News

Japanese govt agrees to defer $160m debt

The governments of Japan and Pakistan have agreed on a debt deferral amounting to $160 million as the third and last phase of the ‘G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI)’. The total amount of deferred debt has now reached $730m, which will provide the fiscal space for the Pakistan government to restore its economy affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and the floods, the Japanese embassy ann

SBP to settle importers’ payments in two days

The State Bank of Pakistan has assured the business community of clearing all backlog import-related payments of less than $50,000 within two days, said a statement issued by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FPCCI) on Wednesday. Sharing this breakthrough with trade and industry, FPCCI President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh said the central bank had agreed to clear or settle

Current account deficit narrows to $0.7bn

Pakistan’s current account deficit (CAD) fell to $0.7 billion in August, compared to $1.2bn in the previous month, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said late on Wednesday night. This equates to a decline of 41.67 per cent month-on-month. For the first two months of the current fiscal year, the current account deficit narrowed by $0.5bn to $1.9bn compared to the corresponding period in FY22, the

Stocks lower on back of rupee fall

The Pakistan Stock Exchange witnessed a lacklustre trading week as jittery investors weighed the impact of rising political and economic uncertainty in the country coupled with persistent rupee depreciation. On Monday, stock trading kicked off with a slide as weakening of the local currency sparked a sell-off. Investors’ participation remained muted in anticipation of mounting inflation. Positi

Govt in anxiety over rupee’s slide

Pakistan’s bigwigs have failed to craft an effective strategy to stop the free fall of the local currency, as policy discussions have so far remained focused on better management of borders and trade related payments. According to official documents and background discussions with people involved in the process, Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has taken numerous meetings in recent days and a