News

Govt slashes yields to raise Rs96.8bn at PIBs’ auction

The government on Wednesday raised Rs96.88 billion through the auction of Pakistan Inves­tment Bonds (PIBs) at slightly reduced cut-off yields. The cut-off yield for three-year bonds was reduced by just one basis point to 16.64 per cent, for five-year PIBs by 3bps to 15.45pc and for 10-year bonds by 5bps to 14.29pc. The government borrowing through PIBs was well below the target of Rs190bn.

Chinese companies keen to invest in Pakistan Refinery Ltd’s upgrade, expansion

Chinese companies have expressed keen interest in expanding and upgrading Pakistan Refinery Ltd (PRL), which presents a significant opportunity. PRL expressed its excitement about the development in a notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange on Wednesday. “In a significant step towards enhancing Pakistan’s refining capabilities, PRL senior management recently visited China to engage with engineeri

GDP size, per capita income rise in FY24

Pakistan’s gross domestic product (GDP) and per capita income increased in dollar terms during 2023-24, indicating a revival in the country’s overall output compared to the previous year. However, the economy’s size remains lower than $375.449 billion recorded in FY22, indicating that GDP growth has slowed under the PMLN-led coalition government. On Wednesday, the National Accounts Committee (N

CDWP approves seven projects worth Rs23bn

The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Wednesday approved seven development projects worth Rs23 billion and recommended four projects to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) for consideration. Among these, three projects are worth Rs82.24bn, while the fourth project, Main Line (ML-1), costing $6.7bn, has been recommended to Ecnec for further consideration.

Record onion exports make consumers pay high prices

Unprecedented onion exports fetched $210 million during July-April FY24 at the cost of inflation-hit consumers who paid record prices for the vegetable. “Onion exports may soar to $250m by the end of the current fiscal year,” claimed All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association Patron-in-Chief Waheed Ahmed, dispelling market impression that higher exports have caused a price flare-up