The Gilgit-Baltistan finance minister on Monday unveiled the region’s Rs148.63 billion budget for fiscal year 2025-26. The budget was presented by Speaker Nazir Ahmed Advocate. Addressing the session, Finance Minister Muhammad Ismail said Rs88.19bn has been allocated for non-development and Rs37bn billion for development expenditures. As per the minister, the region will get Rs80bn in fed
As the government announced a modest tax relief for the lower income slabs, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Monday introduced three new tax measures in the National Assembly to offset its revenue impact — part of the country’s ongoing commitment to remain within the fiscal parameters agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In his winding-up speech, Mr Aurangzeb informed the Na
Despite India’s heavy subsidies on exports, Pakistan’s rice shipments remained largely unaffected due to a strategy adopted by local exporters that prioritised agility and quality. India recently re-entered the international rice market after a two-year hiatus imposed to ensure domestic food security. The lifting of export bans by New Delhi generated considerable excitement in Indian media, whi
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) concluded a turbulent week on a bearish note, as geopolitical tensions — particularly in the Middle East — dampened investor confidence and triggered widespread profit-taking. Despite a positive start following the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) Monetary Policy Statement (MPS), which met expectations by keeping the policy rate unchanged at 11pc, the KSE-100 ind
For import-dependent Pakistan, already grappling with its worst crisis in recent history, another conflict in the neighbourhood is deeply alarming. Outside the Middle East, Pakistan may be among the countries hardest hit by the ongoing Iran-Israel war, facing significant economic and social repercussions. Any widening of the conflict would multiply Pakistan’s economic and diplomatic challenges