BRITAIN’S decision to lift its nearly five-year-old ban on Pakistani airlines, allowing them to apply for permits to resume flight operations to and from the UK, is a boost to Pakistan’s aviation industry, particularly the debt-ridden national flag carrier PIA. The UK Air Safety Committee’s move to reverse the restrictions follows aviation safety improvements in this country. The British High C
AS expected, the government’s attempts to fit out the tax authority with ramped-up powers has produced a backlash. And against this backlash, we see the old instincts swinging into play. The prime minister has reportedly asked the FBR to ‘go slow’ with the powers they have been vested in the Finance Act for FY26, and the finance ministry has formed a committee to hold talks with the business co
THOUGH IMF Resident Representative for Pakistan Mahir Binici’s words of commendation for the country’s “strong performance so far” under the $7bn Extended Fund Facility (EFF) ‘vindicate’ the government’s economic and fiscal policies, his compliments should be taken with a pinch of salt. His praise for the government’s economic performance is primarily based on the relatively stronger implementa
The World Bank, in a new report, has designed strategies for five key industrial sectors in Pakistan, highlighting significant opportunities for energy efficiency and decarbonisation to help the country manage soaring energy costs and meet its climate goals. The report ‘Pakistan Energy Efficiency: Industrial Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation (EE&D)’, outlines strategies, targeting the cemen
Karachi and Lahore — Pakistan’s two largest commercial cities — witnessed a near-complete shutdown on Saturday as traders observed a strike against what they described as harsh and anti-business taxation measures introduced through the Finance Act 2025-26. The strike, called by the Karachi and Lahore Chambers of Commerce and Industry, marked one of the most widespread protests by the business c