“Progressive Budget” by the Government
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“Progressive Budget” by the Government

On Friday, in the National Assembly the combined government has introduced the so called ‘progressive’ budget for the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 with an outlay of Rs9.5 trillion in the middle of strict conditions for the revival of $6 billion loan programme stalled for months over violation of policies, by International Monetary Fund (IMF). Finance and…

Key Things to Look Out for In the Budget 2022-2023
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Key Things to Look Out for In the Budget 2022-2023

The “progressive, pro-people and business friendly” budget for the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 approved by present government is all set to be rolled out on June 10, which is also focused on increasing revenues. Few months back the government was more inclined to revive its multi-billion dollar deal with International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme but with…

Government to Renegotiate CPEC deals: IMF
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Government to Renegotiate CPEC deals: IMF

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has demanded from Pakistan’s government to re-consult the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) energy deals before the payments of 300 billion to the Chinese power plants which has put Islamabad into tight position. These power plants were established under the 1994 and 2002 power policies under the CPEC framework agreement which…

Economic survey 2021-2022, finance minister says $2.4bn from Beijing expected soon
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Economic survey 2021-2022, finance minister says $2.4bn from Beijing expected soon

On Thursday, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, during a press conference held to review government’s economic performance, disclosed Economic Survey 2021-2022 with high expectation that the foreign exchange reserves at State Bank of Pakistan will rise to $12 billion in coming days after the inflow from China is recorded. This statement came a day before the…

Contract Signed for One Window Portal Implementation
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Contract Signed for One Window Portal Implementation

Special Technology Zones (STZs), Systems Limited and Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA) have signed a contract to promote licensed domestic and global technologies companies for the development and implementation of the One Window Portal System. The signing ceremony took place in presence of Chairman FBR Asim Ahmad, senior representatives from both organisations as well as…

Low Oil Inventories Expectation with Advance in Oil Prices

Low Oil Inventories Expectation with Advance in Oil Prices

On June 8, Wednesday, in Singapore the oil prices have increased predicting a report of low U.S oil stocks while the demand would be high in upcoming driving season. Analysts expect data for last week to show another downfall in U.S crude inventories with the chances of distillate and gasoline stocks rising higher. OANDA analyst…

Tax on YouTube and TikTok earnings to be increased by Government
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Tax on YouTube and TikTok earnings to be increased by Government

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has strictly demanded to end income tax exemptions in the upcoming budget. A government official on terms of remaining anonymous has told that no such proposal was under consideration. Sources have revealed that the government would increase tax on income earned through online gaming and social media applications including popular…

Rupee Surpasses 205 Thresholds in The Open Market
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Rupee Surpasses 205 Thresholds in The Open Market

Forex Association of Pakistan data showed that on Tuesday, for the first time in the history Pakistani rupee broke all records by surpassing 205 threshold against US dollar after shedding RS 4 in the open market. The graph kept on falling downwards dropping to an all-time low of Rs202.75 in the interbank market during full…

Budget 2022-2023 and Burden on Salaried Person
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Budget 2022-2023 and Burden on Salaried Person

The government of Pakistan is steadily gliding towards International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme for which preconditions are already being met. Recently, just within a time span of one week the discount rate has been increased by 150 basis points to 13.75% while petrol price has hiked to Rs60 per liter. These are just the initial…

Govt Should Reinstate Import Mobile Phone Components
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Govt Should Reinstate Import Mobile Phone Components

The Pakistan Mobile Phone Manufacturers Association has requested the government to reinstate the permission to import mobile phone components and eliminate barriers to exporting mobile phones outside of Pakistan, therefore further promoting this sector at the government level. Exporting mobile phones can drastically cut Pakistan’s import bill and offer job possibilities for over 500,000 people throughout…

Digitized Financial Inclusion may change fate of underprivileged: Experts

Digitized Financial Inclusion may change fate of underprivileged: Experts

Lahore: Banking the unbanked population through digitized financial inclusion may bring positive change in the lives of the underprivileged populations and the national economy. This was stated by banking leaders and financial experts while sharing their views during a panel discussion “Digital Affairs: Financial Inclusion in Pakistan” hosted by Karachi Council on Foreign Relations (KCFR)…

Chinese Banks Agree to Refinance Pakistan with $2.3 Billion Funding
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Chinese Banks Agree to Refinance Pakistan with $2.3 Billion Funding

Finance Minister Miftah Ismail took to his twitter handle to announce the ‘good news’ on Thursday that Chinese banks have agreed to refinance Pakistan with $2.3 billion funds which will “shore up Pakistan’s Foreign exchange reserves.” The finance minister further informed that after some routine approvals from both sides, the inflow is expected ‘shortly’ which…

STZA Building Technology Ecosystem to Enable Pakistani Freelancers
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STZA Building Technology Ecosystem to Enable Pakistani Freelancers

ISLAMABAD: Chairman of the Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA), Amer Hashmi, said that the organization’s goal is to create a world-class technology ecosystem in Pakistan that would benefit small, medium, and big tech companies alike. He was addressing the Freelance Fest 2022 organized in Karachi by the Pakistan Freelancers Association (PAFLA). A report from the…

Pakistan Breakfast repeats history by engaging key stakeholders

Pakistan Breakfast repeats history by engaging key stakeholders

Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs Bilawal Bhutto Zardari along with many senior officials was the Chief Guest at the Pakistan Breakfast at Steigenberger Belvedere Hotel Davos. The Pakistan Breakfast a traditional interactive session is held at every meeting of World Economic Forum, and is a well-attended event due to the participants and speakers. . Pakistan…

Bilawal Bhutto Attends Pakistan Breakfast at Davos

Bilawal Bhutto Attends Pakistan Breakfast at Davos

Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has marked his presence at traditional Pakistan Breakfast in sidelines of World Economic Forum at Davos on May 25, 2022. Pakistan Breakfast is Pakistan’s signature event which is held on every WEF annual meeting to discuss Pakistan’s economic & political situation. Pakistan Breakfast was hosted by a…

Canadian Coffee Giant Tim Hortons Opening in Pakistan

Canadian Coffee Giant Tim Hortons Opening in Pakistan

Canada’s Tim Hortons, one of North America’s most popular restaurant chains, has announced plans to open dozens of outlets in Pakistan this year. According to the company’s LinkedIn page, “Tims is opening in Pakistan this year as we continue to grow Tim Hortons around the world.” There will be dozens of new Tim Hortons restaurants…

Telecom Industry attracts $6.1bn FDI in last 4 years
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Telecom Industry attracts $6.1bn FDI in last 4 years

Foreign direct investment of $6.1 billion were allured during July 1, 2018, to March 30,2022 by the telecom industry: As reported by Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Syed Amin ul Haque. On the event of “World Telecommunication and Information Society Day”, the aforesaid Minister reported that the number of active cellular SIMs reached 193…

Petrochina gives Pakistan the lowest bids for two June LNG spots

Petrochina gives Pakistan the lowest bids for two June LNG spots

According to an industry source, Petrochina submitted the lowest bids in response to a Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) procurement seeking two spot cargoes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for delivery in June. Petrochina offered prices of $23.96/mmbtu for a delivery on June 1-2 and $22.49/mmbtu for a delivery on June 28-29. PLL had advertised the…

SBP Imposes Penalty on Four Banks Rs 108 Million in Fines Over AML, Operational Violations

SBP Imposes Penalty on Four Banks Rs 108 Million in Fines Over AML, Operational Violations

Punishments of Rs 108.93 million have been levied on four major banks by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) for violations of several regulatory regulations during the quarter ending March 31, 2022. With regard to the most recent action by the banking watchdog, Albaraka Bank (Pakistan) Limited received the maximum penalty of Rs 40.901 million…

Pakistan’s Employment Boom: 5.5 Million New Jobs Created in the Last Three Years

Pakistan’s Employment Boom: 5.5 Million New Jobs Created in the Last Three Years

According to the findings of the Labour Force Survey (LFS) published by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Pakistan’s economy created 5.5 million jobs over the last three years – on an average of 1.84 million jobs per year, which is far higher than the yearly average of new job creation during the 2008-18 decade (PBS)….

Telenor Pakistan Bank Accounts Frozen by FBR Due to Income Tax Default

Telenor Pakistan Bank Accounts Frozen by FBR Due to Income Tax Default

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has frozen the bank accounts of Telenor on account of its income tax default amounting to approximately Rs3.5 billion. The company owes the government of Pakistan as arrears of tax liability from previous years, which it has failed to pay. All appellate for a as well as Islamabad High…

Pakistan’s Kitchen with Amna Featured in Top 5 Inspiring Female YouTubers
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Pakistan’s Kitchen with Amna Featured in Top 5 Inspiring Female YouTubers

When it comes to having uncomfortable discussions, women are leading the way. They’re sharing their knowledge and paving the way for others. YouTube believes that everyone should have a platform to express themselves. They wish to assist creatives express themselves in a way that is unique to them. As a result, they want to shift…

PPL, OGDCL Agreement for the Reko Diq Project with a Canadian Company

PPL, OGDCL Agreement for the Reko Diq Project with a Canadian Company

Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) and Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) have entered into a non-binding framework agreement for the restart of the Reko Diq project with the federal government, the Balochistan government, Government Holdings (Private) Limited (GHPL), and Barrick Gold Corporation (Barrick). The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) was informed of the news by…

Another Unicorn by a Pakistani Founder Zayd Enam Raises Series C, Quadruples Valuation to $1.6B
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Another Unicorn by a Pakistani Founder Zayd Enam Raises Series C, Quadruples Valuation to $1.6B

After completing its $80 million Series C round, Cresta, the leading provider of real-time intelligence for contact centers, has quadrupled its post-money worth to $1.6 billion. Cresta has quadrupled its sales in the last year and achieved a Net Revenue Retention (NRR) of 210 percent. Tiger Global led the round, with Genesys, Five9, J.P. Morgan…