Pakistan’s banking sector has reverted to its traditional model as the advance-to-deposit ratio (ADR) dropped to 38.1pc in June 2025, down from 50pc in December 2024, reflecting a significant slowdown in lending activity. The surge in lending last year was driven by a government policy announced in the FY25 budget, which imposed an incremental tax of up to 15pc on banks that failed to maintain
Talks between the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) and Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain on Tuesday ended without a clear decision on the retail price of sugar, as market rates remain elevated. Sources familiar with the meeting said a final decision on the retail price is expected in the next few days. However, it was emphasised during the meeting that
The Large-Scale Manufacturing (LSM) sector posted a modest growth of 2.29 per cent in May compared to the same month last year, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics on Tuesday. This marks the third consecutive month of positive growth, attributed largely to a significant cut in the key interest rate to 11pc. The LSM sector showed positive growth from December 2023 to
Bank lending to the government has exceeded Rs44 trillion, while lending to the private sector accounts for just 21 per cent of total advances, highlighting the growing imbalance in the country’s credit landscape. According to the latest data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), government borrowing from banks surged by Rs8.5tr in FY24 alone. In stark contrast, private sector lending f
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has advised Pakistan to implement a uniform 5 per cent general sales tax (GST) for all digital transactions to encourage nationwide adoption of e-commerce platforms, reduce cash-related inefficiencies and document the economy. In its latest report on Pakistan’s Digital Ecosystem issued yesterday, the ADB cautioned that steep and inconsistent taxes on digital inf