[ Discussions focus on reform agenda, including tax, energy sector reforms, privatisation, debt management Finance Minister Muhammad Auranzgeb held a series of meetings with senior International Monetary Fund officials including First Deputy Managing Director Dan Katz, Deputy Managing Director Nigel Clarke, Middle East and Central Asia Department Director Jihad Azour, and IMF Mission Chief for … Read more

[ KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange remained in positive territory by mid-day on Thursday, with the KSE-100 Index trading at 174,533.28, up 103.36 points or 0.06 percent from the previous close of 174,429.92. The benchmark index opened higher and touched an intra-day high of 175,237.59 before retreating to a low of 174,144.11. Trading activity was … Read more

[ KARACHI/PAKISTAN: Standard & Poor’s raised Pakistan’s credit rating by a notch to B on Wednesday, citing improved political and institutional stability that helped implement tough reforms. Political stability has bolstered the government’s capacity to implement reforms. On July 22, 2026, S&P Global Ratings raised its long-term sovereign credit rating on Pakistan to B from … Read more

[ The sun sets behind oil pumps outside Vaudoy-en-Brie, near Paris, France, March 18, 2026—REUTERS Oil prices rose more than 1.5% in Asian trade on Thursday to stand at their highest ‌in more than six weeks, as Yemen’s Houthis targeted oil tankers in the Red Sea and the United States launched a new round of … Read more

[ DIGITALISATION: Over the medium term, the sector is expected to benefit from regulatory pushes towards a documented, cashless economy, which should structurally enhance the low-cost deposit base. PHOTO:FIL KARACHI: Pakistan’s commercial banking sector is expected to face a squeeze on profitability in the second quarter of 2026 as elevated provisions, narrowing margins and weaker … Read more