Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed the formation of three specialised committees — the Digital Payments Innovation and Adoption Committee, the Digital Public Infrastructure Committee, and the Government Payments Committee — to promote a cashless economy across the country. These sub-committees will present recommendations to facilitate payments between citizens and businesses, rai
The Gilgit-Baltistan finance minister on Monday unveiled the region’s Rs148.63 billion budget for fiscal year 2025-26. The budget was presented by Speaker Nazir Ahmed Advocate. Addressing the session, Finance Minister Muhammad Ismail said Rs88.19bn has been allocated for non-development and Rs37bn billion for development expenditures. As per the minister, the region will get Rs80bn in fed
As the government announced a modest tax relief for the lower income slabs, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Monday introduced three new tax measures in the National Assembly to offset its revenue impact — part of the country’s ongoing commitment to remain within the fiscal parameters agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In his winding-up speech, Mr Aurangzeb informed the Na
Despite India’s heavy subsidies on exports, Pakistan’s rice shipments remained largely unaffected due to a strategy adopted by local exporters that prioritised agility and quality. India recently re-entered the international rice market after a two-year hiatus imposed to ensure domestic food security. The lifting of export bans by New Delhi generated considerable excitement in Indian media, whi
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) concluded a turbulent week on a bearish note, as geopolitical tensions — particularly in the Middle East — dampened investor confidence and triggered widespread profit-taking. Despite a positive start following the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) Monetary Policy Statement (MPS), which met expectations by keeping the policy rate unchanged at 11pc, the KSE-100 ind