News

Bitcoin breaks $50,000 for first time since 2021

Bitcoin spiked above $50,000 on Tuesday for the first time in more than two years as investors grow optimistic that US approval of broader trading in the unit will ramp up demand. The cryptocurrency has enjoyed a strong run in recent months, fuelled by expectations US lawmakers would allow the creation of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track the price and let the public invest in crypto with

SBP revokes licences of three exchange firms

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Tuesday suspended the licences of three prominent exchange companies. “The authorisation of AA Exchange Company (Pvt) Ltd, Glaxy Exchange Company (Pvt) Ltd and Al-Hameed International Money Exchange (Pvt) Ltd has been suspended with immediate effect on account of serious violation of regulations and instructions,” said the SBP circular. “All the aforementi

PTCL Group posts Rs14.2bn loss

PTCL Group posted revenue growth of 25.8 per cent to Rs190.6 billion during 2023 from Rs151.5bn in 2022, but faced a higher net loss of Rs14.2bn versus Rs10.4bn in 2022. The company announced the financial results for 2023 at its board of directors’ meeting held on Tuesday. The biggest highlight for PTCL Group during 2023 was the signing of a Share Purchase Agreement with Telenor Pakistan B.

Demand for Saudi riyals jumps by 30pc

The dem­a­nd for Saudi riyals suddenly jumped by 30 per cent in the open market but the price remained stable, Exchange Compa­nies Association of Pakistan (ECAP) Chairman Malik Bostan said on Tuesday. “Buying of Saudi riyals usually starts before Ramazan for Umrah. Within three to four days, the buying of Saudi currency jumped 30pc, reflecting the rush for Umrah this year,” he said. Last yea

Infrastructure, development get Rs190bn

ISLAMABAD The utilisation of funds for development schemes of the former parliamentarians appeared to taper off on the eve of elections yet remained the second-largest expenditure portfolio in the Rs190 billion overall disbursements for a struggling Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) in the first seven months of 2023-24. The latest data on development expenditure released by the Plannin