Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has blocked a move to allow dual nationals to become governor, deputy governors, and members of the monetary policy committee of the central bank after a cabinet committee unanimously recommended making dual nationals eligible for these positions. The federal cabinet last week deferred the approval of the State Bank of Pakistan Amendment Bill 2024 for the second ti
Trading on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) remained sluggish on Thursday, with share prices moving sideways. Low trading volumes and a lack of positive triggers contributed to the benchmark index’s continued losses. Ahsan Mehanti of Arif Habib Corporation said the market closed lower as investors eye corporate and provincial tax reforms ahead of IMF approvals for the budgetary proposals for
The finance ministry, in its monthly economic outlook report on Thursday, said that the consumer price index (CPI) inflation would maintain its stable trajectory in February. “Inflation is anticipated to remain within the range of 2.0-3.0 per cent for February 2025; however, there are prospects of a slight increase to 3.0-4.0pc by March 2025,” the report said. Analysts have noted that the cu
Banks have taken back about 48 per cent of the money they lent to the private sector within a month, indicating that the private sector has no plans to enter the market with new ideas or ventures. From July 1, 2024, to Jan 17, 2025, the private sector borrowed Rs1.398 trillion from banks, but most of the lending in the last two months of CY2024 (Nov and Dec 2024) was carried out by banks to avo
While playing down falling industrial production and revenue shortfalls in the first seven months (July-January) of 2024-25, the government on Thursday hinted at a spike in the consumer price index next month. “Inflation is anticipated to remain within the range of 2-3pc for February. However, there are prospects of a slight increase to 3-4pc by March,” said the Ministry of Finance (MoF) in its