News

Gold prices dip in local and international markets

The price of one tola of gold now stands at Rs362,300, with a drop of Rs700, according to the All Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association (APSGJA). The decline is attributed to a reduction in global gold rates, which dropped by $18 per ounce. The international market saw a decline, bringing the price of gold to $3,414 per ounce. Similarly, the price of 10 grams of gold has also decrea

From mining real gold to digital gold

In March 2022, Pakistan made headlines when Mark Bristow signed a landmark agreement to launch the country's largest-ever copper and gold mining project—a symbol of traditional resource extraction. Three years later, in March 2025, a new frontier emerged with the formation of the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC), aiming to mine a different kind of gold: digital. From proposals to use idle electricity

Punjab unveils Rs5.35 trillion \'tax-free\' budget for 2025-26

Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman on Monday presented a Rs5,335 billion budget for fiscal year 2025–26 in the provincial assembly, terming it a "people-friendly" plan aligned with the development vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. The provincial cabinet, led by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, approved the budget ahead of the session. CM Maryam addressed th

SBP holds interest rate at 11% amid signs of recovery and stable inflation

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has decided to maintain the policy interest rate at 11% in its latest monetary policy statement, citing expectations of stabilised inflation and gradual economic recovery. According to the SBP, inflation in May rose by 3.5%, and it is expected to align with the target range in FY26. Despite a consistent rise in the trade deficit, the current account remained

Budget Special: Unpacking a paradoxical fiscal plan

In the national budget for fiscal year 2025-26, real estate and construction have got some incentives, and key agricultural inputs, including fertilisers and pesticides, have been kept untaxed. Though appreciable under an ideal situation, pampering these sectors without taking enough care of small industrialists and the urban middle class could widen the divide between the ruling elite — with t