Tue, 21-Oct-2025

Rupee gains for fifth consecutive session

Rupee gains for fifth

The rupee extended gains against the dollar on Monday. The exchange rate gained 94 paisas to close at Rs261.88. It lost Rs57.08, or 27.83 per cent, from Rs204.85 against the dollar on June 30, 2022.   KARACHI: The rupee extended gains against the dollar on Monday, owing to improved sentiment in the market due to … Read more

NKATI terms mini budget disastrous for industry

NKATI terms
  • It will become almost impossible to run their factories.
  • He said government should not burden on industry.
  • Faisal Moiz Khan suggested for people-friendly policies.

KARACHI: President North Karachi Association of Trade & Industry (NKATI), Faisal Moiz Khan, has rejected the mini budget and the huge increase in gas & electricity tariff and, calling it disastrous for the economy & industry.

He said “If the government does not withdraw the increase in taxes and increase in electricity and gas rates through the mini budget, the industries will be closed. As a result, millions of workers will become unemployed while domestic exports will also be adversely affected.”

President NKATI Faisal Moiz Khan said that the government had earlier increased the gas & electricity tariff enormously, and at the same time, the government also indicated that the subsidy will be phased out, which will increase the production cost of the industries immensely.

“It will become almost impossible for the industrial community to run their factories, which will certainly affect the delivery of export orders, so the government should not burden the business, industry and the public to meet the IMF conditions”, he feared.

NKATI president was of the opinion that “If the business and industry will run, then the country will run, and if the people are prosperous, then the country will be prosperous, but unfortunately, all the actions of the government are on the contrary.”

Faisal Moiz Khan demanded the government that instead of taking anti-economic measures on the guidance of the IMF, business, industry and people-friendly policies should be formulated, and measures such as mini-budget should be avoided while withdrawing the increase in electricity and gas rates.

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Rupee recovers to Rs265.38 against dollar

Rupee

KARACHI: The rupee recovered another Rs1.96 against the dollar on Wednesday, as the government initiated measures to comply with the conditions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), dealers said. The rupee closed at Rs265.38 against the greenback, compared with Tuesday’s closing of Rs267.34 in the interbank foreign exchange market. The local unit recovered Rs11, or … Read more

Colombia may need to increase rates more depending on inflation: IMF

IMF Colombia

Colombia’s central bank may need to consider more increases to its benchmark interest rate. Leonardo Villar issued a warning last week that the inflation rate was still rising. The IMF urged extra caution to be used in managing. Depending on how inflation behaves in Latin America’s fourth-largest economy, Colombia’s central bank may need to consider … Read more

President Alvi refuses to issue ordinance to enforce mini-budget

President Alvi Ishaq Dar

ISLAMABAD: President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi has refused to issue an ordinance to enforce mini-budget to meet the conditions of the IMF. The president has asked the government to take the issue to the parliament and discuss it there. In a meeting at Awan-e-Sadder in Islamabad on Tuesday, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar informed President … Read more

Rupee makes sharp gains against dollar

Rupee

KARACHI: The local currency made sharp gains of Rs2.10 against the dollar on Tuesday, despite a massive fall in the foreign inflows, including remittances and exports, dealers said. The rupee closed at Rs267.34 against the greenback from the previous day’s closing of Rs269.44 in the interbank foreign exchange market. The dealers said reportedly the government … Read more

ECC approves increase in gas prices by up to 124 per cent

SSGC gas load shedding

ISLAMABAD: To fulfil the International Monetary Fund (IMF) conditions, the government after increasing the electricity prices has approved skyrocketing raise of up to 124 per cent in the gas prices to generate additional revenue of Rs229 billion but kept the price for lifeline consumers unchanged. Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Ishaq Dar presided over … Read more

FIA registers case against Shaukat Tarin over audio leak

FIA Shaukat Tarin

FIA registered case against PTI Senator Shaukar Tarin Case was registered after an alleged audio was leaked He was charged for sabotaging negotiations with IMF ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has registered a case against the former finance minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shaukat Tarin for allegedly sabotaging negotiations between Pakistan and International … Read more

Ishaq Dar says before IMF deal, taxes worth Rs170bn will be imposed

Ishaq Dar IMF

Ishaq Dar says before the IMF deal, taxes worth Rs170bn will be imposed. FM recalled the programme the current administration was implementing. Dar emphasized the need for reforms in Pakistan. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar stated that negotiations with the international lender ended “positively” and that in order to restart the loan program, the government would … Read more

Pakistan fails to reach staff-level agreement with IMF

Pakistan IMF

Pakistan was unable to reach a staff-level agreement with the IMF IMF delaying signing over getting approval from Washington IMF has handed over the MEFP to Pakistan ISLAMABAD: The Government of Pakistan was unable to reach a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the revival of the stalled $7 billion Extended Fund … Read more

Rupee makes sharp recovery against dollar for second straight day

Rupee

KARACHI: The rupee continued to make a sharp recovery against the dollar for the second straight day on Thursday. The rupee gained Rs2.82 against the dollar to close at Rs270.51 from the previous day’s closing of Rs273.33 in the interbank foreign exchange market. The local unit recovered Rs5.77, or 2.1 per cent, during the last … Read more

Egypt to sell state shares in 32 firms by March 2024

egypt shares

Pm Moustafa Madbouly announced that Egypt intends to sell shares in at least 32 enterprises. Shares in a number of businesses will be sold. The size of the holdings that will be offered was not mentioned. Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly announced on Wednesday that Egypt intends to sell shares in at least 32 enterprises by … Read more

IMF package will improve Pakistan’s economy: Bilawal Bhutto

FM Bilawal Hungary
  • He said economy is going through a difficult period.
  • FM said the flood destroyed agriculture in Sindh and Punjab.
  • He said United Nation supported the country in this difficult time.

KARACHI: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that the successful negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will improve the situation of Pakistan’s economy.

Federal Minister Bilawal Bhutto while addressing the conference said that the economy is going through a difficult period, and there is a severe economic and political crisis in the country.

The foreign minister said that the finance minister is currently holding meetings with IMF and it is hoped that the negotiations will be successful. He said the success of the negotiations will improve the situation of the Pakistani economy, and the economic needs of the country will be met.

He said major parts of Pakistan were badly affected due to the monsoon rains and flood last year. He said the flood destroyed agriculture in Sindh and Punjab. He said United Nation supported the country in this difficult time.

The federal minister said that after the successful Geneva conference and government has decided today to build houses, hospitals, and schools in these areas.

The Foreign Minister said that “I am very grateful to the UN Secretary-General who took his time and came to Pakistan to help the people.”

Bilawal Bhutto said that now other organizations are also coming forward for People’s Housing and the provincial government needs 1.5 billion dollars to build houses.

He said that the Prime Minister has assured the chief minister of Sindh that the federal government will provide the share and will also give ownership rights to the flood-affected people.

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Pakistan bourse remains bullish

Pakistan bourse remains bullish

KARACHI: The Pakistan equity market witnessed bullish momentum during Monday’s trading session and closed in the green territory on the back of a positive expectation of the revival of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme in the upcoming days, analysts said. An analyst at Pearl Securities said the bourse observed a trigger in the energy … Read more

Govt starts collecting asset details of bureaucrats on IMF’s demand

asset details

IMF has sought mandatory asset declaration by high-ranking officers Public officers have to declare all domestic and foreign assets and properties The government has prevented holding benami properties ISLAMABAD: The government has started implementing the conditions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to provide the assets details of bureaucrats and their families from Grade 17 … Read more

Dollar touches record high of Rs271.36

Dollar

KARACHI: The dollar continued to make gains on Thursday and reached a new record high of Rs271.36 at the closing of the interbank foreign exchange market, dealers said. The rupee lost Rs2.53 to close at Rs271.36 against the greenback from the previous day’s closing of Rs268.83 in the interbank foreign exchange market. Previously, the rupee … Read more

Rupee resumes falling spree against dollar

Rupee

KARACHI: The rupee resumed falling spree against the dollar on Wednesday after making a recovery a day ago; following a sharp decline in the interbank foreign exchange market, dealers said. The rupee lost 74 paisas to end at Rs268.63 against the greenback from the previous day’s closing of Rs267.89 in the interbank foreign exchange market. … Read more

Rupee recovers against dollar as IMF talks begin

Rupee

KARACHI: The rupee recovered against the dollar on Tuesday, as the authorities have begun talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the resumption of the loan programme under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF), dealers said. The rupee recovered Rs1.74 to end at Rs267.89 against the dollar from the previous day’s closing of Rs269.63, which … Read more

IMF and Cameroon reach $74.6 million staff-level agreement

IMF Cameroon

The International Monetary Fund and Cameroon have reached a staff-level agreement. If the Board formally concludes the review, it will grant the nation access to roughly $74.6 million. The nation’s GDP is predicted to expand by 3.4% in 2022, up from 3.6% in 2021. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Cameroon have reached a staff-level … Read more

Rupee makes new low of Rs269.63 against dollar

Rupee

KARACHI: The rupee recorded another sharp decline against the dollar on Monday and reached a new all-time low of Rs269.63 in the interbank foreign exchange market, dealers said. The rupee recorded a decline of Rs7.03 to end at Rs269.63 from last Friday’s closing of Rs262.60 in the interbank foreign exchange market. The local unit fell … Read more

PSX remains in positive territory

PSX remains in positive territory

KARACHI: The Pakistan stocks witnessed a bullish rally during Thursday’s trading session, after the market get a positive signal from the government regarding transitioning towards the market-determined free float exchange rate and taking concrete steps to meet the IMF’s conditions after an unofficial cap on the rupee/dollar rate was removed. An analyst at Pearl Securities … Read more

Rupee plunges to historic low of Rs255.43 in interbank market

Rupee

KARACHI: The rupee tumbled to an all-time low of Rs255.43 against the dollar on Thursday after recording a historic single day fall of Rs24.54 at the closing of the interbank foreign exchange market, dealers said. The local currency depreciated against the greenback after the government agreed to the conditions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) … Read more

Rupee depreciates 49 paisas against dollar as IMF talks continue

Rupee

KARACHI: The rupee lost another 49 paisas against the dollar on Wednesday, as the government is set to accept harsh International Monetary Fund (IMF) conditions in the ongoing talks, dealers said. The local currency ended at Rs230.89 against the greenback from the previous day’s closing of Rs230.40 in the interbank foreign exchange market. The dealers … Read more

India agrees to help crisis-hit Sri Lanka in potential IMF program

sri lanka imf

India told the IMF it firmly supports Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring plan. Sri Lanka is seeking a $2.9 billion loan from an international lender. The 22 million-strong island nation has faced difficulties in recent months. As part of a potential initiative funded by the International Monetary Fund, India has agreed to assist in reducing the … Read more

Rupee falls 24 paisas in interbank market

Rupee falls

KARACHI: The rupee fell 24 paisas against the dollar on Thursday in the interbank foreign exchange market, despite shrinking current account deficit, dealers said. The local currency ended at Rs229.15 to the dollar from the previous day’s closing of Rs228.91 in the interbank foreign exchange market. The dealers said the market ignored the contraction in … Read more

Davos 2023: Egypt experiences high investor demand

Investor
  • The country is seeing strong investor interest in stakes due to the currency crisis.
  • The Egyptian pound has lost nearly half its value.
  • Inflation in Egypt accelerated to 21.3% in December.

Egypt‘s planning minister said on Wednesday that the country is seeing strong investor interest in stakes in its state-owned enterprises, as the government pursues partial privatizations to raise funds following a sharp drop in the value of its currency.

Faced with a currency crisis exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, Egypt recently launched a $3 billion IMF program aimed at reducing the state’s economic footprint, liberalizing the exchange rate, and rationalizing spending.

It includes a target of raising $2-2.5 billion from sales prior to any initial public offerings on the stock market by mid-year, which Planning Minister Hala al-Said told Reuters Egypt was on track to meet.

“There is a lot of appetite for the Egyptian economy. I think definitely the stock market is at its best now,” she said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Sectors under consideration include industry, agriculture, and telecoms, she said, without giving any details of any particular companies or deals.

“We have great demand from different investors, high net worth individuals, sovereign funds,” she said.

After being allowed to devalue in spurts since March 2021, the Egyptian pound has lost nearly half its value, and inflation accelerated to 21.3% in December, the highest in five years.

Following last week’s sharp depreciation, Egypt’s central bank announced on Monday that foreign investors had transferred more than $925 million into the Egyptian foreign exchange market.

According to el-Said, Egypt’s currency is experiencing a temporary problem as a result of “multiple shocks” occurring around the world.

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Rupee weakens 25 paisas in interbank forex market

Rupee value

KARACHI: The rupee weakened 25 paisas against the dollar on Wednesday, owing to the lack of inflows under export receipts and remittances, dealers said. The local currency ended at Rs228.91 against the greenback from the previous day’s closing of Rs228.66 in the interbank foreign exchange market. The dealers said a fall in the inflows under … Read more

Pakistan equity market witnesses bloodbath session

Pakistan equity market

KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a bloodbath session on Tuesday. The benchmark KSE-100 Index opened in the green zone but the prevailing economic instability and political uncertainty plunged the index down to an intraday low of 1,432.94 points and concluded in the red zone, analysts said. “Whispers of a delay in the IMF … Read more