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Ahsan stresses need for promoting trade with Saudi Arabia

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has urged the Pakistani business community in Saudi Arabia to play an active role in further enhancing trade relations with the kingdom. “These increased economic contacts provide a solid foundation for bilateral relations between nations, he said while addressing a reception hosted by the Pakistani business community in Jeddah on Wednesday. The minister outline

Despite surplus, maize exports plunge 87pc

Amid an 87 per cent plunge in maize exports during the January-March quarter of FY25, the Ministry of Food Security has issued directives to the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) to enforce phytosanitary policies strictly. The country exported 53,725 tonnes of maize to 12 countries during the quarter, compared to 419,432 tonnes to 34 countries in 2024. The country exported 147,057 tonnes of

Toll rates increased again by up to 50pc

In less than three months, the National Highway Authority (NHA) has again increased toll tax by 15 to 50 per cent for its motorways and highways, effective April 1. Earlier, the toll was increased on January 5. Under the revised toll taxes, the NHA charges Rs70 for cars against Rs60.For vans and jeeps, the toll tax has been increased to Rs150 from Rs100. Similarly, the toll for buses has be

Remittances to exceed $3.5bn in March

Remittances are expected to cross a record high of $3.5 billion in March, rising 15 per cent month-on-month, driven largely by inflows during Ramazan, according to financial experts and currency dealers. The spike in remittances has provided the government with much-needed breathing space, easing the burden of external debt repayments and providing strong support to the exchange rate. “We ha

‘Pricey’ Starlink not an immediate threat, say telcos

As the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is set to grant final approval to Starlink to commence operations in Pakistan shortly, scepticism and fear of the unknown are visible among the telecom industry. There is a lot of speculation related to Starlink’s arrival, but all four telecom operators in Pakistan agree that it is difficult to predict the outcome right now. Responding to the