News

PM livid over negligence in construction of key hydel project

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday formed a committee to reactivate the Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project, directing the relevant officials to com­plete investigation into its recent closure and identify those responsible for the defects in its design. While chairing a meeting at PM House during which a preliminary investigation report was presented, the prime minister expressed annoyance o

Govt to keep lid on funds to meet IMF targets

Despite protests from the Ministry of Planning, the Ministry of Finance has decided to keep the lid on federal financing of development and recurrent expenditures through back-loaded releases of funds to meet the IMF’s primary surplus targets at any cost. According to fresh notifications from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives shall authorise

Stocks fall below 80,000 on IMF’s new condition

The stock market snapped its record-setting streak on Wedne­sday due to emerging economic concerns as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) attached a new condition for reaching a Staff-Level Agreement for a new loan. Consequently, the benc­h­mark index fell below 80,000 due to aggressive profit-taking despite massive foreign buying. Ahsan Mehanti of Arif Habib Corporation said stocks closed

IMF proposes 45% tax on agriculture income

As Pakistan seeks a multibillion-dollar bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to stabilise its chronically ailing economy, the global lender has suggested imposition of a standard individual income tax rate of up to 45% on agriculture income – something that may end the disparity in income tax regime without the need to amend the Constitution. The condition is part of the structura

Reforms underway in energy sector, SOEs

Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb on Wednesday highlighted the reforms undertaken in Pakistan’s energy sector and state-owned enterprises (SOEs) including the privatisation of state companies. At a meeting with a delegation of Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Global Ratings at the Finance Division, the minister underscored the confidence shown by multilateral institutions through the p