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Tariffs on India, deregulation boost industry; Citi Pharma eyes American expansion Pakistan’s pharmaceutical exports surged 34% to an all-time high of $457 million in fiscal year 2025, and analysts say U.S. tariffs on Indian competitors could open the door for even stronger growth ahead. The milestone, up from $341 million in FY24 and $328 million…
Pakistan’s plan to privatize the iconic Roosevelt Hotel in New York has been pushed back after financial advisor Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. (JLL) resigned, citing a conflict of interest because some of its clients are eyeing the deal. The Privatization Commission said in a statement that JLL quit because of a conflict of interest, but…
IPPs eye power firms; ZTBL bad loans raise red flags Pakistan International Airlines is gearing up to resume flights to the UK next month as the government’s fast-tracked privatization drive gathers steam, with pre-qualified bidders launching due diligence on the national carrier. PIA’s virtual data room opened July 14 and four groups—two consortia and two…
Power Division refutes reports of extended peak hours, says no change in electricity schedule
Global organization denies existence of such award, calls media claims inaccurate ISLAMABAD: The Nation newspaper on Friday quietly pulled a news story about Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal from its website, following government pressure, after the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) publicly denied awarding him a “Lifetime Achievement Award.” The retraction comes after…
K-Electric Ltd., Pakistan’s only vertically integrated power utility, outlined an ambitious $2 billion investment roadmap through 2030 at a corporate briefing on Monday, leveraging a newly approved multi-year tariff to modernize Karachi’s aging energy infrastructure and ramp up renewable power generation. The company, which serves over 3.4 million customers in Karachi and surrounding areas, said…
Pakistan slashed liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices by 1.88 per cent for June 2025, citing a drop in international rates, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority said Saturday. The government-revised price stands at Rs240.54 per kilogram, down Rs4.62 from Rs245.16/kg in May, according to an OGRA notification. The price cut reflects a 2.61 per cent…
ISLAMABAD — NEPRA Chairman Waseem Mukhtar on Thursday dismissed federal Power Minister Awais Leghari’s criticism of K-Electric’s tariff determination, stating bluntly during a public hearing, the decision is final, “We’ve given our decision, now it’s up to the minister to respond.” The remarks came amid a heated discussion during the monthly fuel charges adjustment (FCA)…
New budget targets auto elite, spares hybrids amid pressure from Tokyo Pakistan is set to impose steeper withholding taxes on a wide range of luxury vehicles in its upcoming 2025-26 budget, part of a broader revenue-boosting push to meet International Monetary Fund (IMF) benchmarks — even as it moves carefully to accommodate Japanese pressure on…
Senators warn of capital flight, urge reforms as penalties rise and enforcement tightens Pakistan’s top tax authority confirmed that a growing number of businesses are shifting operations to Dubai to escape high tax burdens, a revelation that alarmed lawmakers and renewed calls for urgent reform to stem capital flight. Hamid Attique Sarwar, Member Inland Revenue…
Petroleum Minister Pledges Pro-Business PushFDI jumps in April as government woos American investors with promises of reforms Pakistan’s Petroleum Minister, Ali Pervaiz Malik, vowed to maintain a pro-business trajectory, signaling stronger investor support and regulatory reforms as Islamabad looks to revive foreign investor confidence—especially among U.S.-linked firms. Speaking in Lahore, on Saturday, Malik—who previously served…
An Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza on Sunday resulted in the death of two Palestinian journalists, as reported by the Associated Press. Among the victims was Hamza Dahdouh, an Al Jazeera journalist who had previously lost four close relatives in the ongoing conflict. Hamza Dahdouh, the son of veteran Al Jazeera correspondent Wael Dahdouh, was…
As a part of the Team Europe Initiative ‘Building Back Better through Green Jobs Creation,’ combining support from the European Union (EU), Germany, France, and Italy, the EU and the Agence Française de Développement (AfD) today have signed an agreement to spearhead a new climate initiative in the urban centers of Punjab. The joint effort…
A parliamentary panel on Monday proposed a crucial amendment, advocating for an adjustment that would allow disabled individuals to import used cars featuring engine capacities up to 1500cc once every five years. This proposal has been forwarded to the Senate Finance Committee for comprehensive deliberation, particularly concerning the potential exemption of sales tax. Officials from…
(Reuters): Afghanistan’s Taliban administration has appointed a former spokesperson as ambassador to China, the foreign affairs ministry said on Friday, its first officially accredited envoy to any country since taking over in 2021. Former administration spokesman Bilal Karimi arrived in China late in November to take up the role, the Taliban-run foreign ministry said in…
Chinese automotive conglomerate BYD, a major player in the global electric vehicles (EVs) market, is currently engaged in discussions with Pakistani authorities regarding the potential of the country’s EV sector. With its operations in India and various right-hand-driven (RHD) markets, BYD is emerging as a formidable competitor to Tesla and is on track to surpass…
The United States has granted a two-year extension to the exemption period for Pakistan’s fish imports, providing additional time for commercial fishing operations in Pakistan to align with U.S. standards. The US Department of Commerce and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), a federal agency, granted this two-year extension to the Marine Mammal Protection Act…
They Stress the Crucial Link Between Governance and Economic Stability in Pakistan Special Investment Facilitation Council Lauded for Fostering Collaboration in Pakistan Gender Empowerment and Disaster Resilience Take Center Stage at the 26th Sustainable Development Conference Experts convened to underscore the pressing need for Pakistan’s economic reset, highlighting the crucial connection between enhanced governance and…
GSP+ elevates Pakistan’s exports to the EU, fostering growth and sustainability with zero-rated tariffs on two-thirds of products. The European Union (EU) urges Pakistan for practical implementation of 27 international conventions that are integral to the Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) scheme. The EU’s fourth report on the scheme underscores Pakistan’s legislative advancements. However,…
In a significant development, Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL) has inked pivotal license agreements with industry leaders Honeywell UOP and Axens for its ambitious Refinery Expansion and Upgrade Project (REUP). The project’s primary objective is to double PRL’s refining capacity from the current 50kbpd to 100kbpd while transitioning the existing hydro skimming configuration to a deep…