News

Pakistan Stock Exchange introduces broker rankings

To attract more investors and public listings, the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) has introduced monthly rankings of brokers as per different criteria. The PSX will also hold annual capital market awards soon, according to a statement by the bourse. These rankings will be issued every month based on new unique identification numbers (UINs) opened, traded value and trading volume. The initiati

What China wants from Pakistan

WHAT China wants from Pakistan is the same as what China wants from every other country, which is to endlessly run a trade surplus in their favour. There might be a few specific things beyond this, such as Gwadar for instance, but those are marginal and nowhere near as central to Chinese designs in Pakistan and the rest of the world as we might imagine. Just add up the numbers. Since 2010, Paki

Unprecedented hike in gas, fixed charges notified

The Oil and Gas Regul­atory Authority (Ogra) on Wednesday formally notified an increase in gas rates and fixed charges for all consumers throughout the country with effect from Nov 1. Under the notification, fixed monthly charges for the residential “protected category” of consumers have been increased from Rs10 to Rs400, showing an increase of 3,900pc. In addition, they would also pay minimum

Prices of steel bars go up as rupee loses value

A reverse trend in the rupee-dollar equation has again forced manufacturers to raise prices of steel bars after a drop last month on account of the rupee’s gains. Syed Wajid Bukhari, General Secretary of the Pakistan Assoc­iation of Large Steel Producers (PALSP), claimed on Thursday that steel bar prices had plunged to Rs245,000 per tonne last month after hitting a peak of over Rs300,000 per to

Democracy brings economic stability, affirms US official

Elizabeth Horst, a senior US official who oversees Pakistan affairs at the US State Department, has underscored the vital link between democracy and economic stability, adding that a government aligned with the will of its people was better suited to implement economic reforms. Addressing the Second Annual Pakistan Conference at the Atlantic Council in Washington this week, she emphasised that