ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s oil and gas regulator is soliciting expert and public feedback on a proposed four-year payback period for a $432 million government-to-government investment in a pipeline project with Azerbaijan, even as two key federal ministries have flagged concerns over the dollar-denominated returns and potential cost implications.
Economy
Pakistan’s debt interest payments jump 80 percent, but not due to costly borrowing, ministry says
ISLAMABAD: The Finance Ministry rejected reports that the country pays interest rates as high as 8% on external loans, calling such assertions misleading and stressing that the bulk of its public debt comes from concessional financing.
Aurangzeb meets US commerce chief to boost investment in tech, mining
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United States have voiced a shared interest in bolstering economic ties, with a focus on trade and investment, following talks between their officials in Washington, the finance ministry said on Saturday.
Pakistan power output hits record as industrial package spurs demand
KARACHI: Pakistan’s electricity generation climbed to an all-time monthly high in January as lower tariffs and a government subsidy program lured more industrial users onto the national grid, offsetting higher costs for captive power plants.
Pakistan sees 26 percent jump in foreign profit repatriation amid FDI slump
KARACHI: Pakistan’s foreign investors repatriated a record $1.68 billion in profits and dividends in the first seven months of the fiscal year, even as fresh direct investment into the cash-strapped South Asian economy tumbled by more than 40%.
As prices soared, incomes lagged — and poverty deepened across Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s poverty rate climbed to almost 29% in the fiscal year ending in 2025, as a string of crises from the COVID-19 pandemic to high inflation and massive floods took a toll on households, a government report showed on Friday, even as the economy began to show some recovery.
Pakistan launches crypto sandbox to test digital assets under regulator’s watch
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority unveiled a testing framework for cryptocurrencies on Friday, marking a key step in the South Asian nation’s push to oversee the burgeoning digital asset sector while fostering innovation.
Sharif, Rubio discuss minerals, counter-terrorism at US peace forum
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of a new international peace forum in Washington, where the two discussed deepening cooperation on minerals, energy and counter-terrorism as Islamabad seeks more American investment to shore up its economy.
IMF sees economic stability in Pakistan before key review talks
KARACHI: Pakistan’s efforts to overhaul its economy under a $7 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund have delivered tangible gains, stabilising growth and restoring investor confidence after years of turmoil, a senior IMF official said.
Pakistan signs deal with US to revamp NYC’s Roosevelt Hotel
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the US have inked a memorandum of understanding to jointly pursue the redevelopment of New York’s historic Roosevelt Hotel, a move that could unlock significant value from one of Islamabad’s most prized overseas assets while bolstering bilateral economic relations.