News

Auto sales see annual growth amidst monthly decline

After a 43pc surge during FY25, the new fiscal year FY26 began on a positive note, with sales of cars, light commercial vehicles (LCVs), pickups, and jeeps rising 28pc year-on-year in July to 11,034 units. However, sales were down 49pc month-on-month, largely due to the high base effect of June. Data released by the Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA) showed significant momentu

Labelling system for cotton seeds gets green light

The Board of Governors of the National Seed Development and Regulatory Authority (NSDRA) has approved key reforms in the seed sector, including the pilot launch of a ‘Truth-in-Labelling System’ for cotton, aimed at protecting farmers from substandard seeds. The initiative will be underpinned by clear eligibility criteria and climate-smart protocols, ensuring seed quality and traceability. Th

Trump mulls lawsuit against Fed chair

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he might allow “a major lawsuit against” the US central bank chief to proceed, as he complained again about renovations to the Federal Reserve headquarters and renewed pressure to lower interest rates. “The damage he has done by always being Too Late is incalculable,” Trump wrote of Fed Chair Jerome Powell on his Truth Social platform. He added that he

Competition Appellate Tribunal cuts fine on flour mills to Rs35m

The Competition Appellate Tribunal (CAT) has reduced the penalty imposed by the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) on the Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) for its involvement in wheat flour price-fixing, cutting the fine from Rs75 million to Rs35 million. The CCP had launched an inquiry in 2019 after reports emerged of an unusual spike in wheat flour prices nationwide. It later

Federal audit uncovers misuse of public funds worth over Rs5bn in scientific research council

A recent federal audit report has uncovered large-scale financial irregularities within the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR), amounting to over Rs5.83 billion in public funds during the fiscal year 2023-24. The audit report, issued on August 8, 2025, consists of 22 detailed paragraphs, highlighting significant violations of public procurement regulations, treasury