Economy

Overview of ECC Meeting On August 30, 2024, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet, chaired by Federal Minister for Finance & Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, convened to discuss critical economic policies and projects. The meeting focused on revising home remittances incentive schemes and making decisions regarding major infrastructure projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Revisions to Remittances …

Karachi Wholesale Grocers Announce Market Closure in Tax Protest The Karachi Wholesale Grocers Association has announced a complete shutdown of Pakistan’s largest wholesale market on Saturday, August 31, to protest the government’s withholding tax policies. This decision followed an emergency meeting at Jodia Bazaar, where traders, importers, and exporters expressed their dissatisfaction with the tax measures. Consequently, the association’s move …

French authorities have formally placed Telegram CEO Pavel Durov under investigation, suspecting his involvement in criminal activities carried out on the messaging platform. The investigation, initiated by a French judge, includes allegations of complicity in facilitating illicit transactions, dissemination of child sexual abuse materials, drug trafficking, money laundering, and failure to cooperate with judicial authorities. The investigation has sparked widespread …

In a recent meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance, it was revealed that Pakistani citizens have forgotten about Rs97 billion lying dormant in their bank accounts. This significant sum is spread across 10.4 million temporarily closed accounts in various banks throughout the country. Dormant Accounts and Forgotten Funds The meeting, chaired by Senator Saleem Mandviwala, highlighted that these …

FBR’s Tax Registration Drive: Progress and Challenges The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has been conducting a tax registration drive for nearly five months across 42 cities, successfully bringing thousands of traders onto the tax roll. However, under the Tajir Dost Scheme (TDS), the average income tax collected from an individual trader remains low at just Rs2,432 per month. Tax …

The Pakistani government has decided to overhaul bilateral development financial institutions that have become hotspots for nepotism, following the appointment of favored bureaucrats to their boards. These board members reportedly receive up to $5,000 (Rs1.4 million) per meeting in fees. Focus Shift from Primary Role to Government Debt Investments Instead of adhering to their primary role of providing loans to …

Nationwide Strike Announced by Traders Against Government Tax Reforms The government’s widely promoted tax reform initiative is expected to face significant resistance as the traders’ community has announced a nationwide strike on Wednesday (today). This strike has garnered partial support from several political parties and trade associations. Ahead of the strike call, representatives of traders visited the Federal Board of …

Introduction An official report from Pakistan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs has confirmed a critical shortfall in the government’s foreign funding efforts. The report, published on Tuesday, revealed that the government managed to secure only $426 million from international lenders in July, falling far short of the $9 billion in debt rollovers required to maintain financial stability. Debt Rollovers and IMF …

Pakistan Secures $436 Million in Foreign Loans During July 2024 In July 2024, Pakistan secured $436.39 million in foreign loans from various financing sources. This amount represents a sharp decline compared to the $2.890 billion borrowed in the same month of the previous fiscal year (FY24). The Economic Affairs Division (EAD) recently released data detailing the sources and amounts of …

Introduction The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has postponed the approval of Pakistan’s $7 billion bailout package, as it is not part of the IMF Executive Board’s agenda for the upcoming week. This delay adds to the uncertainty surrounding Pakistan’s efforts to stabilize its economy, which continues to struggle with significant financial challenges. IMF Executive Board Meeting Schedule The IMF’s Executive …