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Exporters assured of govt help in removing hurdles to meat exports

The Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan, has assured exporters that the government would remove hurdles in meat exports to various international markets and will extend all possible facilities to meat exporters. The minister assurance came while presiding over a meeting to address the bottlenecks faced by meat exporters in exporting meat to M

SBP, International Finance Corporation ink deal to boost local currency financing in Pakistan

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has signed an agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) — a member of the World Bank Group — to strengthen local currency financing and support private sector growth in Pakistan, according to a press release issued on Monday. According to the World Bank, borrowing in foreign currencies exposes clients to the risk that debt and debt service payme

PIA gearing up for direct US flights, says aviation minister

After receiving approval to re­­start flights to the United Kingdom, Pakistan is now preparing to resume direct air links with the United States, Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif said on Monday. Speaking to a private TV channel, Mr Asif indicated progress in discus­­s­i­ons with American aviation authorities. “Hopefully, permission will be granted soon,” he said, adding that the government is

Digital rupee over crypto dollarisation?

s Pakistan gears up to regulate crypto and blockchain, with the creation of a United Arab Emirates-like Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, a specific use case related to stablecoins — a unique form of digital currency — raises concerns. These concerns, amplified by recent stablecoin legislation adopted by the US, have also led the European Central Bank to fast-track its plans for a digital euro,

Full deregulation of sugar sector recommended

In a significant move aimed at enhancing transparency, a parliamentary committee has recommended full deregulation of the sugar sector to curb market manipulation and speculative practices. To further overcome the irregularities in the sector, the committee also proposed reconstituting the Sugar Advisory Board, removing private sector representation from the body. The recommendations came from