News

SRO removal hampering jewellery exports

KARACHI: Traders claimed on Thursday that gold jewellery exports came to a standstill since last week due to the abrupt removal of SRO760 from the WeBOC system of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). Pakistan Gems Jewel­le­ry Traders and Expor­ters Association (PGJTEA) Chair­man Habib-ur-Rah­man in a letter informed the FBR that the SRO facilitates various exemptions including sales tax but its

Revenue collection falls short by Rs33bn in Feb

ISLAMABAD: Tax collection by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) fell short of the target by almost Rs33 billion in February, mainly due to lower collection of domestic taxes and customs duty, provisional figures showed on Thursday. The revenue collection in February stood at Rs681bn against a projected target of Rs714bn. However, it increased by over 30 per cent compared to Rs519bn collected in

Analysis: Who will be handed the keys to national kitty?

WITH the process of government formation well and truly under way, the question on everyone’s lips now is: who will become custodian of the country’s kitty? Speculations abound, yet it is clear that the PML-N — which is actively lobbying to have its own man in the coveted slot — wants to revive the political capital that was eroded by its 16-month stint at the helm of the Pakistan Democratic Mo

$2bn rollover by China shields forex reserves

KARACHI: Extending a yet another major relief to cash-strapped Islamabad, the Chinese government has rolled over its $2 billion loan, which was due in March, for one year. The finance ministry on Thursday confirmed that China has accepted Pakistan’s request for the rollover, considering the country’s current inability to repay the loan. Most of the foreign exchange reserves of the State Bank

Go for quick IMF bailout, advises outgoing finance minister

ISLAMABAD: With inflation at about 29 per cent, Caretaker Finance Minister Dr Shamshad Akhtar, in her departure note, is leaving behind a piece of advice to the incoming government to stay the course, be prudent and reach immediately an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a new medium-term programme to anchor difficult reforms. Claiming a series of gains over the six-month