News

Large-Scale Manufacturing production shrinks 1.8pc

The Large-Scale Manufacturing (LSM) sector contracted 1.87 per cent year-on-year in the first half of 2024-25, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics data showed on Thursday. The big industry production has seen a negative trend since August 2024, except in October, due to domestic and global factors. The LSM grew positively from December 2023 to May 2024 before entering negative territory in June.

Profit outflows surge 90pc in July-Jan

The profit outflows slightly decreased in January but were still higher by 90 per cent in the first seven months of FY25, according to State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) data released on Thursday. Despite the country’s challenges on the external front amid falling foreign exchange reserves, the central bank kept allowing the repatriation of profits on foreign investments. The outflow of profits and d

Logistics industry faces staggering losses

Pakistan’s logistics industry faces annual losses of around $36 billion due to offline trade, potentially resulting in the loss of two to three million jobs. Experts emphasised these concerns at the Pakistan Logistics and Shipping Summit 2025, which was held on Thursday. According to a press release, industry leaders emphasised that real-time solutions, including processing, tracking, and ot

‘Pakistan can’t afford boom-bust cycle’: Aurangzeb

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Thursday cautioned the business community that the country cannot afford another boom-and-bust cycle, stressing the need for continued structural reforms to ensure sustainable and equitable prosperity. Speaking at a conference on ‘Retail Reimagined: Innovate, Collaborate & Thrive’, organised by the Pakistan Retail Business Council (PRBC) in Islamabad, the

Stocks add 254 points to overnight gains

The stock market continued its upward trend on Wednesday amid an improved economic outlook. Topline Securities Ltd said the market maintained its bullish trajectory as investor sentiment remained upbeat, driven by robust corporate earnings. The benchmark index surged 941 points intraday before closing at 113,342 points, marking a 253-point gain or 0.22 per cent day-on-day. It noted that this