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IMF mission to assess governance and corruption in Pakistan

A three-member International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission will visit Pakistan to conduct a Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Assessment under the country’s 2024 Extended Fund Facility programme, the finance ministry said on Sunday, without specifying dates. The ministry added that the report will recommend actions for addressing corruption vulnerabilities and strengthening integrity and gover

Trump pushes for \'even\' trade balance with Japan

President Donald Trump on Friday pushed Japan to invest in US energy and technology, showered his closest Asian ally with praise and sought a way out of a dispute over a Japanese bid for US Steel during Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's first White House visit. Trump announced progress on Nippon Steel's blocked $14.9 billion attempt to take over US Steel, which he has long opposed. Trump said

Pakistan\'s IT exports surge by 28% to $1.86b

Pakistan’s IT exports have risen by 28%, reaching $1.86 billion, with further growth expected in the coming months, Minister of State for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja announced on Sunday. Speaking at LEAP 2025 during the Pakistan-Saudi Business Forum, Khawaja highlighted the government’s commitment to expanding Pakistan’s digital economy. She described the Digital Nation Act 2025

Trade tariff chaos and its global fallout

In line with his campaign promises, President Trump announced new tariffs (customs duty or taxes on imports) more than a week ago – 25% on Mexico and Canada and 10% on imports from China. While China had anticipated such measures, Mexico and Canada had hoped they would be avoided due to the deep economic integration of North America. However, once the executive order was issued under the "Ameri

The harsh truth about privatisation

Privatisation is in vogue. Political leaders, commercial and investment bankers, and international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) deem it a magical panacea, especially for ailing, less developed economies. But is it really a panacea? Does it make sense for poor, developing countries to divest vital and sometimes strategic national assets? In examining these