A private think tank has criticised the federal budget for 2025-26, terming it a set of “misaligned expenditure priorities” and “overly ambitious revenue targets” with no meaningful reforms on either front. In its quarterly report released on Monday, the Policy Research Institute of Market Economy (PRIME) said the government was losing sight of a coherent economic reform strategy. Although p
The Pakistan Business Forum (PBF) on Monday claimed that both interest and exchange rates were being kept artificially high without economic justification, and appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to ensure a correction to support growth and stability. In a statement, PBF Chief Organiser Ahmad Jawad asserted that the fair value of the US dollar was around Rs260, while prevailing inflation
Amid a persistent surge in sugar prices, the government on Monday decided to enforce strict monitoring of sugar stocks and deploy officials at each sugar mill to oversee inventory levels and ensure uninterrupted supply in line with commitments made by the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA). The move comes as part of broader efforts to curb hoarding and restore market stability. A grievance
Banks and exchange companies are facing mounting pressure to lower the dollar rate below prevailing market levels, according to sources in the financial sector. An important meeting in Islamabad on Monday, involving senior officials from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the Ministry of Finance, and bankers, discussed measures to stabilise the exchange rate and reduce the dollar’s price. How
Senior security officials on Monday held a meeting with bullion traders to address concerns over gold price speculation, rising rates, and suspected smuggling — days after a crackdown on black market currency dealers and a separate meeting with exchange companies. According to All Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association President Qasim Shikarpuri, the meeting was held in Islamabad, where security