Local prospective buyers of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) have demanded protection that is currently available to foreign investors under an Act of parliament and have also sought complete exemption from taxes applicable to air travel, fuel and the lease of aircraft. Privatisation Commission sources told The Express Tribune that some of the shortlisted parties had placed their demands b
The recent decline in Pakistan's inflation rate to 9.6% is a significant achievement, marking the lowest level in three years. This represents a 65% drop compared to August 2023. Hopefully, this should result in several economic benefits, such as enhanced consumer purchasing power, stabilised business costs, and improved government finances. It is time for the State Bank to consider a substanti
Although the stock market ended the outgoing week with gains due to hopes of an interest rate cut, uncertainty on the external financing front turned investors cautious about the economic outlook. AKD Securities Ltd said the market remained rangebound during the outgoing week as investors waited for key events, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF) executive board’s approval and the r
Lawmaking must be at the core of governance — defining powers, keeping checks in check, and ensuring public trust. Nonetheless, in Pakistan, lawmakers often swap their legislative hats for power-broker crowns. Instead of crafting laws, they’re busy chasing development funds and jockeying for influence. Elected to legislate and uphold the law, many Pakistani lawmakers seem more interested in the
Pakistan’s investment requirements for addressing its climate challenges are enormous, and then some. In its Country Climate and Development Report, the World Bank estimated that Pakistan — one of the world’s top 10 countries most affected by climate change — needs $348 billion to adequately address its climate challenges till 2030. This consists of $152bn (44 per cent) to support adaptation an