News

IMF’s unease

THE first round of ‘engagement’ between Pakistan and the IMF over the former’s request for a larger and longer programme appears to have concluded — with some bumps still visible. Both sides are believed to have reached an understanding on the reform measures that Islamabad must include in the budget for the next financial year and get approved by parliament before an agreement on a new bailout fa

GDP size, per capita income rise in FY24

Pakistan’s gross domestic product (GDP) and per capita income increased in dollar terms during 2023-24, indicating a revival in the country’s overall output compared to the previous year. However, the economy’s size remains lower than $375.449 billion recorded in FY22, indicating that GDP growth has slowed under the PMLN-led coalition government. On Wednesday, the National Accounts Committee (N

CDWP approves seven projects worth Rs23bn

ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Wednesday approved seven development projects worth Rs23 billion and recommended four projects to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) for consideration. Among these, three projects are worth Rs82.24bn, while the fourth project, Main Line (ML-1), costing $6.7bn, has been recommended to Ecnec for further consi

Record onion exports make consumers pay high prices

Unprecedented onion exports fetched $210 million during July-April FY24 at the cost of inflation-hit consumers who paid record prices for the vegetable. “Onion exports may soar to $250m by the end of the current fiscal year,” claimed All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association Patron-in-Chief Waheed Ahmed, dispelling market impression that higher exports have caused a price flare-up

More than 11,000 SIMs of non-filers blocked so far: FBR

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has so far blocked over 11,000 mobile phone SIMs of non-tax filers, according to an official. FBR spokesperson Bakhtiar Mohammad told Dawn.com that “11,252 SIMs had been blocked till May 22 (yesterday) under Income Tax General Order. He added that the tax-collecting body was “committed to promoting tax compliance and tax culture”. Earlier, it was reporte