Day: February 9, 2026

PSX ends flat on Friday’s heavy sell-off

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KARACHI: Pakistan’s stock market witnessed choppy trading during the week ended February 6 as the benchmark KSE-100 index closed largely flat amid mixed macroeconomic signals, external uncertainties and domestic security concerns. Inflation inched up slightly, trade deficit widened on a cumulative basis despite record monthly exports, while foreign exchange reserves posted a modest increase, reflecting a cautiously stable macroeconomic backdrop. On a day-on-day basis, the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) commenced the week on a positive note, with the KSE-100 index advancing 883 points (+0.48%) to close at 185,058. On Tuesday,…

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Clean energy: what we hand over to next generation

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ISLAMABAD: In Pakistan, clean energy is often framed as a climate obligation – a commitment made in international forums, discussed in policy papers, and debated in technical terms. But this framing misses the central economic and human dimension. Clean energy is not merely an environmental concern. It is fundamentally an economic and public health issue, and at its heart lies an inter-generational responsibility. Pakistan’s youth and next generation are not a peripheral social group; they are the country’s most valuable economic asset. Their health, learning capacity, and productivity will determine…

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Phases of PSX boom

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LAHORE: The stock market is booming as the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) index is hovering around the 185,000 mark. The index has witnessed a growth of around 67% in the last one year and has achieved a growth of around 2.5% in the last one month. Market and financial analysts are of the opinion that price/earnings (P/E) ratio is around 11 and there is still room for further improvement. Moreover, they think that stock prices are still cheap as per international standards. The duration of current boom is extended and…

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Gold outside the system

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KARACHI: Here is an out-of-the-box economic policy action. Across Pakistan and global financial markets, gold and silver have once again become the centre of investor attention. The recent surge in prices is not driven by speculation alone, but by a convergence of structural forces reshaping global finance. Unprecedented monetary expansion since Covid has diluted fiat currencies, while the Japanese yen has steadily lost its historical safe-haven status. Simultaneously, rising US fiscal stress, fears of dollar weaponisation, and the prospect of competitive devaluation of the Chinese yuan have added to global…

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Pakistan’s lost economic freedom

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ISLAMABAD: The Heritage Institute’s Index of Economic Freedom measures 12 economic freedoms: namely, property rights, government integrity, judicial effectiveness, tax burden, government spending, fiscal health, business freedom, labour freedom, monetary freedom, trade freedom, investment freedom, and financial freedom. These 12 institutional and structural pillars can be considered conditions for sustainable economic growth and development in a country. In its 2025 report, the Heritage Institute’s Index of Economic Freedom classified Pakistan as a “repressed” economy, ranking it 150th out of 184 economies, with a score of 49.1 out of 100. The…

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ICC steps in to resolve Pakistan-India WC row

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LAHORE: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will take the final decision on whether Pakistan plays its scheduled T20 World Cup match against India after consultations with the Pakistan Cricket Board, following renewed call from the International Cricket Council (ICC). Sources familiar with the matter said Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi is expected to meet the prime minister within the next two days to seek government guidance on Pakistan’s announced boycott of the high-profile February 15 Group A fixture in Colombo. The sources said that Naqvi will brief Shehbaz on…

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‘Pakistan resolute against terrorism’: FM Dar thanks outpouring of global support after Islamabad blast

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Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday expressed gratitude to fellow deputy prime ministers, foreign ministers and world leaders, as well as the foreign offices of friendly countries, who reached out with condolences, prayers and messages of solidarity after Friday’s heinous bomb blast in Islamabad. At least 32 people were killed and around 169 others injured when a suicide bomber struck Imambargah Khadijah al-Kubra during Friday prayers, according to authorities and hospital officials. The blast occurred as worshippers gathered for Jumma prayers and was accompanied by explosions and…

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Pakistan showcases commitment to minority rights, interfaith dialogue in Washington

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LAHORE: Pakistani delegation highlighted Pakistan’s commitment to minority inclusion and interfaith harmony during its participation in major international gatherings held in Washington, DC. The delegation, led by Senator Khalil Tahir Sandhu and Shahid Rehmat, Executive Director of the Youth Development Foundation, represented Pakistan at the IRF Summit 2026, the Global Faith Forum 2026, and the National Prayer Breakfast. During the engagements, the Pakistani representatives held meetings with international policymakers, faith leaders, and human rights experts to discuss the promotion of freedom of religion or belief, strengthening social cohesion, and addressing…

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SC fixes 13 petitions involving Imran, Bushra Bibi for Monday hearing

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ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Saturday fixed 13 different petitions concerning Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, for hearing on February 9. According to the supplementary cause list issued, a two-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi and Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan will take up the petitions at 9am on Monday. Among the petitions fixed for hearing are the Punjab government’s appeal against the grant of bail to the PTI founder and its appeal against the bail of Bushra Bibi. Read: ATC rejects Imran Khan’s plea for…

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Zardari warns of ‘pre-9/11’ conditions in Afghanistan

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ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday warned that Afghanistan under the Taliban has descended into conditions “similar to or worse than pre-9/11”, accusing neighbouring countries, including India, of enabling terrorist groups in the wake of recent attacks in Islamabad and Balochistan. The president thanked the world leaders and international organisations for expressing solidarity with Pakistan after Friday’s bombing at an imambargah in the federal capital that killed dozens of people, as well as the coordinated assaults in several cities and towns of Balochistan. In a statement issued by the…

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