News

SBP chief sees GDP expanding 3.25-4.25pc

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has projected GDP growth between 3.25 and 4.25 per cent for FY26, based on improved macroeconomic indicators. However, the textile sector has warned that high production costs and policy constraints are undermining its global competitiveness, despite the improving economic outlook. Speaking at the annual meeting of the Pakistan Textile Council (PTC) on Tuesda

Neelum-Jhelum project ‘a failure of planning, execution’

The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has declared the Rs507 billion Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project a failure in terms of objectives, planning and execution, saying it neither secured Pakistan’s water rights nor delivered the designed energy output, as its multiple tunnel faults and collapses have raised serious questions about the quality of work on a project of national importance. In its p

Senate panel warns IT ministry over telecom boards’ secrecy

A parliamentary committee on Tuesday warned officials of the Ministry of Information Technology that a privilege motion could be moved against them after they refused to disclose the names of board members of state-owned telecom entities. The warning was issued by Senator Palwasha Khan, chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom, after the special IT secretary declined to sh

Flour millers blame Punjab ban for wheat crisis

As consumers continue to pay inflated prices for various flour types, millers have accused the Punjab government of creating an artificial wheat and flour crisis by imposing a ban under Section 144 on the inter-provincial movement of wheat and related products. The Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) South Zone argued that such restrictions contradict the wheat deregularisation policy and v

Google keeps Chrome and Apple deal but must share data in big antitrust ruling

Google won’t have to sell its Chrome browser, a judge in Washington said on Tuesday, handing a rare win to Big Tech in its battle with US antitrust enforcers, but ordering Google to share data with rivals to open up competition in online search. Google parent Alphabet’s shares were up 7.2 per cent in extended trading on Tuesday as investors cheered the judge’s ruling, which also allows Google t