News

Govt working to expand Raast, digitise economy: PM

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said the government is working on a priority basis to digitalise the economy and shift financial transactions to a cashless and digital system. Chairing a review meeting on cashless economy in Islamabad on Sunday, he directed all the provincial chief secretaries to fully cooperate with the federal government in expanding the Raast digital payment system to the

Carec contract under parliamentary scrutiny for ‘glaring lapses’

Several parliamentary committees have raised serious concern over an international road-building project funded by the Asian Development Bank, citing alleged collusive practices and ghost tendering among other irregularities by the National Highway Authority in the award of the project. The standing committees of the Senate and the National Assembly on Economic Affairs Division (EAD) and commun

Modi’s tax overhaul to strain finances but boost image amid US trade tensions

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s deepest tax cuts in eight years will strain government revenues but are winning praise from businesses and political pundits who say they will bolster his image in an ongoing trade fight with Washington. In the biggest tax overhaul since 2017, Modi’s government on Saturday announced sweeping changes to the complex goods and services tax (GST) regime which w

Business leaders seek rate cut, power relief to spur exports

Business leaders on Saturday called on the government to create a pro-business environment by cutting interest rates, lowering power tariffs, and supporting export-led growth. Speaking at a joint press conference on the economic roadmap, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) President Atif Ikram Sheikh and United Business Group Patron-in-Chief S.M. Tanveer said reduci

Investments in T-bills dip as sentiment weakens

Foreign investors dumped government treasury bills (T-bills) worth $49 million in July, the first month of FY26, while fresh inflows shrank to just $13 million, exposing the continued weakness in investor appetite despite signs of macroeconomic stability. Latest data from the State Bank of Pakistan shows that almost the entire inflow during the month came from the United Kingdom ($13.07m), whil