Pakistan Nears IMF Review With Most Targets on Track
Pakistan is heading toward the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) September 2026 review with most of its key programmed targets expected to be on track. According to Arif Habib Limited (AHL),…

Pakistan is heading toward the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) September 2026 review with most of its key programmed targets expected to be on track. According to Arif Habib Limited (AHL), six of the seven quantitative performance criteria are likely to have been met at the March and June 2026 test

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) ended fiscal year 2025-26 with a substantial but lower profit, as falling earnings from its financial assets weighed on its overall income. The central bank reported a net profit of Rs1.99 trillion for FY26, down from Rs2.499 trillion a year earlier. The decline of

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has taken a major step toward making investment in Pakistan’s capital markets easier and more accessible by introducing a new unified digital investor onboarding framework. The initiative is aimed at removing unnecessary paperwork, reducing repeated verification procedures and making it significantly quicker

Pakistan’s efforts to attract foreign investment have received another boost with the arrival of a high-level Saudi business delegation seeking opportunities in several major areas of the economy. Led by Prince Mansour bin Mohammad Al Saud, Chairman of the Saudi-Pakistan Joint Business Council, the delegation visited the Special Investment Facilitation

Pakistan’s efforts to encourage overseas Pakistanis to send money home are facing a new financial challenge after the government reduced its support for the Pakistan Remittance Initiative (PRI) because of budgetary pressures. The issue came under discussion during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue, where

Pakistan is preparing to introduce a dedicated legal framework for venture capital investment, with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) sharing a proposed Venture Capital Bill with the Board of Investment (BOI). The initiative is aimed at addressing one of the major challenges faced by Pakistani startups: limited
Pakistan is heading toward the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) September 2026 review with most of its key programmed targets expected to be on track. According to Arif Habib Limited (AHL),…
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) ended fiscal year 2025-26 with a substantial but lower profit, as falling earnings from its financial assets weighed on its overall income. The central…
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has taken a major step toward making investment in Pakistan’s capital markets easier and more accessible by introducing a new unified digital…
Pakistan’s efforts to attract foreign investment have received another boost with the arrival of a high-level Saudi business delegation seeking opportunities in several major areas of the economy. Led by…
Pakistan’s efforts to encourage overseas Pakistanis to send money home are facing a new financial challenge after the government reduced its support for the Pakistan Remittance Initiative (PRI) because of…
Pakistan is preparing to introduce a dedicated legal framework for venture capital investment, with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) sharing a proposed Venture Capital Bill with the…
Pakistan’s inflation outlook is showing renewed signs of pressure, with consumer prices expected to return to double-digit growth in August 2026 after briefly remaining below the 10% mark in July.…
The federal government’s plan to restructure and eventually privatize three major electricity distribution companies has come under scrutiny over its potential implications for Pakistan’s commitments to the International Monetary Fund…
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has introduced important clarifications regarding the collection and assessment of sales tax on certain goods covered under Serial No. 65 of the Third Schedule…
Pakistan is taking steps to strengthen its energy security by expanding fuel supplies from Oman. The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet is expected to consider a proposed sale…
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has introduced significant changes to the country’s housing-finance framework, giving prospective homeowners greater flexibility in obtaining financing. The revised prudential regulations apply to banks…
Pakistan could be heading toward a major change in the way agricultural income is taxed, with the federal government reportedly considering a fixed levy of up to Rs5,000 per acre…
Pakistan’s freelance economy has begun the new fiscal year on a promising note, with export earnings from freelancers recording a sharp increase in July 2026. According to data from the…
Pakistan’s privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) may have transferred control of the national carrier to a private investor, but the government’s financial responsibilities have not ended. A significant portion…
Pakistan’s textile industry began the new fiscal year on a strong note, with textile exports reaching $1.81 billion in July 2026, according to provisional data from the Pakistan Bureau of…
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has provided tax professionals with a detailed look at several features of its income tax return system, focusing on tools that allow taxpayers to…
LSE SPAC-II Limited has moved forward with plans to acquire a significant minority interest in M.P. Industries Limited (MPIL), with the proposed transaction now awaiting approval from the company’s shareholders.…
Pakistan’s oil refining industry is moving toward a major transformation, with five domestic refineries preparing investment plans worth an estimated $4.5 billion to $5 billion. The proposed projects focus on…
Pakistan is preparing to introduce a broad set of reforms aimed at improving the country’s construction industry, with the proposed establishment of a Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) at the…
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has introduced a revised penalty regime to address delays in customs declarations, clearance and export of goods. The new measures will take effect from…
Pakistan and Hong Kong have taken an important step toward strengthening cooperation between their customs authorities by signing a new agreement focused on information sharing, enforcement and the monitoring of…
Pakistan’s equity market is preparing for another new listing after the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) gave the green light to the initial public offering of Agro Processors…
The search for better employment opportunities is taking a growing number of Pakistanis overseas. During the first six months of 2026, more than 317,000 Pakistani workers left the country to…
Pakistan’s preferential trade arrangement with the European Union is set to enter a new phase from January 2027, with the country facing stricter requirements to retain its GSP+ benefits. Under…
Pakistan is preparing for another important round of discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with a Fund mission expected to arrive next month to review the country’s progress under…
Pakistan’s digital economy is becoming an increasingly important part of the country’s tax system, with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) introducing different withholding tax rates for social media content…
Pakistan’s business community may be in line for further tax relief as the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) considers additional measures to reduce the financial pressure on companies. The issue…
Pakistan’s corporate Islamic finance market is set for a potential boost after the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) introduced a new guidebook designed to simplify the process of…
Pakistan and Russia are exploring new avenues to strengthen economic relations, with proposed freight rail connections and expanded agricultural cooperation emerging as key areas of mutual interest. The two countries…
Pakistan is moving to strengthen oversight of its export financing programmed as the government seeks to boost foreign sales while reducing the chances of subsidized funds being misused. The Economic…
The Bank of Punjab (BOP) has announced plans to raise up to Rs30 billion through the issuance of new ordinary shares to the Government of Punjab, marking a major proposed…
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has delivered an important ruling concerning the misuse of confidential banking information, observing that customers’ private banking data can be treated as “property” under the…
Pakistan’s Ministry of Commerce has approved Rs10 billion in funding for the textile, apparel, and other export-oriented industries under various duty drawback and technology-upgradation schemes. The move is aimed at…
Pakistan is taking another major step toward bringing its virtual assets industry under a formal regulatory structure. The country is nearing the introduction of a comprehensive licensing system for Virtual…
Pakistan’s accountability watchdog has called for a major change in the rules governing corruption investigations, urging the government to remove the Rs500 million threshold that currently limits the National Accountability…
Pakistan’s tax authorities have taken another significant step toward modernizing tax collection by introducing electronic production monitoring for registered beverage manufacturers. The initiative is intended to improve transparency, reduce tax…
Pakistan is preparing for one of the most significant reforms in its natural gas sector in decades. The government has introduced a comprehensive roadmap designed to modernize the industry, improve…
Pakistan’s external trade position came under pressure in July 2026 as the country’s trade deficit increased significantly compared with the same month last year. According to data released by the…
Pakistan and Iran have taken another significant step toward strengthening their economic partnership by agreeing to improve border trade, simplify customs procedures, and work towards keeping border crossings open around…
Pakistan’s mining sector may be entering a new phase of international investment as the United States expresses growing interest in the country’s vast reserves of critical minerals. According to recent…
In a positive step towards strengthening relations between Pakistan’s tax authorities and the business sector, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has agreed to work closely with leading business organizations…
Artificial intelligence is changing the way people work across the world, and Pakistan is no exception. A recent World Bank report suggests that while AI has the potential to improve…
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has announced a major revision to its financing framework by increasing the aggregate exposure limit for unrated large private-sector borrowers from Rs3 billion to…
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has intensified its investigation into the administration of Auqaf properties in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by requesting computerized land records from all districts of the province. The…
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has broadened the authority of its Supervision Division through a fresh delegation of powers, enabling its officers to take a more active…
Importers of lighting products in Pakistan will now operate under a newly established customs valuation framework, as the Directorate General of Customs Valuation has issued a fresh ruling covering a…
Pakistan’s banking sector continues to rely heavily on lending to the government instead of supporting businesses, despite repeated calls from policymakers to expand financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)…
Pakistan’s tax administration is undergoing another phase of reform, but recent developments suggest that several challenges still need to be addressed. The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has recommended the introduction…
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has introduced a major initiative aimed at making Pakistan’s tax litigation process more efficient and transparent. By setting up three Independent Case Scrutiny Committees…
Pakistan is moving closer to a digitally connected future as the federal government speeds up the implementation of its National Digital Vision. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed relevant authorities…
Electricity bills in Pakistan have become more than just a payment for power consumption—they have also become an important channel for tax collection. According to a briefing presented to the…
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has announced a temporary suspension of several of its online tax platforms due to planned system maintenance. The maintenance exercise is aimed at improving…
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is moving towards a more structured and responsible approach to tax litigation by proposing the establishment of Independent Case Scrutiny Committees. The initiative, introduced…
Pakistan’s efforts to speed up the resolution of tax disputes are under renewed scrutiny after the backlog of cases at the Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue (ATIR) climbed to nearly 68,000.…
Pakistan’s power sector continues to face serious financial challenges, with circular debt climbing to Rs1.835 trillion by the end of June 2026. The figure is Rs221 billion higher than the…
Pakistan is preparing to launch the sale of the Roosevelt Hotel in New York, with the government aiming to take the landmark property to the market by December 2026. The…
Pakistan’s investment climate has once again come under the spotlight as the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) has called on the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to…
Pakistan’s automobile industry continued its recovery in FY2025-26, delivering another year of impressive growth as improving economic conditions, affordable financing, and competitive pricing encouraged consumers to return to the market.…
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has unveiled an ambitious plan to significantly increase financial support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), setting a target of Rs1.5 trillion in SME…
Pakistan’s business landscape is evolving, and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) is encouraging enterprises to become part of the formal corporate sector. By making company registration simpler…