KARACHI: Pakistan’s central bank left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 11% on Monday as policymakers assessed the impact of recent floods on food prices and the broader economy, extending a pause in monetary easing for a fourth straight meeting.
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Pakistan resumes household gas hookups after four-year ban
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif kicked off the rollout of regasified liquefied natural gas connections for households nationwide, meeting a longstanding public push for more affordable fuel amid dwindling domestic reserves.
State-run PIA resumes direct flights to UK after five-year ban
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines resumed direct flights to the UK after a nearly five-year suspension, marking a milestone in the government’s push to rehabilitate the struggling national carrier and restore the country’s aviation reputation amid broader economic reforms.
Millions of Pakistani account holders face service limits under new biometric rules
KARACHI: The central bank will impose new rules from Friday requiring biometric verification as the primary method for opening and operating digital bank accounts and wallets, a move that could disrupt services for potentially tens of millions of customers who have yet to comply.
Pakistan offers Rs22.98/unit power to industry, agriculture to revive growth
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday launched a three-year subsidy package offering cut-rate electricity to its industrial and agricultural sectors in a bid to spur exports and job growth, despite ongoing IMF pressure to curb untargeted energy support.
Pakistan to tap global markets in 2026 with eurobond, first panda bond
KARACHI: Pakistan is gearing up to re-enter international capital markets with a Eurobond issuance under its Global Medium-Term Note (GMTN) program in 2026, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Wednesday, signaling growing confidence in the country’s economic stabilisation efforts.
IMF lifts MENA, Pakistan growth forecasts on stronger demand, higher oil output
KARACHI: The International Monetary Fund raised its economic growth forecasts for the Middle East and North Africa region, citing higher oil production among exporters and resilient domestic demand among importers including Pakistan.
Govt sets Rs3,500 support price, frees wheat movement across provinces
Islamabad: The government approved a wheat policy for the 2025-26 season that lifts restrictions on inter-provincial shipments of the staple crop, aiming to ensure nationwide availability amid criticism from some regions over Punjab’s efforts to control outflows.
Pakistan says IMF reforms align with national priorities, $1.2bn tranche due Dec. 31
KARACHI: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb pushed back against suggestions that the International Monetary Fund is dictating terms at odds with the country’s priorities, saying all reforms to date have bolstered the economy while serving national goals.
UAE’s IHC buys 83 percent stake in First Women Bank for Rs4.1b in bilateral deal
ISLAMABAD: United Arab Emirates-based International Holding Co. acquired an 82.64% stake in Pakistan’s First Women Bank Ltd. for Rs4.1 billion in a government-to-government deal, marking the South Asian nation’s first bank privatization under a bilateral framework.