PM hails ‘hard work’ as March inflation falls to historic low
Pakistan’s headline inflation dropped to 0.7 per cent year-on-year in March 2025, marking the lowest reading since December 1965, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Thursday. The decline surpasses both market expectations and the Ministry of Finance’s projection, which had anticipated inflation between 1pc and 1.5pc for March. Research firm Arif Habib Limited (AHL) confirmed the 59-year low, citing State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) data. The monthly inflation rate stood at 0.9pc, compared to a 0.8pc decline in prices in February and a 1.7pc increase in March 2024. The slowdown in the inflation rate, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), is primarily driven by lower prices of wheat and its by-products, perishable items like onions, potatoes, and certain pulses and a reduction in electricity charges.