News

First cherry shipment sent to China

Pakistan exported its first batch of fresh cherries to China using a reefer container and projected a total quantity of 260 tonnes by the end of this month. An official announcement from the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) said the first cargo was six tonnes, followed by 12 tonnes, beginning Monday and lasting until June 30. The country’s success in exporting the fruit is due

PM Shehbaz vows to follow Chinese development model

Appreciating the Chinese development model, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday Pakistan can become a great nation if it followed that model through hard work and focus on industrial and agricultural growth. “All Pakistanis will also have to pass through this thorny process. There is no other way to earn respect in the world,” the prime minister said at the 4th Pakistan-China Friends

Talks continuing virtually: IMF

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Thursday it is continuing virtual talks with Pakistan on a new, homegrown Ex­t­en­ded Fund Facility (EFF). IMF spokesperson and Director of Commu­nications, Julie Kozack, told journalists at a news briefing in Washington that an IMF staff mission visited Pakistan from May 13 through May 23. “We made significant progress towards reaching a staff-l

SBP’s reserves rise, banks’ fall by $116m

The State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) foreign exchange reserves have remained around $9 billion since the IMF’s $1.1 billion arrival in April, reflecting no other inflows. The central bank reported on Thursday that its reserves increased by a meagre $16 million to $9.109bn during the week ended May 31 without mentioning the source of this inflow. However, the reserves of the commercial banks fe

Rs3.33 per unit hike for April notified

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) on Thursday notified Rs3.33 per unit additional fuel cost against consumption in April to enable ex-Wapda distribution companies (Discos) to raise another Rs29 billion in June as the government confirmed on record a minor impact of solar net metering on electricity sales. Nepra “has reviewed and assessed a National Average Uniform increas