ISLAMABAD: The government has signalled willingness to recover around Rs217 billion in super tax arrears through instalments to ease pressure on businesses, as an International Monetary Fund review mission prepares to visit later this month amid assurances of no external financing shortfall, Dawn newspaper reported on Thursday.
top-economy
Federal govt rebuffs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s bid for extra funds to aid displaced families
ISLAMABAD: The federal government has rejected a plea from the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Rs10.4 billion in additional funding to cover costs tied to resettling people displaced by security operations in Bajaur and the Tirah Valley, instructing the provincial administration instead to draw from its own coffers amid tight national finances, Dawn newspaper reported on Wednesday.
Export demand puts Pakistan’s JF-17 production to the test – report
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is grappling with a sudden wave of interest in its JF-17 fighter jet from at least five countries, a development that could overwhelm the production lines of its joint venture with China, according to a recent Bloomberg report.
Inflation edges up to 5.8 percent in January, matching forecasts
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s consumer prices rose 5.8% from a year earlier in January, official data showed, aligning with the finance ministry’s forecast and highlighting the central bank’s caution that inflationary pressures may linger as the economy gathers pace.
Diesel prices up Rs11.30 per litre; petrol held steady
ISLAMABAD: The government has raised the price of high-speed diesel by Rs11.30 per litre for the next fortnight while keeping petrol rates unchanged, citing higher international crude oil prices driven by regional tensions and a US naval deployment to the Persian Gulf.
IMF urges Pakistan to speed up reforms under $7bln bailout to bolster growth
ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund urged Pakistan on Thursday to quicken the pace of structural reforms pledged under its $7 billion bailout package, saying the step would help the cash-strapped South Asian nation solidify economic growth, preserve macroeconomic stability and ramp up exports.
Petrol prices seen falling as diesel set for sharp hike from Feb. 1
ISLAMABAD: The government is likely to cut the price of petrol from Feb. 1 but raise rates for high-speed diesel and other fuels, industry sources said on Thursday, as authorities prepare to announce the latest fortnightly adjustment amid fluctuating global oil markets.
ECC moves to stabilise flour prices with 800,000-ton wheat release
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top economic policymakers on Wednesday approved the sale of surplus government wheat stocks and a major allocation to the populous Punjab province, aiming to stabilise flour prices amid ongoing pressures from food inflation and fiscal constraints.
Finance Ministry sees January inflation holding at 5 percent to 6 percent as growth gains
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s inflation is projected to remain within the range of 5-6% in January 2026, the Finance Division said on Tuesday, as the economy showed signs of sustaining its growth momentum amid easing price pressures and structural reforms.
SBP holds policy rate at 10.5 percent as growth quickens, defying cut calls
KARACHI: The central bank on Monday kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 10.5%, surprising analysts who expected further easing after inflation cooled and reserves swelled, as policymakers flagged sticky underlying prices and a bigger trade gap despite a brighter growth picture.