News

Pakistan eyes $20b in trade with Saudi Arabia

ISLAMABAD: Observing that the current trade volume falls short of expectations, Caretaker Federal Minister for Commerce and Industry, Gohar Ejaz said that Pakistan aims to lift bilateral trade with Saudi Arabia upto $20 billion. Addressing the Pakistan-Saudi Business Forum in Riyadh on Thursday, the minister said that legislation would be enacted to promote bilateral investment between the two

Border challenges stall Pakistan-Afghanistan trade

PESHAWAR: Peshawar serves as the gateway to the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, facilitating the import and export of various products. The Torkham border acts as a pathway, enabling the expansion of trade between the two countries on a global scale. Pakistan and Afghanistan share a border spanning over 2,600 kilometres. Following the implementation of border fencing, illegal movements of goods

PBF calls for political finance minister

LAHORE: The Pakistan Business Forum (PBF) has said that entrusting a technocrat with the role of finance minister would pose significant challenges for the country amid the current economic climate. “Any technocrat may struggle to negotiate a deal that balances economic stabilisation with the growing hardships faced by the people, potentially raising concerns about conflicts of interest,” sa

IT sector aims for $15 billion export boost

ISLAMABAD: The caretaker IT minister states that they have laid out a roadmap to achieve a target of $15 billion in IT exports to bolster the country’s economy. Several key measures have been introduced by the caretaker government to reach this export target. In an interview with The Express Tribune, Caretaker IT Minister Dr Umar Saif said, “Now, the roadmap is ready, and we hope that the up

Austerity measures reintroduced

ISLAMABAD: Interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has approved new fiscal austerity measures, including a ban on creating new positions and major purchases. However, the impact of these measures may be limited, as the government spends more than its total net income just on interest payments. A complete ban on creating new posts under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) and the cu