ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s securities regulator has secured the country’s first-ever conviction against a bank executive for insider trading, a move that could strengthen trust in its capital markets and signal tougher oversight ahead.
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20 nations condemn Israel’s attacks on Iran, urge nuclear-free Middle East
ISLAMABAD: Twenty countries, including Pakistan, issued a sharp rebuke of Israel’s military strikes on Iran on Tuesday, labeling them a violation of international law and calling for a nuclear-free Middle East as tensions soared after five days of relentless missile exchanges between the two nations.
Pakistan’s IT exports dip after 19 months of growth, but yearly figures remain strong
KARACHI: Pakistan’s IT exports slipped 1% year-on-year to $329 million in May 2025, snapping a 19-month streak of consecutive growth, industry data showed on Tuesday.
Parliamentary committees reject solar tax proposal
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani lawmakers on Tuesday struck down the government’s plan to slap an 18% sales tax on solar panel imports, arguing it would stifle renewable energy growth and heap more pressure on businesses already squeezed by rising energy costs.
Pakistan to evacuate diplomat families, non-essential staff from Iran
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has planned to evacuate families of its diplomats and non-essential staff from Iran amid rising tensions sparked by the ongoing war between Iran and Israel, a senior Foreign Office official said on Tuesday.
Pakistan plans rail upgrade to support Reko Diq mining project
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered a sweeping upgrade to the country’s railway infrastructure, including an extension to the Reko Diq mining project in southwestern Balochistan, as the government moves to bolster transport capacity ahead of production at one of the world’s largest untapped copper and gold deposits.
Current account swings to deficit in May on trade gap
KARACHI: Pakistan’s current account posted a deficit of $103 million in May 2025, reversing a surplus of $47 million in the previous month, as a widening trade gap offset gains from robust remittances, the State Bank of Pakistan’s data showed on Tuesday.
Pakistan, US agree to speed up trade deal after virtual tariff talks
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United States have agreed to accelerate trade deal talks, with the goal of finalizing it “at the earliest,” after a virtual meeting between Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick held to discuss US reciprocal tariffs on Pakistani exports.
Govt curbs tax officers’ arrest powers after business backlash
ISLAMABAD: The government is rethinking sweeping new powers that would allow tax officers to arrest suspected tax evaders, responding to an outcry from businesses and lawmakers who fear the measures could lead to harassment and abuse.
Pakistan brings home 618 nationals from Iran and Iraq amid escalating Middle East conflict
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday repatriated another 618 of its nationals from Iran and Iraq as the conflict between Tehran and Israel intensifies, raising alarm over the safety of Pakistani citizens in the region, officials said.