Despite some benchmark slippages, better-than-expected smooth talks with the visiting International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission for the release of the second tranche of $1.1 billion enthused positive vibes among equity investors about the economic outlook, aiding the benchmark index maintain a bullish performance in the outgoing week. Despite early volatility, the market turned bullish on repor
Iqbal Hussain was among many hoping for significant relief in commodity prices this Ramazan, especially after a sharp decline in the country’s inflation rate. The annual inflation, which soared to a record high of 38 per cent in May 2023, dropped to a near-decade low of 1.5pc in February, according to official data released this week. However, despite the dramatic decline, the prices of esse
Federal Minister for IT & Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja said on Saturday that Pakistan was not just bridging the gender gap in technology but also redefining the future of women in digital economy. Addressing a webinar, “HERstory: Google IWD 2025”, hosted by Google Pakistan to celebrate International Women’s Day, the minister said young women have consistently excelled on merit, ranking among th
The value-added textile and clothing sector has asked the government to lower tax rates to boost export competitiveness. This demand was part of a string of proposals submitted to the finance ministry by the Pakistan Textile Exporter Association (PTEA) for incorporation in the budget 2025-26. The value-added manufacturers urged the government to remove the double taxation on the export secto
Inflows of remittances are higher than ever and the exchange companies alone could accumulate $5 billion by the end of Ramazan, said exchange companies on Saturday. “We have already sold $3.5 to $4bn to the banks during the first 8 months of FY25 while Ramazan would add more to the total,” said Zafar Paracha, Secretary General of the Exchange Companies Association of Pakistan. The country r