The foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) declined by $153 million during the week ended on July 25, marking the second consecutive weekly drop. According to figures released by the SBP on Thursday, the central bank’s reserves fell to $14.303bn, down from $15.525bn on July 14 — representing a total decline of $1.222bn over the two-week period. Overall, the countr
The KSE-100 index closed higher by 447.43 points, or 0.32 per cent, at 138,412.25 on Wednesday, following a volatile session driven by speculation over the central bank’s monetary policy decision. The index fluctuated between an intraday high of 139,018.88 and a low of 137,658.81. Early trading witnessed selling pressure from leveraged investors amid uncertainty over a potential interest rate c
The business community has voiced serious concerns over the abrupt withdrawal of a promised Rs7.41 per unit electricity relief and the prolonged outage of the 969-megawatt Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project (NJHP), warning of accelerating de-industrialisation. These grievances surfaced during a public hearing held by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), on the Central Power P
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday chaired the 29th meeting of the Thar Coal & Energy Board (TCEB), where key initiatives were approved to boost the region’s coal mining and power generation capacity. Speaking at the meeting held at CM House, Mr Shah said Thar’s coal-based projects have added over 2,600 megawatts (MW) to the national grid since 2019, supplying affordable electr
The business community, except multinationals, has expressed intense disappointment over the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) decision to maintain the policy rate at 11 per cent, warning that the move could stifle economic revival and increase pressure on an already struggling private sector. Presenting a contrasting view, M. Abdul Aleem, Chief Executive and Secretary General of the Overseas Inve