Economy grows 3.7pc in FY26, fastest in four years, but short of target
Pakistan's economy grew 3.7 percent in FY2026, its fastest rate in four years, according to the Pakistan Economic Survey presented by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb. Growth beat last year's 3.18 percent but missed the 4.2 percent target, with floods, regional conflict, and weaker food exports cited as key drags.
27d ago · 5 min · Economy
Finance minister to visit Washington for trade, tariff talks with US
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb arrives in Washington Saturday for three days of talks with USTR, the DFC, the Exim Bank, and the IMF on tariffs, market access, and a potential bilateral trade deal.
1mo ago · 3 min · Global Affairs
Costly energy, food fuel weekly inflation
Pakistan's Sensitive Price Index rose 13.52 percent year on year for the week ending July 2, 2026, marking 45 consecutive weeks of annual gains. Electricity up 49 percent, wheat flour up 68 percent, and LPG up 44 percent year on year are the main drivers.
1mo ago · 3 min · Economy
Govt unveils Rs18.8tr budget for FY2026-27; GDP growth targeted at 4pc
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb presented Pakistan's Rs18.8 trillion federal budget for FY2026-27 in the National Assembly, targeting 4 percent GDP growth and cutting income taxes across four salary slabs.
1mo ago · 5 min · Policy & Government
Consumer inflation hits 11.7pc in May
Pakistan's CPI rose 11.7 per cent year-on-year in May, driven by a 36.78 per cent surge in transport charges and a 16.78 per cent jump in housing and energy costs.
2mo ago · 4 min · Economy
IMF's Executive Board approves $1.3bn financing for Pakistan's reform programme, flags heightened risks from Middle East war
The IMF Executive Board approved Pakistan's latest programme review, releasing $1.32 billion in financing and bringing total disbursements to roughly $4.8 billion.
3mo ago · 3 min · Economy
IMF's Executive Board approves $1.2 billion financing for Pakistan's reform programme
The IMF Executive Board approved Pakistan's latest programme review, releasing $1.2 billion split between the Extended Fund Facility and the Resilience and Sustainability Facility. Total programme disbursements now reach $4.5 billion, with an IMF mission due in Islamabad on May 15 to review the next federal budget.
3mo ago · 2 min · Global Affairs
Inflation hits double digits for first time in 21 months
Pakistan's CPI rose nearly 11pc year-on-year in April, the first double-digit reading in 21 months, as Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz pushed transport costs up 15.47pc and perishable food prices up 15.25pc.
3mo ago · 3 min · Economy
Pakistan eyes $1.2bn inflow next month
Pakistan's IMF Executive Board review is set for mid-May, with approval expected to unlock roughly $1.2 billion under the Extended Fund Facility and Resilience and Sustainability Facility. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb confirmed the timeline at the Bretton Woods Spring Meetings after a Staff-Level Agreement was
4mo ago · 2 min · Economy
Finance minister meets US Treasury officials, other leaders on sidelines of WB-IMF Spring Meetings
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb met US Treasury Deputy Secretary Francis Brooke and AIIB President Zou Jiayi at the WB-IMF Spring Meetings in Washington. The meetings covered Pakistan's macroeconomic stabilisation, IMF programme support, and a $1.7 billion AIIB portfolio, with $1 billion more in the pipeline.
4mo ago · 1 min · Global Affairs
Diesel price cut by Rs32 a litre, petrol unchanged
PM Shehbaz Sharif cut Pakistan's high-speed diesel price by Rs32.12 per litre to Rs353.42, an 8.3 percent reduction tied to falling global oil prices after the US-Iran ceasefire. Petrol was held at Rs366.58 per litre. Further reductions are expected next week as the Strait of Hormuz's reopening continues to push global
4mo ago · 2 min · Economy
PSX plunges over 1,700 points amid Middle East tensions
Pakistan's KSE-100 fell 1,742 points on Monday to close at 172,196.70, reversing part of last week's 4% gain as uncertainty over US-Iran talks in Islamabad and renewed Middle East tensions weighed on sentiment. The move underscores the index's sensitivity to geopolitical risk through the oil-price and monetary-policy
4mo ago · 1 min · Markets
Pak to Repay $1.5 Billion Outstanding UAE Debt by April 23
Pakistan is scheduled to repay $1.5 billion in outstanding debt to the UAE by April 23, closing a bilateral facility that carried roughly 6% annual interest. The full repayment, rather than a rollover, signals a meaningful improvement in Pakistan's external liquidity position. Whether Islamabad seeks to renew the
4mo ago · 1 min · Global Affairs
Pakistan explores financing options to stabilise foreign exchange reserves
Pakistan is seeking new financing arrangements to stabilise foreign exchange reserves, Dawn reports. Reserve adequacy directly affects rupee stability, sovereign credit ratings, and IMF program compliance. No specific creditor names or deal sizes have been confirmed at this stage.
4mo ago · 1 min · Economy
Saudi Arabia pledges $3bn fresh deposit, extends $5bn facility through 2028
Saudi Arabia pledged a $3 billion fresh deposit and extended a $5 billion facility on a multi-year term through 2028, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb announced at the IMF, World Bank Spring Meetings. The support offsets Pakistan's imminent $3.5 billion UAE loan repayment, which threatened IMF programme reserve targe
4mo ago · 1 min · Global Affairs
IMF sees Middle East conflict fuelling global inflation
The IMF's World Economic Outlook projects global growth at 3.1 percent in 2026, down 0.2 percentage points, attributing the revision primarily to the Middle East conflict that erupted in late February 2026. The war is pushing global inflation to 4.4 percent this year by disrupting commodity markets and tightening finan
4mo ago · 2 min · Global Affairs