610 stories · Page 6 of 21
Global rice supplies face mounting pressure from a double shock of geopolitical disruption and climatic stress, as the ongoing Iran conflict threatens to disrupt regional agricultural supply chains while El Niño conditions continue to depress yields across key producing nations. Analysts warn that a world market that was recently in surplus is rapidly moving toward a supply-demand imbalance.
The Pakistan Stock Exchange witnessed a sharp sell-off Thursday as the KSE-100 index shed approximately 2,800 points, extending a bearish trend that has rattled investor confidence in recent sessions. The decline reflected heightened risk aversion among market participants amid a combination of domestic and international pressures.
The federal government has restored the 18 percent sales tax on imported sugar, reversing a relief measure that had temporarily reduced the levy in an effort to manage domestic prices. The restoration signals a government assessment that the domestic sugar supply situation has stabilised sufficiently to reimpose the standard tax rate.
Russia has declared that the OPEC-plus alliance will remain intact and functional following reports of the United Arab Emirates' planned exit from the grouping, while also moving to dismiss concerns that a destabilising oil price war would follow. Moscow's statement represents the first substantive official response from a major OPEC-plus member to the UAE withdrawal development.
The Privatisation Commission Board has cleared the transaction structure and institutional revamp plan for Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited, advancing the state-owned agricultural bank's sell-off process to the next phase. The approval marks a significant procedural milestone in the government's privatisation agenda, which includes ZTBL as a major asset target.
The Competition Commission of Pakistan has approved the acquisition of PIA Catering Limited by PIA Equity Limited, clearing a key regulatory hurdle in the ongoing restructuring of Pakistan International Airlines' commercial and subsidiary operations. The CCP's clearance confirms that the transaction does not raise competition concerns under Pakistani law.
The KSE-100 index fell by nearly 1,000 points in early trade on Tuesday as selling pressure continued unabated across the bourse, reflecting deepening investor anxiety about Pakistan's monetary policy trajectory and broader macroeconomic conditions. The sharp decline came on the back of the State Bank of Pakistan's recent decision to raise the policy rate, which rattled equities markets already under pressure from global uncertainty and domestic economic headwinds.
The United States Federal Reserve is widely expected to hold interest rates steady at its upcoming policy meeting as the economic fallout from the Iran war continues to ripple through global markets, complicating the central bank's inflation and growth outlook. Analysts and futures markets have converged on the view that the Fed will maintain its current policy rate amid persistent uncertainty.
Iran has banned steel exports, according to media reports, a decision that carries significant implications for regional metals markets and signals the depth of economic pressure the country is facing as the Middle East conflict continues. The export ban is likely driven by domestic supply constraints and the need to prioritise steel for internal reconstruction, industrial use, and infrastructure maintenance at a time when production chains and logistics networks have been disrupted by ongoing hostilities.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed a formal investigation into the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited over alleged violations in its procurement tender processes, a move that signals the government's intention to address governance concerns at one of Pakistan's largest state-owned energy utilities. The probe order follows reports of irregularities in how SNGPL has conducted certain tenders, with allegations of procedural violations that may have resulted in contracts being awarded in a manner inconsistent with public procurement rules.
The State Bank of Pakistan's Monetary Policy Committee convened on Monday to deliberate on the benchmark policy rate at a time of considerable geopolitical uncertainty stemming from the US-Iran standoff and its cascading effects on global energy prices, currency markets, and investor sentiment. The meeting is one of the most consequential MPC sessions in recent months given the complex external environment.
Pakistan's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority has issued a directive requiring that all transactions, commercial arrangements, and pilot programmes involving virtual assets obtain prior authorisation from the regulator before proceeding. The directive applies to businesses and individuals operating within Pakistan's emerging digital asset sector and marks a significant tightening of the regulatory framework governing cryptocurrencies and related instruments.
The government has moved to cap profit margins on diesel sales, a significant regulatory intervention aimed at restraining fuel pricing at the retail and distribution level. The measure targets the margins accumulated by dealers and distributors along the supply chain rather than the ex-refinery base price.
The Federal Board of Revenue has signalled extensive structural reforms and institutional restructuring aimed at completely eliminating the concepts of tax evasion and non-filers from Pakistan's fiscal system. Officials described the planned changes as the most ambitious overhaul of the revenue authority in recent memory.
The European Union has announced a €160 million loan package for Pakistan, providing a fresh injection of external financing as the country continues to stabilise its fiscal and external account position under an ongoing International Monetary Fund programme. The package is understood to be directed toward development and reform support, with conditionalities aligned with Pakistan's existing structural adjustment commitments.
The federal government has announced an increase in petrol and diesel prices as part of its fortnightly fuel pricing review, a decision that will directly raise transportation and logistics costs across the country. The hike reflects movements in international crude prices and adjustments to the domestic pricing formula.
Pakistan's benchmark KSE-100 index tumbled approximately 2,200 points on Friday as investors responded to escalating US-Iran tensions that have rattled financial markets globally, triggering a broad selloff across major sectors including energy, banking, and industrials. The decline represents one of the sharper single-session losses recorded on the Pakistan Stock Exchange this year.
Analysis indicates that Iran's economy appears positioned to withstand the pressure of a United States naval blockade, defying expectations that such measures would rapidly destabilise Tehran's financial position. Analysts point to Iran's established networks for sanctions evasion, diversified trade routes, and longstanding experience managing economic pressure as key factors underpinning this resilience.
A Chinese company backed by Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited, the world's largest electric vehicle battery manufacturer, has entered Pakistan's energy storage market through a partnership with Treet Battery, one of the country's established industrial battery producers.
Zia Chishti's shareholding in TRG Pakistan has been reduced to just 1.2 percent following the enforcement of security by JS Bank, in a development that marks a dramatic deterioration in the founder's stake in one of Pakistan's prominent technology holding companies. The enforcement action, which allows a lender to sell pledged shares to recover dues, suggests Chishti had used a significant portion of his TRG holdings as collateral against financial obligations.
A Pakistani pharmaceutical company has become the first in the country to receive recognition from the Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme, known as PIC/S, specifically for the manufacture of injections and eye drops. The milestone represents a significant quality benchmark for Pakistan's pharmaceutical sector, which has long sought to align its manufacturing standards with leading global regulatory frameworks.
A detailed assessment of the government's mandatory 8pm market closure policy has found that retail traders across Pakistan are experiencing revenue losses ranging from 10 to 40 percent, with the sharpest impact felt in commercial areas that traditionally record peak footfall in the evening hours after working families have completed their daily routines. The policy, introduced as an energy conservation measure, requires markets and commercial establishments to shut by 8pm.
A Pakistan-based pharmaceutical firm has become the first in the country to receive recognition from the Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme (PIC/S) for the manufacture of sterile products, including injections and eye drops, meeting globally benchmarked Good Manufacturing Practice standards. The milestone marks a landmark advancement for Pakistan's pharmaceutical export credibility.
The Oil and Gas Development Company Limited has announced 19 new hydrocarbon discoveries since 2023, signalling a meaningful expansion in Pakistan's domestic energy exploration capacity. The disclosures reflect an intensified drilling campaign by the state-owned enterprise as the country seeks to reduce its dependence on costly fuel imports.
A major cybersecurity breach at a leading international cruise line has compromised the sensitive personal data of nearly six million travellers, according to reports published Saturday. The scale of the incident places it among the more significant data breaches in the global travel and hospitality sector in recent years.
Hyundai has announced plans to ship 25,000 Atlas humanoid robots to the United States, marking one of the largest single deployments of bipedal robotic technology in the history of American industry. The move signals a rapid escalation in Hyundai's robotics ambitions following its acquisition of Boston Dynamics.
South Korean technology giant Samsung is planning to establish a $1.5 billion semiconductor chip testing plant in Vietnam, according to an internal document reviewed by international media. The facility would represent a significant expansion of Samsung's existing manufacturing footprint in Vietnam, one of the company's most strategically important production bases outside South Korea.
Engro Holdings, one of Pakistan's largest and most diversified conglomerates, has announced the appointment of Hussain Dawood as its new Chairman and Abdul Samad Dawood as Chief Executive Officer. The leadership transition marks a formal generational shift within the Dawood family's stewardship of the group's flagship holding entity.
Chinese telecommunications and technology giant Huawei has proposed a new pathway for semiconductor development as it continues to operate under sustained US export controls and technology sanctions. The proposal signals the company's intent to build domestic chip capability outside the parameters currently restricted by American trade restrictions.
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority of Pakistan has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Alibaba Group to promote the country's digital economy, formalising a partnership that aims to expand Pakistani small and medium enterprise access to global e-commerce platforms, digital tools, and Chinese consumer markets. The agreement signals a significant step in connecting Pakistan's SME sector with one of the world's largest digital commerce ecosystems.