News

Equities rebound, index recovers 945 points

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) rebounded strongly on Monday, with the benchmark KSE-100 index gaining 945 points, or 0.61 per cent, to close at 155,384.51. The rally came after the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) maintained the policy rate at 11 per cent, in line with market expectations. The Monetary Policy Committee’s decision to hold rates steady provided relief to investors concerned over t

New auditor general to face fallout from ‘most expensive typo’

A new auditor general will have to clean up the mess left by his predecessor, after the Auditor General of Pakistan’s (AGP) office backtracked on a controversial report, which gave an astronomical figure for irregularities unearthed in the federal government’s accounts. Maqbool Ahmed Gondal was sworn in as the country’s 22nd AGP on Monday, at a ceremony held in the Supreme Court. Appointed f

Auto sector warns draft law may ‘criminalise’ business

The country’s auto sector has raised strong objections to the draft Motor Vehicles Industry Development Act 2025, warning that instead of promoting growth, the proposed law risks stifling investment, inflating costs, and even criminalising legitimate business practices. Industry leaders argue the legislation was drafted without consulting stakeholders and hands sweeping powers to bureaucratic b

Mostly small items, mementos among gifts received by public office-holders

Apart from the affluent sheikhs of Qatar and Saudi Arabia, who lavished Pakistan’s dignitaries — including visiting bureaucrats — with expensive gifts, mainly wristwatches, Prime Minister Sheh­baz Sharif received a traditional golden dagger during the first six months of 2025. The Toshakhana record, made public by the cabinet division for the period between January and June 2025, lists high-val

Move disappoints trade, industry

Barring foreign investors, local business leaders have expressed concern over the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) decision to keep the policy interest rate unchanged at 11 per cent, arguing that the move could stifle investment, raise production costs, and delay economic recovery. While foreign investors largely supported the decision, domestic business groups criticised it as overly cautious, p