KARACHI: The central bank is poised to keep its key interest rate unchanged at 11 percent when it announces its decision on Monday, according to a Reuters poll of analysts, as devastating floods and border disruptions with Afghanistan continue to fuel food price surges and constrain options for further monetary easing.
Economy
Stormfiber says internet services to be fully restored by Monday after undersea cable faults
KARACHI: The internet service provider Stormfiber said on Friday its services would be fully restored by Monday after disruptions over the past week caused by faults in undersea cables.
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 keeps Afghan border closed to transit trade over security fears
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Friday it would keep its border crossings with Afghanistan closed to transit trade indefinitely, citing persistent security threats from across the frontier, even as a fragile ceasefire holds following weeks of deadly clashes.
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.
Govt seeks meeting between jailed Imran Khan and KP chief minister to end cabinet deadlock
ISLAMABAD: The federal government has requested that Punjab Province arrange a meeting between the newly elected chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Imran Khan, the imprisoned founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, in an effort to resolve delays in forming a provincial cabinet, officials said on Tuesday.
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.
K-Electric hit by Rs7.6 cut in average tariff after regulator’s review
ISLAMABAD: K-Electric Ltd., the power utility serving Pakistan’s largest city, said a regulatory decision will slash its average tariff by Rs7.6 per kilowatt-hour, creating challenges for the company and its customers amid efforts to stabilise the nation’s strained electricity sector.
Pakistan’s current account swings to surplus, but FDI drops sharply
KARACHI: Pakistan’s current account swung to a surplus in September for the first time this fiscal year, offering a reprieve to policymakers grappling with dollar shortages, even as foreign direct investment plunged 34% in the first quarter amid waning interest from key partners like China.