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Finance Minister Aurangzeb confident of securing extended IMF programme

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Sunday expressed confidence that Pakistan would secure an extended loan programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), adding that agreements with the Fund can contribute to macroeconomic stability. Addressing a press conference in Islamabad at the end of the fiscal year 2023-24, the finance minister stressed his and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s

Fuel price goes up with start of new fiscal year

The PML-N-led coalition government began the new fiscal year (2024-25) with an increase in petrol and high-speed diesel prices by Rs7.45 and Rs9.56 per litre, respectively, for the next fortnight. In a late-night announcement, the Ministry of Finance said prices of petroleum products have seen an increasing trend in the international market during the last fortnight. The Oil and Gas Regulatory

PSX rises on budget approval, IMF deal hopes

Amid optimism for a smooth passage of the budget for fiscal year 2024-25 and a subsequent deal with the International Monetary Fund, the stock market continued its recovery momentum on Thursday. Investors engaged in value-hunting in oil and banking shares, which helped the benchmark index extend its overnight bull run. Ahsan Mehanti of Arif Habib Corporation said the finance minister’s propo

Foreign firms send record $918.1m abroad in May

Pakistan’s central bank allowed foreign companies operating in the country to repatriate a record-high profit and dividend of $918.1 million in May 2024. This move cleared a backlog accumulated over the past two years and helped restore international investors’ confidence in the country. Despite significant foreign payments totalling $2 billion in April and May, the country’s foreign exchange r

Petroleum prices likely to go up by Rs15

After offering relief to consumers in the last three revisions of oil prices, the government is now likely to raise the prices of high-speed diesel (HSD) and petrol by Rs9.84 per liter and Rs7.54 per liter, respectively, for the next fortnight starting from July 1. This possible increase is attributed to fluctuations in global oil prices. The government also plans to increase the rate of petrol