News

Land lease policy for special economic zones approved

The Board of Investment (BoI) has approved the Land Lease Policy for establishing special economic zones (SEZs) and an action plan to streamline these zones. The BoI’s Approval Committee met on Tuesday with Investment and Privatisation Minister Abdul Aleem Khan in the chair. It was also informed about completing a survey of 35 industrial zones nationwide. The survey dealt with identifying pr

Rightsizing is an IMF structural benchmark, says finance minister

Uncertain about the financial impact of abolishing 150,000 posts and the public funds held in commercial banks, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Tuesday said the rightsizing of the federal government was a structural benchmark set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and would be completed before June 30 this year. Speaking at a news conference with MNA Bilal Azhar Kiani and ambassado

FPCCI plans Bangladesh trip to boost trade

With bilateral trade below $1 billion, the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) is leading an exporters’ delegation to Bangladesh this week to enhance trade relations. The delegation will meet Bangladesh Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus and Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin. FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh, who will lead more than 35 business people of diverse

Commerce Minister Kamal leaves for South Korea to sign trade partnership

Pakis­tan and South Korea are set to sign a landmark Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) to double the bilateral trade volume. Commerce Minister Jam Kamal has left for South Korea to sign the EPA with his counterpart in Seoul, marking a new era of economic collaboration between the two countries, according to an official announcement of the commerce ministry on Tuesday. Mr Kamal’s three-day

Nepra notifies refunds for power consumers

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) on Tuesday notified negative fuel cost adjustment (FCA) of 76 paise per unit for ex-Wapda distribution companies (Discos) and 49 paise for consumers of K-Electric in January’s bills. The refunds were approved for Discos’ consumers for November and KE’s users in October. The KE had proposed a 27-paisa per unit refund for October consump