GDS receivables, Rs16b Balochistan shortfall KARACHI: Business leaders have strongly opposed the Sui Southern Gas Company’s petition to the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) for a substantial increase in gas tariffs for FY2026-27, urging the regulator to reject the proposal in the interest of industrial sustainability, according to…

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Pakistan eyes boost in rice exports to Oman

KARACHI: The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), in collaboration with the Embassy of Pakistan in Oman, organised a three-day visit of a delegation of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) to Oman from April 27-29, 2026. The visit was aimed at ramping up bilateral trade, particularly in the rice sector, and exploring new…

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PM Shehbaz orders formulation of strategy to stabilise electricity tariffs

Orders strict action on power theft, stresses reliable energy for industry and relief for homes Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addresses the nation on Friday. Photo: PMO Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday directed authorities to formulate a comprehensive strategy to stabilise electricity tariffs. The orders were given while chairing a meeting on energy sector reforms….

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Human capital ranking falls

The absence of incentives is a critical bottleneck. While public sector institutions such as TEVTA offer training programmes, industry participation remains limited due to weak awareness and inadequate policy support. KARACHI: Pakistan is a country where investing in human capital development is often viewed as an extravagance. Additionally, a troubling culture has developed in which…

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Fuel, power tariffs drive SPI up 14.52%

Owing to the Israel-US war on Iran, the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) increased by 14.52% on a year-on-year basis, reflecting a sharp inflationary hike across essential commodities, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Friday. On a weekly basis, inflation rose by 0.62% for the combined consumption group during the…

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