NAB Protects Public Assets Worth Rs241.4 Billion in Two Months
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has reported safeguarding public assets worth approximately Rs241.408 billion over the past two months through efforts involving government land and mineral resources. The major achievement includes securing 3,927 kanals of Pakistan Railways land across Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Chakwal and Murree, valued at Rs118 billion. NAB also helped resolve a long-standing […]
FBR Increases Minimum Taxable Value of Specified Steel Scrap from 55% to 60%
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has revised the minimum taxable valuation of certain categories of remeltable iron and steel scrap, increasing the prescribed benchmark from 55% to 60% of the reference value of steel bars. The change is expected to increase the minimum value considered for sales tax calculations on qualifying scrap transactions. The […]
Pakistan Considers New Tax Collection Agency as FBR Reform Plans Gain Momentum
Pakistan’s federal government is considering major changes to the country’s tax administration, including the possibility of establishing a new tax collection agency or further restructuring the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). The move comes amid concerns over revenue performance and the limited results of previous reform efforts. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the FBR […]
Pakistan Moves Towards a National Digital Market to Strengthen Agriculture and Support Farmers
Pakistan’s agricultural sector could see significant changes under a new proposal by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) to establish a national agricultural spot market. The proposed initiative aims to create a more organized system for buying and selling agricultural commodities while helping farmers secure better prices, reduce crop wastage and obtain financing […]
IMF Urges Pakistan to Strengthen Revenue Collection and Build Financial Reserves for Sustainable Growth
Pakistan’s economic recovery, fiscal reforms and long-term development priorities came under discussion during a meeting between International Monetary Fund (IMF) Deputy Managing Director Nigel Clarke and Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on the sidelines of the World Bank Group–IMF Annual Meetings 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand. During the meeting, Clarke stressed the need for Pakistan to […]
Pakistan Explores Digital Bonds and Asset Tokenization as 75 Firms Seek Virtual Asset Licenses
Pakistan is taking new steps towards modernizing its financial sector by exploring digital bonds, asset tokenization and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered financial services in collaboration with the World Bank Group. The development comes as the country works to establish a regulated environment for virtual assets and attract both domestic and international businesses. According to the Pakistan […]
China’s Shengtang Group Eyes $10 Million Investment in Pakistan Across Seven Key Sectors
Pakistan may attract fresh Chinese investment as Shengtang Group has expressed interest in signing a $10 million memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore business opportunities in seven important sectors of the country. The proposed investment could support industrial growth, infrastructure development, energy projects, and other areas linked to Pakistan’s economic progress. According to a statement […]
Pakistan Targets Over 4% Economic Growth as Government Plans $1 Billion-Plus Privatization Drive
Pakistan is aiming for economic growth of more than 4% in the current fiscal year as the government steps up efforts to attract private investment, sell state-owned entities and strengthen the country’s financial position. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has also confirmed that discussions with the United States are continuing over a proposed $10 billion exchange […]
World Bank Proposes $200 Million to Boost KP Tax Revenue and Improve Public Services by 2031
The World Bank has proposed $200 million in financing to help Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) strengthen its revenue collection system, improve public services and manage its finances more effectively. The initiative aims to nearly double the province’s own-source tax revenue in real terms, increasing it from Rs64 billion to Rs122 billion by June 2031. The proposed […]
Pakistan and UK Discuss New Aircraft Options to Revamp PIA Fleet
Pakistan is exploring fresh options to upgrade the fleet of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), with the United Kingdom offering potential support involving Airbus aircraft and Rolls-Royce engines. The possibility of aircraft leasing, engine arrangements and export credit assistance was discussed as Pakistan and Britain looked for ways to address PIA’s immediate fleet requirements while keeping […]
FBR Introduces Online Facility for Steel Sector to Report Electricity Consumption
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has introduced a new online mechanism to help steel manufacturers report their electricity consumption for sales tax purposes when power distribution companies fail to provide the required data on time. The facility is particularly relevant to steel melters, re-rollers and composite units, which are required to declare electricity consumption through Annex-K of […]
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 […]
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’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 […]
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 […]
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’s Freelance Economy Starts FY2026-27 With Strong Export Growth
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 State Bank of Pakistan, freelance export receipts reached $175.4 million, marking a 45.5% increase compared with the same month last year. In July 2025, freelancers […]
PIA Privatization: Why Taxpayers Are Still Paying the Price
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 of PIA’s old debt remains with the public sector, leaving taxpayers to shoulder the cost of servicing those liabilities. According to a report by The […]
Pakistan’s Textile Exports Jump to $1.81 Billion in July 2026
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 Statistics (PBS). The latest figures represent a 43.13% increase from June, when textile exports stood at $1.27 billion. Compared with July 2025, exports were also […]
Pakistan Plans Major Reforms to Transform Construction Industry
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 center of the initiative. The government is also examining the possibility of creating a dedicated Construction Development Bank (CDB) to address financing challenges faced by […]