News

Sindh extends 18pc return to boost Thar coal investment

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday chaired the 29th meeting of the Thar Coal & Energy Board (TCEB), where key initiatives were approved to boost the region’s coal mining and power generation capacity. Speaking at the meeting held at CM House, Mr Shah said Thar’s coal-based projects have added over 2,600 megawatts (MW) to the national grid since 2019, supplying affordable electr

High interest rate stokes private sector woes

The business community, except multinationals, has expressed intense disappointment over the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) decision to maintain the policy rate at 11 per cent, warning that the move could stifle economic revival and increase pressure on an already struggling private sector. Presenting a contrasting view, M. Abdul Aleem, Chief Executive and Secretary General of the Overseas Inve

Senate panel to hear PSM stakeholders

The Senate Standing Committee on Industries and Production is set to begin a two-day session in Karachi from Aug 1, during which it is expected to hear the Pakistan Steel Mills Company (PSMC) Stakeholders’ Group. The group aims to present a fact-based briefing on the troubled state-owned enterprise’s affairs. In a letter addressed to Committee Chairman Senator Aon Abbas, the group expressed its

FBR forms seven-member committee to settle GB tax issue

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Wednesday formed a seven-member committee to make recommendations for resolving the ongoing tax dispute, as traders in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) continued their sit-in for a tenth consecutive day. Traders, affiliated with Pakistan-China trade through Khunjerab Pass, have been protesting at the Sost Dry Port and blocking the Karakoram Highway, the land route bet

State Bank keeps monetary policy rate unchanged at 11pc

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) kept its policy rate unchanged on Wednesday at 11 per cent. The central bank’s policy rate, after being slashed by 1,000bps from 22pc since June 2024 in seven intervals, was cut to 11pc in May. The bank had kept the rate unchanged on June 16 as well. A press release issued by the SBP said its Monetary Policy Committee noted that inflation in June had decelera