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Pakistan needs sustainable export led growth: Iqbal

Pakistan desperately needs to take measures to bring the country’s economy out of crisis through sustainable export led economic growth,” said Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday. Addressing the closing ceremony of a two-day international conference on Productivity Accreditation and Certification, organised by National Productivity Organisation (NPO) on the occasion of

Sales tax on luxury fuel in the offing

The imposition of sales tax on luxury fuel is on the cards while the government also considers increasing the rate of the petroleum levy with the imposition of 17% general sales tax (GST) in a bid to collect around Rs9 billion in taxes annually. This is in line with contingency measures to keep revenue collection on target, as agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The Economic Coor

Current rains to impact wheat crop positively

Agriculture experts, on Monday, said that the ongoing rains will positively impact all seasonal major and minor crops, fruits and vegetables. The rains will be particularly beneficial for wheat, which is a major cash crop and a mega source of staple food in the country, they said. “The rains will have a positive impact on wheat sown in rain-fed areas across the country as well as on oil seed

Rs531b agri package okayed

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet on Monday approved a Rs531 billion prime minister’s agriculture package, with little impact on the budget, but deferred a decision on providing subsidised electricity to tube-wells due to its nearly Rs180 billion subsidy impact. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar chaired the ECC meeting, which approved the PM’s package with at least two amendment

Debt is costlier than we think

Would you believe that out of every 100 rupees the federal government spends each year, Rs52 goes on debt servicing? Sadly, this is true. During July-September 2022, the current expenses of the federal government totalled Rs1.832 trillion. Of this, Rs954 billion was used for domestic and foreign debt servicing, according to the quarterly fiscal review. Domestic debt servicing alone consumed Rs8