News

Local schemes needed for SMEs

Business leaders said fostering Pakistan-based financing schemes can promote both small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and local products, stressing that the government should provide loans for infrastructure and raw materials of economic establishments rather than wasting time and funds on training and capacity building. Talking to The Express Tribune on Monday, they shared their views wh

Bitcoin reels below $90,000

Bitcoin hit its lowest in over three months on Tuesday, as nerves in markets over US tariffs reinforced the blow to crypto investor confidence from last week's $1.5 billion hack of ether from the Bybit exchange. Bitcoin, the world's largest cryptocurrency by market value, broke below $90,000 to its lowest since November 18, falling by as much as 7.5% at one point. It was last down 5% on the day

Gold drops Rs800 amid global correction

Gold prices in Pakistan witnessed some correction on Tuesday, reflecting a downturn in international markets. The price per tola fell by Rs800, settling at Rs308,700, while the 10-gram rate decreased by Rs686 to Rs264,660, according to the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA). This decline comes after gold hit a record high of Rs309,500 per tola on Monday. Meanwhile, inte

Banks urged to prioritise SME lending

State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Jameel Ahmad has urged commercial banks to rethink their business models and prioritise loans to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to support the country's economic growth instead of lending heavily to the government. Speaking at the closing session of the two-day Pakistan Banking Summit 2025 on Tuesday, Ahmad stressed the need for banks to shift their fo

Govt invokes nationalisation order

The bureaucracy is trying to take over management of a publicly listed company by invoking the "notorious" 53-year-old Nationalisation and Economic Reforms Order of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto that torpedoed the economy, revealed proceedings of a parliamentary committee meeting. In order to stop further destruction of Pakistan Engineering Company (PECO), the existing shareholders complained to Prime Mi