HERE it comes. The coming IMF review is going to be successful, but the government is likely to emerge significantly more hamstrung at the other end. We should expect an embattled budget drawing up process as the search for more innovative means to address business community concerns collides with a fiscal effort that needs to try and plug a Rs600 billion gap in the revenue target before June.
Construction activities slightly improved as cement sales rose 7 per cent to 3.065 million tonnes in February compared to 2.869m in the corresponding period last year. Export despatches rose 34.30pc to 531,736 tonnes from 395,935 tonnes in February 2024. The All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) data showed total cement despatches were up 10.15pc to 3.596m tonnes against 3
During his wide-ranging and eventful first speech to Congress, President Trump lashed out at India — among several other countries — for imposing what he called “very unfair” tariffs on American goods, and announced that from April 2, he would respond with reciprocal tariffs. Trump specifically criticised India’s 100pc tariff on American automobiles — grouping it with China, the European Union,
The federal government on Wednesday appointed Bilal bin Saqib as the chief adviser to the finance minister on the recently announced Pakistan Crypto Council. On February 25, the finance ministry announced it was considering “establishing a National Crypto Council” to adopt emerging digital currencies in line with global trends. An official statement said Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb had
The State Bank finds itself in a dilemma over the interest rate as on one hand the business community is clamouring for a cut of 500 basis points in one stroke, but on the other multinational companies are advising caution. According to Ehsan Malik, the CEO of Pakistan Business Council (PBC), “the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the State Bank is likely to maintain a cautious approach and le