ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s economy expanded by 2.4% in the third quarter of fiscal year 2024-25, bolstered by gains in agriculture and services, even as the industrial sector shrank, data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) showed on Tuesday.
Economy
Millions in Pakistan face severe food insecurity, malnutrition, UN report says
ISLAMABAD: Millions of people in Pakistan are enduring persistent hunger and malnutrition, a crisis deepened by relentless weather extremes and economic hardship, according to a new report from the United Nations.
IMF says Pakistan’s $7bn bailout fully financed with $6bn inflows ahead
ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund confirmed Pakistan’s $7 billion bailout program is fully financed, projecting $6 billion in external inflows for the next fiscal year as key allies pledge to roll over debt.
Trade deficit jumps 57pc in April to $3.4bn as exports slump
ISLAMABAD: The trade deficit ballooned 57 percent month-on-month to $3.4 billion in April as exports contracted sharply and imports surged, signaling mounting pressure on the country’s external accounts ahead of critical IMF budget talks.
Current account surplus shrinks 96pc in April as imports surge
KARACHI: The current account posted a slight surplus of $12 million in April 2025, a steep fall from the $1.2 billion recorded in the previous month and a 96 percent decline from the $315 million in the same month last year, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) data showed on Friday.
Petrol prices steady, diesel slashed to ease industry burden
ISLAMABAD: The government has kept petrol prices steady while trimming the cost of high-speed diesel by Rs2 per litre for the fortnight ending May 31, marking the third time in two months it has refrained from fully passing on lower international oil prices to consumers.
IMF pushes for budget cuts as debt concerns mount
ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund is pressing Pakistan to tighten its fiscal belt as the country confronts hefty debt repayments and aims to stabilise its economy, local newspapers reported on Thursday.
Pakistan receives $1.023 billion IMF tranche
KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan on Wednesday received a $1.023 billion infusion from the International Monetary Fund, a critical lift for its foreign exchange reserves amid economic reforms and a fraught standoff with India.
MSCI adds three Pakistani cement stocks to Frontier Index
KARACHI: MSCI Inc. will add three Pakistani cement companies, DG Khan Cement Co., Maple Leaf Cement Factory Ltd., and Fauji Cement Co, to its Frontier Markets Index on May 30, lifting the country’s constituents to 26 from 23 and potentially drawing more foreign cash into its equity market.
Aurangzeb says India military standoff has limited fiscal impact; IMF tranche due today
KARACHI: Pakistan will receive a $1 billion loan instalment from the International Monetary Fund on Tuesday, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said, part of a $7 billion bailout to stabilise the crisis-hit economy.