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Pakistan bridging gender gap in digital economy: IT minister

Federal Minister for IT & Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja said on Saturday that Pakistan was not just bridging the gender gap in technology but also redefining the future of women in digital economy. Addressing a webinar, “HERstory: Google IWD 2025”, hosted by Google Pakistan to celebrate International Women’s Day, the minister said young women have consistently excelled on merit, ranking among th

Tax rationalisation must for boosting exports: Pakistan Textile Exporter Association

The value-added textile and clothing sector has asked the government to lower tax rates to boost export competitiveness. This demand was part of a string of proposals submitted to the finance ministry by the Pakistan Textile Exporter Association (PTEA) for incorporation in the budget 2025-26. The value-added manufacturers urged the government to remove the double taxation on the export secto

Exchange firms see $5bn inflow by end of Ramazan

Inflows of remittances are higher than ever and the exchange companies alone could accumulate $5 billion by the end of Ramazan, said exch­ange companies on Saturday. “We have already sold $3.5 to $4bn to the banks during the first 8 months of FY25 while Ramazan would add more to the total,” said Zafar Paracha, Secretary General of the Exchange Companies Association of Pakistan. The country r

Global trade continues to undervalue women’s contributions: UN agency

The United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has stated that global trade despite progress continued to undervalue women’s contributions, and their share of domestic value added to exports remains lower than men’s in all regions. Statistics released to mark the International Women’s Day show women still contribute less to exports across all sectors, Closing the gap requires expanding their

Debt rollover by China gives govt breathing space

China has extended the repayment period of a $2 billion loan to Pakistan by one year, offering much-needed financial relief and helping stabilise the country’s foreign exchange reserves. A senior official at the Ministry of Finance confirmed the development on Saturday, calling it a key financial support measure from China. The $2bn loan, originally due for repayment on March 24, has now bee