KARACHI: Bank lending to the automobile sector, housing finance, personal loans and private-sector credit exhibited a strong year-on-year growth in Pakistan. According to statistics released by Arif Habib Limited (AHL), auto financing increased by 3.4% month-on-month and 38% year-on-year. Outstanding auto loans reached Rs381.69 billion in June 2026. Earlier, Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association reported that…
Miguel Diaz-Canel argues US-backed far right uses ‘radical left’ to justify ‘aggression’ President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel. PHOTO: ANADOLU AGENCY Cuba’s president on Friday denounced the latest United States sanctions on his country, accusing Washington of reviving a “new and more dangerous version of McCarthyism” through a campaign against what he called a global “radical…
ISLAMABAD: Electricity consumers across Pakistan could face another increase in power bills next month after power companies sought a Rs1.20 per unit fuel cost adjustment (FCA) for August, citing higher generation costs driven largely by expensive imported fuels, particularly Regasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG). If approved by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), the…
KARACHI: Pakistan’s information technology (IT) exports climbed to a record $4.600 billion in fiscal year 2025-26, extending the sector’s strong growth trajectory and reinforcing its position as the country’s largest services export. According to the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) Balance of Payments data released on Friday, exports under the “Telecommunications, Computer and Information Services”…
Israel’s Higher Planning Council advances nine such projects since beginning of July, entrenching de facto annexation The Palestinian Colonisation and Wall Resistance Commission warned Friday that Israel is advancing new illegal settlement plans in the occupied West Bank involving the construction of 1,024 settlement units on more than 1,069 dunams (1,264.2 acres) of Palestinian land….
ISLAMABAD: A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Saturday declared Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Omar Ayub a proclaimed offender in a case related to the November 26 protest. The court also issued permanent arrest warrants for Ayub. Judicial Magistrate Shaista Kundi heard the case. The court declared Ayub a proclaimed offender after he repeatedly…
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan has called for transforming Pakistan-Egypt relations into a stronger economic partnership based on trade, investment, joint production, technology cooperation and regional value chains. He was speaking at a reception held in Islamabad to celebrate the National Day of Egypt. The event was attended by ambassadors, high commissioners,…
Making India the third country to achieve orbital launch capability through private enterprise Indian space startup Skyroot Aerospace launched its Vikram-1 rocket, marking the first attempt by an Indian private company to place a satellite in orbit, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, India, July 18, 2026. Photo: REUTERS Indian space…
The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ruled that claims for input tax adjustment on construction materials, such as cement and steel used in the construction of factories or other immovable structures, are not admissible under the Sales Tax Act, 1990. The court further emphasized that mandatory legal requirements, particularly those concerning banking channels and the…
Weekly inflation rises 1.4% on surge in tomato, chicken, LPG prices amid oil disruption KARACHI: The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) remained elevated at 13.09% year-on-year for the week ended July 16, 2026 as prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the Israel-US conflict with Iran continued to disrupt global oil supply chains and push…