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USF approves Rs13b new telecom projects

The Universal Service Fund (USF) is poised to achieve a major milestone under the prime minister's Digital Pakistan vision with the approval of nine new telecom projects valuing at Rs13.05 billion. These projects are set to provide high-speed internet and voice services to 5.55 million un-served and underserved residents across 178 towns/union councils and 753 mauzas of 11 districts across the

Revenue gap raises alarm as businesses seek reforms

The struggle of Pakistan's financial managers to achieve revenue targets for the current fiscal year has once again come under the spotlight, with early data pointing to a widening gap between projected collections and actual performance. The first quarter of fiscal year 2025-26 has already revealed a shortfall of nearly Rs200 billion, indicating deeper structural problems in the tax system at

IMF report \'indictment\' of govt: MPs

A main arm of parliament on Wednesday declared the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) report an "indictment of the government and parliament", as the finance minister promised to submit an action plan in the current month to address governance and corruption challenges. "We do not want to use the IMF report to criticise, but it is an indictment of the government and parliament," said Syed Nave

Chinese delegation visits GGIP

A Chinese delegation led by Dong Wei Wei of the HuaRui GuiXing Cultural Group, along with Liu Ying, visited the Gems & Gemological Institute of Pakistan (GGIP) on Wednesday. Earlier in February 2025, GGIP and HuaRui GuiXing Group signed an MoU aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation in the gemstone and jade jewellery industry, including capacity building, value addition, technology transfer, a

Debt-to-GDP ratio falls to 26pc: SBP governor

Governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Jameel Ahmad on Wednesday said Pakistan’s external debt burden has begun to ease, with the debt-to-GDP ratio falling from 31 percent to 26 percent. Speaking to the media at the Pakistan Women Entrepreneurship Day 2025 ceremony at SBP head office, he said this is the first meaningful improvement in several years. He added that Pakistan has not added to its e