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 […]
FBR Collects Rs4.06 Trillion in Four Months, Misses FY27 Tax Target
Pakistan’s Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) collected Rs4.06 trillion in taxes during the first four months of FY2026–27, falling Rs124 billion short of its target despite a 6% increase compared with the previous year. In October alone, tax collection reached Rs974 billion against the target of Rs1.132 trillion, leaving a shortfall of Rs158 billion. FBR […]
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 […]
SECP Introduces New Guidebook to Strengthen Compliance with Targeted Financial Sanctions in Pakistan
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has introduced a new guidebook on Targeted Financial Sanctions (TFS) to improve regulatory compliance and strengthen efforts to prevent terrorist financing and other illegal financial activities. The guidebook provides practical instructions for entities operating under SECP’s regulatory oversight, helping them understand and implement applicable sanctions requirements. The […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 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 […]
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 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 […]
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 […]
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 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 and Oman Move Closer to a New Fuel Supply Partnership
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 and purchase agreement between Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and OQ Trading Limited of Oman. The proposed arrangement comes as Pakistan looks to diversify its sources […]
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 […]