KARACHI: The central bank received about $1.3 billion from the International Monetary Fund after the lender’s executive board completed a review of the country’s bailout program, providing fresh support for foreign-exchange reserves even as the conflict in the Middle East clouds the outlook.
Economy
Iraq, Pakistan strike deals with Iran for oil and LNG passage through Strait of Hormuz – report
KARACHI: Iraq and Pakistan have reached bilateral agreements with Iran to secure the safe transit of crude oil and liquefied natural gas through the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported on Tuesday, highlighting Tehran’s tightening control over one of the world’s most vital energy arteries amid the US-Israeli war.
Pakistan narrows nine-month deficit to 0.7 percent of GDP, primary surplus hits 3.2 percent
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan recorded a fiscal deficit of less than 1% of gross domestic product for the first time in its history during the nine months through March, the government said on Tuesday, as tighter spending controls and higher revenues helped stabilise public finances.
Car sales surge 52 percent in first 10 months as buyers brush off higher fuel prices
KARACHI: Pakistan’s car sales rose 52% in the first 10 months of the fiscal year, reaching 127,042 units compared with 83,401 units a year earlier, according to data released by the Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association.
SBP sees Pakistan growth near low end of forecast after strong H1 as oil shock looms
KARACHI: Pakistan’s macroeconomic stability strengthened in the first half of fiscal 2026 despite floods at home and uncertainty over global trade even as the State Bank of Pakistan warned Tuesday that the war in the Middle East now threatens to derail the recovery.
Pakistan to tackle refinery policy roadblocks in 2026-27 budget as US-Iran conflict spurs fresh push for $6 billion in upgrades
ISLAMABAD: The government is preparing corrective steps in the upcoming fiscal budget to breathe life into a petroleum refining policy that has languished for nearly three years, after negotiations with the International Monetary Fund effectively blocked its implementation, Dawn newspaper reported on Tuesday.
Pakistan fuel prices post world’s second-steepest surge since Iran war, data show
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has recorded the world’s second-largest increase in domestic fuel prices since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war on Iran, according to global price-tracking data compiled by the country’s energy ministry.
Pakistan receives Qatari LNG cargo as second vessel heads through Hormuz amid US-Iran tensions
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has taken delivery of one liquefied natural gas cargo from Qatar, while a second tanker is en route through the Strait of Hormuz, officials said on Monday, marking a tentative resumption of supplies after weeks of disruption caused by the ongoing conflict between the US and Iran.
Pakistan IT exports seen hitting record $4.6 billion this year as digital push accelerates
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was briefed on Monday that Pakistan’s information-technology exports are projected to hit $4.5 billion to $4.6 billion in the current fiscal year, the Prime Minister’s Office said, underscoring the government’s focus on expanding one of the country’s most dynamic sources of foreign exchange.
Pakistan April remittances dip 7.6 percent month-on-month but rise 11.4 percent year-on-year
KARACHI: Pakistan received $3.54 billion in workers’ remittances in April, a 7.6% decline from the previous month but an 11.4% increase from a year earlier, according to data released on Monday by the State Bank of Pakistan.