News

Exports jump 13pc in first five months

Pakis­tan’s merchandise exports slowed in November and fell into the single digit due to a reduction in international demand, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics on Monday. The growth momentum picked pace in July owing to improved orders from the international community and stability in the exchange rate. The exports grew 11.83 per cent in July, followed by 16pc in A

Expectations rise for big policy rate cut

The unexpected fall in inflation pushed the real interest rate to 10.1 per cent, creating ample room for the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to introduce a significant cut in its policy rate, which would be the fifth consecutive decline since June. The real interest rate is the difference between the nominal policy rate and inflation. It’s the actual return on a loan or bond. The central bank h

UBL board approves Silkbank merger

The board of directors of United Bank Ltd (UBL) has approved the merger with Silkbank Ltd, UBL informed its shareholders through a filing with the Pakistan Stock Exchange on Tuesday. “We have to inform you that the board of directors of UBL, in its 252nd meeting held on Dec 2, approved the amalgamation of Silkbank Ltd with and into UBL through a share swap arrangement under section 48 of Bankin

OICCI seeks prompt release of refunds

The Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) has expressed grave concerns regarding the alarming backlog of pending income and sales tax refund claims. In a letter to Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial, OICCI Chief Executive and Secretary General M Abdul Aleem said that unresolved refunds had reached a critical threshold, severely impacting the op

Cement sales post meagre increase

Overall cement sales increased by 5.58 per cent to 4.146 million tonnes in November from 3.927m tonnes in the corresponding period last year. As per data of All Pak­istan Cement Manufac­turers Associa­tion (APCMA), local cement despatches were up 2.4pc to 3.342m tonnes compared to 3.264m tonnes in November 2023. Exports also increased by 21.27pc to 803,258 tonnes from 662,374 tonnes. However