News

PMEX targets better productivity

Pakistan Mercantile Exchange (PMEX) CEO Khurram Zafar on Wednesday said that PMEX wanted to advance the concept of innovation and productivity in the commodity market by increasing efficiency in agriculture and metal sectors. "We are envisioning future markets under which market regulation will be maintained and competitiveness and productivity will be enhanced," the CEO told APP in an intervie

Balochistan Summit aims to boost investment

The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and the Balochistan Board of Investment and Trade (BBoIT) will jointly organise the Balochistan Summit 2025 on January 27-28 in Islamabad, aimed at promoting business, investment, joint ventures and industrialisation on an international scale in the province, FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh announced on Wednesday. The civili

Imports cross $5 billion after two years

Pakistan's trade deficit widened 35% to $1.8 billion in December 2024 after the government let imports grow to more than $5 billion for the first time in two years. Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported on Wednesday that trade deficit – the gap between imports and exports – widened 35% in December compared to the same month of last year. The key reason behind the jump in deficit was $5.3

Second phase of rightsizing put on hold

The government has put the second phase of rightsizing of the federal government on hold in a bid to address the observations raised by cabinet members. The Cabinet Committee on Rightsizing had submitted recommendations relating to the second phase of rightsizing of the federal government. However, the cabinet members in a recent meeting made several observations about the plan. They observe

Inflation eases to 4.1% in December

The average pace of increase in prices of about 600 goods further slowed down to 4.1% in December, providing more room to reduce policy rate this month without risking fiscal and external sector stability. Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported on Wednesday that inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) further eased to 4.1% in December compared to the same month of last year.