Category: Featured

WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) again edged its 2026 global growth forecast higher on Monday as businesses and economies adapt to US tariffs that have eased in recent months and a continued AI investment boom that has fuelled asset wealth and expectations of productivity gains. The IMF, in its World Economic Outlook, update forecast global GDP growth at 3.3% in 2026, up 0.2 percentage point from its last estimate in October. That’s even with 3.3% growth in 2025, which will also beat the October estimate by 0.1 percentage point,…

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KARACHI: Pakistan’s current account deficit reached $1.174 billion during the first half of FY26, marking a sharp reversal from a surplus of $957 million recorded in the same period of last year, as rising imports, weaker capital inflows and persistent structural challenges weighed on the external account. Every month, the country recorded a current account deficit of $244 million in December 2025, compared to a surplus of $454 million in December 2024 and a surplus of $98 million in November 2025, indicating renewed stress on the balance of payments despite…

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ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb has said that Pakistan’s economy is on a path of stability and growth. Foreign exchange reserves have improved and there is import cover of around three months, reflecting economic stability. The confidence of both domestic and foreign investors is increasing. At present, 16 initial public offerings (IPOs) are under consideration, while nine IPOs were successfully completed last year. More than 120,000 new investors have entered the capital market, which is a clear sign of confidence in the economy. According to the Ministry…

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ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan, addressed the Joint Pakistan-Azerbaijan Women Entrepreneurship Dialogue as the chief guest, highlighting the role of women entrepreneurs in driving inclusive and sustainable economic growth. According to an official statement issued on Monday, the SAPM said women had transformed limited resources into opportunities, contributing steadily to Pakistan’s economy. He said women from rural areas to urban centres were actively engaged in business, industry and trade, strengthening communities and value chains across the country. Referring to the…

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KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) made a robust start to the week as the benchmark KSE-100 index surged to a new record high on the back of renewed investor interest, underpinned by optimism about monetary easing. Investors increasingly expect the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to announce a rate cut of at least 50 basis points in its upcoming review. Market participants believe that easing inflationary pressures, along with stabilising macroeconomic indicators, have strengthened the case for a shift towards a more accommodative monetary stance, prompting stock buying across…

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KARACHI: On the night of January 17, 2026, a catastrophic third-degree fire engulfed the sprawling Gul Plaza, a multi-storey building on Karachi’s MA Jinnah Road. As a result, an area that served as a go-to market for low- and middle-income households was filled with a towering pillar of black smoke. The blaze, which reportedly began on the ground floor before rapidly engulfing all levels of the complex, has left at least 26 people dead, dozens injured and over 60 missing as of Monday evening. While authorities officially cite a suspected…

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