By Staff Reporter
KARACHI: Foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) fell by $540 million or 4.84 percent in a single week, reaching a six-month low of $10.61 billion as of March 21, data released on Thursday showed, driven primarily by external debt repayments.
By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet on Wednesday mandated a thorough review of controversial changes to the country’s solar net metering policy, responding to widespread criticism from consumers, traders, and even senior government figures.
By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s economy expanded 1.73 percent in the second quarter of the fiscal year 2024-25, driven by solid growth in agriculture and services, despite a slight contraction in the industrial sector, the National Accounts Committee (NAC) said on Wednesday.
Pakistan has reached a staff-level agreement with the IMF, unlocking $1 billion under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and providing $1.3 billion under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). The agreement, subject to IMF Executive Board approval, supports Pakistan’s efforts in building resilience to natural disasters and promoting climate adaptation, while also praising the country’s progress in restoring macroeconomic stability.
The UK Department for Transport confirmed on Tuesday, that Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will remain on its air safety list, thwarting hopes of an imminent return to British skies following a ban imposed in July 2020 over a fake pilot license scandal. Despite recent optimism after a British Air Safety Committee meeting and PIA’s resumption of flights to Europe in January, the department emphasized a “rigorous procedure” for lifting restrictions, with the UK Civil Aviation Authority still engaging Pakistani officials.
The headline inflation is expected to remain steady within a 1-1.5 percent range in March, according to the Finance Division’s Monthly Economic Update and Outlook. However, the ministry warned that inflation could edge up to 2-3 percent in April due to potential volatility in food and energy prices. The country’s inflation has been on a declining trend since peaking at 38 percent in May 2023, and the government’s efforts to tighten spending and boost revenue have led to a primary surplus and a narrowed fiscal deficit.
By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) issued a drought alert on Monday for Sindh, Balochistan, and Punjab provinces, where rainfall from Sept. 1, 2024, to March 21, 2025, was 40 percent below normal.
By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has refused to entertain the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) request to reduce transaction taxes for the property sector, dashing earlier claims of an agreement in principle, local media reported.
By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will overhaul agreements with state-owned independent power producers, mirroring changes made to pacts with private operators, as it seeks to boost transparency and sustainability in the energy sector, Energy Minister Sardar Awais Leghari said on Tuesday.
By Staff Reporter
KARACHI: Pakistan’s central bank awarded the nation’s first digital retail bank license to Easypaisa Bank Ltd., paving the way for the lender to offer commercial digital banking services.
