Pakistan and Chinese Firm Explore Rs20 Billion Energy Investment in Gas Sector
Pakistan’s energy sector could see fresh investment and technological cooperation following a new agreement between local company Shaheen Energy (Pvt) Limited and China’s Anton Oilfield Services Group. The two companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to examine investment opportunities worth approximately Rs20 billion in Pakistan’s gas and upstream energy industry over the next […]
Hybrid Car Prices Fall as Pakistan Reduces GST on Vehicles
Hybrid vehicle buyers in Pakistan are beginning to see lower prices after the government reduced the General Sales Tax (GST) on vehicles up to 2,000cc. The tax rate has been brought down from 25% to 18%, prompting major auto manufacturers to revise the prices of several hybrid models. The price adjustments come after weeks of […]
FBR Introduces Faceless Tax System to Transform Audits in Pakistan
Pakistan’s tax administration is set to undergo a significant digital transformation as the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) moves towards a new faceless system for tax audits and assessments. Under the new arrangement, the FBR has established a National Faceless Centre (NFC) in Islamabad, which will initially focus on reviewing tax-related information of hundreds of […]
Pakistan Prepares for 174 Legal Reforms Under IMF Programmed
Pakistan is preparing for a major round of legislative and policy reforms as part of its ongoing agreements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The government is expected to present a package involving around 174 amendments to existing laws, covering areas ranging from state-owned enterprises and energy to remittances, taxation and climate-related measures. The proposed […]
Pakistan to Make Parts of Civil Servants’ Asset Declarations Public by December 2026
The federal government is preparing to make selected details of the assets and income declarations of senior civil servants publicly available by the end of December 2026. The move is linked to an International Monetary Fund (IMF) structural benchmark and is part of wider efforts to strengthen transparency in the public sector. However, the government […]
Aasaan Tax Scheme Sees Limited Response from New Retail Taxpayers
Pakistan’s Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is facing a slow response to its latest attempt to bring small retailers into the formal tax system. The Aasaan Tax Scheme has so far attracted only a limited number of completed tax returns, while the number of genuinely new taxpayers remains particularly low. According to the latest figures, […]
NCCIA Cracks Down on Suspected Illegal Call Centers in Islamabad
The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has launched a major operation against suspected illegal call centers in Islamabad, detaining more than 200 people in connection with alleged international online fraud. According to reports, the raids were carried out at several locations in the capital, particularly in the E-11 and G-10 areas. A total of […]
Pakistan Inflation May Ease to 10% in September as Fuel and Electricity Costs Rise
Pakistan’s headline inflation is expected to moderate to around 10% in September 2026, according to estimates from AKD Research. The anticipated slowdown is largely linked to softer food prices, although rising fuel, transportation and electricity costs are expected to keep overall price pressures elevated. The research estimates that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) could increase […]
FBR Extends Filing Deadline for August Sales Tax and Federal Excise Returns
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has announced an extension in the deadline for taxpayers to file their sales tax and federal excise returns for the tax period of August 2026. Under the latest directive issued on September 18, taxpayers will now have until September 30, 2026, to submit their August returns. The relief has […]
The Tug-of-War Over Pakistan’s Oil and Gas: Who Really Calls the Shots?
Beneath the technical language of ministerial summaries and constitutional articles, a familiar contest is playing out in Pakistan’s energy sector one about power, ownership, and where the line sits between running things efficiently and honoring the deal the provinces struck with the center. What sparked the row The federal government floated an idea that, on […]
Pakistan’s Freelancing Sector Sees Sharp Rise in Export Earnings
Pakistan’s growing freelance economy has recorded another significant milestone, with freelancers earning $352 million in export receipts during July and August of FY27. According to data from the State Bank of Pakistan, the figure represents a 44% increase compared with the $244 million earned during the same period a year earlier. The latest numbers highlight […]
Pakistan’s Foreign Investment Gains Momentum in Early FY27
Pakistan has recorded a notable improvement in foreign investment at the beginning of fiscal year 2026-27, with foreign direct investment (FDI) showing strong growth during the first two months. The latest figures point to increased investor activity, particularly in August, when foreign inflows rose significantly compared with the same period last year. According to central […]
Pakistan’s IT Exports Maintain Strong Momentum as Sector Targets $10 Billion
Pakistan’s information technology sector has continued to expand, with IT exports recording significant year-on-year growth during the opening months of the new fiscal year. According to data shared by Topline Securities, Pakistan’s IT exports reached $394 million in August 2026, marking a 17% increase compared with August last year. The latest figure takes the country’s […]
SBP Completes First Regulatory Sandbox Tests, Opening New Path for Fintech Innovation
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has reached an important milestone in its efforts to encourage financial technology innovation, completing the first testing cycle of its Regulatory Sandbox. The six-month programmed, conducted from January through June 2026, gave selected financial-sector participants an opportunity to test technology-driven solutions in a controlled environment under the supervision and […]
Pakistan’s 11.5% Interest Rate Sparks Debate Among Business Leaders
The State Bank of Pakistan’s decision to leave the benchmark policy rate unchanged at 11.5% has triggered mixed reactions from the country’s business sector. While some industry groups are pressing for cheaper credit to encourage investment and revive manufacturing, others believe maintaining the current rate is the safer option given inflation risks and uncertainty in […]
Pakistan Expands Tax Relief for Airlines and Shipping Industry
Pakistan’s aviation and maritime sectors have received a significant tax boost as the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has broadened sales tax exemptions for airlines and restored similar relief for certain shipping-related imports. The latest measures are aimed at reducing the financial burden on businesses involved in aviation and shipbuilding while also bringing changes to […]
FBR Introduces Rs80 Per Litre FED on Three Petroleum Products
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has introduced a new Federal Excise Duty (FED) of Rs80 per litre on three petroleum-related products, effective from July 1, 2026. The move has been introduced under amendments made through the Finance Act 2026 and is primarily aimed at preventing the misuse and adulteration of petroleum products. The new […]
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), six of the seven quantitative performance criteria are likely to have been met at the March and June 2026 test dates. The IMF review will […]
SBP Earnings Slide 20% to Rs1.99 Trillion in FY26 Amid Lower Interest Income
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 roughly Rs506 billion represents a […]
SECP Introduces Digital Investor Onboarding System to Make Account Opening Faster
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 for individuals to start investing. […]