THERE is something about private investment that successive governments in Pakistan have failed to understand. Promoting private investment is a bit like catching a bird. You cannot chase after it because that makes it nervous and it most likely will fly away. You have to lay out what it seeks then wait for it to come. For the third time this year, our government has gone running to another
The government slashed the rate of treasury bills by up to 140 basis points on Wednesday in an auction held days before announcement of the monetary policy, reflecting the State Bank’s approach towards interest rates. On the other hand, commercial banks participated in the auction with a huge amount of Rs2.188 trillion, but the government was able to raise only Rs820 billion. It was twice the
The first consignment of Pakistani-made tractors reached Tanzania on Wednesday, marking a significant milestone in the country’s trade relations with East Africa. An official announcement of the commerce ministry said that Masai Trekta Company Ltd, having recently opened its tractor distribution head office in Tanzania, has become a key partner in distributing Pakistani ATS tractors across Tanz
With falling imports and a sharp deceleration in inflation, the government is urged to renegotiate targets of macroeconomic indicators with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to lower the tax burden on the salaried class and corporate sector and boost economic activity. The IMF team will visit Islamabad next month to conduct the first economic review under the 37-month $7 billion Extended Fu
Gold continued to shine as 10-gram and one-tola rates hit a new all-time high of Rs246,828 and Rs287,900 on Tuesday, up by Rs2,486 and Rs2,900, respectively, day-on-day. As per All Sindh Saraf and Jewellers Association (ASSJA), an increase of $29 per ounce to $2,784 pushed up domestic rates, which also included a $20 per ounce premium in the global bullion rates which the association had starte