Tarik Ali Khan, the newly appointed High Commissioner of Canada to Pakistan, called on Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb at the Finance Division today. The Finance Minister welcomed the High Commissioner and congratulated him on assuming his responsibilities in Islamabad. The Minister shared an overview of Pakistan’s recent economic performance and reform agenda, noting that after …

Pakistan has announced a phased restoration of Afghan Transit Trade through the Chaman border crossing, nearly two weeks after the Bab-e-Dosti gate remained closed, affecting trade flow and perishable goods transport between the two countries. According to a notification issued by the Directorate of Transit Trade (Customs), the movement of returning cargo vehicles will be strictly monitored. Officials said the …

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan, met with the Acting High Commissioner of Australia to Pakistan, Nicole Guihot, at his office today. The meeting was also attended by Secretary Industries and Production, Saif Anjum, and representatives of the meat exporters’ community. During the meeting, the participants discussed measures to unlock the potential of …

Demonstrating a steadfast commitment to transparency and accountability, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has made a significant Rs. 1,102.04 billion (1.10 trillion) recovery in the third quarter of 2025 which is a 242% increase over the previous quarter. This achievement represents an increase of Rs. 645.74 billion from Rs. 456.3 billion recovered in the second quarter, underscoring NAB’s continued resolve …

Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain held a meeting with the Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Pakistan, H.E. Ali bin Mubarak Al Khater, in Islamabad today. The meeting focused on exploring avenues to deepen agricultural cooperation between Pakistan and Qatar and to transform the brotherly relations between the two nations into strong economic …

Pakistan has emerged as a major target for digital scammers, with citizens losing over $9.3 billion annually to various financial and online fraud schemes, according to a new international report. The Global State of Scams Report 2025, released jointly by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance and Feedzai, reveals that these losses account for nearly 2.5 percent of Pakistan’s GDP, surpassing one-third …

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, has unveiled an ambitious plan to revive the dormant Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) through advanced technology and a new maritime-industrial partnership with the Ministry of Industries and Production. During a high-level meeting with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan, who called on the maritime …

The salaried class in Pakistan has contributed Rs130 billion in taxes during the first quarter (July-September) of the current fiscal year 2025-26, twice as much as the combined payments made by traders, wholesalers, and exporters, according to official data from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). The report reveals that while the salaried class deposited Rs130 billion into the national …

Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan held a meeting with the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Pakistan, H.E. Raimundas Karoblis, to discuss ongoing cooperation under the GSP Plus framework and explore avenues to further strengthen bilateral trade and investment relations between Pakistan and the European Union. Welcoming the Ambassador to Pakistan, the Minister appreciated the EU’s continued support and …

The Sindh government has urged the federal government to set the minimum wheat support price at Rs 4,200 per maund, opposing the rate of Rs 3,500 recently approved by the federal cabinet under the new wheat policy. Sindh Agriculture Minister Sardar Muhammad Bux Mahar said that due to IMF conditions, provincial governments are not allowed to independently announce or implement …

Tomatoes have become more expensive than chicken meat in Karachi as prices of the essential kitchen item surged beyond Rs500 per kilogram, while chicken is being sold at Rs450 per kg across the city. According to market surveys, tomatoes are being sold between Rs450 and Rs550 per kg in various neighborhoods and local markets, far above the government’s official rate …

Pakistan’s large-scale manufacturing (LSM) sector maintained a slow but positive growth trend in August 2025, recording a 0.54 percent year-on-year increase in industrial output, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). However, on a month-on-month basis, the report noted a 2.7 percent decline in large-scale industrial production compared to July. During the first two months of the current fiscal …

Pakistan’s used clothing traders have expressed strong resentment over the government’s decision to impose a Rs200 per kilogram tax on the import of second-hand garments, warning that the move will make winter wear unaffordable for low-income families. According to traders, the new tax has significantly increased the cost of used winter clothing, with prices rising by Rs500 to Rs1,500 per …

Inflation in Pakistan continued its upward trend for the third consecutive week, with the prices of 24 essential commodities increasing, according to the latest data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). During the outgoing week, the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) recorded a 0.49% rise, pushing the year-on-year inflation rate to 4.57%. Officials said that the consistent surge reflects …

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan, chaired a high-level meeting on Thursday to review progress on the Pakistan–Italy agreement aimed at enhancing collaboration in the marble and granite sector. During the meeting, discussions focused on expanding cooperation between Pakistan and Italy to strengthen Pakistan’s marble and granite industry. Haroon Akhtar Khan emphasized that …

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has ordered an immediate suspension of Afghan Transit Trade transportation from Karachi ports, citing severe congestion and a lack of storage capacity at customs stations in Quetta and Peshawar. According to officials, the decision was made during a high-level meeting at the Directorate of Transit Trade Headquarters, Customs House Karachi, chaired by the Director …

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a strong upward trend on Wednesday as the benchmark KSE-100 Index continued its rally, gaining more than 1,500 points in early trading and surpassing the 167,000-point mark. The bullish momentum follows a historic trading session on Tuesday, when the index soared by 7,000 points, closing at 165,476 points—one of the largest single-day gains in …

In a major economic development, Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have reached a staff-level agreement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF), paving the way for the disbursement of $1.2 billion after approval from the IMF Executive Board. According to an IMF statement, Pakistan’s economic reform program, supported by the Fund, is steadily progressing toward stability and restoring market …

Rana Ihsaan Afzal Khan, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Commerce, called on Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade of the United Arab Emirates, at the Ministry in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. During the meeting, both dignitaries reviewed the state of bilateral trade and economic cooperation between Pakistan and the UAE, underscoring the importance of further …

Pakistan and Vietnam have officially signed and launched negotiations on a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) aimed at strengthening bilateral trade, investment, and economic cooperation between the two countries. The announcement and signing took place during a high-level bilateral meeting and the Pakistan–Vietnam Business Forum held in Islamabad, co-chaired by Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and H.E. Nguyen Hong …

Pakistan secured foreign loans worth $10.1 billion during the last fiscal year, according to official data presented by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (EAD) before Parliament. The report, covering the period from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, reveals that the government obtained 29 international loans from multilateral and bilateral development partners as well as commercial banks. According to …

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb had a busy first day of his official visit to the United States with a series of high-level meetings on the sidelines of the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG) in Washington D.C. according to the official statement, the Finance Minister and his …

Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has invited US companies to invest in Pakistan’s oil, mineral, agriculture, and information technology sectors, highlighting the country’s improving economic fundamentals and ongoing reform initiatives. According to the Ministry of Finance, the finance minister met with US Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Robert Kaproth and other senior officials in Washington, where he briefed them on …

Pakistan’s stock market witnessed another steep decline on Monday, as political uncertainty, renewed border tensions with Afghanistan, and delays in the IMF loan program continued to rattle investor confidence. The benchmark KSE-100 Index plunged 4,654.77 points, or 2.85 percent, to close at 158,443.42, marking the sixth consecutive session of losses. The market has now lost over 9,500 points in just …

The federal government has set an ambitious goal of increasing Pakistan’s pharmaceutical exports to 30 billion dollars within the next five years, as part of a broader plan to strengthen the country’s economy and global trade footprint. The target was discussed during a high-level meeting of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), chaired by Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal. …

The 32nd meeting of the Board of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) was held under the chairmanship of Mr. Haroon Akhtar Khan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Industries and Production. The meeting reviewed proposed amendments to the SMEDA Ordinance 2002, the appointment process of the new Chief Executive Officer, and the Authority’s SME Formalization …

Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan has emphasized the government’s firm commitment to boosting Pakistan’s agricultural exports through value addition, innovation, and quality enhancement — particularly in the citrus sector. The Minister noted that citrus, especially Kinnow mandarin, holds a crucial place in Pakistan’s export portfolio, and restoring its global competitiveness remains a top priority for the Ministry of …

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, virtually addressed a business session arranged for the visiting Saudi business delegation at the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce & Industry (OICCI) in Karachi today. The event was co-hosted by the OICCI and the Pakistan Business Council (PBC). While expressing gratitude to the leadership of OICCI and PBC for the invitation, …

Pakistan has shared a preliminary report with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) detailing the economic and human losses caused by recent floods, which inflicted damages worth Rs744 billion across the country, according to official sources. The report reveals that 1,037 people lost their lives and 1,068 were injured in the disaster, while around 6.5 million people were affected across 70 …

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has reported a significant increase in remittances from overseas Pakistanis, with inflows reaching $9.53 billion during the first quarter of the current fiscal year—an 8.4 percent rise compared to the same period last year. According to the SBP’s latest data, $3.18 billion were sent to Pakistan in September 2025 alone. Among the top contributing …

The Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) has unveiled landmark findings from the Pakistan Panel Household Survey (PPHS) 2024, the country’s only long-term, nationally representative household survey tracking economic and social change for more than two decades. The evidence-packed seminar, titled “Pakistan Panel Household Survey (PPHS): Key Insights and Implications for Policymaking,” featured Dr. Shujaat Farooq, Dean of Research at …

The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has imposed heavy financial penalties on Aisha Steel Mills Limited (ASML) and International Steels Limited (ISL) after finding both undertakings guilty of cartelization and price-fixing in violation of Section 4 of the Competition Act, 2010. According to CCP, the CCP’s Bench, comprising Chairman Dr. Kabir Ahmed Sidhu and Member Ms. Bushra Naz, passed the …

YB Tuan Gobind Singh Deo, Minister for Digital of Malaysia, called on Mr. Jam Kamal Khan, Minister for Commerce of Pakistan, on the sidelines of the Pakistan-Malaysia Business and Investment Conference on October 6 in Kuala Lumpur. During the meeting, the Minister for Commerce and the Minister for Digital emphasized the growing importance of digital transformation in boosting trade, investment, …

The Sindh government has fixed the price of a 100-kilogram flour bag and approved the Wheat Release Policy for 2025–26 to stabilize flour prices across the province. The decision was made during a meeting of the provincial cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Sindh. Under the new policy, the government will release 1.265 million tons of wheat to flour mills, while …

Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani has underscored the vital link between modern transport infrastructure and sustainable economic growth, as he addressed a high-level Ministerial Panel Discussion at the Global Rail Conference and Exhibition in Abu Dhabi. Speaking on the theme “Building Connected Nations: The Role of Transport and Infrastructure in Sustainable Development,” Kayani said, “It …

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan has established its Sovereign Sustainable Finance Framework (“Framework”) to reinforce its commitment to sustainability and provide a structured approach for raising Sustainable Financing Instruments (including Green, Social, Sustainability). Through this initiative, Pakistan aims to enhance its participation in the global sustainable finance market while fostering the development of a robust sustainable financing ecosystem. Developed with …

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has taken notice of unverified reports circulating on various media platforms claiming that the deadline for filing Income Tax Returns for Tax Year 2025 will be extended. Some elements have also attempted to link this perceived extension to the recent floods. FBR categorically clarified that these reports are false, baseless, and misleading, as the …

Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik has said that the Oil and Gas Development Company’s (OGDC) five new oil and gas discoveries during the fiscal year 2024-25 are a testament to Pakistan’s vast hydrocarbon potential. The Minister made the remarks during a meeting with the Managing Director and senior executives of OGDC at the company’s head office on Monday. …

Pakistan’s trade with Central Asian states, Afghanistan, and Azerbaijan grew significantly in the fiscal year 2024–25, reaching $2.41 billion compared to $1.92 billion in the previous year. The surge reflects a renewed momentum in regional economic ties, with both exports and imports showing upward trends. According to official data, Pakistan’s exports to these countries rose to $1.77 billion in FY2025, …

Serious questions of transparency have emerged over the Sindh Solar Energy Project, a flagship initiative of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), after reports of alleged irregularities in contracts and imports. Funded by the World Bank with an estimated cost of Rs. 28 billion, the first phase of the project aimed to distribute 200,000 solar home systems, with plans to expand …