News

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

Uptick in exports to 9 regional states in July-September

Pakistan’s exports to nine regional countries posted a paltry growth of 0.72 per cent in the first quarter (July to September) of 2022-23 from a year ago, the latest data released by the State Bank of Pakistan showed. The country’s exports to Afghanistan, China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, Iran, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives account for a small amount of $953.113 million — just 13.27pc of Pa

Govt asked to implement steel-making standards

Unchecked usage of substandard steel bars has not only compromised the quality and sustainability of infrastructure and residential projects but also posed a serious risk to the future generation as Pakistan is located in a seismic zone, warned Pakistan Association of Large Steel Producers (PALSP) on Monday. In a letter to Federal Minister for Science and Technology Agha Hassan Baloch, the asso

ECC okays 27pc hike in Kissan loan package

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on Monday approved Kissan Package with a 27 per cent increase in agriculture loan target to Rs1.8 trillion and reshaped Kamyab Jawan Programme and Kamyab Pakistan Programmes through consolidation of their similar schemes. The meeting of the ECC presided over by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar also approved the standard legal framework for mega