The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) continued its bullish momentum from the preceding week, disregarding the worsening security situation and escalating political tensions, and posted impressive gains to close the week at a new all-time high. The equity investors also ignored the concerns raised by the International Monetary Fund on external financing gaps and revenue shortfalls. However, the mar
Water has undeniably emerged as the primary limiting factor for both intensification (increasing cropping intensity) and extensification (expanding cultivated land) of Pakistan’s agriculture. This pressing reality has been highlighted yet again by the recent controversy between the federal government and Sindh over the proposed Cholistan Canal project aimed at reclaiming the barren land of the Cho
Despite some strengthening of crude prices over the last few days on account of the heating up of the Russia-Ukraine war, pressure has been building up on the oil markets from all directions. A guessing game is thus on. How would the crude markets behave in the New Year? It may be too early to pass a judgment. Investors are fretting over weaker Chinese demand and a potential slowing in the pace
Pakistan’s power generation capacity expansion process continues to face credibility challenges despite being regularly conducted with an established regulatory framework. Consequently, the government has built power plants to cater to a demand that is simply not there, leaving Pakistan with more electricity than it can consume and more capacity payments than it can afford. There is a consisten
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has set an ambitious $25 billion IT export target in five years amid better utilisation of resources and provision of training and education to the workforce. The premier, who chaired a review meeting on IT sector reforms, expressed hope that the estimated target will be met. An official announcement of the PMO said that the Ministry of Information Technology (I