KARACHI: As Pakistan grapples with devastating floods that have submerged vast farmlands, early signs of a stronger cotton harvest are offering little solace to farmers and mill owners, who warn that surging import costs and lost exports could deepen the nation’s economic woes.
Economy
SBP signals green light to legalise digital currencies, regulatory framework pending
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s central bank has signalled its intention to legalise digital currencies, marking a reversal of its previous ban as the government advances plans to regulate the sector through the Virtual Assets Bill, 2025.
Trade deficit jumps 30 percent in August as imports surge, exports falter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s trade deficit widened sharply in August, surging 30.4% to $2.87 billion from a year earlier, driven by a spike in imports and a steep drop in exports, according to data released on Tuesday by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
KP chief minister Gandapur’s support for Kalabagh dam sparks controversy
ISLAMABAD: A renewed push by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to revive discussions on the long-dormant Kalabagh Dam project has ignited a firestorm of criticism from political leaders across Pakistan, exposing deep-seated regional divisions over a project that has been stalled for decades.
Inflation falls to 3 percent in August, beating forecasts
KARACHI: Consumer price inflation slowed to 3% in August 2025, dipping below government and analyst expectations and marking a significant retreat from the record highs seen two years ago, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics on Monday.
Govt retires Rs1.6 trillion of central bank debt in under two months
KARACHI: The government has retired more than Rs1.6 trillion of debt owed to the central bank in less than two months, a record achievement that underscores efforts to bolster fiscal discipline and reduce borrowing risks, a senior official said on Sunday.
Pakistan secures four-year US seafood export extension, boosting $465 million industry
KARACHI: Pakistan has won a four-year extension to export seafood to the United States, strengthening its $465 million industry, Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said on Saturday.
Pakistan slashes new development funding to 2pc under IMF pressure
ISLAMABAD: The government has drastically curtailed funding for new development projects, limiting allocations to just 2 percent of the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the current fiscal year, a move driven by stringent conditions tied to the International Monetary Fund’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF), officials disclosed during a Senate committee briefing on Friday.
FBR faces revenue shortfall amid floods, targets Rs1.44 trillion in September
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is grappling with a revenue shortfall in August 2025, collecting Rs886 billion against a target of Rs950 billion, a deficit of Rs64 billion, as severe floods disrupt economic activity across the country.
ECC approves Rs40bln plan to wind down loss-making Utility Stores Corp
The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet on Thursday greenlit a roughly Rs40 billion plan to wind down the state-run Utility Stores Corporation (USC), a once-profitable retailer that has haemorrhaged funds for over a decade.