Government Policies

As major cities around the world light up with festive decorations in November, urban centers in northern Pakistan prepare for a very different season—a season shrouded in hazardous smog. From November to February, millions face dangerous air pollution levels, with far-reaching health and economic consequences. The smog season, Pakistan’s second-largest health threat after cardiovascular disease, sends thousands to hospitals every …

Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) Hits New Record as KSE-100 Index Surges Over 94,000 Points The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a strong start to the week as the KSE-100 Index hit a new record on Monday. During intra-day trading, the index surged by 526 points or 0.59%, briefly crossing the 94,000-point threshold at 11 am. The market closed at 93,648.32 …

VPN Block Trial in First Step Toward Internet Regulation On Sunday, the Pakistani government tested a six-hour block on over two dozen Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), marking a significant move toward internet regulation in the country. The trial, conducted between 4pm and 10pm, was the first time a government firewall visibly impacted internet access nationwide. The VPN block affected both …

Addressing Food Security in Pakistan Amidst Double-Digit Inflation Food security remains a significant issue in Pakistan, where double-digit inflation strains households and the agriculture sector. Recent data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) shows food inflation averaging over 35% in the first half of fiscal year 2024. This rise has weakened citizens’ purchasing power and exposed inefficiencies in crop …

Pakistan’s Request for Debt Rescheduling Pakistan has formally requested China to reschedule $3.4 billion in official and guaranteed debt for two years. This extension is crucial for Islamabad as it faces a $5 billion external financing gap identified by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during the signing of a recent $7 billion bailout package. Much of this debt is owed …

In a move to provide financial relief and stimulate increased electricity consumption, Pakistan’s government is drafting a winter package that could reduce electricity prices by up to Rs8 per unit. The Power Division and Ministry of Finance, along with other departments, are collaborating on this initiative, which aims to support both residential and industrial users over a three-month winter period. …

The Senate Standing Committee on Power, chaired by Senator Mohsin Aziz, was informed of significant oversights and negligence in determining tariffs for Independent Power Producers (IPPs) in Pakistan. A lack of technology assessments and efficiency testing were noted as major gaps in the process, impacting the overall power sector costs. Key Issues Highlighted During the committee meeting, Muhammad Ali, Special …

According to Samaa, In a significant move to enhance Pakistan’s tax system, the government has established a 10-member task force to digitize the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). This initiative, supported by the State Information and Facilitation Center (SIFC), aims to streamline FBR’s operations through comprehensive digital transformation. Key Objectives of the Task Force The task force has been given …

Pakistan Misses IMF Cash Surplus Target by Rs182 Billion Due to Punjab’s Performance Pakistan has failed to meet a major condition of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to generate Rs342 billion in cash surplus from the four provincial governments. This shortfall, driven by Punjab’s underperformance, reached Rs182 billion, falling 53% short of the target in the first quarter of the …

Ministry Urges Swift Action on Wheat Support Price The Ministry of National Food Security and Research has called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to quickly announce a new wheat support price and set procurement targets. The ministry warns that failing to act could lead to wheat imports worth over $1 billion. This urgency comes from conditions set by the International …