Pakistan, Philippines Explore Expanded Rice Trade

    By Aftab Ahmed | January 23, 2026

    Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan held an important meeting with Dr. Emmanuel R. Fernandez, Ambassador of the Philippines to Pakistan, on the special directions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, with a focus on enhancing Pakistan’s rice exports to the Philippine market. During the meeting, the Commerce Minister conveyed the Prime Minister’s keen interest…

    Pakistani Rupee Gains Slightly Against Dollar

    By Aftab Ahmed | January 22, 2026

    The Pakistani rupee recorded a marginal gain on Thursday, appreciating 0.01 percent against the US dollar in the inter-bank market amid global currency fluctuations. At close, the local currency settled at 279.87, gaining Re0.03 against the greenback, after closing at 279.90 on Wednesday, reflecting minimal movement in domestic trading conditions. The US dollar remained firm…

    Gold Prices Fall in Pakistan on Global Losses

    By Aftab Ahmed | January 22, 2026

    Gold prices in Pakistan fell on Thursday, following losses in the international market. The price of gold per tola dropped by Rs800 to Rs505,562 in local markets. Similarly, the cost of 10 grams of gold fell by Rs686, reaching Rs433,437, according to rates released by the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA). Read More:…

    Islamic Bank Reviews Progress of Mohmand Dam Project

    By Aftab Ahmed | January 21, 2026

    A high-level delegation of the Islamic Development Bank visited the Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project the other day to review progress and observe the ongoing construction works. The three-member delegation was led by Dr. Rami Mahmoud Ahmed, Vice President Operations, Islamic Development Bank. During the visit, the delegation conducted a detailed inspection of all construction sites…

    Fertilizer | Price Discount Led to Growth in Urea Sales During CY25

    By Aftab Ahmed | January 21, 2026

    Pakistan’s total fertilizer offtakes reached 10.12mn tons in CY25, registering a growth of 2% YoY. The increase was primarily driven by exceptionally strong urea sales of 1.36mn tons in Dec-25, marking an all-time high monthly offtake and surpassing the previous peak recorded in Dec-19. As a result, cumulative CY25 urea offtakes stood at 6.73mn tons,…

    Competition Policy Key to Industrial Growth, Say Economic Experts

    By Aftab Ahmed | January 20, 2026

    Economic policy experts have emphasized that competition policy is essential for industrial growth and economic transformation and must be treated as a central pillar of industrial and growth strategy. These views were highlighted by Dr. Nadeem Javed, Vice Chancellor of the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), during his lecture to officials of the Competition…

    Pakistani Rupee Edges up Against US Dollar

    By Aftab Ahmed | January 20, 2026

    The Pakistani rupee recorded a slight improvement against the US dollar in the inter-bank market on Tuesday, according to official currency market data today there. At the close of trading, the local currency settled at 279.91, marking a marginal gain of Re0.01 against the greenback by inter-bank market rates Tuesday. On Monday, the local unit…

    Pakistan, IsDB Sign $603m Loan Agreements

    By Aftab Ahmed | January 20, 2026

    Pakistan and the Islamic Development Bank signed three loan agreements worth $603 million, aimed at supporting infrastructure development and social sector programmes across the country. The agreements were signed by senior officials from both sides, in the presence of federal ministers Ahsan Khan Cheema and Syed Imran Ahmed Shah there. The Islamic Development Bank will…

    Rupee Edges Up as Dollar Weakens Globally

    By Aftab Ahmed | January 19, 2026

    The Pakistani rupee strengthened slightly against the US dollar in the interbank market on Monday, posting a marginal appreciation of 0.01 percent during early trading. By the close of trading, the local currency settled at 279.92, recording a gain of Re0.03 against the greenback in Monday’s interbank foreign exchange market. During the previous week, the…

    Raising Taxes Won’t Fix Pakistan’s Debt Issue

    By Aftab Ahmed | January 17, 2026

    Former caretaker federal minister and Chairman Econimc Policy and Business Development (EPBD) think tank Gohar Ejaz has warned that Pakistan’s deepening debt crisis is fundamentally an expenditure problem rather than a taxation failure, challenging the long-held policy narrative that low tax collection is the primary cause of fiscal stress. Citing analysis prepared under the Economic…