News

ADB loan for Thal Canal still possible: minister

Minister for Economic Affairs Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Tuesday categorically rejected the impression created by the Punjab government that the Centre was responsible for the lapse of a $200 million loan Asian Development Bank loan for the Greater Thal Canal project. Speaking in the National Assembly on a point of order, My Ayaz said the ADB’s soft loan could still be secured if Punjab and Sindh dev

Crypto exchange Binance sees outflows of $2bn, stops withdrawals

Binance, the world’s biggest crypto exchange, saw withdrawals of about $2 billion in the last 24 hours, blockchain data firm Nansen said on Tuesday, as the platform said it had “temporarily paused” withdrawals of the USDC stablecoin. Binance, whose dominance of crypto was cemented by the bankruptcy of rival exchange FTX, last week tweeted a so-called proof-of-reserves report by audit firm Mazar

SECP gets three new commissioners

With the appointment of the three commissioners in the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) on Tuesday, the chairperson remains the only member of the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP). The finance ministry has notified Akif Saeed, Abdul Rehman Warraich and Mujtaba Ahmad Lodhi as commissioners in SECP for three years bringing its strength to five. However, Mr Lodhi is cu

Oil rises to over $80 a barrel

Oil rose to more than $80 a barrel on Tuesday as investors bought up risk assets after US data pointed to slowing inflation. The market was also buoyed by concern about supply disruptions, including the ongoing shutdown of the Canada-to-United States Keystone crude pipeline following a massive leak. Brent crude futures were up $2.85, or 3.4 per cent, to $80.84 a barrel by 1641 GMT. US West T

Reko Diq company exempted from capital value tax

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has exempted all assets of the Reko Diq gold and copper mining company from capital value tax, which is payable by individuals, firms and companies that acquire an asset by purchase or a right to use for more than 20 years. The exemption on assets of the Reko Diq Mining Company Limited, formerly Tethyan Copper Company Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd, will come into effect