Pakistan’s consumer inflation eased to 10.3% year-on-year in September 2026, down from 11.1% in August, according to official data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). The decline was more pronounced in rural areas, where inflation fell to 10.5% from 12.2% in August. Urban inflation also eased, reaching 10.1%, compared with 10.4% the previous...
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan expects Washington to respond within the next couple of months to its request for a proposed $10 billion bilateral stabilisation facility, as Islamabad seeks to strengthen investor confidence and improve its access to international capital markets. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb had earlier confirmed that Pakistan approached US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for the...
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has introduced a new sales tax collection mechanism for Pakistan’s steel industry, linking tax liability directly to electricity consumption in an effort to improve compliance and strengthen documentation across the sector. The new framework will apply to steel melters, re-rollers and composite units, including those generating their own electricity...
Pakistan’s proposed Auto Policy 2026–31, designed to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), has reportedly been shelved after local car manufacturers raised objections, forcing the government to restart the policy-making process. The Ministry of Industries and Production had prepared a new auto policy after consulting stakeholders, with a strong focus on promoting electric mobility...
The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has approved a Rs 98 billion subsidy package to reduce borrowing costs for exporters and stimulate Pakistan’s export sector after overseas shipments declined by 6% in the last fiscal year. Chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, the ECC endorsed three major export support initiatives, including an enhanced Export Finance Scheme...
The federal government has decided to import one million tonnes of wheat on an urgent basis to address growing supply shortages and stabilize flour prices across the country. The decision was made after consultations between the federal government and provincial authorities, who reviewed wheat availability, market prices and consumer demand. Officials also agreed to immediately...
Pakistan’s inflation is expected to accelerate to 9.1% year-on-year in July, as higher food prices and renewed uncertainty over global energy markets add fresh pressure to the cost of living, according to market estimates by Growth Securities and JS Global. Economists expect the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to record a 1.1% month-on-month increase, largely driven...
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) extended its recent downturn on Friday, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index falling 1,264.14 points, or 0.74%, during the morning trading session as investor sentiment remained subdued. The index slipped to 170,475.30 points before trading was temporarily suspended for the routine Friday (Jummah) prayer break. After opening on a weaker note,...
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has approved the prospectus for the initial public offering (IPO) of Tasdeeq Information Services Limited, clearing the way for the first Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) listing of the 2026-27 fiscal year. Tasdeeq, a credit bureau licensed by the State Bank of Pakistan, collects and maintains credit information...
The federal cabinet has approved a new Rs1.8 billion special allowance for senior bureaucrats, despite extending austerity measures for the 2026-27 fiscal year and announcing only a 7% salary increase for government employees. The decision has sparked debate over public sector pay disparities during a period of economic pressure. The newly introduced benefit, titled the...