News

CORPORATE WINDOW: Muted impact of import of used cars

ROUGHLY 44,000-45,000 used cars were imported in FY25, according to a Japanese car assembler and a brokerage house. However, importers and dealers of vehicles offer a different view. According to Top Line Securities, the management of Honda Atlas Cars Limited (HACL) informed in a corporate briefing held in mid-July that around 45,000 “used cars” have been imported over the last 12 months, with

Salaries aren’t changing fast enough

PAKISTAN’S compensation landscape is evolving but remains poorly understood due to limited data, lack of structured studies, employers’ reluctance, and no regulatory push for transparency. This gap enables exploitation, misalignment of skills and jobs, and declining productivity. A closer look at Pakistan’s employment scene reveals some stark patterns. About 72 per cent of the workforce (85.18

Economic recovery continues, but rains pose threat: ministry

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) on Monday projected that inflation for July would remain in the range of 3.5–4.5 per cent, though it warned that recent heavy rains could disrupt agricultural output and supply chains. In its Monthly Economic Update and Outlook, the MoF said inflation had declined sharply in recent mon­ths, supported by lower interest rat­es, exchange rate stability, and prudent ma

Budget lacks reforms, burdens formal sector

A private think tank has criticised the federal budget for 2025-26, terming it a set of “misaligned expenditure priorities” and “overly ambitious revenue targets” with no meaningful reforms on either front. In its quarterly report released on Monday, the Policy Research Institute of Market Economy (PRIME) said the government was losing sight of a coherent economic reform strategy. Although p

PBF advises cut in interest, exchange rates

The Pakistan Business Forum (PBF) on Monday claimed that both interest and exchange rates were being kept artificially high without economic justification, and appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to ensure a correction to support growth and stability. In a statement, PBF Chief Organiser Ahmad Jawad asserted that the fair value of the US dollar was around Rs260, while prevailing inflation