News

State-run insurance firms expand rapidly: Gohar

Pakistan’s public sector insurance companies have not only expanded their market share but also pioneered the development of innovative products to cater to the needs of low-income individuals and micro-entrepreneurs. A high-level meeting was convened on Thursday to evaluate the performance of public sector insurance companies — State Life Insurance Company (SLIC), National Insurance Company (N

Oil rises 2pc on falling US crude stock

Oil prices rose on Thursday after data showed US crude stockpiles fell more than expected last week and a fresh attack by Houthi forces on ships off Yemen’s coast underscored the peril facing trade in a key global transit route. Brent crude futures were up $1.29, or 1.6 per cent, to $81.33 a barrel at 1521 GMT , while US West Texas Intermediate crude was up $1.37, or 1.8pc, to $76.46 a barrel.

PM Kakar invites Saudi group to invest in alternative energy sector

Careta­k­er Prime Minister An­­w­a­arul Haq Kakar on Thu­rsday urged the Al-Jomaih Group of Saudi Arabia to invest in the alternative energy sector of Pakistan. Mr Kakar, in a meeting with a four-member delegation, led by the Al-Jomaih Group head Sheikh Abdulaziz Hamm­ad, said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had brotherly ties which were getting further stronger. Al-Jomaih earlier made a huge investm

Higher SBP reserves keep exchange rate stable

After inflows from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the foreign exchange reserves of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) increased enough to cover 1.6 months of imports, helping the exchange rate to remain stable. The SBP reported on Thursday that the reserves of the central bank went up by $243 million to $8.27 billion during the week ending on Jan 19. The IMF Board meeting held on Jan 1

Financial controls tightened ahead of IMF review

Taking strict notice of the financial autonomy claimed by corporate and autonomous entities and executive departments of the federal government resulting in budgetary slippages, the Ministry of Finance has tightened fiscal controls ahead of a quarterly review with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The ministry has barred all the federal ministries, divisions and their attached and sub-ordi