Economy

Weekly inflation eases, but prices remain 9.05% higher annually
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Weekly inflation eases, but prices remain 9.05% higher annually

Tomatoes, chicken and electricity led the weekly decline, while onions, wheat flour and fuel recorded sharp annual increases

Pakistan’s July inflation seen at 9%-10% as oil prices lift energy, transport costs
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Pakistan’s July inflation seen at 9%-10% as oil prices lift energy, transport costs

Finance Ministry expects inflation to remain elevated despite continued economic recovery and stronger external buffers

Abhi Microfinance Bank plans PKR 2-3 billion IPO next month
Business

Abhi Microfinance Bank plans PKR 2-3 billion IPO next month

Digital lender will offer about 14% of its shares to strengthen capital and fund expansion after turning profitable under new ownership

Qatar LNG tanker crosses Hormuz, heads to Pakistan after July disruptions
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Qatar LNG tanker crosses Hormuz, heads to Pakistan after July disruptions

Al Areesh is the first QatarEnergy-controlled LNG vessel tracked through the strait since early July, with arrival at Port Qasim expected July 31

Pakistan to export 5,000 MG vehicles to Bangladesh
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Pakistan to export 5,000 MG vehicles to Bangladesh

Agreement with Bangladesh’s RANCON Motors marks a new push to expand Pakistan’s auto exports and value-added manufacturing

Pakistan faces $21.5 billion external debt servicing in FY27
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Pakistan faces $21.5 billion external debt servicing in FY27

SBP governor says about USD 7 billion will be actual repayment after expected rollovers and refinancing

US effective tariff rate falls to 7.4% as import mix shifts
World

US effective tariff rate falls to 7.4% as import mix shifts

Fitch says rate would have fallen to 8.4% from tariff changes alone, with electronics imports surging and China shipments dropping 43%

Dubai holiday rental revenue falls 46.5%, but returns beat long-term rentals
UAE

Dubai holiday rental revenue falls 46.5%, but returns beat long-term rentals

One-bedroom holiday homes delivered a 7.2% average gross yield in Q2, versus 5.2% for traditional rentals, as longer stays helped cushion weaker demand

Improving economy supports SBP rate hold, but risks remain, warns S&P
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Improving economy supports SBP rate hold, but risks remain, warns S&P

Economist says easing external pressures and stronger economic activity support stability, but inflation, Middle East tensions and El Niño risks justify a cautious policy stance

ICMA backs SBP’s decision to keep policy rate at 11.5%, warns against premature cuts
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ICMA backs SBP’s decision to keep policy rate at 11.5%, warns against premature cuts

Institute says unchanged rate balances economic recovery with inflation risks as geopolitical uncertainty and global commodity prices remain key concerns

K-Electric backs Thar coal expansion to enable Jamshoro's shift to local coal by 2029
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K-Electric backs Thar coal expansion to enable Jamshoro's shift to local coal by 2029

Move could double Thar Block-1 mine capacity, cut imported coal use and generate an estimated USD 3.2 billion in economic benefits

Pakistan's power sector circular debt rises by PKR 61 billion after budget cut
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Pakistan's power sector circular debt rises by PKR 61 billion after budget cut

Government says a PKR 98 billion reduction in budgetary support offset gains from power sector reforms, while DISCO losses continued to decline

Pakistan approves new refinery policy to attract $6 billion in investment
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Pakistan approves new refinery policy to attract $6 billion in investment

Seven-year incentive package aims to modernize refineries, increase petrol and diesel production, and reduce furnace oil output

Pakistan clears long-awaited refinery policy after years of delays
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Pakistan clears long-awaited refinery policy after years of delays

Industry expects USD 5 to 6 billion in refinery upgrades after years of regulatory uncertainty delayed investment

Pakistan approves refinery policy changes to speed Euro-V fuel upgrades
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Pakistan approves refinery policy changes to speed Euro-V fuel upgrades

Shehbaz Sharif orders Gulf investor roadshows and faster implementation of refinery modernization reforms

Pakistan's hybrid sukuk plan to strengthen Islamic banks' liquidity
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Pakistan's hybrid sukuk plan to strengthen Islamic banks' liquidity

Fitch says the new sovereign sukuk structure will boost issuance and strengthen Islamic banks' funding options

SBP buys net USD 7.1 billion from forex market in 10 months as reserves grow
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SBP buys net USD 7.1 billion from forex market in 10 months as reserves grow

Central bank's foreign exchange intervention rises nearly 7% from a year earlier, reflecting stronger external inflows and continued reserve accumulation

Pakistan secures USD 6.1 billion of FY27 external debt repayments
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Pakistan secures USD 6.1 billion of FY27 external debt repayments

USD 21.5 billion is due during the fiscal year, with foreign exchange reserves projected to rise to USD 20.2 billion by December

Pakistan's central bank expected to keep interest rate unchanged at 11.5%
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Pakistan's central bank expected to keep interest rate unchanged at 11.5%

Improving inflation and record remittances support economic stability, but geopolitical tensions and volatile oil prices are likely to keep policymakers cautious

Pakistan business confidence rebounds in Q2, but budget concerns persist
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Pakistan business confidence rebounds in Q2, but budget concerns persist

Gallup survey shows outlook turns positive for the first time in three quarters, but businesses remain wary of the FY2026-27 budget, inflation and power outages