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, […]
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. […]
Pakistan Remittance Scheme Faces Funding Pressure as Senate Raises Wider Financial Concerns
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 officials from the State Bank […]
Pakistan Moves Toward a Dedicated Venture Capital Framework for Startups
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 access to investment capital. The […]
Pakistan Faces Fresh Inflationary Pressure as August CPI Expected to Cross 10%
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. Market analysts believe rising food and transportation costs will be the biggest contributors to the expected increase. AKD Research has estimated August inflation at around […]
DISCO Privatization Plan: Rs911 Billion Asset Transfer Raises IMF Compliance Concerns
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 (IMF). The restructuring involves Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO), Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO), and Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO). The Cabinet Committee on Privatization […]
FBR Clarifies Revised Sales Tax Rules for Manufacturers and Importers
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 to the Sales Tax Act, 1990. The clarification was issued through Sales Tax General Order No. 19 of 2026, with the aim of removing uncertainty […]