Dawn
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Qatar are in an advanced stage of discussions for the supply of at least four cargoes of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which could pass through the Strait of Hormuz, sources told Dawn on Sunday. They also said that after facing criticism over loadshedding even before the start...
Posted on 19 April 2026 | 2:57 pm
Dawn
• Jameel Ahmad says macroeconomic indicators improved faster than expected at start of fiscal year• Claims prudent monetary, fiscal policies stabilised inflation, strengthened buffers KARACHI: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Jameel Ahmad has said the country's key macroeconomic indicator...
Posted on 19 April 2026 | 2:53 am
Dawn
WASHINGTON: Pakistan's liquidity pressures are expected to ease as the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Executive Board is set to consider approval of a Staff-Level Agreement (SLA) next month, potentially paving the way for a fresh disbursement of about $1.2 billion under the two programmes. ...
Posted on 19 April 2026 | 2:19 am
Dawn
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's food import bill surged 15.22 per cent to $7.09 billion in the first nine months of the current fiscal year from $6.15bn in the same period last year, driven mainly by higher purchases of sugar and edible oil. However, exports of raw food items recorded a steep decline, fa...
Posted on 19 April 2026 | 2:13 am
Dawn
KARACHI: State Minister for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani reaffirmed on Saturday the government's commitment to inclusive, consultative, and growth-focused economic policymaking ahead of the federal budget 2026-27. Speaking during an extensive interactive session with members of the business communi...
Posted on 19 April 2026 | 2:13 am
Dawn
ISLAMABAD: Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry announced on Saturday that construction has begun on an eco-friendly floating jetty at the Korangi Fisheries Harbour Authority (KoFHA). The project, costing Rs120 million, aims to facilitate the offloading of export-quality...
Posted on 19 April 2026 | 2:13 am
Dawn
KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) extended its recovery for a second consecutive week, buoyed by easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and expectations of a softer monetary policy as declining oil prices temper inflationary pressures. The benchmark KSE-100 index rose 4 per cent w...
Posted on 19 April 2026 | 2:13 am
Dawn
KARACHI. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said on Saturday that the government had paid $2 billion to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Earlier this month, a senior Pakistani official said Abu Dhabi had sought the immediate return of $3.5bn; the funds were part of external financing support extended i...
Posted on 18 April 2026 | 4:51 pm
Dawn
The Trump administration on Saturday renewed a waiver allowing countries to buy sanctioned Russian oil at sea for about a month, even as lawmakers accused the government of going easy on Moscow as its war on Ukraine grinds on. The United States Treasury Department's waiver lets countries purchase ...
Posted on 18 April 2026 | 9:01 am
Dawn
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb held a "productive" meeting with officials of the United States Department of the Treasury, with both sides discussing avenues for cooperation in the mineral and energy sectors, the finance ministry said on Saturday. Aurangzeb arrived in the United States on M...
Posted on 18 April 2026 | 7:24 am
Dawn
LONDON: Oil prices plunged more than 10 per cent on Friday after Iran said the Strait of Hormuz would be "completely open" for the rest of the ceasefire with the United States, and stock markets surged. Brent North Sea crude tumbled 10.7pc at $88.74 a barrel and the West Texas Intermediate plung...
Posted on 18 April 2026 | 3:23 am
Dawn
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday announced a reduction of Rs32.12 per litre in diesel prices while keeping petrol rates unchanged for the week ending April 24, passing on the impact of easing global prices following the ceasefire announced by the United States and Iran. The last-mi...
Posted on 18 April 2026 | 2:22 am
Dawn
KARACHI: Extending a cautious welcome to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, trade and industry leaders said that much will depend on how quickly foreign shipping lines reduce the war risk surcharge, emergency bunker surcharge (EMS) and General Rate Increase (GRI), which have increased the landed...
Posted on 18 April 2026 | 1:04 am
Dawn
ISLAMABAD: Short-term inflation, measured by the Sensitive Price Index (SPI), rose 12.16 per cent year on year in the week ending April 16, driven largely by higher retail prices of petroleum products and perishable food items, according to official data released on Friday. The surge in fuel prices...
Posted on 18 April 2026 | 1:04 am
Dawn
KARACHI: After three years, the US dollar slipped below Rs279 on Friday in the inter-bank market, reflecting a sign of exchange rate stability. According to data issued by the Exchange Companies Association of Pakistan, the buying rate in the inter-bank market on Friday was Rs278.95, against Rs279 ...
Posted on 18 April 2026 | 1:04 am
Dawn
LAHORE: Pakistan's basmati rice exports have largely withstood the shockwaves of the US-Iran conflict, showing a notable recovery despite earlier setbacks and ongoing trade challenges. According to data available on the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) website, Pakistan exported a total of 434,...
Posted on 18 April 2026 | 1:04 am
Dawn
ISLAMABAD: At a time when Pakistan's preferential access to European markets is under scrutiny, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal held talks on Friday with the EU's new ambassador to review the future of the GSP+ facility and preparations for the Pakistan-EU Business Forum. The meeting took place thr...
Posted on 18 April 2026 | 1:04 am
Dawn
ISLAMABAD: A day after receiving $2 billion in assistance from Saudi Arabia, the government on Friday announced it had raised $500 million from the international capital market through a Eurobond after four years. In a post on the social media platform X, Adviser to the Finance Minister Khurram Sche...
Posted on 17 April 2026 | 3:11 pm
Dawn
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has upheld the federal government's policy to monetise free electricity units for officers of the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) and power distribution companies, it emerged on Friday. As per the ruling, the benefit was a non-statutory service perk and ...
Posted on 17 April 2026 | 11:37 am
Dawn
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb appreciated China's support in facilitating Pakistan's engagements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, the finance ministry said on Friday. Aurangzeb arrived in the United States on Monday to participate in the...
Posted on 17 April 2026 | 7:35 am
Dawn
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on Friday signed an agreement to extend a $3 billion deposit from the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD). Saudi Arabia, earlier this week, pledged an additional $3 billion in deposits for Pakistan and extended its existing $5bn facility for a further three years. "The agree...
Posted on 17 April 2026 | 5:14 am
Dawn
KARACHI: Geopolitical tensions have not dampened the hopes of new car buyers, as outstanding auto loans surged for the 16th consecutive month to Rs345.34 billion in March, up from Rs336bn in February, thanks to lower interest rates. However, sales of cars, sports utility vehicles, pick...
Posted on 17 April 2026 | 3:22 am
Dawn
• Recommends tax reduction for sake of affordability; Qamar likens income tax on phones to sales tax• Senate committee questions high SMS alert charges ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary committee on Thursday expressed concern over the high tax burden on mobile phones, directing the Tax Policy Office (T...
Posted on 17 April 2026 | 2:35 am
Dawn
• Duration nearly three times more than what was announced earlier• Minister cites LNG import disruption, Middle East crisis as key factors• Shortfall estimated at 3,400MW• Demand spikes from 9,000MW to 20,000MW in days• Nuclear plant maintenance postponed to boost supply ISLAMABAD: Power ...
Posted on 17 April 2026 | 2:28 am
Dawn
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's textile and clothing exports fell 7.06 per cent in March compared with the same month last year, marking a second consecutive monthly decline and signalling weakening global demand. The fall follows a brief recovery in January, when the sector posted a modest year-on-year i...
Posted on 17 April 2026 | 12:54 am
Dawn
KARACHI: Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry on Thursday announced the creation of a state-of-the-art 400-acre small industrial estate at Port Qasim to foster industrial growth and boost investor confidence. He said the development strategy would prioritise infrastructure rea...
Posted on 17 April 2026 | 12:54 am
Dawn
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Large-Scale Manufacturing (LSM) sector posted a year-on-year growth of 5.89 per cent in July-February 2025-26. Industrial production in February grew 6.45pc YoY, according to figures released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics on Tuesday. However, on a month-on-month basi...
Posted on 17 April 2026 | 12:54 am
Dawn
KARACHI: Despite a relatively small sum, foreign direct investment (FDI) surged by 165 per cent in March, even as the region remained engulfed in full-scale conflict. The data posted by the State Bank of Pakistan on Thursday showed that the country received $167 million in March compared to just $6...
Posted on 17 April 2026 | 12:54 am
Dawn
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) confirmed on Thursday that Pakistan has received $2 billion from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The central bank said the funds were received "in the value date of April 15, 2026". The development comes amid Prime Min...
Posted on 16 April 2026 | 2:36 pm
Dawn
Pakistan recorded a sizable current account surplus in March, it emerged on Wednesday. In a post on social media platform X, the State Bank of Pakistan said, "Current account balance recorded a surplus of $1,070 million in Mar 2026 compared to a surplus of $231 million in Feb 2026." ...
Posted on 16 April 2026 | 10:58 am