News

34 firms get licences for making electric vehicles

The Engineering Development Board (EDB) has issued 34 licences to manufacturers of two- and three-wheelers under the Electric Vehicles Policy for 2020-2025, as part of the transition from traditional fuel-powered automobiles to EVs. At the same time, private partners are jumping into EV manufacturing, said Asim Ayaz, a senior EDB official, in a speech during a webinar at the Sustainable Develop

Remittances at two-year high during Ramazan

The quantum of remittances increased to almost $3 billion in March, taking it to the highest level since April 2022, primarily due to Ramazan, according to the central bank’s data. The total remittances in March stood at $2.95bn compared to $2.25bn in Feb, a month-on-month increase of 31.2pc. The year-on-year increase was 16.4pc, compared to the inflows of $2.54bn in March 2023. This is the

Rs 4.92 per unit extra for electricity used in Feb

Consu­mers will pay Rs4.92 per unit extra next month for electricity consumed in February, after the power regulator approved the hike as additional fuel cost adjustment (FCA). The National Electric Power Regulatory Autho­rity (Nepra) notified the increase on Monday. It will impact consumers of all ex-Wapda distribution companies (Discos), generating a net financial impact of about Rs45bn. T

PSX scales new peak in robust week

Amid ongoing economic optimism, the stock market maintained a robust outlook, extending a surprise record-breaking spree in the last days of Ram­azan by scaling a new peak in the outgoing short week. Arif Habib Ltd (AHL) said the market continued its positive momentum throughout the four-day trading week, hitting an all-time high above the 68,000 level. The market sentiment was fuelled by a sha

Economy waiting for a push

Some 40 per cent of Pakistanis continue to live below the poverty line with little in sight to hope for better days. The country’s economic growth of 2.5pc recorded in July-September 2023 faltered to just 1pc in the next quarter. Overall growth in the current fiscal year (July 2023-June 2024) may hardly hit the 2pc mark amid persisting political instability, deteriorating security environment, ris