News

Aurangzeb reassures small and medium enterprises of support

Fina­nce Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Thursday reaffirmed the government’s steadfast commitment to supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The minister acknowledged the necessity of making difficult decisions to stabilise the economy, recognising their impact on businesses and individuals. According to a press release, the minister stated this during a visit to the Sialkot Chamber

Economy, not security, to drive country: Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi says Pakistan cannot grow economically unless it becomes a fully functional democracy. Speaking at a session titled “Can Economic Progress and Democracy Coexist?” organised by the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (Pildat) on Thursday, he said the countries that had prospered while being autocracies were not similar to Paki

PSX dives due to profit-taking

Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Wednesday suffered a massive crash as it plummeted 3,790 points, marking one of the biggest single-day drops in history. The deep plunge sent shockwaves through the market, where extensive selling across key sectors triggered a sharp reversal of confidence. After briefly breaching the 116,000 mark earlier in the day, the KSE-100 index came under mounting pressur

G20 watchdog calls for addressing risks

The Financial Stability Board (FSB) on Wednesday pitched recommendations for governments to reduce risks around hedge funds, insurers and other non-bank financial intermediaries, which now account for almost half of global financial assets. The sector of non-bank financial intermediation has grown by around 130% between 2009 and 2023, making markets more vulnerable for stress events, according

Digital bill deferred despite initial consensus

The National Assembly Standing Committee on IT and Telecom, during a heated session on Wednesday, deferred the much-debated Digital Nation Pakistan Bill. This decision came after nearly all members of the committee had tentatively agreed to its contents following extensive discussions. Committee Chairman Aminul Haque expressed his support for the bill despite intense debates, particularly from