News

Car sales drop 8% amid economic strain

KARACHI: Car sales dropped to 9,709 units, marking an 8% decline on a month-on-month basis due to factors such as rising car prices, expensive auto financing, and consumers’ low purchasing power, according to data reported by the Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA), compiled and shared by Topline Securities on Tuesday. Moreover, there was a significant 57% year-on-year incre

Punjab greenlights Rs100b Innovation City project

LAHORE: The government of Punjab has announced that it has categorically approved the long-awaited Innovation City project in Lahore, a Rs100 billion development plan, with a scope of generating one million jobs. The project has the potential to redefine the landscape and become a growth engine of Punjab’s provincial capital. However, even in the previous tenure of Mian Shehbaz Sharif as Chief

Oil steady as OPEC retains demand forecasts

Oil prices were little changed on Tuesday as OPEC stuck by its forecast for demand growth this year and next, amid persistent tensions in the Middle East and beyond. Brent futures for May delivery were up 24 cents at $82.45 a barrel by 1420 GMT. The April US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude contract rose 31 cents at $78.24. On Tuesday, OPEC stuck to its forecast for relatively strong grow

Banks achieve 86% growth in profits

Pakistan’s banks listed on the stock market have reported an outstanding growth of 86% in their net profit in the year ended December 2023, boosting total earnings to a record high of Rs572 billion amid a higher interest rate season in the country. The banks have managed to achieve a record high profit despite economic slowdown and underperforming industrial activities in the country. In a b

PM pushes for IT sector expansion

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed the submission of a comprehensive roadmap to boost IT exports. He stated that the government would take steps to fully utilise the billion-dollar potential of the country for IT exports, and ensure that young people are provided with the necessary facilities for education, skills development, and startups. The prime minister