News

\'Tie-up with China key to boosting chemical industry\'

Pakistan-China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI) Vice President Zafar Iqbal on Tuesday stressed the importance of collaborative measures with China's chemical industry to enhance Pakistan's competitiveness. Speaking during a think-tank session with PCJCCI executive committee members, Iqbal highlighted Pakistan's lack of advanced technology to establish petrochemical complex facili

Questions raised over green bond mechanism

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has aired concerns over the mechanism for the Water and Power Development Authority's (Wapda) green bond, which lacks provisions for mitigating liabilities of the government and its consequences. The finance minister said that the same mechanism, established for Wapda's green bond, was being used for Pakistan Social Impact Bond (PSIB) that was to be floated t

Power tariff slashed by 75 paisa

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has reduced electricity tariff up to 75 paisa per unit for consumers of ex-Wapda power distribution companies (DISCOs) and K-Electric on account of fuel charges adjustment (FCA). The power-sector regulator cut tariff up to Rs0.7556 per unit for DISCOs due to variations in fuel charges in November 2024. For K-Electric consumers, it slas

Bears at PSX lose steam midway as shares make marginal losses

Bears continued their stampede on Tuesday on the trading floor as shares at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) declined by more than 200 points. The benchmark KSE-100 index declined 768.80 points, or 0.66 per cent, to stand at 115,486.32 points at 11:04am from the previous close of 116,255.12. Finally, the index closed at 116,052.68 points, down by 202.44 points or 0.17pc from the last close.

Banks advance record Rs1.9tr to private sector

The private sector borrowed a record Rs1.9 trillion from banks during the first half of FY25, registering a surge of 265 per cent from the same period last fiscal year. The latest data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Monday indicated that banks have been extending advances to the private sector despite existing risks posed by sluggish economic growth and political uncertainty.