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World Bank agrees on new partnership strategy

Pakistan and the World Bank on Wednesday agreed to collaborate on a new, robust and ambitious Country Partnership Framework to carry forward the country’s reform and development agenda. The agreement was reached during a meeting between Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and a World Bank delegation, led by its Regional Vice President for South Asia Martin Raiser. Welcoming the VP, PM She

Ministry seeks extension for refinery upgrade

The planned upgrade of existing oil refineries has been dealt a blow owing to the failure to sign implementation agreements as the Petroleum Division is seeking an extension in deadline for another six months. In this respect, the division has prepared a summary for taking approval of the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCOE). Earlier, the deadline for signing plant upgrade agreements with the

International investors meet finance minister

A delegation of international investors, led by Ahmad Bozai, MD of Citibank Pakistan, called on Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb on Tuesday to explore investment prospects and economic dynamics in Pakistan. The finance minister welcomed the delegation and assured them that the government is committed to fostering an enabling business environment in Pakistan. S

IMF to vet budget before cabinet

The government is set to deliberately violate an Act of Parliament by not securing the approval of the federal cabinet for the Budget Strategy Paper until the International Monetary Fund (IMF) gives its nod to the fiscal policy. This decision indicates that the finance ministry has prioritised the IMF bureaucracy over the elected representatives of the people, who sit in the federal cabinet and

Stocks fall for third day on profit-taking

The stock market was on a losing streak for the third consecutive day as investors indulged in profit-taking on pre-budget uncertainty. Ahsan Mehanti of Arif Habib Corporation said the market extended overnight losses on pre-budget uncertainty and reports of falling fertiliser and cement sales. Urea sales plunged 49 per cent month-on-month to 328,000 tonnes in April, hitting a three-year low