News

Import of auto parts plummets in July-September

As a direct outcome of the State Bank of Pakistan restrictions to cool down the demand for automobiles, the import of auto parts plunged by 36.6 per cent to $258 million in the July-September quarter from $407m in the same period last year. However, the central bank has been releasing foreign exchange between 50-70pc from July onwards to help clear imported consignments of auto parts but import

Pakistan needs $348bn for climate and development challenges: WB

The World Bank has estimated that the total investment needs for a comprehensive response to Pakistan’s climate and development challenges between 2023 and 2030 amount to around $348 billion which is equal to 10.7 per cent of cumulative GDP for the same period. This consists of $152bn for adaptation and resilience and $196bn for deep de-carbonisation, reveals the Country Climate and Deve­lopmen

‘Seismic shift’ to take interest out of banking sector

After challenging the Federal Shariat Court’s (FSC) decision on the interest-free banking system some four months ago, the government had a major change of heart on Wednesday, saying that it now wants to rid the country of Riba as soon as possible. In a pre-recorded video message, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar announced that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP)

Stocks gain 191 points on expected $13bn from Saudi, China

The stock market opened the week in green owing to Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s statement last week that Pakistan had secured about $13 billion in additional financial support from China and Saudi Arabia, analysts said. The benchmark KSE-100 index started gaining immediately after trading opened, rising to an intraday high of 351.11 points, or 0.84 per cent, around 10am. However, the market

Deepening crises

How bad will things get? What happens next? It is the question everyone is asking in the country following the assassination attempt on Imran Khan in Wazirabad last week as the former prime minister was leading his protest march on Islamabad to force early elections in the country. He and his party quickly blamed the shooting on an alleged conspiracy between the government and the military. Spo