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Pakistan shifts from subsidies to strategy at governance forum

Federal Minister for the Board of Investment, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, addressed the Pakistan Governance Forum organized by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special...

SECP data shows 21pc growth in non-banking financial sector

The total assets of Pakistan’s non-banking financial sector rose to Rs6.84 trillion during the first half of the current fiscal year, reflecting robust growth...

Govt moves bill to legalise disputed FBR appointments

The Federal government has introduced an amendment bill in Parliament seeking to provide legal cover to allegedly irregular appointments and unapproved incentives granted within...

FBR orders businesses to link systems within a week

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has directed all registered businesses to integrate their systems with the tax authority within one week in a...

Commerce Minister vows urgent relief for carpet exporters

Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan chaired a meeting with representatives of the Pakistan Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PCMEA) to review the...

Freelancers set to join $1 billion export club this fiscal year

Pakistani freelancers are on track to join the one billion dollar export club by the end of the current fiscal year, according to the...

Govt weighs export push amid potato surplus

Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan chaired a high-level meeting to review the situation arising from surplus potato production in the country and...

Pakistan’s gold reserves surge to $10.374 billion

According to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan, the country’s total gold reserves have risen to $10.374 billion. Pakistan currently holds 64.76 metric...

Power Division plans targeted subsidies through BISP

The Power Division has finalized a future subsidy framework and will brief an International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation on recent tariff restructuring and the...

Pakistan and Turkey sign MoUs to boost agri-livestock collaboration

The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) continues to play a key role in promoting institutional coordination, global partnerships, and an investor-friendly environment. Memorandums of Understanding...

UAE agrees to two-month rollover of $2bn deposit

The United Arab Emirates has agreed in principle to roll over Pakistan’s $2 billion deposit for a short period of two months, providing temporary...

Pakistan, IFAD review 1.2 billion dollar development portfolio

Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain is leading Pakistan’s delegation at the 49th Session of the Governing Council of...

Pakistan, Cambodia explore technology-driven trade partnership at NUST

Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and Cambodia’s Minister of Commerce Cham Nimul visited the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) and...

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia agree on investment-led economic partnership

Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan held a comprehensive meeting with Ibrahim Al-Mubarak, Assistant Minister of Investment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,...

Textiles, pharmaceuticals and SEZs top Pakistan–Cambodia agenda

A delegation-level meeting co-chaired by Federal Minister for Commerce of Pakistan Jam Kamal Khan and Cambodia’s Minister of Commerce Cham Nimul was held today...

FPCCI hosts Cambodia trade minister to boost business ties

The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on Tuesday hosted a business engagement in honour of Cham Nimul, Minister of Commerce...

Pakistan banks to remain stable amid slow economic recovery: Moody’s

International credit rating agency Moody’s has revised Pakistan’s banking sector outlook from positive to stable, citing gradual improvement in economic conditions but ongoing challenges...

Pakistan, Cambodia to co-chair second Joint Trade Committee

Rana Ihsaan Afzal Khan, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Commerce, on Monday received Cambodia’s Minister of Commerce Her Excellency Cham Nimul at the...

Pakistan highlights debt reforms at IMF-backed AlUla forum

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb on Monday participated in a high-level roundtable titled “Addressing Sovereign Debt Vulnerabilities” at the AlUla...

Petroleum levy collection hits record high in first half of fiscal year

For the first time in Pakistan’s history, petroleum levy collection in the first half of a fiscal year has reached an unprecedented level, official...

Pakistan’s inflation rises to 5.8 pct in January

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's consumer price index (CPI) inflation rose to 5.8 percent year on year in January 2026, up from 5.6 percent in December 2025,...

FBR announces new property rates for Islamabad

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has issued revised official property rates for Islamabad, applicable to both residential and commercial properties. The new rates...

Pakistan sets $350 million target for gemstone exports by 2030

Despite having billions of dollars worth of gemstones, Pakistan’s share in the global market is only 0.3 percent. To address this, the government has...

Transporters raise fares in Lahore after diesel price hike

Following a hike in diesel prices, transporters in Lahore have unilaterally increased fares, affecting passengers across intercity and local routes. Bus fares have risen by...

World Bank President Ajay Banga arrives in Pakistan for four-day visit

World Bank President Ajay Pal Singh Banga has arrived in Pakistan for a four-day official visit, which will continue until February 4, 2026. During...

Pakistan, Rwanda explore direct sea routes to East Africa

Pakistan and Rwanda are exploring the establishment of direct sea routes from Karachi to major East African ports, including Djibouti and Mombasa, to access...

Per capita public debt jumps 13pc to Rs333,000: Finance Ministry says

The debt burden on every Pakistani increased by 13 per cent during the last fiscal year, reaching Rs333,041 per person, as rising public debt...

ECC clears subsidised sale of imported wheat, Rs22bn loss feared

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the federal cabinet has approved the auction of 500,000 tons of wheat held by the Pakistan Agricultural Storage...

Pakistan secures $430 million crude oil import deal with US

Pakistan has achieved a major milestone in the energy sector as Synergico Pakistan Limited signed a $430 million commercial agreement to import six million...

Electricity prices likely to rise by 48 paisa per unit for one month

Electricity consumers across the country may face an increase of 48 paisa per unit in power tariffs for one month, following a request filed...

Cotton sector warns of further decline in cultivation next year

The cotton ginning sector has warned of a further decline in cotton cultivation next year, citing a sharp increase in sugarcane prices and extensive...

Power Division calls report on Rs223bn circular debt rise misleading

The Power Division on Monday described reports of a Rs223 billion increase in the power sector’s circular debt during the first five months of...

Mega Leather Show inaugurated in Lahore, over 200 exhibitors participate

Rana Ihsaan Afzal Khan, Coordinator to the Prime Minister for Commerce, inaugurated the Mega Leather Show at the Lahore Expo Center on Monday, highlighting...

Kuwait-backed Islamic digital bank to start operations in Pakistan

Pakistan’s financial sector has received a fresh boost as confidence among global partners continues to strengthen, supported by facilitation from the Special Investment Facilitation...

Economic stability impossible without expanding tax net: FBR chief

Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Rashid Langrial said that Pakistan’s economic stability is not possible without expanding the tax base, warning that continued...

Maritime sector posts record Rs100bn profit amid sweeping reforms: Federal Minister

Pakistan’s maritime sector achieved a record profit of Rs100 billion ($360 million) in 2025 following a year of comprehensive reforms aimed at boosting port...

Climate shocks, regional tensions threaten Pakistan’s economy: World Bank

The World Bank has warned that rising regional conflicts, climate-related disasters and tighter global financial conditions pose serious risks to economic recovery in the...

Pakistan Service Global, China’s Golden Star sign Rs 1bn footwear deal

Pakistan and China have approved a joint venture agreement in the footwear manufacturing sector, aimed at strengthening industrial cooperation and technology transfer between the...

Pakistan, China explore $1.3bn investment opportunities in agriculture

The Board of Investment (BOI) has termed the successful convening of the Pakistan–China Agriculture Investment Conference (PCAIC) in Islamabad a significant milestone in advancing...

Finance Minister announces plans for dollar, euro, sukuk, and panda bonds

Pakistan is preparing to return to the global bond market after a four-year hiatus. Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb told Bloomberg during the World...

Over 150 textile mills shut as cotton industry faces deep crisis

More than 150 textile mills and over 400 cotton ginning factories across Pakistan have become non-operational due to rising imports under liberal trade policies...

Pakistan becomes world’s third-largest rice exporter

Pakistan is moving rapidly toward global leadership in agricultural exports, driven by strong and sustained growth in rice shipments, according to official data and...

Karachi flour prices soar amid wheat supply delays

The wheat and flour price crisis in Pakistan’s largest city continues to persist, with industry representatives warning of further increases amid supply delays and...

SBP to announce first monetary policy of current year on January 26

Pakistan’s improving currency position and easing inflation have strengthened expectations of a further cut in the policy interest rate in the country’s upcoming monetary...

Pakistan–Japan govt–business dialogue held in Tokyo after four years

The 8th Pakistan–Japan Government–Business Joint Dialogue and the Pakistan Business Forum were held in Tokyo on Friday, marking the first convening of the Dialogue...

Power sector equity turns negative by Rs800bn amid mounting losses

Pakistan’s power sector equity turned negative by Rs800 billion during the last fiscal year, mainly due to declining electricity sales, persistent losses of distribution...

Federal Tax collection crosses Rs13 trillion in FY2025

According to official figures, the federal government collected more than Rs13 trillion in taxes and levies during the fiscal year 2025. The tax revenue collected...

Seafood exports surge 22pc in first half of FY26: Minister

Pakistan’s marine fisheries sector posted strong growth in the first half of fiscal year 2025–26, with seafood exports rising to 122,629.11 metric tons valued...

PIA signs cargo deal with Garuda Indonesia to boost exports

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has taken a major step to facilitate Pakistani exporters by signing an important agreement with Indonesia’s national airline, Garuda Indonesia. According...

Aurangzeb says Rs1 trillion wasted annually in state-owned entities

Federal Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb on Wednesday said that interest payments on debt remain the government’s largest expenditure, while inefficiencies in state-owned enterprises...

Petroleum prices likely to fall from January 16

A reduction in petroleum product prices is expected in Pakistan from January 16 following a decline in global crude oil prices, according to official...

FBR plans digital enforcement stations to curb smuggling

The Federal Board of Revenue has decided to establish Digital Enforcement Stations as part of a broader effort to curb smuggling and illegal trade...

NEPRA raises average base power tariff by Rs1.79 per unit

National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has approved an increase of Rs1.79 per unit in the average base electricity tariff, effective from January 1,...

Govt introduces new monitoring framework for PPP projects’ financial risks

The government has introduced a new monitoring framework to track financial risks associated with Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects, fulfilling a commitment made to the...

Punjab Revenue Authority sees 35% surge in first-half collections

The Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) has recorded a historic increase in tax collection during the first half of the current fiscal year following recent...

Finance Minister praises FBR as tax revenues hit historic high

Pakistan recorded the highest-ever tax collection for the month of December, as the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) collected Rs1,427.1 billion in December 2025,...

PTCL group approves Rs15 billion investment in U Microfinance Bank

PTCL Group has approved an investment of Rs15 billion, equivalent to around $53 million, in U Microfinance Bank Limited (U Bank), marking one of...

Small Traders declare 2025 worst year for business and economy

Small traders have declared calendar year 2025 as one of the worst years in Pakistan’s history in terms of business activity, investment, unemployment and...

FBR fails to meet revenue targets, Rs321 billion shortfall in H1

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) failed to achieve its monthly and half-yearly tax collection targets for the first half of fiscal year 2025-26,...

National vaccine policy ready for PM’s approval: SAPM

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan chaired a high-level meeting on local manufacturing of vaccines, marking a...

Pakistan achieves historic milestones in Islamic finance and sukuk issuance

Revolutionary reforms by the Securities and Investment Finance Commission (SIIFC) have strengthened Pakistan’s financial and investment sectors, placing the country’s Islamic finance market on...

DIB Pakistan, Zindigi join forces to boost digital Islamic banking

Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) Pakistan has entered into a strategic partnership with Zindigi (owned by JS Bank) to enhance the digital banking experience for...

Planning Minister reviews Rs1 trillion power, hydel projects

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Prof Ahsan Iqbal chaired a high-level review meeting on Monday to assess the progress of critical...

Pakistan to showcase youth-led startups at World Economic Forum Davos

Pakistan will present youth-driven startup ideas at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos this January, as part of a broader effort to project...

Arif Habib announces plans to expand PIA fleet to 65 planes

Prominent Pakistani businessman Arif Habib has announced plans to expand the fleet of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to 38 planes initially, and eventually to...

Pakistan receives over 3 billion USD in loans, grants during early FY 2025-26

Pakistan has received more than $3 billion in external loans during the first five months (July–November) of the current fiscal year 2025-26, according to...

Pakistan’s foreign reserves reach record high, global agencies praise economy

Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves have reached their highest level in history, reflecting renewed investor confidence and improving macroeconomic stability, according to officials and international...

Federal govt brings in over 3 Lakh tons of sugar in five months

The federal government imported an additional 76,752 metric tons of sugar in November, according to data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. During the first...

World Bank approves $700 Million for Pakistan’s inclusive development program

The World Bank has approved $700 million in financing for Pakistan under its multi-year Public Resources for Inclusive Development — Multiphase Programmatic Approach (PRID-MPA),...

CCP calls for reforms to tackle adulterated farm sprays

The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has released a market review report on agricultural pesticides and crop sprays, warning that the widespread presence of...

Profit-taking ahead of roll-over week pulls PSX into the red

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) ended Friday’s session in the red as investors resorted to profit-taking ahead of the upcoming roll-over week, despite the...

Pakistan, Kuwait explore new investment and energy cooperation

Federal Minister for Petroleum, Ali Pervaiz Malik, held a meeting with the Minister of Finance and Renewable Energy of Kuwait and Chairman of the...

Turkish businesses eye expansion in Pakistan

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan held an important meeting today with a high-level Turkish business delegation....

91% Pakistanis did not buy online in last six months: Survey

A new Gallup–Gallani Research survey has revealed a major decline in Pakistan’s online shopping activity, with 91 percent of respondents saying they did not...

World Bank clears $400m loan for Pakistan

The World Bank has approved a 400 million dollar loan for Pakistan, days after the IMF released its latest tranche for the country. In its...

Pakistan, ADB sign $257 million deals for STEM and nursing reforms in Punjab

The Government of Pakistan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) today signed two programs: i) the Responsive, Ready, and Resilient Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics...

Pakistan, Yemen discuss boosting trade and economic cooperation

Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan met with H.E. Mohammed Motahar Alashabi today in Islamabad for a constructive discussion on enhancing Pakistan–Yemen trade...

IMF releases $1.2 Billion to Pakistan amid economic reforms

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released $1.2 billion to Pakistan, confirmed by the State Bank of Pakistan. Officials said $1 billion of the tranche...

CCP raids out-of-home advertising firms over alleged cartelisation

The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has carried out raids on the offices of three out-of-home advertising sector companies in Lahore as part of...

Global debt surges by 26 trillion dollars in first nine months of 2025: IIF

The Institute of International Finance (IIF) has warned that the world is witnessing a fresh surge in debt levels, driven by rapid investment in...

Pakistan’s remittances reach $3.18 billion in November, up 9% year-on-year

The State Bank of Pakistan has released figures showing workers’ remittances for November 2025 at $3.18 billion, officials said. The November inflows were 7...

Pakistan and Egypt agree on new economic partnership framework

Pakistan and Egypt have agreed on a joint economic roadmap aimed at strengthening trade, investment, and sectoral cooperation, officials confirmed. The development was facilitated...

China spends 35.5 billion yuan on work-for-relief programs to boost employment

BEIJING: Investment from the central government budget toward the work-for-relief programs has totaled 35.5 billion yuan (about 5 billion U.S. dollars) in 2025, with...

Pakistan to introduce new regulations for auto industry, tighten used car imports

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan, held a detailed meeting on Thursday with a delegation of the...

Pakistan urges D-8 states to strengthen regional trade, operationalise PTA

Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Commerce, Jam Kamal Khan, delivered a comprehensive and forward-looking statement at the Fourth Meeting of the D-8 Trade Ministers Council...

FBR withdraws Rs2.3bn, ETPB faces severe financial crisis

The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) is grappling with a deep financial crisis after the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) withdrew a total of...

Pakistan’s trade deficit rises as imports climb and exports fall

Pakistan’s trade deficit has widened significantly in the first five months of the current fiscal year 2025-26, driven by rising imports and declining exports,...

Pakistan, Egypt explore enhanced industrial and investment cooperation

Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan held a productive meeting today with Eng. Ahmed Elsewedy, President and CEO of Elsewedy Electric, one of...

Pakistan’s economy shows cautious improvement, inflation estimated at 5-6% in November

The Ministry of Finance has released its monthly economic outlook report, projecting inflation in Pakistan to remain between 5 and 6 percent during November,...

FBR misses November tax collection target by Rs156 billion

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) fell short of its tax collection target in November, collecting Rs878 billion against a target of Rs1,034 billion,...

Inflation picks up pace as weekly prices rise across essentials

Inflation in Pakistan is accelerating again, with the weekly inflation rate rising by 0.73 percent and the annual inflation reaching 4.32 percent, according to...

Pakistan, Türkiye agree to boost bilateral trade to $5 billion

Federal Minister for Communications, Abdul Aleem Khan, met with Türkiye’s Minister of Trade, Prof. Dr. Ömer Bolat, on the sidelines of the 5th ECO...

Pakistan to explore more women led entrepreneurship, skill development: Minister BOI

Federal Minister for Board of Investment (BOI), Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, held a landmark meeting today with the Chairperson of NAVTCC, Gulmina Bilal Ahmad, Executive...

Pakistan, Nigeria discuss trade, investment, and bilateral ties

Pakistan and Nigeria held a high-level meeting at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja today to strengthen economic cooperation, deepen trade and...

Pakistan finalizes comprehensive meat export plan for Malaysia

A high-level meeting finalized Pakistan’s comprehensive meat export plan to Malaysia, in line with the vision of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The session was jointly...

Pakistan calls for stronger regional trade at ECO Ministerial meeting in Istanbul

Federal Minister for Communications, Abdul Aleem Khan, representing Pakistan on the special nomination of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, delivered Pakistan’s statement at the 5th...

Finance Minister says 54,000 vacant posts abolished, saving Rs:56bn annually

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has announced that the government has abolished 54,000 vacant posts across various departments, a move that he said will save...

FBR opens tax offices on Saturday for public convenience

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has announced that all major tax offices across the country will remain open on Saturday, November 29, 2025,...

Pakistan launches first public-private genomics venture to boost research and food security

Pakistan has launched its first-ever public-private genomics joint venture, a major step toward building the country’s scientific and technological capacity. The initiative aims to...

Dubai Airshow 2025 breaks record with over $202 billion in deals

The Dubai Airshow 2025 has set a new global aviation record by securing deals worth more than US $202 billion, nearly double the volume...

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