Section
Economy · Page 2
The rupee, the IMF, the budget, prices, power tariffs, trade and the businesses that employ the country.
Government rules out new fuel curbs, says petrol stocks cover 22 days
Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik told the National Assembly that diesel reserves cover 30 days, while Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal ruled out an immediate cut in the petroleum levy.
Power division, industry seek cut in fuel levy on generation
At a hearing on CPPA's request for Rs2.56 per unit extra fuel adjustment, industry representatives said levies add about Rs10 per unit to electricity costs.
Federal Constitutional Court sets guidelines to curb land case delays
A two-member bench headed by Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan was hearing petitions against a Lahore High Court order in a consolidation case begun in 1979.
LHC rules IRIS upload alone does not count as legal service
A division bench decides three connected tax references led by a taxpayer whose appeals the appellate tribunal had dismissed as time-barred.
Finance Division projects October inflation at 9.5 to 10.5 percent
Monthly outlook flags Gulf conflict, oil prices and trade disruption as downside risks after September inflation eased to 10.3 percent from 11.1 percent in August.
Pakistan climbs four places to 95th in global innovation index
WIPO's Global Innovation Index 2026 restores Pakistan's "overperformer" label for a fourth time, after the country placed 99th in 2025.
NEPRA questions power data as Rs32.7bn recovery sought
Industrial consumers at the Islamabad hearing challenged heavy use of diesel and RLNG and asked why cheaper coal plants ran below 60 per cent capacity.
SBP opens single digital portal for SME loan applications
From 1 November 2026 every SME financing request must be filed through SMEConnect, where applicants can track progress and see rejection reasons.
FBR sets new payment rules for steel mills' own-power sales tax
Manufacturers running captive power plants must deposit additional sales tax on self-generated electricity through a special challan by the fifth of each month and report it in STR-7 return fields.
FBR rules out reversal of faceless customs assessment
The board says moving the Central Appraising Unit to Islamabad is the next phase of reform and reports average clearance time falling from 40.2 to 20.57 hours.
Tyre exporters set $150mn target for FY27 with ministry backing
Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan's ministry has asked exporters to submit product details and HS codes so it can take up market-access complaints with Türkiye.
Lucky Cement plans 3.2 MTPA Karachi expansion and Congo addition
The company's first-quarter FY27 briefing says new Karachi capacity should begin commercial production in December 2027, alongside a 1.6 MTPA addition in Congo.
SBP governor expects current account deficit below 1% of GDP
Jameel Ahmad told ICMA Pakistan's annual convocation that growth recovered to 3.7% in FY26 and inflation should ease back toward target.
Ahsan Iqbal reports encouraging export, remittance growth in first quarter
The planning minister says exports and remittances held up despite global supply-chain disruption, but the statement carried no figures and named no comparison period.
PSX closes above 164,000 as buyers return after rate hike
Topline Securities says the benchmark gained 1,428.73 points, or 0.88 per cent, to settle at 164,467.20 despite the State Bank raising its policy rate by 50 basis points.
Pakistan, China agree Green Channel at Sost-Khunjerab for farm trade
The online ceremony at FBR headquarters covered customs clearance for agricultural and allied products, but no start date or product list was announced.
LPG sells at Rs 550 a kilo in Punjab despite Rs 280 rate
Express News quotes retailers saying Ogra has moved against shops but not against plant owners who charge above Rs 525 per kilogram.
PTA fines telecom operators Rs3.41 billion over poor service quality
Figures given to Express News show 86 show-cause notices and 20 warning letters over four years, with operators told to clear coverage gaps by October 2026.
Aurangzeb presses banks to speed SME and farm loan disbursements
A finance ministry review shows Rs8.674bn approved under the Zarkhez-e farm loan scheme but only about Rs2.34bn actually disbursed to small farmers.
SBP opens bank lending to small firms and farmers through agents
Per-borrower caps are set at Rs1 million to Rs5 million for small enterprises and Rs500,000 to Rs2 million for farm borrowers, with microfinance banks and non-bank lenders originating the loans.
SBP governor says fundamentals improved despite global shocks
Speaking at ICMAP's convocation in Karachi, Jameel Ahmad said inflation is near target and growth recovering, and warned against short-term fixes.
SBP governor credits disciplined policy for economic recovery
Jameel Ahmad cites a positive real policy rate and risk-based supervision, while the maritime minister says secure sea routes remain vital to stability.
State Bank eases bank credit for small firms and farmers
Banks may now route SME and farm loans through microfinance and non-bank lenders acting as agents, with per-borrower ceilings of up to Rs5 million.
Worker registrations for Oman and Qatar fall sharply, NA told
Business Recorder and Arab News Pakistan report the 2026 decline alongside a rebound in UAE intake, but neither published the size of the fall.
SBP doubles minimum capital requirement for banks to Rs20bn
Existing banks and development finance institutions have until December 31, 2030 to meet the new threshold, with separate assigned-capital rules for foreign bank branches.
LPG falls Rs 50 a kg in Lahore but stays double Ogra rate
Dealers expect a further drop as fresh stocks arrive, yet consumers pay Rs 550 a kg against the Rs 279.34 rate fixed by the regulator.
Dar chairs inter-ministerial meeting on exports and GSP+ use
Commerce, foreign affairs and human rights officials were told to keep momentum on trade facilitation as Pakistan seeks wider use of EU trade preferences.
PTA begins blocking WhatsApp accounts tied to inactive SIM cards
The regulator says a deactivated number reissued to a new subscriber can cost the old owner control of the account, and wants users to update registration.
Constitutional court dismisses 1,178 petitions against levy ruling
The Federal Constitutional Court upheld the Supreme Court's December 2021 judgment on the Income Support Levy Act 2013, but the reports carried no reasons or bench details.
Gilgit-Baltistan pushes digital system for fair wheat subsidy distribution
Daily Independent reported the emphasis was on making subsidised wheat allocation fairer, but gave no rollout date, beneficiary count or the officials behind the plan.