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Senate panel urges infrastructure for EVs

The Senate Standing Committee on Industries and Production has urged the government to expedite the development of infrastructure to facilitate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). The committee met under the chair of Senator Aon Abbas and discussed the state of EV prevalence and the status of policy. The committee members noted that climate change is currently a serious issue, and if ve

Committee tasked with digitising fuel payments

The government has constituted a seven-member committee to finalise a detailed mechanism for digitising payments at fuel stations across the country before its formal announcement in the federal budget. The committee, formed on the direction of Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, is headed by Sharjeel Murtaza, Chief Digital Officer of Karandaaz Pakistan, and includes Ali Jan Khan, consultant o

‘Flawed’ govt policies cause sharp contraction in major crops

The Planning Commission has conceded that policy decisions and government measures at both the federal and provincial levels have caused a substantial contraction of 13.5 per cent in major crops this fiscal year, which may lead to increased food imports next year at the expense of precious foreign exchange. In a working paper for the federal budget 2025-26, the Planning Commission also attribut

Stocks falter after breaching 120,000-barrier

The Pakis­tan Stock Exchange (PSX) snapped its three-session winning streak as investors indulged in profit-taking towards end of the session, dragging the benchmark KSE 100 index in the red zone after scaling an all-time high above 120,000 intraday. Topline Securities Ltd stated that the stock market exhibited volatility, with the index fluctuating within a wide range, primarily influenced by

Govt eyes 4.2pc GDP growth for FY26

With an improved 4.2 per cent economic growth forecast for next year, the Ministry of Planning and Development cautioned on Monday about the re-emergence of external sector pressure amid easing import control and debt repayments. “The external sector may face pressure, as easing import controls and debt repayments are likely to widen the current account deficit,” said the Ministry of Planning a