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Business📍 PAKISTAN

Govt Considers Letting Banks Seize Mortgaged Homes After 90-Day Default

The federal government is weighing a significant shift in mortgage law that would allow commercial banks to take possession of defaulted properties within 90 days of a borrower failing to meet repayment obligations. The proposal, currently under deliberation, represents one of the most consequential changes to housing finance regulation in recent years and could reshape the risk calculus for lenders and homebuyers alike.

Business📍 PAKISTAN

SBP Makes Climate Action Mandatory for Pakistani Banks

A senior Pakistani official has confirmed that climate-related actions are now becoming mandatory for the country's banking sector, marking a significant regulatory shift in how financial institutions are expected to manage environmental risk. The announcement, made at the Breathe Pakistan forum, signals the State Bank of Pakistan's intent to embed climate compliance into core banking regulation rather than treat it as voluntary best practice.

Business📍 AUSTRALIA

Australia Mandates LNG Exporters Reserve 20 Percent for Domestic Market

The Australian government has introduced a mandatory requirement compelling LNG exporters to reserve 20 percent of their gas output for the domestic east coast market, a significant policy intervention aimed at addressing persistent concerns over energy security and domestic supply adequacy. The measure represents one of the most assertive regulatory actions taken by Canberra in the LNG sector.

Business📍 PAKISTAN

Pakistan Sets Record with 4,082 New Company Registrations in April: SECP

Pakistan's Securities and Exchange Commission has reported a record 4,082 new company registrations in April 2026, marking the highest single-month figure in the regulator's history and signalling a notable uptick in formal business formation across the country. The SECP attributed the record to improving macroeconomic sentiment, easing of regulatory onboarding procedures, and sustained digitisation of the registration process through the company's online portal.

Business📍 PAKISTAN

Pakistan Loses Rs350 Billion Annually to Illicit Cigarette Trade, PMI Warns

Philip Morris International has informed a federal minister that Pakistan loses approximately Rs350 billion annually in tax revenue due to the illicit cigarette trade, warning that the scale of contraband and counterfeit tobacco products poses a serious fiscal threat to government revenues. The disclosure underscores the magnitude of the informal tobacco market, which operates outside regulatory frameworks and deprives the exchequer of a substantial revenue stream.

Business📍 ASIA-PACIFIC / GLOBAL

ADB Cautions That Aggressive Rate Hikes Risk Dampening Investment Growth

The Asian Development Bank has issued a warning that sharp and rapid interest rate hikes across the Asia-Pacific region could significantly curtail investment growth, cautioning policymakers against overly aggressive monetary tightening that might stifle economic expansion. The advisory comes as several central banks in the region continue to navigate the tension between inflation control and growth preservation.

Business📍 PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Punjab Launches Insurance Companies in Major Financial Reform Push

The Punjab government has launched new provincial insurance companies as part of a broad financial sector reform agenda aimed at expanding insurance penetration, improving risk coverage for citizens, and deepening the province's financial services infrastructure. The initiative represents a significant institutional intervention in a sector that has historically remained underdeveloped in Pakistan's largest province.

Business📍 ISLAMABAD

DPM Dar Reviews Federal Government's Austerity and Conservative Measures

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has convened a review of the federal government's ongoing austerity and conservative fiscal measures, signalling continued executive attention to expenditure discipline as Pakistan navigates a tight budgetary environment. The review is consistent with the government's stated commitment to rationalising public spending under its IMF-aligned programme framework.

Business📍 PAKISTAN

Aurangzeb Flags Capital Markets as Key to Pakistan's Domestic Funding Strategy

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has identified capital markets as a central pillar of Pakistan's strategy to reduce dependence on external borrowing, stating that deepening domestic financial markets is essential to achieving fiscal sustainability. The minister made the remarks at a financial forum, reinforcing a position the government has consistently advanced in recent months.

Business📍 GLOBAL

HSBC Profits Hit by USD 400 Million Fraud-Related Exposure

Global banking giant HSBC has reported that its profits have been impacted by approximately USD 400 million in fraud-related exposure, a disclosure that has drawn immediate attention from investors and financial regulators monitoring the integrity of the bank's risk management and compliance frameworks. The fraud-related charge represents a significant one-off hit to HSBC's earnings and raises questions about the bank's internal controls and due diligence processes.

Business📍 PAKISTAN

FPCCI and KATI Raise Alarm Over Pakistan's Widening Trade Deficit

Two of Pakistan's leading industrial and trade bodies — the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry — have separately voiced deep concern over the country's expanding trade deficit, warning that the trend poses a structural threat to export competitiveness and the current account position. Both organisations have called on the government to take urgent corrective measures, including reviewing import duties on raw materials, boosting export incentives, and addressing the energy cost burden that makes Pakistani manufacturers less competitive in international markets.

Business📍 PAKISTAN

SBP Report Finds Pakistan's Financial System Stable but Risks Persist

The State Bank of Pakistan has released its Financial Stability Review for calendar year 2025, concluding that the country's financial system maintained adequate performance and resilience through the year, even as it navigated a complex macroeconomic environment. The report signals that while the banking sector remained broadly stable, vulnerabilities remain that warrant continued vigilance.

Business📍 RIYADH / ASIA

Saudi Arabia Slashes Arab Light Oil Price for Asian Buyers in June

Saudi Arabia has reduced the Official Selling Price (OSP) for its flagship Arab Light crude grade for Asian customers in June, in a move that signals Riyadh's intent to defend market share amid softening global oil demand and elevated supply competition. The price cut, announced by state energy giant Aramco, marks a downward adjustment to the differential at which Arab Light is priced against the Oman/Dubai benchmark.

Business📍 PAKISTAN

PM Shehbaz Orders Renewable Energy Strategy and Crackdown on Power Theft

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the formulation of a comprehensive renewable energy strategy for Pakistan and ordered immediate action against power theft, signalling a dual-track approach to addressing the country's chronic energy sector challenges. The directives were issued during a high-level meeting at which senior energy officials briefed the prime minister on the current state of the electricity sector.

Business📍 PAKISTAN

Pakistan Misses SEZ Investment and Jobs Targets: Minister

Pakistan has failed to meet its Special Economic Zone targets of attracting eight billion dollars in investment and generating 500,000 jobs, a government minister acknowledged publicly, signalling a significant shortfall in one of the country's flagship industrial development programmes. The admission is notable both for its frankness and for its timing, coming as Pakistan continues efforts to attract foreign direct investment amid a challenging macroeconomic environment.

Business📍 PAKISTAN

PM Chairs Power Sector Review Meeting, Orders Comprehensive Renewable Energy Strategy

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a high-level review meeting on power sector reforms, directing relevant ministries to develop a comprehensive renewable energy strategy as part of the government's broader push to stabilise electricity supply and reduce energy costs across Pakistan. The meeting assessed the current state of power sector restructuring, including progress on reducing circular debt, renegotiating capacity payments with independent power producers, and expanding the share of low-cost renewable sources in the national energy mix.

Business📍 PAKISTAN

SBP Reports Financial System Remained Steady and Resilient in CY25

The State Bank of Pakistan has assessed that the country's financial system remained steady and resilient through calendar year 2025, a broadly reassuring signal for investors, depositors, and international creditors monitoring Pakistan's macroeconomic trajectory. The central bank's assessment suggests that despite external pressures including global commodity volatility, elevated debt servicing obligations, and tight monetary conditions, domestic financial institutions maintained adequate buffers and liquidity.

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