KARACHI: Advisers to Pakistan’s military strongman Asim Munir have approached US officials with an offer to build and run a port on the Arabian Sea that could give Washington a foothold in one of the world’s most sensitive regions, the Financial Times reported on Friday.
Commodities
Pakistan poised to unlock over $1 billion IMF tranche despite fiscal slippages – report
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is on track to secure more than $1 billion as the third tranche of its International Monetary Fund bailout, even with some fiscal shortfalls, as officials kick off policy-level talks with a visiting IMF review mission, Dawn newspaper reported on Saturday.
ADB sees Pakistan growth holding at 3 percent in FY2026 on reforms, but floods pose risks
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s economy is set to expand by 3.0% in the fiscal year to June 2026, helped along by deeper macroeconomic stability and reforms that tackle longstanding weaknesses, the Asian Development Bank said on Tuesday, though recent floods could crimp the momentum.
Pakistan sees September inflation holding at 3.5–4.5 percent despite flood disruptions
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s economy has maintained stability and shown signs of growth in the first two months of the fiscal year despite severe flooding, with consumer inflation projected to remain in a manageable 3.5-4.5% range in September, the finance ministry said on Tuesday.
Pakistan, IMF open talks on $7 bln bailout review amid revenue shortfalls, flood impact
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund began talks on Monday for the second review of a $7 billion Extended Fund Facility programme and the first review of a $1.1 billion Resilience and Sustainability Facility, with discussions focusing on mixed fiscal performance, revenue shortfalls and the impact of recent floods.
Preliminary estimates see GDP growth at 3.9 percent after flood losses
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has lowered its annual gross domestic product growth forecast to 3.9 percent from 4.2 percent after devastating monsoon floods caused $1.3 billion (Rs371 billion) in damage, a preliminary government assessment shows.
IMF review begins with focus on missed targets, relief spending
KARACHI: An International Monetary Fund review mission kicked off simultaneous talks in Karachi and Islamabad on Thursday, delving into Pakistan’s uneven performance under its bailout program without the standard kickoff meeting with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, who’s currently in the US.
Pakistan seeks IMF nod to restore wheat price support after crop yields falter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is turning to the International Monetary Fund to reinstate the annual announcement of a minimum support price for wheat, a move aimed at stabilising agricultural production after the policy’s abolishment triggered a decline in output and a surge in prices, food minister said.
TCP’s sugar tender draws $534.75/ton low offer – traders
KARACHI: Pakistan’s state trading agency received a low offer of $534.75 a metric ton, cost and freight included, in an international tender to purchase 100,000 tons of white sugar, according to initial assessments from traders.
Pakistan textile exports up 10pc to $3.2 bln, IT exports climb 18pc in July-Aug
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s textile and apparel exports, the linchpin of the nation’s economy, rose nearly 10% year-on-year to $3.2 billion in the first two months of the fiscal year, driven by robust demand for knitwear and readymade garments, official data showed.