Amid surging remittances, a much-anticipated cut in the interest rate and the scheduling of an IMF board meeting on Pakistan bailout kept market sentiments bullish, helping the KSE index close the outgoing week in the green territory. However, the mounting political tensions turned investors cautious, trimming the gains on profit-taking. The trade and industry stakeholders are not happy with t
The lingering dispute between Long Distance & International (LDI) operators and the industry regulator, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), over the application of allegedly wrongful, higher Access Promotion Contribution (APC) rates on LDIs during 2008 and 2010 is now threatening to drastically impact the country’s telecom and digital ecosystem, and affect mobile service quality, banking o
Rising tax rates have left the public in distress while the government continues to lament the low tax-to-GDP ratio. There isn’t sufficient revenue to cover government expenditures and debt repayments, including interest. Last year, the overall budget deficit was estimated at Rs6.9 trillion, which was 7.4 per cent of GDP. To reduce this deficit and increase revenue, the government is imposing m
Pakistan consistently ranks among the top three most polluted countries globally, primarily due to high levels of particulate matter from vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions, and the widespread practice of crop residue burning. Air pollution continues to escalate unchecked, further deteriorating public health. The issue is particularly pronounced in winter, when smog forms from a combination
The federal government on Sunday night notified a cut of Rs10 per litre in petrol prices, as well as a Rs13.06 per litre reduction in the price of high speed diesel (HSD). According to a notification from the Finance Division, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, “The Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has worked out the consumer prices of petroleum products, based on the price variat