Tue, 21-Oct-2025

Saudi Arabia projects budget surplus after years of deficits

Saudi Arabia

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia approved its 2022 budget on Sunday, projecting a surplus for the first time since oil prices collapsed in 2014. King Salman said the improved fiscal situation for the world’s biggest oil exporter comes “after the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has overcome the economic repercussions and the exceptional stages of the coronavirus pandemic”. Cited … Read more

Unisame dismayed over delay in SME Policy

Unisame

KARACHI: The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (Unisame) has expressed dismay over the continuous delay in the approval of the SME Policy, a statement said on Saturday. Unisame president Zulfikar Thaver said that perhaps the real reason is that the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) does not have funds to implement the Small Medium Enterprises … Read more

Has Omicron knocked the global supply chain back on its heels?

Omicron

The emergence of the Omicron variant has thrown early signs of recovery in the global supply chain into doubt across the world, including in the Middle East and North Africa, Arab News reported. “There may still be swings, but overall, I think the worst is over,” said Esben Poulsson, who chairs the International Chamber of Shipping, on … Read more

Zong sets up digital lab at The Star School in Okara

Zong

KARACHI: Zong has partnered with The Star School in Okara’s Wasawewala locality to set up a digital lab in the school, a statement said. In pursuit of its “let’s go digital” mission, Zong will facilitate the school with a computer lab for digital and curriculum learning, it added. “The digital lab in Wasawewala School is … Read more

Minister commends Chinese govt for hosting joint economic committee session

economic

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Omar Ayub Khan commended the government of China for hosting the 15th session of the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) on economic, trade, scientific and technical cooperation after a gap of 11 years. The virtual meeting of the JEC was co-chaired by Ren Hongbin, vice minister of China and Mian … Read more

Shared vision, commitment to integration underlie Gulf trade deals

Gulf trade

DUBAI: The signing of new investment deals reportedly worth $30 billion between Saudi Arabia and Oman is no doubt a positive development for solidifying cooperation between the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Arab News reported. Yet the first questions that spring to mind are: Why Oman and why now? From a geopolitical perspective, Saudi Arabia’s … Read more

Qatar approves budget, expects to revenue to rise 22.1%

Qatar

DOHA: Qatar has approved its budget for the 2022 fiscal year, Arab News quoted the country’s Minister of Finance Ali Al Kuwari said in a press conference. Revenues are expected to amount to 196 billion riyals ($53.8 billion), a 22.4 per cent rise compared to last year’s budget estimates, Asharq reported. Estimates for the budget were made while assuming … Read more

UK designs hydrogen powered jet concept with zero emissions

UK jet

RIYADH: A design of a liquid hydrogen-powered airliner theoretically capable of matching the performance of current midsize aircraft with zero emissions was unveiled by a UK research group. The FlyZero concept envisions a commercial plane carrying 279 passengers’ non-stop from London to San Francisco matching today’s comfort and speed, Bloomberg reported citing a statement by the Aerospace … Read more

PYMA seeks cut in interest rate

PYMA

KARACHI: The Pakistan Yarn Merchants Association (PYMA) officials have expressed concern over the increase in the interest rates by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), despite the demands of the business community. They said the central bank has increased the interest rates by 150 basis points, and the news is circulating for another increase in … Read more

Need stressed to devise policies for economic growth

LCCI for business community representation in policy-making

LAHORE: Speakers at the launching ceremony of a report have stressed the need for devising short-term and long-term strategies for achieving potential growth of the economy. Speaking at the launching of “The state of the economy: changing world-Pakistan reset” at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), they highlighted critical challenges that needed to … Read more

US govt boosts economic growth in Pakistan’s agricultural sector

Pakistan agricultural sector

KARACHI: United States Agency for International Development (USAID) director for the Office of Sindh and Balochistan Andrew Rebold and Sindh Secretary for Agriculture Parvez Ahmed Seehar participated in a closing ceremony of the US government-funded Pakistan Agricultural Technology Transfer Activity (PATTA), a statement said. The four-year programme increased agricultural yield through modern technologies designed to … Read more

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s economic potential to be tapped through SEZs: official

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s economic

ISLAMABAD: The authorities in Pakistan’s northwest Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province are determined to tap the economic potential of the province through the development of special economic zones (SEZs), chief executive officer of the KP Economic Zones Development and Management Company (KPEZDMC) has said. The investment-friendly policies of the provincial government and efforts of the KPEZDMC have enabled … Read more

Women economic empowerment essential to develop society: ambassador

Women economic

ISLAMABAD: Women economic and social empowerment is essential for the development of any society and also for sustainable economic development, the Italian envoy said. In Pakistan, women are leading the economic and political arena and there are huge opportunities for women also in the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sector, Ambassador Andreas Ferrarese told APP, … Read more

Tarin, Citibank team discuss proposals for securing investment

Citibank

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin held a meeting with a delegation of Citibank Pakistan during which different proposals were discussed for securing investment, commodity hedging for budget certainty and debt management. The Citibank delegation was led by its president and country officer for Pakistan Ahmed Bozai, a statement … Read more

IEA urges Opec to take ‘necessary steps’ to lower oil prices

Opec

PARIS: The head of the International Energy Agency on Wednesday called on Opec and its allies to take measures to help bring oil prices down to “reasonable levels”. “I very much hope to see in the next meeting or meetings they… make the necessary steps in order to comfort the global oil markets and help … Read more

Govt taking steps on priority basis to enhance economic activity: PM Imran Khan

Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that with the focus on increasing investments in export industry for creating employment opportunities, the government is taking steps on a priority basis to enhance economic activity in the country. All government institutions are working together to provide a conducive environment for investors, he said, adding that the … Read more

Pak-China economic, cultural exchange centre to help traders

pakistan china

BEIJING: The China-Pakistan Economic and Cultural Exchange Incubation Centre in Chengdu would help Pakistani traders explore business opportunities in China, an official said. Pakistan Sichuan Chamber of Commerce president Li Hongwu reiterated his resolve to make the center the first stop for Pakistani people when they arrive in Southwest China. Here they can quickly get … Read more

COP26 braces for youth protests after vague emissions pledges

Cop26

GLASGOW: Thousands of youth activists were preparing to descend on Glasgow on Friday to protest against what they say is a dangerous lack of action by leaders at the COP26 climate summit. Demonstrations are expected across the Scottish city to highlight the disconnect between the glacial pace of emissions reductions and the climate emergency already … Read more

Business sentiment of japan shows a major decrease

business sentiment

The business sentiment of employees in jobs complex to Japan’s economic tendencies experienced the high-pitched downtrend in one and a half years in August, as the country noted successive all-time highs of COVID-19 cases.

Linked with the earlier three months, the surety diffusion index of “economic observers” such as taxi drivers and restaurant workers in the present situation rushed 13.7 points to 34.7 from July, the first drop in three months.

This was the major backdrop ever since a fall of 14.0 points recorded in February last year, when the country’s COVID-19 virus cases instigated increasing and the economic view started to worsen fast.

The newest benchmark index interpretation was the lowest point since 31.2 noted in January this year.

[embedpost slug=”twitter-is-supposedly-working-on-a-bitcoin-tipping-feature”]

Read more

Pakistani passengers transiting through Dubai need to take PCR tests

Israel, UAE ministers in US as Biden seeks to expand normalization

Travelers flying from Pakistan and transiting through Dubai will have to undertake a rapid PCR test before departure, stated Private newspaper. “This new rule will come into effect from August 27,” the newspaper reported citing Dubai’s flag carrier, Emirates. “In addition to the testing requirement for passengers traveling to or through Dubai, effective August 27, … Read more

Lockdown may ease pressure on rupee

rupee

KARACHI: A strict lockdown imposed by the Sindh government may discourage import payments and ease pressure on the rupee. The Sindh government imposed a stringent lockdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus from July 31, 2021. The restrictions may partially halt commercial and industrial activities in the province, especially in the port city of … Read more

President Alvi calls for proactive steps to promote IT sector

President Alvi

ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi on Tuesday called for taking proactive measures to develop the information technology (IT) sector and to ensure economic and scientific development of the country. He said that globally, the focus of development policies was shifting from brick-and-mortar development projects to the intellectual development of human resources and Pakistan needed to … Read more

Unisame demands economic bailout package

Unisame demands economic bailout package

KARACHI: The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (Unisame) has said that the SMEs have been facing a tough time due to the negligence of the government and demanded an economic bailout package, a statement said on Monday. Unisame President Zulfikar Thaver appealed to Prime Minister Imran Khan to take notice of the rising inflation; … Read more

Pakistan keen to boost trade relations with Asean nations: foreign secretary

Pakistan keen to boost trade relations with Asean nations: foreign secretary

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan accorded high priority to its relations with the South East Asian nations and recognised the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) vast economic potential and its centrality in the regional architecture, a government official said on Friday. Addressing the Experts Dialogue on “Pakistan-Asean: Shared Future and the Way Forward”, co-organised by the Embassy … Read more

Economic Survey: Fiscal deficit projected at 7% amid lower expenditures, rise in revenue

economic survey

KARACHI: The Finance Ministry has estimated a 7 per cent fiscal deficit for the outgoing fiscal year, despite reduction in the expenditures and increase in revenues. According to the Economic Survey of Pakistan released on Thursday, the fiscal deficit has been estimated at 7 per cent of GDP during the outgoing fiscal year 2020/21, compared … Read more

PM Imran Khan will begin three-day visit to Saudi Arabia today

PM Imran Khan will begin two-day visit to Saudi Arabia today

Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan is embarking on a three days official visit to Saudi Arabia from today.

According to the details, Imran Khan is visiting the Kingdom on the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz.

During his visit, Prime Minister Imran Khan will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including the Foreign Minister and other members of the Cabinet.

Prime Minister’s consultations with the Saudi leadership will cover all areas of bilateral cooperation including economic, trade, investment, energy, job opportunities for Pakistani workforce, and welfare of Pakistani Diaspora in the Kingdom.

The two sides will also exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Several bilateral agreements/MoUs are expected to be signed during the visit.

The Prime Minister will meet the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Dr. Yousef Al-Othaimeen, the Secretary-General of the World Muslim League, Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa and the Imams of the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Medina.

He will also interact with the Pakistani Diaspora in Jeddah.

Read more

President’s message to nation on the occasion of 74th Independence Day

President Arif Alvi coronavirus

President Dr. Arif Alvi has given a message to the nation on the occasion of 74th Independence Day. The President in ​​his message said that I offer my heartfelt congratulations to my compatriots on the 74th Independence Day of Pakistan. [embedpost id=”50366″ slug=”kashmiris-to-celebrate-indias-independence-day-as-black-day”] “Unlike in the past, this Independence Day is being celebrated in extremely … Read more

EU-China Summit opens as trade tensions rise due to COVID-19

EU-China Summit opens as trade tensions rise due to COVID-19

China and The European Union (EU) held the 22nd bilateral Summit via virtual conference on Monday (Jun 22). According to the details, President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and President of the European Council, Charles Michel attended the videoconference. The conference was also accompanied by High Representative Josep Borrell, hold the Summit meeting … Read more