THE debate surrounding the State Bank’s independence is again picking up pace after some shocking claims made by the federal minister for privatisation, blaming the International Monetary Fund for direct intrusion in the country’s central banking system. It all started back in January of 2022, when the parliament passed the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Amendment Bill, 2021. This legislation cre
WITH the eagerly awaited national polls set to be held on February 8, most political parties — barring the one that has recently fallen out of favour with the country’s establishment — have begun to build up their campaigns for power. Shortly, they are expected to come up with their election manifestos, outlining their broader political and economic plans for the next five years to give people
Painting a positive overall macroeconomic picture, the caretaker government is now hoping for a downhill journey from the painful inflation rate and a further increase in economic activities over the coming months. “Pakistan’s economy is on a gradual but promising path to recovery. The stride of economic revival initiatives is driving a surge in economic activity,” said the Economic Advisers’ W
The KSE-100 index hit an intraday high of 480 points on Thursday as investors welcomed the announcement of $3 billion Saudi deposit rollover. However, the momentum came to a halt soon as sceptical investors resorted to profit-booking, causing the index to close on a rather flat note, said Topline Securities Ltd. Thursday also marked the last trading session of November in which the KSE-100 i
The Pakistani rupee is expected to end the year on a historic low — as Asia’s worst-performing currency — having shed almost 20 per cent of its value against the US dollar. Even with the authorities clamping down on profiteering, smuggling and banning the imports of ‘luxury goods’, the currency isn’t expected to fare any better next year. Amid all this, one idea that has been gaining traction i