Pakistan's consumer price index (CPI) inflation dropped to 2.41% year-on-year (YoY) in January 2025, marking its lowest level in 111 months, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Monday. The inflation rate reflects a sharp disinflationary trend, down from 4.1% in December 2024 and significantly lower than 28.3% in January 2024. On a month-on-month (MoM) bas
Pakistan's trade deficit remained high at $2.3 billion in January 2025 after imports stayed above $5.2 billion for the second consecutive month, the national data collecting agency reported on Monday. Exports too exhibited a healthy growth momentum and stood close to $3 billion. But these are still not enough to plug the gap despite having restricted imports. Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (P
Local dispatches by cement manufacturers reached 3.313 million tons in January 2025 compared to 2.967 million tons in the same month of last year, showing an increase of 11.64%, as per data released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA). In a statement, the industry lobby commented that the domestic cement sales increased after many sluggish months. Exports rose 30.25%
The government on Monday tightened conditions for availing the export facilitation scheme (EFS) after manufacturers massively misused a facility intended to boost exports. The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet approved major amendments to the 2021 Export Facilitation Scheme, aiming to limit its misuse and prevent tax evasion through raw material imports. A key issue was manuf
The European Union (EU) has decided to re-review Pakistan's Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status in June 2025, despite initially granting the preferential trade status until 2027. Cotton Ginners Forum Chairman Ehsanul Haq told The Express Tribune that a team from the EU recently visited Pakistan to assess compliance with 27 conventions. EU officials have warned that failure to meet