Business

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s trade deficit with the Middle East narrowed 41.31 per cent to $5.674 billion in the first seven months of the current fiscal year mainly due to low imports of petroleum products from the region. In absolute terms, the value of Pakistan’s exports to the Middle East rose 36.18pc to $1.769bn between July and January 2023-24 while imports dipped …

KARACHI: A consortium of Engro Fertilisers Ltd (EFL), Fatima Fertilisers and Fauji Fertilisers will invest over $300 million in the Gas Pressure Enhancement Facilities (GPEF) project at the Mari network to ensure the availability of gas for domestic urea production and safeguard the food security. “Our expected share in capital expenditure in this project is over $100m, Engro Fertilisers Chief …

WASHINGTON: The US State Department has conveyed a clear message to Pakistan’s new rulers, emphasising the importance of collaboration with the Interna­tional Monetary Fund (IMF) and economic reforms for stability. In response to a set of questions from Dawn, a State Department spokesperson underscored the enduring partnership between the two nations, stating, “We value our long-standing partnership with Pakistan and have …

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will support formulating a new economic programme for Pakistan if the new government seeks one, a spokesperson for the lender said on Friday, encouraging fair resolution of all electoral disputes. The cash-strapped nation grappled with an uncertain Feb 8 election that delayed formation of a coalition government until new Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was sworn …

KARACHI: State Bank of Pakistan Governor Jameel Ahmed has said that the unprecedented volume of data generated by digital devices underscores the potential of effective data utilisation in contributing to sustained economic growth. He stated this while delivering an inaugural speech at the SaarcFinance Seminar on the ‘Potential Role of Big Data in Economic Policy’ on Wednesday. The event, held …

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Wednesday urged the Shehbaz Sharif government to implement the agenda of privatisation, particularly in the energy sector, as the greater involvement of the private sector is the key to addressing economic crisis. He was addressing as the chief guest at the inaugural session of the 16th CSR Summit and Awards-2024 organised by …

KARACHI: After a positive start on Wednesday, the stock market came under selling pressure as a weaker rupee and surging external debts amid uncertainty about new IMF conditions kept investors nervous as a result the benchmark KSE 100-share index closed in the red. Cautious investors opted to stay on the sidelines as the new government was preparing to start the final IMF …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s external public debt rose by $1.2 billion in six months to $86.358bn as of September 30, 2023, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MEA). In its first quarterly report on Foreign Economic Assistance (FEA) of the current fiscal year released on Wednesday, the ministry said Pakistan had received total foreign inflows of $3.5bn in July-September 2023 against loan repayments of $1.5bn, …

Moody’s Investors Service on Thursday changed its outlook on Pakistan’s banking sector from “negative” to “stable” citing its solid profitability, stable funding and liquidity, which it said “provide an adequate buffer’ to withstand the country’s macroeconomic challenges and political turmoil. The international rating agency — one of the top three global rating firms — said that the economic and fiscal pressures were …

KARACHI: Hub Power Co Ltd (Hubco), the country’s largest private utility, expects power consumption in the country to fall again this year due to higher tariffs and tepid industrial activity, a top executive told Reuters. Power demand in Pakistan plunged last year by nearly a sixth and a decline in 2024 would mark the first time in 16 years that …