TWENTY-FIVE IMF programmes, and at least 17 high-powered tax reform commissions, task forces and donor-funded programmes later, the country still finds itself struggling to raise revenue. Once again, another government has announced its intention to raise the tax-to-GDP ratio. The pattern of repeated failure over decades should be a moment for pause and introspection — both for the government and
Oil prices rose on Thursday after the United States issued new Iran-related sanctions and renewed tensions in the Middle East countered strength in the dollar. Brent crude futures settled up $1.22, or 1.72 per cent, at $72 a barrel. The US West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) contract for April expired on Thursday, and settled up $1.10 or 1.64pc at $68.26. The more actively traded WTI May
The foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) rose $49 million to $11.146bn during the week ended on March 14. Without disclosing the source of this inflow, the central bank announced on Thursday that the country’s overall reserves reached $16.015bn, including $4.869bn held by the commercial banks. The SBP reserves increased from $9.436bn in August 2024 to $12.037bn
The private sector lending has slowed sharply, raising concerns over economic growth and revenue generation, both of which are already underperforming. Despite a 1,000 basis point reduction in interest rates, neither borrowers nor banks are showing interest in long-term lending. According to State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) data, banks’ lending to the private sector during this fiscal year has
Pakistan’s oil import bill showed minimal growth, while petroleum products exports surged during the first eight months of the current fiscal year. According to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics on Thursday, the oil import bill experienced an uptick of 1.2 per cent to $10.71 billion in 8MFY25 from $10.58bn in the corresponding period last year. In stark contrast, exports of