The announcement of the federal budget for 2024-25 remains in unusual limbo, with key customary ingredients still missing, casting doubts on its presentation in parliament on June 10. Sources said the critical National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, essential for reviewing the current year’s macroeconomic situation and development programme and approving the next year’s economic and develop
After a few sluggish performances, the stock market staged a spectacular rally on Friday on economic optimism, driving the benchmark KSE 100 index close to the 76,000 level as investors remained busy in value-hunting. Speaking to Dawn, Ahsan Mehanti of Arif Habib Corporation credited the pre-budget rally to widespread buying triggered by reports of a significant increase in the PSDP size to Rs1
Pakistan ranks the eighth most vulnerable nation on the Global Climate Risk Index 2021 and is among the top three for global air pollution levels. This vulnerability is compounded by factors such as El Niño, which disrupts agriculture and water resources, highlighting the critical need for comprehensive climate risk management. The country is expected to encounter a food shortage of 70 million
KARACHI: Currency experts on Saturday feared the US dollar may resume appreciation against the rupee from the next fiscal year. The dollar has been restricted to around Rs278-280 for more than four months and is likely to rise once the interest rate is reduced. “We see the local currency at Rs295 to a dollar by December-end and interest rate at 15 per cent with a key assumption of political
Political stability remains amiss. The suppression of dissenting voices and human rights is fuelling fears that this hybrid government may eventually become a repressive regime. The economy has started showing some signs of recovery, but leveraging it for sustainable growth in the future is becoming difficult not only due to structural problems, like a high level of debt and lavish ways of runn