News

Stocks manage modest gain in outgoing week

The stock market remained volatile due to rising political and economic uncertainty. However, based on last session’s bullish performance, it closed the outgoing week in the green zone, driven by continuous slowing Consumer Price Index-based (CPI) inflation. Arif Habib Ltd (AHL) said the week commenced positively with Monday’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting. The State Bank of Pakistan

CORPORATE WINDOW: Looking towards ethanol

Liquid biofuels derived from renewable sources such as edible and non-edible oils and animal fats provide an eco-friendly alternative to traditional petroleum-based fuels. These biofuels can be easily blended with diesel and gasoline (petrol) for use in existing engines, typically up to a certain percentage, without requiring engine modifications. Among biofuels, ethanol is particularly notable

Freedom from want and fear

Not subdued by severe curbs, the hunger for freedom and citizen-based democracy worldwide is growing, with apparently no end to the current plight of the frustrated majority in the existing social structure. In the realm of ideas on how to go about putting things right, updated economic literature spotlights various issues in freedom and democracy, clearly spelt out by great thinkers and states

Reprofiling debt by the billions

As the spectre of a deadlier conflict in the Middle East looms following the killing of a Hamas leader in Iran, with potentially horrific consequences for people and economies worldwide, Pakistan continues to grapple with its own set of challenges. Though not immune to the unsettling developments in the Middle East, brokerage houses foresee better times ahead for Pakistan, which has long been t

Salaried class overtakes textile exporters in income tax payments

The salaried class emerged as the third-largest contributor to income tax collection in the outgoing fiscal year (FY24), following closely behind banks and petroleum products, and still surpassing the country’s affluent textile exporters. The banking sector contributed Rs946.08 billion to income tax collection in FY24, a significant 66 per cent increase, from Rs568.68bn in FY23. This represents