Outstanding auto loans rose to Rs285.6 billion in July, up from Rs276.6bn in June, marking the eighth consecutive month of growth, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). While the trend is positive, the current level remains well below the all-time high of Rs368bn recorded in June 2022. Industry experts attribute the uptick in auto financing to improved consumer sentim
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday expressed shock over reports that the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) was drawing an annual salary of Rs41 million. PAC Chairman Junaid Akbar Khan questioned how a country facing economic hardships could afford such packages. “Is the board free to fix salaries at its own discretion without seeking a
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Tuesday disclosed that it purchased $7.8 billion from the open market since June 2024, raising the country’s foreign exchange reserves to $14.5bn by end-June 2025 — a move aimed at ensuring external stability but one that could otherwise have strengthened the rupee and boosted imports. Testifying before the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance an
The Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, has assured a Chinese agricultural delegation that Pakistan will extend full institutional support to all joint projects and ensure a transparent, efficient, and facilitative environment for Chinese companies and experts working in Pakistan. A 20-member Chinese delegation, led by Yuan Jianmin, Adviser to the Peo
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) took a dip on Monday, as investors opted to take profits amid growing concerns over the release of the third tranche of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan. The market saw a volatile session, with the benchmark KSE-100 index fluctuating sharply before closing down. Ahsan Mehanti of Arif Habib Corporation attributed the bearish market performance to inst