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Indian rupee faces more pressure with likely Fed rate hike compounding oil pain

September 16, 2026 3:15

MUMBAI: The Indian rupee is likely to remain under pressure on Wednesday, with a Federal Reserve rate hike later in the day adding to the strain from high oil prices. The Indian rupee is expected to open ‌marginally weaker and is at risk of slipping past the 96 mark, traders said, after settling at 95.9550 to the dollar on Tuesday. The local currency has fallen for seven straight sessions, shedding about 1.5% despite the central bank’s near-daily intervention to support it. The slide has been largely one-way, with the rupee weakening to ⁠just shy of the 96-a-dollar mark from around 94.30 about two weeks ago. The Indian rupee on Tuesday broke below 95.80, a level traders had seen as a key RBI-supported floor, opening the door to further losses. A sustained break of 96 could accelerate the move lower, a currency trader at a bank said. FED hike looms Interest rate futures are now pricing in more than a 90% chance of a Fed rate hike later on Wednesday, up from about 60% a week back, according to CME FedWatch Tool. The repricing ‌has ⁠come in the wake of Brent crude climbing towards $110 a barrel, heightening concerns over inflation and pushing US yields to multi-year highs. With the hike now largely priced in, investors are likely to focus on what the Fed says about the path ahead. Markets will be watching the Fed’s ⁠updated dot plot and economic projections for clues on whether policymakers see scope for another hike later this year. Chair Kevin Warsh’s comments on oil and inflation will be scrutinised. “We suspect that ⁠the Fed will want to nudge the market away from pricing an October hike too confidently,” however, it will not do it in the statement, Goldman Sachs said ⁠in a note. Instead, Warsh could say in his press conference that before deciding on further steps, the Fed will “carefully assess” incoming data or will want to see upcoming inflation reports, the bank said. [...]

Boeing, Korean Air finalize order for 103 aircraft

September 16, 2026 2:55

Korean Air has finalized an order for 103 Boeing aircraft worth $36.2 billion at list prices, including wide-body passenger jets, freighters and single-aisle planes, the airline and the US planemaker said ‌on Wednesday, completing a deal first announced in 2025. The order includes 20 777-9s, 25 787-10s, 50 737-10s and eight 777-8 Freighters. Of the aircraft in the order, only the 787 is currently certified for commercial service, while Boeing is still developing the 777-8 Freighter. Aviation advisory and ⁠intelligence firm IBA estimated the aircraft order is worth about $12.6 billion at current market prices after discounts. Korean Air said the broader package is valued at $44.8 billion, and also includes an $8.6 billion deal for the purchase of 21 spare engines from GE Aerospace and CFM International and a 15-year engine maintenance agreement covering 28 aircraft. Korean Air to shift to emergency mode in April amid rising oil prices from Iran war Korean Air said the investment would support long-term fleet expansion following its integration of Asiana Airlines and help improve ‌fuel ⁠efficiency as it transitions to newer aircraft models. The plan, which is the largest in Korean Air’s history, was first unveiled during South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s visit to Washington last year. Korean Air CEO Cho Won-tae previously said that ⁠the newer aircraft would help Korean Air expand to more destinations in the United States and Latin America, and that about 80% of the jets would replace existing ⁠aircraft in the carrier’s fleet. Cho on Wednesday described the completion of the agreements as a significant milestone and said the investment underscored ties ⁠between the United States and South Korea, while Boeing said the deal was a result of bilateral trade discussions. [...]

Indian shares seen opening higher after selloff; higher oil, Fed caution to cap gains

September 16, 2026 2:52

Indian shares are set to open higher on Wednesday, with the benchmarks poised for a technical rebound after the Nifty 50 closed at a five-month low in the previous session. GIFT Nifty futures were trading around 23,218.50 points as of 7:54 a.m. IST, indicating a positive ‌start for the Nifty 50 index, which closed at 23,118.60 on Tuesday. Both the Nifty 50 and Sensex are in oversold territory, so a technical bounce cannot be ruled out from current levels. However, the overall trend remains bearish, said Vatsal Bhuva, a technical analyst at LKP Securities. Analysts expect markets to remain subdued amid elevated crude prices, heightened activity in the primary market and ahead of ⁠the US Federal Reserve’s rate decision later in the day. Three IPOs, including those of Hero Motors, SS Retail and Jindal Supreme India, will open for subscription on Wednesday, bringing the total number of active IPOs to four. The benchmarks opened about 0.8% higher on Tuesday, but reversed those gains to end more than 1% lower each. “Crude oil remains the dominant overhang for domestic markets. Even in the previous session, markets failed to sustain the opening gains, succumbing to broad-based selling as elevated oil and firm Treasury yields weighed on investor sentiment,” said Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money. Brent crude traded at around $108.3 a barrel after ‌closing ⁠at a near four-month high on Tuesday, amid intensifying supply risks following Saudi Arabia’s suspension of oil loading at its Yanbu port and cuts to oil shipments to Europe. Other Asian markets were muted ahead of the Fed policy decision, due after Indian market hours, with most investors expecting, a rate hike. Higher U.S. rates make emerging markets such as India less appealing ⁠to global investors, while also impacting growth in sectors such as Indian IT, which derives a significant share of its revenue from the U.S. Foreign institutional investors recorded net outflows of 29.78 billion rupees ($310.37 million) from domestic markets on Tuesday, their highest since September 4. Domestic ⁠institutional investors were net buyers, with inflows of 26.86 billion rupees, as per provisional data, from the NSE. [...]

Asian markets make nervous start ahead of Fed decision

September 16, 2026 2:49

SINGAPORE: Stocks made tentative gains at the start of the Asian trading session on Wednesday as a rise in global bond yields and oil prices paused ahead of the Federal Reserve’s policy decision due later ‌in the day. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fluctuated between gains and losses after declining for four consecutive sessions and was last up 0.2%, led by a 0.8% gain in Korean shares. S&P 500 e-mini futures nudged 0.1% higher. Overnight on Wall Street, the S&P 500 slumped 0.5%, marking its second consecutive day of declines as ⁠the yield on the 10-year Treasury bond hit its highest level since 2007. “US equity markets closed lower overnight as rising Treasury yields, another jump in crude and the polarised debate around pacing AI development left the market in a cautious mood,” said Tony Sycamore, market analyst at IG in Sydney. The yield on the US 10-year Treasury bond was 0.8 basis point lower at 4.9875% in Asian trade after breaching the 5% mark on Tuesday for the first time in three years, ahead of a rate decision from the Federal Reserve and ‌a ⁠media conference by Fed Chair Kevin Warsh. Traders believe that a hike from the Federal Reserve is almost assured, pricing an implied 92.4% probability of a 25-basis-point hike when it announces its policy decision, according to the CME Group’s FedWatch tool, compared to a 59.4% chance a week ago. The U.S. dollar ⁠index , which measures the greenback’s strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading near a two-week high at 99.656. Oil prices slipped as trading resumed in Asia, with Brent crude futures down 0.6% ⁠at $108.08 a barrel after rising 2.9% on Tuesday after shipping industry sources said crude loadings at Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea export hub of Yanbu had been suspended and Riyadh had cancelled ⁠some cargo deliveries to European customers. Digital assets extended losses after the US Senate on Tuesday voted against advancing comprehensive cryptocurrency legislation backed by President Donald Trump. Bitcoin slid 0.1% to $75,816.24, while ether slipped 0.2% to $2,403.27. [...]

Dollar girded by bets on a US hiking cycle

September 16, 2026 2:43

SINGAPORE: The dollar was hanging on to recent gains on Wednesday and trading near multi-week highs on a handful of major peers ahead of a Federal Reserve decision where traders expect ‌the first of what could be several US interest rate hikes. “A 25 basis-point increase is about 90% priced, implying the dollar will receive a modest boost if the Fed increases,” said Carol Kong, currency strategist at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia in Sydney. “There is a small chance the dollar eases if the (Fed) hikes but (chair Kevin) Warsh plays down the risk of follow-up hikes in the press conference. In the event the Fed does not increase the funds rate, we expect a steep 1%+ fall in the dollar.” The dollar had advanced along with yields overnight, running furthest against the ⁠yen and New Zealand dollar, leaving the kiwi to hit a two-month low of $0.5749 in Asia morning trade and the yen at a one-week low of 155.43 per dollar. At $1.1535 the euro was not far from Monday’s one-month low of $1.1523, while sterling , at $1.3470, was not far above a six-week trough of $1.3464 it had made on Monday. The Aussie dollar steadied at $0.7126. Currency markets haven’t really moved that much while global bond yields have been climbing in concert over recent weeks because sovereign bonds have moved in tandem and not shifted relative differences between countries’ yields very far. But the dollar’s gained traction in the last few sessions on thinking that despite Warsh being hired by President Donald Trump to cut interest rates, he’ll need to hike a few times to show the Fed is serious about taming inflation that is being fanned by war with Iran and the resulting energy price surge. “Especially given that the Fed has lost a bit of ‌credibility with ⁠the markets, we are a bit sceptical that one or even two hikes are going to be enough to restore that credibility,” said Calvin Tse, head of US strategy and economics at BNP Paribas. Yen test The exceptions to the broad steadiness in foreign exchange are mostly in Asia and the Fed decision should also be a big one for the yen. The yen is in the midst of its most promising rally for months on a combination of a hawkish shift in expectations for Japanese interest rates, joint intervention by ⁠Japan and the U.S. and talk of Japanese investors repatriating capital. Traders see an 80% chance the Bank of Japan hikes rates on Friday, according to LSEG data, and have priced in two 25-basis-point hikes by the end of January. “The yen’s path will continue to depend heavily on interest rate differentials,” said David A. Meier, economist at Julius Baer in ⁠a research note. “We recently revised our USD/JPY forecasts to 155, reflecting some scepticism that the central bank can ultimately satisfy the pace of tightening currently priced in by markets,” he said. “Many uncertainties remain, including the political preference for low interest rates amid ongoing fiscal expansion.” South Korea’s won, which has ripped more than ⁠15% higher on the dollar since the end of June on a wave of repatriated capital and profits generated by chipmaking giants, and China’s steadfast yuan are the other regional standouts. A long rally in the yuan has lost momentum at around 6.71 to the dollar, but it’s holding its gains despite the gap widening between low Chinese yields and rates in the rest of the world. [...]

Gold muted as investors brace for Fed rate decision

September 16, 2026 2:37

Gold prices were subdued on Wednesday as market participants hunkered down ahead of the ‌US Federal Reserve’s policy decision, where a rate hike is widely expected. Spot gold was down 0.1% at $4,288.48 per ounce, as of 0143 GMT, after scaling a more than one-month low on Monday. US gold futures for December delivery were also down 0.1% at $4,328.10. Traders are now pricing in a 92.4% chance of at least a ⁠25-basis-point US rate hike later in the day, according to CME FedWatch. The policy decision will be followed by a press conference from Fed Chair Kevin Warsh. “A hawkish Fed could further pull gold down, while any soft messaging may ease bets on hikes and help the metal recover. Traders are also monitoring oil prices and developments in the Middle East,” said Frank Walbaum. Gold is often seen as an inflation hedge, but higher rates increase the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding ‌bullion. The ⁠dollar held onto recent gains, and oil prices hovered above $100 a barrel. A stronger dollar makes greenback-priced gold more expensive for holders of other currencies, while elevated oil prices add to price pressures. On the geopolitical front, Saudi Arabia issued security alerts over a range of territory, including in the ⁠holy city of Makkah and the second-largest city, Jeddah, following a week of attacks from Iran-aligned fighters that have drawn it deeper into the Middle East war. Commerzbank said it was somewhat surprising that ⁠gold prices had not come under greater pressure so far. It noted that gold’s resilience may be supported by persistent fiscal concerns, reflected in elevated long-term government bond yields, ⁠as well as a recent rise in U.S. political risks. Among other metals, spot silver steadied at $63.67 per ounce, platinum edged 0.3% lower to $1,770.47, while palladium rose nearly 1% to $1,301.61. [...]

Oil falls as US crude inventories rise despite Saudi supply concerns

September 16, 2026 2:29

BEIJING: Oil prices fell on Wednesday after an unexpected build in US crude inventories, while investors assessed supply risks after Saudi Arabia suspended oil loadings at its Yanbu port following an attack on its East-West pipeline ‌to the Red Sea. Brent crude futures fell 93 cents, or 0.86%, to $107.82 a barrel at 0028 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate futures were down 97 cents, or 0.92%, at $104.86 a barrel. Yemen conflict displaces over 100,000 people, UN says Both benchmarks settled more than $3 higher and at their highest levels since May 19 on Tuesday, as the Yanbu loading suspension stoked supply concerns and Saudi Arabia cut oil shipments ⁠to Europe US crude oil, gasoline and distillate inventories all rose last week, market sources said on Tuesday, citing data from the American Petroleum Institute. Crude inventories rose by 7.1 million barrels in the week ended September 11, the sources said, citing API data. That compared with analysts’ expectations for a draw of about 1.6 million barrels, according to a Reuters poll. API’s data showed unexpected builds in gasoline and diesel inventories have weighed on prices, but regional stock increases do not change the underlying tightness in the global crude market, Haitong Futures said in a note. KSA issues brief alert over threats to Makkah, other cities Sources said on Tuesday that oil loadings ‌at ⁠Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu port had been suspended after the world’s biggest crude exporter shut its East-West pipeline following an attack by Yemen’s Houthis on Friday. Saudi Arabia has used the pipeline to reroute around 4 million barrels per day, or about 4% of global supply, to the Red Sea port. The US energy secretary said crude ⁠should resume flowing through Saudi Arabia’s vital East-West pipeline within days. However, sources who spoke to Reuters gave varying estimates of how long the pipeline could remain offline. One said repairs could take five to six weeks, while another said ⁠the pipeline could resume partial pumping sooner as repairs continue. In Libya, unrelated to the Iran conflict, the National Oil Corporation (NOC) said operations at three oil fields were suspended after protesting members ⁠of the Petroleum Facilities Guard shut a valve on the Hamada-Zawiya crude export pipeline. However, Libya’s oil production has not been significantly affected by the shutdowns and remains at about 1.4 million barrels per day, NOC Chairman Massoud Suleman told Reuters. [...]

Wall St wobbles as rising oil and Treasury yields stoke investor unease

September 15, 2026 4:24

Wall Street’s main indexes slipped on Tuesday, dragged down by higher crude prices, elevated Treasury yields and an uncertain outlook for AI demand that kept investors at bay. Chipmakers rose after a selloff on Monday, with Nvidia advancing marginally. But sentiment toward other Big Tech stocks was mixed, as Alphabet, Amazon and Microsoft fell more than 1% each. The latest bout of anxiety was driven by calls from top AI companies to slow the development of the technology, citing safety concerns. While there is little clarity so far on how such a slowdown would work, the declines have added to the gloom in markets at a time when above-target inflation and fears of higher borrowing costs have already clouded the backdrop for equities. “Delays are not good on Wall Street. Any sort of slowdown would be a problem. But I think at this point, the market doesn’t believe there will be a slowdown,” said Joe Saluzzi, co-founder and co-head of equity trading at Themis Trading. “There’s just too many competitive factors, and some of these companies want to go public. You’re not going public nless you’re showing some earnings and growth.” Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates, with traders pricing in a nearly 93% chance of a hike on Wednesday. At 11:32 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 464.01 points, or 0.89%, to 51,957.19, the S&P 500 was down 37.69 points, or 0.49%, to 7,582.70 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 197.46 points, or 0.75%, to 25,988.95. “The reaction signals some exhaustion in the AI trade, as traders begin questioning the AI premium independent of the broader inflation and rates narrative,” said Jake Behan, head of capital markets at Direxion. Oil prices weigh The Middle East conflict has shown few signs of easing, keeping oil prices elevated and deepening concerns of a supply shock. Brent crude futures rose 2.6% to $108.41, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures were trading at $104.76, also up 3.3%. “Energy is doing most of the damage on the inflationary front at present,” said Anthony Saglimbene, chief market strategist at Ameriprise Financial. Among the 11 major sector indexes on the S&P 500, energy was the sole winner, rising 1.9%. The S&P 500 consumer discretionary index led declines with a 1.4% drop. The yield on the benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury note hit its highest since 2007, as investors braced for what many expect to be the first in a series of rate increases. It was last up 3.47 basis points at 4.9957%. Elsewhere, shares of Dave & Buster’s tumbled 17% after second-quarter revenue missed expectations. Waystar rose about 7% after Reuters reported the healthcare software firm was exploring options, including a potential sale. Declining issues outnumbered advancers by a 2.56-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and by a 2.57-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq. The S&P 500 posted seven new 52-week highs and 13 new lows while the Nasdaq Composite recorded 29 new highs and 208 new lows. [...]

Rupee sees improvement against US dollar

September 15, 2026 2:16

if (!window._rawHtmlListenerAttached) { window._rawHtmlListenerAttached = true; window.addEventListener('message', function(event) { if (event.data && event.data.type === 'raw-html-resize' && event.data.id) { var iframe = document.getElementById(event.data.id); if (iframe) { var height = Math.min(Math.max(event.data.height, 50), 9200); iframe.style.height = height + 'px'; } } }); } The Pakistani rupee extended its marginal gains against the US dollar in the interbank market on Tuesday. The local unit closed the day at 277.30, a gain of Re0.01 against the greenback. On Monday, the Pakistani rupee settled at 277.31 against the dollar. Internationally, the US dollar inched up to trade near a two-week high on Tuesday as surging oil prices lifted Treasury yields and reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve will raise interest ‌rates this week. It also gained support as risk appetite weakened after stock markets tumbled, with AI-related shares under pressure after industry leaders called for slower development to contain potential threats to humanity. Markets now see a Fed hike on Wednesday as a near certainty, with CME’s FedWatch tool pricing in a roughly 93% chance of an interest-rate increase, which would be the first in more than three years. Near-term support may persist, but with a hike now heavily priced in, further dollar upside will likely require the Fed to keep the door open to additional tightening, he added. The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies, was last at 99.55. The euro was slightly weaker against the dollar at $1.1538, as was sterling at $1.3494. The yen also pulled away from a seven-month high, last down roughly 0.2% at 154.72 ahead of an expected Bank of Japan rate hike on Friday. Oil prices, a key indicator of currency parity, edged higher on Tuesday after attacks on Saudi Arabian energy infrastructure left the kingdom’s East-West Pipeline offline, raising fears that damage to energy infrastructure and transport routes could take longer to repair. Brent crude futures were up 6 cents at $105.74 a barrel at 1301 GMT after hitting a session high of $108.43. U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures were up 27 cents at $101.66 a barrel after rising as far as $104.21 earlier. Concerns over oil supplies intensified after Houthi forces in Yemen launched fresh attacks on Saudi Arabia on Monday, while Gulf Arab states postponed planned discussions with Iran. Inter-bank market rates for dollar on Tuesday BID Rs 277.30 OFFER Rs 277.50 Open-market movement In the open market, the PKR gained3.00 paisa for buying and 11.00 paisa for selling against USD, closing at 278.16 and 279.02, respectively. Against Euro, the PKR gained 61.00paisa for buying and 1.31rupee for selling, closing at 319.99and 322.63, respectively. Against UAE Dirham, the PKR gained 3.00 paisa for buying and 11.00 paisa for selling, closing at 75.60 and 76.16, respectively. Against Saudi Riyal, the PKR gained 6.00 paisa for both buying and selling,closing at 73.88 and 74.42, respectively. Open-market rates for dollar on Tuesday BID Rs 278.16 OFFER Rs 279.02 [...]

India's July balance of payments surplus jumps to $20.8 billion on surge in FX inflows

September 15, 2026 2:11

India’s balance of payments recorded a surplus of $20.8 billion in July, compared with a surplus of $0.3 billion a year earlier, driven by a surge in foreign-exchange inflows following the central bank’s measures to attract overseas deposits. The current account balance for July 2026 stood at a deficit of $7 billion, compared with a deficit of $3.2 billion in July 2025. Net transfers, which include remittances from Indian workers overseas, rose to $13.2 billion in July from $12.6 billion a year ago. The capital account, which includes foreign portfolio investments, recorded an inflow of $27.7 billion in July, compared with an inflow of $3.5 billion a year earlier. In June, India unveiled measures to boost dollar inflows, including discounted hedging for overseas borrowings by state-run firms and banks and free hedging for banks to raise overseas FX deposits. Broadening inflation, Fed prompts traders to ramp up October India rate hike bets The Reserve Bank of India received $136.4 billion under the schemes between June 5 and August 31, including a much higher-than-expected $127 billion from non-resident deposits. Worries over India’s balance of payments deficit have been a crucial pain point for the rupee in 2026, as the Iran war lifted crude oil prices sharply and caused unabated capital outflows. Policy measures to boost dollar inflows have prompted analysts to forecast a near-neutral or modest surplus in BoP for the fiscal year ending March 2027. [...]

Most Gulf bourses in red on Houthi attack and Hormuz shipping slump

September 15, 2026 2:03

Most Gulf stock markets closed lower on Tuesday, with Saudi shares posting the biggest losses, as a fresh Houthi attack and a sharp drop in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz heightened fears that the conflict could escalate further. Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index dropped 0.9%, weighed down by a 1.3% fall in Saudi Arabian Mining Company and a 0.6% dip in oil major Saudi Aramco. Yemeni officials said the Houthis struck the Khamis Mushait airbase in southern Saudi Arabia with missiles and drones, damaging hangars, radar systems, runways and ammunition depots. The group said the attack was retaliation for Saudi-led strikes in Yemen, as Riyadh weighed its response to the Houthis’ rapid advance. The escalation has heightened fears that the conflict could spread across the Middle East, threatening energy infrastructure and global oil supplies. Gulf Arab states have postponed planned talks with Iran, adding to diplomatic strains after Saudi Arabia blamed Iran-backed forces for a series of attacks. Friday’s strikes on Saudi Arabia, which Riyadh blamed on Iran-aligned fighters in Iraq, disrupted the kingdom’s East-West pipeline, a vital export route that allows crude to bypass the blockaded Strait of Hormuz. Shipping through the strait has slowed sharply since the Iran war began on February 28, deepening concerns over supply disruptions and the economic fallout of a broader regional conflict. Dubai’s main share index fell 0.8%, with blue-chip developer Emaar Properties down 2.1%. In the previous session, the developer jumped more than 6% after announcing its board would meet on Wednesday to discuss enhancing shareholder returns and capital allocation. GCC equities came under pressure as geopolitical strains and stalled talks hurt sentiment. Investors are watching for a revised timeline for the postponed Gulf-Iran meeting, with the delay cooling hopes for a Strait of Hormuz reopening and regional de-escalation, said Mahmoud Mashal, senior market analyst at VT Markets Dubai. In Abu Dhabi, the index rose 0.2%. The Qatari index lost 0.5%, with the Gulf’s biggest lender, Qatar National Bank falling 0.7%. Outside the Gulf, Egypt’s blue-chip index gained 0.2%. Saudi Arabia dropped 0.9% to 10,782 Abu Dhabi added 0.2% to 10,136 Dubai retreated 0.8% to 5,927 Qatar declined 0.5% to 9,774 Egypt rose 0.2% to 54,909 Bahrain finished flat at 1,929 Oman was down 0.2% to 7,615 Kuwait lost 0.2% to 9,296 [...]

Sri Lankan shares edge lower as communication services, IT stocks weigh

September 15, 2026 1:51

Sri Lankan shares closed lower on Tuesday, as losses in communication services and IT stocks outweighed gains in utilities and energy. The CSE All Share index settled down 0.24% at 21,262.13. The island nation’s economy grew by 4.2% year-on-year from April to June, the statistics department said on Tuesday. Tess Agro and Colombo Fort Land were the top percentage losers on the CSE All Share index, falling 5.3% and 5%, respectively. Trading volume on the CSE All Share index fell to 55.8 million shares from 56.2 million in the previous session. The equity market’s turnover rose to 2.23 billion Sri Lankan rupees ($6.76 million) from 1.55 billion rupees in the previous session, according to exchange data. Foreign investors were net sellers, offloading stocks worth 112.4 million rupees, while domestic investors were net buyers, purchasing shares worth 2.18 billion rupees, the data showed. [...]

London shares slip as higher oil prices lift bond yields; BoE in focus

September 15, 2026 12:01

London shares slipped to two-month lows on Tuesday as rising oil prices pushed bond yields higher globally over inflation concerns, while investors assessed a batch of domestic economic data ahead of a central bank policy verdict later this week. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index fell 0.59% to 10,634.49 points by 1000 GMT, while the midcap FTSE 250 slipped 0.46%. Heavyweight lenders and investment banks and brokerages were the top drags on the index, with Standard Chartered down 1.7% and Aberdeen dropping 2.6%. Precious and industrial metal miners also fell 1% and 1.7%, respectively, tracking weaker copper and gold prices. Global bond yields soared, with 30-year Gilts at their highest since 1998 at 5.91%, as investors bet that escalating Middle East tensions and oil above $100 could prompt central banks to hike interest rates. A report said that the Bank of England is poised to announce this week that it will stop selling 20- and 30-year gilts, potentially freeing up some cash for finance minister John Healey. On the data front, Britain’s jobs market stayed weak in the third quarter, while a separate report showed grocery price inflation increased to 2.3% over the four weeks to September 6. The official data on inflation is due on Wednesday. Traders see the Bank of England leaving interest rates unchanged at its monetary policy meeting later this week, but still see rates rising by at least 48.9 basis points by year-end, LSEG-compiled data showed. Wickes Group gained 10% after the home improvement retailer reported strong third-quarter trading, driven by mid-single-digit growth in retail like-for-like revenue. Online reviews platform Trustpilot’s shares plummeted 13.7% as its decision to leave its earnings outlook unchanged disappointed investors, despite strong AI-led revenues. [...]

India consults banks, payment firms on fees for large UPI payments, sources say

September 15, 2026 11:58

MUMBAI: India’s payments authority is talking to lenders and payments firms on Tuesday to discuss levying charges on large transactions in the world’s largest retail fast-payment system, three sources familiar with the plans told Reuters. The consultations come after India changed its payments legislation on Monday, allowing firms to charge transactions of more than 2,000 rupees (about $20). All payments using the Unified Payments Interface have been free so far. The move will benefit banks and payment firms in Asia’s third-largest economy that posted 24 billion UPI payments totalling $311 billion in August. The agenda for Tuesday’s meeting includes the overall fees to be levied on payments to merchants and the split between banks, payment apps and aggregators, two of the three sources said. Regulatory authorities, including the National Payments Corporation of India and the Reserve Bank of India, are leaning towards a 0.4% charge but the final rate and the split have yet to be decided, the third source said. India plans AI registry as it looks to roll out agentic payments, sources say The second of the three sources said the banks could get 40% of the fees, with the remainder evenly divided between the payment app and the merchant payment services provider. While person-to-merchant transactions are expected to be monetized, peer-to-peer transactions will remain free, the sources said. All the sources requested anonymity as they are not authorized to speak to the media. The NPCI and RBI did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment. Inching closer Introduction of charges on UPI would benefit Paytm and Pine Labs, open an additional revenue source for banks and boost prospects for IPO-bound PhonePe and Razorpay. India stalls Alipay+ payments link over security, data concerns, sources say Analysts at Jefferies estimate that the fees could generate 50 billion rupees to 100 billion rupees annually for the payments industry. India’s payments landscape is dominated by apps that have received sizeable overseas investment such as Walmart-backed PhonePe, Alphabet’s Google Pay, Paytm and Meta-backed CRED. [...]

Palm oil gains for second straight session on crude prices

September 15, 2026 11:10

JAKARTA: Malaysian palm oil futures gained for a second straight session on Tuesday, following crude oil prices that continued to climb. The benchmark palm oil contract for November delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange was up 33 ringgit, or 0.68%, at 4,883 ringgit ($1,196.08) a metric ton at close. Malaysia’s financial markets will be closed on Wednesday for a public holiday. Trading will resume on Thursday, September 17. “BMD CPO futures were seen trading higher today following gains in energy prices,” said Anilkumar Bagani, research head at the Mumbai-based vegetable oil broker Sunvin Group. He added that additional support came from expectations of tightness next year due to Indonesia’s B50 biodiesel mandate and a potential production reduction due to El Niño. Oil prices rose more than 2% on Tuesday after attacks on Saudi Arabian energy infrastructure left the kingdom’s East-West pipeline offline, raising fears that damage to energy infrastructure and transport routes could take longer to repair. Stronger crude oil futures make palm a more attractive option for biodiesel feedstock. Dalian’s most-active soyoil contract dropped 1.07%, while its palm oil contract shed 0.46%. Soyoil prices on the Chicago Board of Trade were up 0.58%. Palm oil tracks rival edible oils, as it competes for a share of the global vegetable oils market. Malaysia has raised its October crude palm oil reference price to a level that maintains the export duty at 10%, a circular on the Malaysian Palm Oil Board website showed on Tuesday. Cargo surveyors estimated that exports of Malaysian palm oil products for September 1 to 15 fell between 17.8% and 25.6% from a month earlier. India’s palm oil imports in August rose 7% from July to 782,761 metric tons, the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) said on Tuesday. The ringgit, palm’s currency of trade, weakened 0.21% against the dollar, making the commodity cheaper for buyers holding foreign currencies. [...]

UGDC establishes national presence at Gastech expo

September 16, 2026 3:44

ISLAMABAD: In a landmark milestone for the nation’s energy sector, Pakistan has officially joined Gastech — the world’s premier international energy forum —marking its first-ever participation in the event’s 54-year history. Representing the country on this global stage, Universal Gas Distribution Company (UGDC), Pakistan’s pioneer private gas supplier, has established a national presence at the Gastech Exhibition & Conference 2026, held at BITEC in Thailand from September 14–17. The event’s President Organiser formally highlighted the historic entry during the grand inauguration. The official Gastech strategic preview gives 7,000 delegates, 50,000 attendees and 1,000 exhibiting companies, with representatives from 49 countries. At present, two state-owned gas distribution companies, SNGPL and SSGC, have a distribution network. Now, the private sector has planned to set up distribution networks in joint ventures with foreign companies, including US firms, aimed at providing gas to consumers at affordable rates. “The government has announced a policy to allocate 35 percent of gas to private parties, which is an important step towards the deregulation of gas distribution.” CEO UGDC Ghiyas Paracha said while talking to the media at GASTEC being held in Bangkok, Thailand. He said, “We appreciate Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik for opening up the gas sector for private entities that has enabled us to pitch foreign companies to invest in the gas distribution network in Pakistan.” Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha also outlined the company’s vision to transform the nation’s energy market by attracting foreign direct investment and establishing direct business-to-business (B2B) joint ventures to cut gas prices in Pakistan. “We are one in the country and want to see more companies from the private sector to invest in the gas sector.” He said that a gas distribution network by the private sector would also help cut gas losses, resulting in the provision of cheaper gas to consumers through sustainable continuous supply and storage capability. “The UGDC has already operationalised three dormant gas fields by processing raw gas into pipeline-quality supply. Plans are underway with international partners — including top US firms — to scale purification infrastructure and integrate stranded reserves into the national grid,” he said, adding that they also want to attract foreign investment in this area. To combat seasonal supply shortages and pressure fluctuations, he said that UGDC had been actively engaging in short-term and long-term LNG import deals in the past. He also advocated for commercial underground gas storage facilities to capture favorable international prices. Gas losses have been a key factor in rising gas prices in Pakistan. To reduce high Unaccounted for Gas (UFG) losses and bypass inefficient legacy distribution networks, he said that UGDC also aims to construct targeted private pipeline infrastructure for high-volume industrial units and major residential schemes aimed at providing cheaper gas in a joint venture with foreign firms. He also informed that, expanding on previous milestone agreements with global leaders such as ExxonMobil, Qatar Energy, ConocoPhillips, and Trafigura, UGDC continues to invite international majors to co-invest under Pakistan’s newly deregulated framework. Addressing bureaucratic hurdles, Paracha emphasised that private sector participation operates entirely on private capital without government subsidies. “It generates significant revenue for the state through pipeline transit tariffs and taxes. Greater market liberalisation will lower energy costs for end consumers, enhance industrial competitiveness, and usher in a resilient, market-driven energy future for Pakistan,” he said, adding that the government will collect more taxes while consumers will get cheaper gas through the participation of the private sector. Pakistan’s Ambassador in Bangkok, Sadia Qazi, visited the UGDC stalls and appreciated the effort of UGDC to represent Pakistan in the Gastech Exhibition. She appreciated the delegation’s participation as a watershed moment for Pakistani business globally. She observed that while gas remains a conventional fossil fuel, integrating modern technology, AI optimisation, and low-carbon solutions is essential to securing Pakistan’s long-term energy security. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026 [...]

Speakers raise questions over new electricity charges system

September 16, 2026 3:42

ISLAMABAD: Speakers at a seminar on Tuesday raised questions over the newly introduced electricity charges system and called for greater clarity, predictability and non-discriminatory treatment of consumers under Pakistan’s newly finalized Use of System Charges (UoSC) framework. The seminar titled “Powering Change: UoSC Finalisation and the Dawn of CTBCM in Pakistan,” jointly organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and the Pakistan Renewable Energy Coalition (PREC), energy experts, industry representatives and regulatory specialists further called for ensuring a transparent system. At the event, they thoroughly examined the regulatory and commercial implications of the use of system charges recently determined by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), which underpin Pakistan’s Competitive Trading Bilateral Contract Market (CTBCM), a reform intended to allow eligible consumers to purchase electricity directly from competitive suppliers rather than exclusively through their local distribution company. Ayub said the CTBCM was designed to introduce competition among power sector participants and was never intended to directly benefit ordinary consumers. Speaking on the occasion, Muhammad Ayub, former Managing Director of the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) and former Chief Executive Officer of KP Transmission Company, said UoSC components tied to network infrastructure should be based on multi-year loss calibration studies, given that line losses and equipment performance change over the operational life of transmission assets. He said NEPRA should require at least a 10-year loss-calibration assessment for new transmission lines before finalising related charges. He also raised concerns about how supply disruptions and network faults would be reflected in billing mechanisms, and about the capacity distribution companies would need to reserve to guarantee reliable supply to bilateral consumers. He cautioned that the recent formation of separate provincial electricity regulatory authorities in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab could complicate the implementation of a nationally coordinated competitive trading market, given the need to reconcile decisions across multiple regulatory bodies at the national level. He cautioned that if the current trajectory of rising UoSC components, losses and associated charges continued, the resulting tariff would eventually become unaffordable for industrial consumers under any market structure, including CTBCM. He said the priority should have been to address recovery and losses first, including through privatisation or restructuring of specific loss-making distribution circles rather than adding new charges to offset those losses. Engineer Ubaid-ur-Rehman Zia, Head of the Energy Unit at SDPI, said the discussion would reflect on one of NEPRA’s most consequential recent decisions and would examine the gaps and shortcomings that have emerged following the market liberalisation reforms, particularly with respect to the tariff structure applied to consumers using transmission and distribution network services. He said there had been extensive debate around determining an ideal set of charges for transmission and distribution companies, and that the seminar would bring together stakeholders to explore these gaps in detail. Muhammad Usman Bin Ahmad, Energy Transition Officer at Alternate Development Services (ADS), presented a detailed technical breakdown of the UoSC components, including transmission and distribution charges, transmission and distribution loss reflections, cost adjudication, the standard cost component, and the debt service surcharge, along with their cumulative impact on industrial consumers. Ramsha Panwhar of PREC said the UoSC determination process remained a work in progress, that the charges could not yet be considered final, and called for greater transparency in the breakdown of individual components, along with a revision of the standard cost component following the first round of competitive auctions. She said a consistent long-term plan for the framework needed to be clearly communicated to stakeholders. Manzoor Ahmed Alizai raised concerns regarding the potential impact of the UoSC framework on ordinary consumers, and said there remained a lack of clarity on the governance mechanism for determining and subsequently revising the charges. Representing the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s Energy Advisory Committee and the Karachi Atlas Industries Trade Association, Rehan Javed said no comparable market internationally allows a distribution company’s tariff for willing or higher-usage consumers to exceed the industrial tariff, and questioned the repeated revisions to the proposed charge figures across successive regulatory motions. He said stakeholders needed clarity on the exact tax and charge components being levied, and stressed that policy inconsistency was discouraging new investment in the sector. Hasnat Khan of the Pakistan Solar Association said the notification establishing the UoSC framework did not adequately define the methodology or basis for the cross-subsidy component, and argued that such costs should be attributed to the entities generating and supplying the power rather than distributed without a clear rationale. He also suggested that hybrid battery storage and renewable energy models could offer industrial consumers a more commercially viable alternative to new standalone generation capacity. Muhammad Umer of SDPI raised questions about the potential impact of the new charges on protected consumer categories, saying the effects of UoSC and CTBCM could not be assumed to be uniform across all consumer segments given the structural differences across Pakistan’s distribution companies. He suggested that any transition be guided by a long-term, roughly 10-year phased roadmap linked to measurable improvements in distribution company performance, with incentive and disincentive mechanisms tied to individual DISCO performance, rather than charges being adjusted incrementally. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026 [...]

SMEDA gears up to connect SMEs with Japan’s B2B platform

September 16, 2026 3:41

LAHORE: The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) has entered into collaboration with Japan’s Organisation for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation (SMRJ) to help Pakistani small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in joining ‘J-GoodTech’ - an online B2B platform. The initiative marks another step in SMEDA’s internationalizsation drive aimed at helping Pakistani enterprises move beyond domestic markets and become part of global value chains. Through the platform, Pakistani SMEs will have opportunities to explore distributorship agreements, receive orders from Japanese buyers, establish joint ventures and pursue technical collaboration with companies across a global network. Officials say the collaboration reflects SMEDA’s renewed emphasis on connecting Pakistani businesses with international markets and technology partners. “The initiative aims to create avenues for SMEs to expand their customer base, strengthen capabilities and participate in cross-border commercial opportunities,” they added. Under the arrangement, interested enterprises will complete a registration form, accessible through SMEDA website, developed in line with SMRJ’s requirements. The SMEDA will scrutinize the submitted applications before forwarding eligible cases to SMRJ for the creation of company profiles on the platform, they explained. According to the SMEDA, the initiative is expected to give particular attention to sectors such as advanced manufacturing, medical equipment and eco-technology whereas outreach will remain open to enterprises across all sectors of the economy. The collaboration forms part of SMEDA’s broader drive under which it is pursuing partnerships and discussions with international development institutions, technology platforms and business networks to expand opportunities for Pakistani SMEs. These include recent collaborations with Alibabab.com and JICA and engagements with counterparts in Russia, Uzbekistan and Malaysia. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026 [...]

SECP chief highlights importance of digital transformation

September 16, 2026 3:41

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu has said that digital transformation is essential to expand insurance coverage, improve claim settlement and make affordable insurance products accessible to the public. Speaking at an SECP Talk Series session on the development and digitalisation of Pakistan’s insurance market on Tuesday, Dr Sidhu said the industry has assets of approximately Rs4 trillion and annual premiums of Rs708 billion, yet insurance penetration remains only 0.7 percent of GDP. “Only 0.85 percent of insurance premiums are currently generated through digital channels, which shows both the scale of the challenge and the substantial opportunity available to the industry,” he said. The session brought together senior SECP officials and insurance industry leaders, including Muhammad Aminuddin, Chief Executive Officer of TPL Insurance; Shoaib Javed Hussain, Chief Executive Officer of State Life Insurance Corporation of Pakistan; and Muhammad Ali Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of EFU Life Assurance. Dr Sidhu said the SECP was promoting innovative, affordable and consumer-friendly digital insurance products. He announced that an “Insured Pakistan” digital platform would be established to improve public access to insurance products and information. He said important regulatory reforms were also being introduced to ensure the timely, transparent and fair settlement of insurance claims. Artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, he added, were reshaping businesses globally, and Pakistan’s insurance industry must adopt them to remain competitive. Highlighting the limited implementation of mandatory third-party motor insurance, the Chairman said an estimated 97 percent of vehicles in Pakistan were operating without insurance coverage. He said the SECP was engaging with the Punjab government to strengthen implementation through digital verification and enforcement. Effective enforcement could increase third-party motor insurance coverage by up to 2,000 percent. Muhammad Aminuddin said coordinated regulatory and provincial action could help bring all vehicles under insurance coverage by 2030. Digital integration of insurance records with vehicle registration and enforcement systems would make verification easier and improve compliance. Presenting an overview of the industry, Shoaib Javed Hussain said Pakistan has 42 insurers, while the sector has paid approximately Rs450 billion in claims. Life insurance and family takaful account for Rs462 billion in annual premiums, Rs373 billion in claims and assets of Rs3.30 trillion. The non-life insurance and general takaful segment has premiums of Rs245 billion, claims of Rs70 billion and assets of Rs720 billion. He said the insurance industry could mobilise between Rs200 billion and Rs500 billion for infrastructure development, demonstrating its potential as a source of long-term capital for the economy. Muhammad Ali Ahmed highlighted Pakistan’s growing retirement-protection needs. He said pension fund assets had reached Rs156 billion by August 2026, representing growth of 333 percent since January 2021. However, active voluntary pension accounts stood at only 143,000 as of December 2025, despite Pakistan having a working-age population of 134.4 million. He emphasised the need to develop retirement plans, voluntary pension schemes, annuities and insurance-based long-term savings products. He said the development of long-term securities would further strengthen Pakistan’s pension market. Participants agreed that digitalisation, artificial intelligence, stronger enforcement, efficient claim settlement and innovative retirement products could significantly expand insurance coverage and strengthen the industry’s contribution to economic resilience. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026 [...]

Mobile internet usage gap: Pakistan ranks among top countries by absolute number

September 16, 2026 3:36

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has emerged as one of the countries with the world’s largest mobile internet usage gaps, with around 140 million people living within mobile broadband coverage but not using mobile internet, highlighting affordability, digital skills, and connectivity challenges that could hold back the country’s digital economy. According to the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSMA) report ‘State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2026’, Pakistan ranks among the top countries globally by the absolute number of people in the mobile internet usage gap. The report places Pakistan’s gap at around 140 million people, alongside Nigeria, while India has the largest gap at 710 million. The GSMA warned that the world risks creating a new global divide between AI “haves” and “have-nots” unless urgent action is taken to address the digital divide and make smartphones affordable for billions of people in low- and middle-income countries. GSMA warns that while artificial intelligence is transforming economies and societies, its benefits will remain out of reach for more than 3.4 billion people who still do not use mobile internet – despite more than 90% of them already living within mobile broadband coverage. Without affordable smartphones, these people will remain unable to benefit from the AI revolution. The findings suggest that Pakistan’s digital challenge is no longer simply a question of expanding network coverage. A much larger policy challenge is enabling people who already live within the footprint of mobile broadband networks to actually use mobile internet. GSMA identifies literacy and digital skills, affordability and relevance among the key barriers reported in Pakistan, while family-related restrictions also emerge as a country-specific barrier. The report further shows that for Pakistan, the barriers to greater use of mobile internet include connectivity experience, safety and security concerns, and literacy and digital skills, with the pattern differing between urban and rural users. This means that simply investing in faster networks and newer technologies will not automatically translate into broader digital inclusion. Pakistan would need to address the demand-side barriers alongside network expansion, particularly the ability of low-income and less digitally skilled populations to access and use internet-enabled devices. The GSMA says handset affordability, literacy and digital skills remain the leading barriers to mobile internet adoption globally among people who are already aware of mobile internet. Safety and security concerns are another significant deterrent. For Pakistan, the report points towards a policy agenda centred on cheaper smartphones, stronger digital-literacy programmes, better-quality connectivity and safer online access, particularly for underserved communities. The affordability issue is becoming more important as handset prices face upward pressure. Across low- and middle-income countries, an entry-level internet-enabled handset represented 44 percent of average monthly income for the poorest 20 percent at the end of 2025. The GSMA estimates that reducing entry-level device prices to USD 20–30 could make smartphones affordable to an additional 1.6–2.2 billion people globally. Pakistan could therefore benefit from policies that promote the availability of low-cost smartphones, encourage local assembly and competition in the handset market, and improve financing options for first-time smartphone buyers. At the same time, digital-literacy initiatives need to move beyond basic awareness and focus on practical skills, including use of digital payments, e-commerce, online government services, education and employment platforms. The GSMA’s findings also underline the importance of improving the actual connectivity experience. For existing users, data affordability and network quality become more significant barriers to greater use, with slow speeds and inconsistent coverage limiting adoption and regular usage. With Pakistan already carrying a 140-million-person mobile internet usage gap, closing this divide could provide a major boost to digital commerce, financial inclusion, education and access to public services. The report’s message for Pakistan is clear: the next phase of digitalisation cannot rely on network expansion alone; the priority must shift towards making mobile internet affordable, usable, relevant and accessible to those who remain offline despite having network coverage. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026 [...]

Nutshell Group to host 9th edition of LIIBS 2026 tomorrow

September 16, 2026 3:31

ISLAMABAD: The Nutshell Group will host the 9th edition of the LEADERS IN ISLAMABAD BUSINESS SUMMIT (LIIBS) 2026 on Thursday (tomorrow) at a local hotel in Islamabad. This year’s summit is themed “The Next Move” and is bringing together federal ministers, global institutional leaders, and Pakistan’s top corporate executives for a day of high-level dialogue on the country’s economic, technological, and geopolitical direction. Building on the momentum of LIIBS 2025’s theme “Navigating the Unknown,” this year’s edition shifts focus from uncertainty to action, examining what Pakistan’s next strategic, economic, and technological moves should be, and who will make them. The summit will open with an inaugural session, “The Next Move: Reading the Moment,” featuring ministerial addresses by Bilal Azhar Kayani, Minister of State for Finance and Railways; Muhammad Ali, Federal Minister and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation; and Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, Federal Minister for Finance & Revenue, along with a keynote by Lucia Real Martin, Global Executive Director, ACCA. During the day, five strategic dialogues will unfold, including “Geopolitics, Geoeconomics & Pakistan” with Simon Andrews, Regional Director, International Finance Corporation; Dr Samuel Rizk, Resident Representative, UNDP Pakistan; Andrew Bailey, Managing Director, BASF Pakistan; Maheen Rahman, CEO, Infra Zamin Pakistan; and Dr Ayesha K Khan, Regional Managing Director, Acumen. The next session is themed “Business, Technology & the New Competitive Landscape” with SerkanOzturk, Chief of Staff and Strategy Officer, VEON Group; Saira Awan Malik, President, TCS Holdings; Irfan Wahab Khan, Chairman, easypaisa Digital Bank; Fatima Asad-Said, CEO, ABACUS; and Kabir Naqvi, Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Abhi Group. Another session will discuss “AI, Digital Transformation & Economic Value” with Saqib Sabah, Managing Director, Growth Market Units, SAP; Mujeeb Zahur, Managing Director, S&P Global Pakistan; Haaris Mahmood Chaudhary, President & CEO, Mobilink Bank; Muntaqa Peracha, MD & CEO, foodpanda; and Tariq Rashid, Global Telco Growth Leader, Systems Limited. The session on “Capital, Finance & The Confidence Economy” will include a discussion with Javed Kureishi, CEO, Pakistan Business Council; Dr Amjad Waheed, CEO, NBP Funds; Muhammad Hamayun Sajjad, CEO, Mashreq Pakistan; Muhammad Shoaib, CEO & Co-Founder, Lucky Investments Ltd; Imtiaz Gadar, CEO, Al Meezan Investment Management; Umair Aijaz, CEO, Raqami Islamic Digital Bank; and Sajjeed Aslam, Partner, Sustainadility, USA. The event will conclude with a powerful discussion on “Pakistan’s Moment of Choice” featuring Senator Anwar-ul-HaqKakar, Caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan (2023-24); Senator Dr Musadik Malik, Federal Minister for Climate Change & Environmental Coordination; Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman, Pakistan’s Chief of Air Staff (2015-2018); Ziad Bashir, Chairman, Pakistan Business Council; Aamir Ibrahim, CEO, JazzWorld; and Fahd Hussain, Executive Director, The Express Tribune. LIIBS 2026 is supported by Coca Cola Pakistan, Technology Partners ABACUS and Systems; Research Partner S&P Global; Knowledge Partner ACCA; Sustainability Partner Sustainadility; Hospitality Partner Serena Hotels; Outreach Partner VCAST; and partners including ABHI Microfinance Bank, Interloop, Fauji Fertilizer Company (FFC), PARCO, PTCL Group, Faysal Bank Ltd, BankIslami Pakistan Ltd, Mobilink Bank, Mashreq, NBP Funds, Al Meezan Investment Management Ltd, Lucky Investments, PharmEvo, Bank AL Habib Ltd, Askari Bank Ltd, Meezan Bank, Raqami Islamic Digital Bank, TCS, and Hilton Pharma. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026 [...]

Mian Zahid demands paying capacity charges from federal budget

September 16, 2026 3:25

KARACHI: Mian Zahid Hussain, President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum and All Karachi Industrial Alliance, Chairman National Business Group Pakistan, Chairman Policy Advisory Board FPCCI, has urged the Federal Government to pay the capacity charges of the country’s surplus electricity - which amounted to approximately Rs. 1,700 billion in 2025-2026 - from the federal budget instead of electricity bills so that industries can also obtain electricity at a reasonable price. He stated that the transition to a competitive energy market is no longer a choice but an issue of national economic survival. Similarly, the immediate privatization of inefficient DISCOs is essential. The swift and unhindered implementation of the CTBCM, coupled with appropriate wheeling regulations, will promote industrialisation, create thousands of jobs, provide import substitution, and advance the country’s exports. He assured that the business community is ready to fully support the government’s power sector reforms, provided they prioritise industrial sustainability and economic stability over the protection of outdated monopolies. He stated that the swift and transparent implementation of the Competitive Trading Bilateral Contract Market (CTBCM), an energy reform model approved by NEPRA is a crucial step in rescuing Pakistan’s industrial sector from the energy crisis. He termed the transition of the electricity market from a monopoly to a competitive, multi-buyer, and multi-seller model as a significant economic milestone. Hussain said that the CTBCM is a comprehensive framework that will abolish the long-standing monopoly and single-buyer model of the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA-G), transforming it into a competitive wholesale electricity market. Initially, 800 megawatts from the transmission network have been allocated for auction. Under this mechanism, bulk power consumers with a minimum load of 1 megawatt or more will have the option to purchase electricity directly from power suppliers or generators of their choice through B2B contracts, rather than from their local DISCO. He added that in this system, which will operate under the supervision of the Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO), electricity buyers will utilise the existing grid infrastructure for procurement and will pay Use of System Charges (UoSC), or wheeling charges, for this usage. Hussain stated that Pakistan’s business community has suffered for decades from the inefficiencies, losses, mounting circular debt, and monopolistic pricing of state-owned power distribution companies (DISCOs). With electricity tariffs for the industrial sector being the highest in the region, the cost of doing business has increased. Hussain expressed concern over the wheeling charges and “stranded costs” recently approved by NEPRA. He pointed out that while the base wheeling charges (Use of System Charges) range from Rs. 6.23 to Rs. 9.09 per unit, the imposition of an additional stranded cost of up to Rs. 16.35 per unit on industries remaining outside the auction could push these charges beyond Rs. 25 per unit for certain categories. Therefore, there is a need to rationalise these charges. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026 [...]

LCCI seeks extension in income tax return filing deadline

September 16, 2026 3:19

LAHORE: The President of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Faheem-ur-Rehman Saigol, has urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the federal government to extend the deadline for filing income tax returns for Tax Year 2026 from September 30 to at least October 31, saying that the additional time would facilitate taxpayers and encourage maximum compliance. The LCCI president said in a statement on Tuesday that the business community was facing an unusually challenging operating environment, with domestic businesses dealing with high operating costs while international trade and economic conditions remained uncertain. Global trade is also facing significant challenges due to geopolitical tensions, changing tariff regimes and disruptions in international supply chains. The WTO has recently warned that increasing fragmentation of the global trading system could have serious economic consequences, making it essential for countries like Pakistan to strengthen the competitiveness of their businesses and facilitate legitimate taxpayers. He said the government’s objective should be to broaden the tax base and promote voluntary compliance rather than create unnecessary difficulties for taxpayers who want to fulfil their legal obligations. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026 [...]

Indian rupee faces more pressure with likely Fed rate hike compounding oil pain

September 16, 2026 3:15

Chinese manufacturers invited to establish JVs in country

September 16, 2026 2:58

KARACHI: Pakistan has invited Chinese manufacturers and investors to establish joint ventures and production facilities in the country, particularly in dyes and chemicals, agro-chemicals, biotechnology, industrial chemicals and other value-added sectors, as Islamabad seeks to deepen bilateral trade and move Pakistan-China economic cooperation towards joint industrial production. Pakistan Chemicals & Dyes Merchants Association (PCDMA) informed that the invitation was extended by PCDMA Chairman Salim Valimuhammad while representing Pakistan at the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) and the IBI 99 Global Business Linkage Festival in Beijing. Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi, Senator Rana Mahmoodul-Hassan, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, Muhammad Asif Khatri and Muhammad Jawwad Iqbal also attended the event. Valimuhammad said Pakistan and China are “iron brothers” and that the next phase of economic cooperation should focus on building industries together rather than relying primarily on bilateral trade in finished products. Valimuhammad said Pakistan’s dyes and chemicals sector is closely linked with the country’s USD20 billion textile, leather and coatings exports. Pakistan imports more than USD1.5 billion worth of dyes and chemicals annually, with around 85 per cent from China, demonstrating the scale of the existing market and the potential for Chinese companies to manufacture locally. He invited Chinese companies to explore joint ventures in textile dyes and auxiliaries, reactive and disperse dyes, environmentally compliant chemicals, crop-protection products, biotechnology, sodium hydrosulphite and sodium sulphite, citric acid, acetic and oxalic acids, hydrogen peroxide, coatings, adhesives and other green and specialty chemicals. Pakistan’s agriculture sector also offers significant opportunities, he said, noting that the crop-protection market was worth more than Rs100 billion, while a substantial share of pesticide active ingredients was imported. Chinese investment and technology could help develop local manufacturing, reduce import dependence and provide access to regional export markets. He said Pakistan’s hydrogen peroxide industry could support capacity expansion and export-oriented production, while growing construction and industrial activity was creating additional demand for coatings, adhesives and environmentally compliant specialty chemicals. Calling on Chinese businesses to invest in Pakistan, he said the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) special economic zones and other government initiatives are creating a more investor-friendly environment through streamlined approvals, serviced industrial land, fiscal incentives and facilitation for foreign investors. “Come to Pakistan. Invest in dyes, agro-chemicals, biotechnology and industrial chemicals. The market is ready, the government is supportive and PCDMA is your partner,” he said. The PCDMA chairman said the association was seeking to move beyond its traditional trading role by facilitating joint ventures, manufacturing plants, technology-transfer partnerships and investment linkages between Chinese companies and Pakistani businesses. He said PCDMA had already signed memorandum of understanding with SIEM and CCPIT at China InterDye 2026 in Shanghai and was now offering Chinese investors access to potential Pakistani partners and industrial buyers through its membership network. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026 [...]

Ahsan proposes SCO Digital Governance, AI Capacity-Building Network

September 16, 2026 2:56

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal has proposed the establishment of an SCO Digital Governance and AI Capacity-Building Network to connect governments, civil service academies, universities, research institutions, technology centres and private-sector innovators across member states. According to details issued by the media wing of the Ministry of Planning, the Minister proposed while delivering the keynote address at the Thematic Forum on Digital Governance and Capacity Building during the 2026 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Digital Economy Forum in Urumqi. Ahsan Iqbal said the next frontier of transformation was not simply digitisation but digital governance, which required governments to redesign their systems around citizens, data, interoperability and measurable outcomes. Presenting Pakistan’s proposed framework for SCO cooperation, the Minister outlined five key initiatives. These included an SCO Digital Governance Academy to train ministers, regulators, civil servants and municipal leaders in digital transformation, AI governance, cybersecurity, data management and citizen-centred service delivery. The second proposal was an SCO Digital Public Infrastructure Exchange to facilitate the sharing of experience, standards and adaptable solutions in digital identity, instant payments, e-procurement, taxation, health, education and business registration. The third initiative, an SCO Fellowship for Digital Government and AI, would facilitate exchanges and placements among young civil servants, researchers and technologists across SCO member states. He also proposed a Responsible AI and Data Governance Forum to promote cooperation on privacy, cybersecurity, algorithmic accountability, ethical AI and carefully governed cross-border data flows. The fifth proposal was an SCO Digital Inclusion and Innovation Facility to support capacity building, regulatory assistance and pilot projects for young people, women, underserved communities and institutions outside major technology centres. Ahsan Iqbal proposed that cross-border data cooperation should begin with measurable pilot projects in trade and logistics, where digital integration could reduce transaction times and costs while increasing predictability. He said cooperation could subsequently expand to agriculture, climate, health, research and industrial applications as institutional trust developed. He stressed that SCO initiatives should be supported by measurable targets, including the number of officials trained, interoperable systems developed, fellowships completed, joint projects launched and citizens gaining access to digital public services. “Our cooperation must move from declarations to demonstrable outcomes,” he said. Describing Pakistan as a natural bridge connecting China, Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and the Arabian Sea, the Minister said CPEC 2.0 would complement physical connectivity with digital connectivity. “Just as roads and railways transport goods, trusted digital corridors can transport knowledge, services, finance and opportunity,” he said. The Minister said digitisation merely put existing government processes online, whereas digital governance redesigned government around citizens, data, interoperability and outcomes. He stressed that a paper-based bureaucracy could not simply be transferred to a computer screen and called transformation. Pakistan needed to move from department-centric to citizen-centric government, from isolated databases to interoperable digital public infrastructure, and from reactive administration to data-driven and intelligent government. Ahsan Iqbal said technology alone could not transform a state, stressing that successful digital transformation required skilled people, capable institutions, adequate resources, and governance arrangements to ensure the secure and responsible use of data and emerging technologies. Highlighting Pakistan’s progress, he said digital transformation was embedded in URAAN Pakistan through its E-Pakistan pillar, while these priorities also converged with the Growth, Innovation, Green Development, Livelihood and Openness Corridors of CPEC 2.0. The Minister said Pakistan was moving from AI awareness to AI adoption and from adoption to measurable economic and social impact. He said Pakistan had set a target of developing one million AI-skilled non-IT professionals by 2030, while seven AI hubs were being established under the National AI Advancement Initiative to provide 20,000 training opportunities for graduates, teachers, public officials and industry professionals. The Digi Skills programme, he added, had recorded more than 4.5 million enrolments. He said digital capacity building had three inseparable dimensions—human, institutional and financial capability. Training, he stressed, would have limited impact unless institutions could retain and apply new skills, while innovation could not scale without infrastructure, investment and market access. Concluding his address, Ahsan Iqbal said technology would provide the tools of the future, but human capacity, public trust and collective wisdom would determine the future that countries create. “Let the SCO become not merely a community connected by technology, but a community empowered by knowledge and united by trust,” he said. Pakistan, he reaffirmed, stood ready to work with China and all SCO member states to translate this shared vision into measurable cooperation, inclusive development and shared prosperity. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026 [...]

Boeing, Korean Air finalize order for 103 aircraft

September 16, 2026 2:55

Indian shares seen opening higher after selloff; higher oil, Fed caution to cap gains

September 16, 2026 2:52

Asian markets make nervous start ahead of Fed decision

September 16, 2026 2:49

Dollar girded by bets on a US hiking cycle

September 16, 2026 2:43

UGDC establishes national presence at Gastech expo

September 16, 2026 3:44

Speakers raise questions over new electricity charges system

September 16, 2026 3:42

SMEDA gears up to connect SMEs with Japan’s B2B platform

September 16, 2026 3:41

SECP chief highlights importance of digital transformation

September 16, 2026 3:41

Punjab mandates wet cleaning to combat smog

September 16, 2026 3:40

LAHORE: In a bid to combat seasonal smog and streamline urban sanitation, the Punjab local government department has mandated wet-mechanical road cleaning and enforced daily performance tracking for field monitoring officers across all districts. During a meeting chaired by Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique on Tuesday, proactive measures to tackle the threat of potential smog and matters related to the Suthra Punjab initiative were reviewed. Suthra Punjab Authority Director General Umer Javed, Asim Mahmood, Focal Person for Suthra Punjab, Special Secretaries Shahid Zaman Lak and Syed Musa Raza were present, while Managing Directors of district agencies participated via video link. While addressing the meeting, the Minister ordered strict implementation of anti-smog directives across Punjab, warning that waste burning and improper road cleaning will trigger immediate disciplinary action against local officials. He emphasised that care must be taken to avoid raising dust while cleaning roads. “Action will be taken against the Tehsil Manager if any complaints regarding waste burning are received,” he warned. He stated that road cleaning must be carried out only through mechanical methods that utilise water. He directed the Suthra Punjab Authority DG to individually review the performance of district managing directors. In this regard, it was decided to summon the managing directors of the Suthra Punjab agencies to the Authority’s office in a phased manner. The Minister noted that each Field Monitoring Officer (FMO) has been assigned responsibility for 24 beats. “They must be required to visit at least 12 beats daily, and their performance will undergo third-party validation, and also the existing system for the effective supervision of contractors needs to be further strengthened. An improvement in the situation should be visible following the establishment of an empowered agency in each district,” he urged. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026 [...]

PTI Punjab MPs agree to sustain, intensify public outreach

September 16, 2026 3:39

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi chaired an important meeting of Punjab parliamentarians in Lahore, where participants agreed to sustain and intensify public outreach as part of the Street Movement in the city. Addressing the meeting, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said that the people of Lahore had come out onto the streets on their own the previous day, without any call or plan from the organisers. He said that people were being subjected to raids at their homes and that children were being abducted by Punjab Police. Participants observed that, in an environment where people were being forced to live in fear inside their own homes, going to prison was preferable to remaining silent. They said the people of Pakistan could not be kept under intimidation and fear. Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said the killing of Ashiq-e-Rasool Ishtiaq Ahmed by the Punjab Police was wholly unacceptable. He said Ishtiaq Ahmed had been engaged in preparations for Milad when, Punjab Police personnel threw him into a cauldron of boiling oil, resulting in injuries that led to his martyrdom. The Chief Minister said the struggle for genuine freedom would succeed on September 27 and that the entire nation would come out of its homes. The meeting was attended by MPAs Owais Warraich, Mian Haroon Akbar, Mian Arqam Khan, Sheikh Imtiaz, Humble Karimi, Hassan Malik and Ali Asif Baga; MNA Brigadier Aslam Ghuman; Khurram Warraich and Moeen Qureshi; Senator Aun Bappi; and other political leaders. Later, in a video message, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said that no call had been given for the previous day’s mobilisation in Lahore, yet large numbers of people had come out onto the streets voluntarily. He said the organisers had not even disclosed their destination, but people nevertheless came out to join them. He maintained that the Punjab Police blocked their routes, switched off lights in areas they were travelling through, and pressured petrol station owners to deny fuel to their vehicles. He further alleged that tents at their place of stay were dismantled and arriving workers were arrested by Punjab Police. The Chief Minister reiterated that Ishtiaq Ahmed was an Ashiq-e-Rasool who had been preparing for Milad when he was thrown into a vessel of boiling oil that led to his martyrdom. He criticised also criticized the media’s silence over the incident, saying journalism requires the truth to be reported as truth and facts to be presented as facts. Referring to the killing of journalist Arshad Sharif, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said that the slain journalist had been killed for raising his voice for truth and justice and that the nation continued to hold him in high esteem. The Chief Minister said Punjab Police personnel arrested workers and placed them in a prison van. He said that when he stood on the police van in protest, the personnel showed no sense of responsibility or propriety. He said the police subsequently promised to negotiate and release the workers, but the workers were not released. Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said that when he entered the police van in protest, the police drove away with him, effectively abducting him. He said he was driven around Lahore for 15 minutes without security and was eventually left on the roadside, describing the incident as a serious security risk. He said these actions are part of a deliberate and premeditated strategy. Referring to recent remarks by the Punjab Chief Minister, he said that she had stated only a few days earlier that her government faced threats not from India but from the other three provinces of Pakistan. He maintained that the imposed and corrupt political group was seeking to destabilise and break up the country. Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said he had made it clear previously that he did not face a security threat, but rather faced a threat from the very security arrangements intended to protect him. He maintained that the Punjab Police had been politicised to such an extent that professional conduct, restraint and basic standards of propriety had been eroded. He said the hands of Punjab’s “imposed rulers” and their “courtier police” were already stained with blood. If they believed that coercive tactics could stop them, he said, they were mistaken. The Chief Minister said the people of Lahore had come out in large numbers the previous day without any call and would once again come out on September 27 in pursuit of genuine freedom. Chief Minister Sohail Afridi warned the Punjab government and police to reconsider their conduct and exercise restraint. He warned that if the situation and conduct did not change, a strong response would follow from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026 [...]

IK’s hospital transfer case: PTI criticises FCC intervention to SC order

September 16, 2026 3:37

ISLAMABAD: The opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday criticised the Federal Constitutional Court’s (FCC) decision to seek the record of Supreme Court proceedings concerning the transfer of party founding chairman Imran Khan to hospital. In a statement, PTI spokesman Sheikh Waqas Akram said the move raised concerns about overlapping judicial authority and accused the government of weakening judicial independence through the 26th and 27th constitutional amendments. He urged the FCC not to interfere in matters already pending before the Supreme Court, which was due to resume proceedings in the case. The government has defended the constitutional reforms, while the PTI has repeatedly opposed the amendments, alleging that they undermine judicial independence and serve political interests. Akram also questioned Chief Justice Supreme Court of Pakistan Yahya Afridi’s handling of Imran Khan’s medical treatment and asked why contempt proceedings had not been initiated over what the PTI described as the non-implementation of a Supreme Court order. He reiterated the party’s demand for Khan to be shifted to a private hospital for comprehensive medical treatment, including access to his personal doctors and specialists. Meanwhile, the PTI spokesman accused the government of targeting party workers through arrests, raids and restrictions on political activities. He also criticised the authorities’ treatment of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi during his visit to Lahore. Akram said restrictions on the PTI’s planned political activities, including its September 27 march, violated constitutional guarantees relating to freedom of movement and peaceful assembly. The government has previously cited security and law-and-order concerns when imposing restrictions on political gatherings. The PTI also criticised the government’s latest increase in petroleum prices, rejecting its fuel relief package as inadequate. Akram called for the price increases to be reversed and for measures to provide sustained relief to consumers. The opposition party reiterated its demand for the release of Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi and other political prisoners, saying their continued detention was contributing to political tensions. Akram said the political and economic problems of the country could not be resolved through constitutional changes or confrontation among state institutions. He called for constitutional rule, democratic legitimacy and independent institutions, urging all state institutions to remain within their constitutional jurisdictions. “No government or public office-holder should be above the Constitution,” he said. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026 [...]

Mobile internet usage gap: Pakistan ranks among top countries by absolute number

September 16, 2026 3:36

Pak-China strategic trust must be sustained, reinforced: President

September 16, 2026 3:35

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari said that Pakistan-China strategic mutual trust must be sustained and reinforced, with continued high-level exchanges, stronger people-to-people contacts and deeper economic cooperation. The President expressed these views while talking to Dr Syed Ali Asad Gilani, Ambassador-designate of Pakistan to China, who called on him at Aiwan-e-Sadr. The President stressed that the relationship with China remains the most consequential aspect of Pakistan’s foreign policy. President Zardari called for translating the strong political goodwill between the two countries into greater economic and industrial integration. He welcomed the focus on Business to Business cooperation under CPEC Phase-2 and emphasised cooperation in modern agriculture, artificial intelligence and new technologies, particularly for skills development and job creation for youth. President Zardari asked the Ambassador-designate to maintain proactive engagement with Chinese government institutions, the CPC leadership, think tanks, academia and media, and to promote people-to-people ties, including student exchanges. He also said he looks forward to President Xi Jinping’s visit to Pakistan for the SCO Summit next year. Senator Saleem Mandviwalla was also present during the meeting. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026 [...]

Nutshell Group to host 9th edition of LIIBS 2026 tomorrow

September 16, 2026 3:31

NA panel directs PFF to align constitution, rules with FIFA requirements

September 16, 2026 3:29

ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary panel on Tuesday directed the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) to align its constitution and rules with FIFA requirements following concerns over football governance. The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination, chaired by Mahreen Razzaq Bhutto, reviewed the PFF’s efforts to revive the sport after years of inactivity and institutional uncertainty. Briefing the committee, PFF President Mohsin Gilani highlighted the federation’s recent achievements, performance and future plans. He said the national football team had won a trophy at an international event for the first time, describing the achievement as a sign of progress after a difficult period. Committee members, however, said the achievement did not reflect the overall state of football in the country and stressed that sustained efforts were needed to reverse its decline. The committee was informed that the PFF had remained inactive for a considerable period before its new leadership, including the president, was elected about a year ago in accordance with FIFA directions. The committee was told that some PFF rules and constitutional provisions remained inconsistent with FIFA regulations, with the federation saying it was addressing the discrepancies. The committee recommended that the PFF align its constitution and rules with FIFA requirements for better governance and development of football. Gilani said rehabilitation of football infrastructure was a priority and that talented players were being identified through a nationwide talent-hunt programme. Members stressed that investment in grounds, academies and basic infrastructure was vital, but said the PFF must also step up efforts to revive football. Separately, the committee recommended a sports complex on WAPDA land in Haripur, but WAPDA raised flood concerns. A joint committee was formed to assess the site and submit a feasibility report within a month. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026 [...]

Mian Zahid demands paying capacity charges from federal budget

September 16, 2026 3:25

Mastercard and BoK partner to accelerate digital payments

September 16, 2026 3:23

PESHAWAR: Mastercard and the Bank of Khyber (BoK) have entered into a strategic alliance to expand the bank’s digital payments portfolio, giving customers greater access to secure, convenient and modern payment solutions. The collaboration will support the digitization of personal, commercial and government transactions, contributing to Pakistan’s broader transition towards a more inclusive, cashless economy. “Bank of Khyber is our strategic partner as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa leads Pakistan’s transition towards a cashless economy. The province has expanded from three digitized services two years ago to 170 today, covering person-to-government, person-to-merchant and government-to-person payments, including pension and salary disbursements through Raast. With a population of 45 million and significant untapped potential in remittances, e-commerce and merchant digitization, we, as the bank’s major shareholder, remain committed to supporting BoK’s growth,” said Muzzammil Aslam, Minister for Finance, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “Building a cashless economy is central to our strategic agenda. As a truly national bank, BoK aims to compete strongly by offering a comprehensive range of innovative products and services that meet customers’ evolving financial needs,” said Islam Zeb, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Chairman, BoK. “We are pleased to deepen our collaboration with Bank of Khyber, reflecting the bank’s continued trust in Mastercard. We remain committed to accelerating digitization of the payments ecosystem across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly within the debit, credit, affluent and SME segments. Together, we will promote greater financial inclusion and the continued evolution of Pakistan’s payments landscape,” said Arslan Khan, Country Manager, Pakistan and Afghanistan, Mastercard. “This agreement marks an important milestone in BoK’s digital transformation journey. By expanding our card portfolio across consumer and commercial segments, we aim to offer customers greater convenience, security and access to modern payment solutions, while contributing to the growth of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s digital economy,” said Hassan Raza, Managing Director and CEO, Bank of Khyber. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026 [...]

LCCI seeks extension in income tax return filing deadline

September 16, 2026 3:19

Alternative medicines, health products: LCCI holds session on integrated online portal

September 16, 2026 3:18

LAHORE: An interactive session on “The Integrated Online Portal for Alternative Medicines and Health Products” was held under the auspices of the Health & OTC Standing Committee of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI). The session was graced by senior officials from the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), including Manzoor Buzdar, Director Health & OTC; Arsalan Tariq, Deputy Director; and Yasir Mehmood, Deputy Director MIS, along with Shamim Akhtar, Convener, Health & OTC Standing Committee, LCCI, and leaders and representatives of relevant industry associations. The session received an overwhelming and encouraging response, bringing together a large number of stakeholders from the Allopathic, Homeopathic, Nutraceutical, Herbal and allied health-product sectors, while a significant number of participants also joined online. The discussion provided an important platform for stakeholders to share their practical challenges, concerns and valuable suggestions regarding the proposed integrated online portal. The DRAP team provided valuable insight into the digital initiative, while participants discussed how an integrated platform could simplify regulatory processes, improve coordination, enhance transparency, facilitate businesses and make regulatory services more accessible to stakeholders. The enthusiastic participation reflected the industry’s strong commitment to digital transformation, regulatory facilitation and a more efficient, transparent and stakeholder-friendly regulatory ecosystem. The Health & OTC Standing Committee of LCCI, under the convenership of Shamim Akhtar, remains committed to strengthening constructive engagement between DRAP, industry associations and the business community, and to supporting initiatives that promote ease of doing business and sustainable growth of Pakistan’s health-products sector. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026 [...]

Punjab by-polls: Notices served on minister, SAPM for 'violating' election code of conduct

November 21, 2025 1:33

This collage of pictures show Federal Minister of Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Huzaifa Rehman. —APP/NA website/FileShow-cause notices have been issued to Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari and Special Assistant to the... [...]

27th Amendment empowers FCC to hear all constitutional cases: minister

November 20, 2025 7:59

Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik addressing an event on December 21, 2024. — Facebook@BarristerAqeelMalikState Minister for Law Aqeel Malik said on Thursday that the 27th Amendment has vested authority to hear constitutional matters in the Federal Constitutional... [...]

JF-17 attracts strong attention at Dubai Airshow as friendly country inks procurement MoU

November 20, 2025 5:25

Pakistan Air Force JF-17 Thunder fighter jet during World Defence Air Show 2024 held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, February 7, 2024. — PPI Pakistan's JF-17 Thunder garnered significant attention at the Dubai Airshow 2025, leading to the signing of a memorandum of understanding with a... [...]

US lawmakers laud Punjab govt's initiative to modernise brick-kiln

November 20, 2025 4:39

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz attends ceremony in this undated image. — Facebook/@MaryamNSharifISLAMABAD: The Congressional Pakistan Caucus has applauded Punjab’s drive to modernise its brick-kiln sector, saying the reforms could serve as a pilot for eliminating bonded labour and... [...]

Security forces gun down 30 terrorists in multiple IBOs in KP: ISPR

November 20, 2025 4:38

Frontier Constabulary and army personnel gather stand guard in Kurram, January 17, 2025. — AFPSecurity forces killed 30 Indian proxy Fitna al-Khawarij terrorists during multiple intelligence-based operations carried out by security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa , the military's media wing... [...]

MQM-P calls for new province in Sindh

November 20, 2025 3:56

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui addresses a press conference in Karachi, November 20, 2025. — Screengrab via YouTube/Geo NewsKARACHI: With discussions on the 28th Amendment gaining momentum, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement–Pakistan has once again... [...]

US report validates Pakistan military edge over India: PM

November 20, 2025 3:55

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addresses ceremony in Azad Jammu and Kashmir on November 20, 2025. — X/@GovtofPakistanPrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said a recent US report endorsing Pakistan’s downing of Indian aircraft stands as formal validation of the country’s... [...]

Banned TTP poses serious threat to Pakistan security: UNSC panel

November 20, 2025 10:24

Denmark’s Deputy Permanent Representative to United Nations and chair of UNSC's ISIL, Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee Sandra Jensen Landi. — Screengrab via UN WebTV websiteThe chair of the United Nations Security Council's Daesh and Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee has cautioned that the... [...]

CM Afridi clarifies remarks on by-poll after ECP requests army deployment

November 20, 2025 10:01

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Khan Afridi addresses a gathering at Havelian, Abbottabad on November 19, 2025. — Facbook@ImMuhammadSohailAfridiISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Thursday issued a clarification concerning his remarks on the NA-18 by-poll,... [...]

Dubai sees 3.2m Pakistani passengers in 2025 as airport sets new milestone

November 20, 2025 6:16

People sit at a coffee shop as they wait for their flight at the Dubai International Airport, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, April 17, 2024. — ReutersDUBAI: Dubai International Airport handled 3.2 million passengers travelling from Pakistan in the first nine months of 2025, making the... [...]

Security forces kill 23 Indian proxy terrorists in KP's Kurram

November 20, 2025 5:08

Security forces are seen taking position during an operation. — ISPR/FileRAWALPINDI: Amid country's ongoing fight against the menace of terrorism, security forces have neutralised 23 Indian proxy Fitna al-Khawarij terrorists in separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Kurram... [...]

Pakistan to construct island to boost oil exploration: report

November 19, 2025 6:26

Pump jacks operate in front of a drilling rig in an oil field in Midland, Texas United States. — Reuters/FilePakistan's state-owned energy company, Pakistan Petroleum Limited , has announced plans for an artificial island to boost its oil exploration efforts.Islamabad has intensified its... [...]

Russia ready to mediate Pakistan's issues with India, Afghanistan: envoy

November 19, 2025 6:14

Russia's ambassador to Pakistan has extended his country's offer to mediate Islamabad's conflicts with India and Afghanistan, amid strained relations with its neighbouring countries.Islamabad's relations with India have remained tense since the four-day war in May, while the Afghan Taliban regime... [...]

Security forces neutralise four terrorists in KP IBOs

November 19, 2025 5:12

Soldiers ride on a Pakistan Army vehicle in this undated image. — AFP/FileFour terrorists affiliated with Indian proxy, Fitna al-Khawarij, were killed in a series of operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from November 17 to 18, the Inter-Services Public Relations said on Wednesday.An... [...]

Reclassification of 41 candidates on reserved seats goes beyond SC mandate: Justice Mandokhail

November 19, 2025 4:38

Supreme Court's Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail addresses an event related to Labour Day in Islamabad on May 1, 2025. — Screengrab/YouTube/Geo NewsISLAMABAD: Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail has released a detailed dissent in the reserved seats case, stating that the ruling on 41 candidates... [...]

US EPA unveils sweeping power plant carbon limit rollbacks at G20 meeting to prioritize grid reliability

September 15, 2026 8:32

US EPA unveils sweeping power plant carbon limit rollbacks at G20 meeting to prioritize grid reliabilityThe United States administration used the international stage of the G20 energy ministerial meeting in Houston to unveil a massive deregulatory package, officially scrapping carbon emission... [...]

Savannah Guthrie makes another emotional plea to Nancy's kidnappers

September 15, 2026 6:58

Savannah Guthrie makes another emotional plea to Nancy's kidnappersSavannah Guthrie is again pleading with Nancy's captors to do the right thing.“We just want our mom home give her a proper goodbye,” she said on her TODAY show.Her remarks come in response to Allison Janney, the... [...]

'Hang Lindsay Clancy': GOP rep calls for mom-of-three's public execution

September 15, 2026 6:38

'Hang Lindsay Clancy': GOP rep calls for mom-of-three's public executionLindsay Clancy did not deny killing her three children. But her defense team argued that she had been suffering from psychotic postpartum depression at the time, meaning it was not deliberate.However, Republican U.S. Rep.... [...]

Royal family shares Princess Astrid's funeral plan

September 15, 2026 2:49

Princess Astrid represented the Royal House in a warm and dutiful manner.The Norway royal family has announced the funeral plans of Princess Astrid, an older sister of late King Harald, who died on Friday at the age of 94.The palace announced on its official website, “Princess Astrid’s... [...]

Italian Senate clears PM Giorgia Meloni electoral reform bill to overhaul voting system and establish majority bonus thresholds

September 15, 2026 2:43

Italian Senate clears PM Giorgia Meloni electoral reform bill to overhaul voting system and establish majority bonus thresholdsIn a major update, the Italian Senate has approved a contentious legislative package backed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing coalition, moving to... [...]

US Senate advances landmark crypto bill to set new digital asset boundaries

September 15, 2026 1:54

US Senate advances landmark crypto bill to set new digital asset boundariesThe United States Senate has voted to advance a long-awaited, landmark cryptocurrency market structure bill, marking a crucial legislative step toward reshaping the regulatory landscape for digital assets.The bill, dubbed... [...]

Russia-Ukraine energy truce? Kremlin welcomes Trump's proposal with 'conditions'

September 15, 2026 11:54

Russia-Ukraine energy truce? Kremlin welcomes Trump's proposal with 'conditions'The Kremlin on Tuesday signalled support for the Trump administration’s proposal calling for a Russia-Ukraine moratorium on targeting each other’s energy infrastructure. The positive response from Russia... [...]

UK State pension likely to rise by Â£488 a year in April

September 15, 2026 11:23

UK State pension likely to rise by £488 a year in AprilMillions of UK retirees are on track for a near-£500 annual increase to their state pensions starting this April, following the latest wave of official economic data. Figures published by the Office for National Statistics show... [...]

Russia threatens Poland, claims Warsaw could 'disappear' in days

September 15, 2026 11:08

Russia threatens Poland, claims Warsaw could ‘disappear’ in days Poland is apparently in the crosshairs as Russia issued dire warning to the country as the Polish statehood could be destroyed within two or three days. The threat came from Nikolai Patrushev, an aide to Russian... [...]

China warns US over 'weaponization of space' after deployment confirmed

September 15, 2026 9:55

China warns US over ‘weaponization of space’ after deployment confirmed China has responded to the confirmation related to deployment of weapons in the Earth’s orbit coming from US Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink. On Tuesday, Beijing urged Washington to stop preparing... [...]

China tightens exit restrictions for citizens to safeguard national technology security and penalize overseas violations

September 15, 2026 9:08

China tightens exit restrictions for citizens to safeguard national technology security and penalize overseas violationsChina has officially implemented a strict new framework of exit and entry regulations, introducing sweeping travel restrictions that target technology security and penalize... [...]

Carney heads to Europe as Canada-EU ties take center stage amid US trade war

September 15, 2026 7:02

Carney heads to Europe as Canada-EU ties take center stage amid US trade war Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to head to Europe, seeking a deeper relationship with the European Union in the middle of an escalating trade war with the United States. Speaking to the reporters on... [...]

South Korea to develop strict security guidelines for autonomous AI agents amid rising cyber risks

September 15, 2026 6:41

South Korea to develop strict security guidelines for autonomous AI agents amid rising cyber risksSouth Korea’s state-run internet security agency is moving swiftly to draft comprehensive new security guidelines aimed at reining in increasingly autonomous artificial intelligence agents. The... [...]

NATO sends warning to Putin after Russian drones strike close to Poland

September 15, 2026 3:10

NATO has pledged additional support for Ukraine and stronger defences along its eastern flank after Russian drone strikes hit close to the Polish border.NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Monday that the 32-member alliance would not be deterred from supporting Kyiv following attacks near NATO... [...]

Sudan aid supplies could run out this month, says UN sounding alarm over funding crisis

September 15, 2026 2:50

Sudan’s humanitarian aid system could collapse within weeks without urgent funding as millions remain displaced by war, UN agencies have warned.The conflict between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which began in April 2023, has killed more than 200,000 people,... [...]

کراچی: باپ اور ابک بیٹے کے بعد دوسرا بیٹا بھی پولیس مقابلے میں ہلاک

September 16, 2026 3:09

—فائل فوٹوکراچی کے علاقے نیو کراچی سیکٹر 11 آئی میں پولیس مقابلے کے دوران ڈاکو ہلاک جبکہ اس کا ساتھی فرار ہونے میں کامیاب ہو... [...]

حوثی حملوں سے علاقائی امن و استحکام کو سنگین خطرات لاحق ہیں، عاصم افتخار

September 16, 2026 12:09

عاصم افتخار کا کہنا ہےکہ یمن کے بحران کی سنگینی کے پیش نظر سفارتی کوششوں میں فوری تیزی لانا ہوگی۔اقوام متحدہ کی سلامتی کونسل کے ... [...]

پاکستان سے چرا کر امریکا اسمگل کی گئی 36 نوادرات حکومت پاکستان کو واپس

September 15, 2026 9:09

پاکستان سے چرا کر امریکا اسمگل کی گئی 36 نوادرات حکومت پاکستان کو واپس دیدی گئیں، یہ نوادرات اب پاکستان لائی جائیں گی۔نیویارک... [...]

کراچی: مقتولہ کا موبائل فون مل جائے تو کیس حل کرنے میں مدد مل سکتی ہے، پولیس

September 15, 2026 7:09

اسکرین گریبکراچی کے علاقے سرجانی ٹاؤن میں گھر میں خاتون اور تین بچوں کے قتل کا معمہ حل نہیں ہوسکا، مرنے والی خاتون کا موبائل فون... [...]

پمز اسپتال کی نرسری سے نومولود بچہ اغوا کرنے کی کوشش ناکام، 3 خواتین گرفتار: پولیس

September 15, 2026 6:09

پمز اسپتال کی نرسری سے نومولود بچہ اغوا کرنے کی کوشش ناکام بنادی گئی، پولیس نے تین خواتین کو گرفتار کرلیا۔ پولیس کے مطابق تینوں... [...]

پی ٹی آئی کیخلاف حکومتی اقدامات بوکھلاہٹ کی طرف اشارہ ہیں، بیرسٹر عمیر نیازی

September 15, 2026 6:09

پاکستان تحریک انصاف کے مرکزی رہنما بیرسٹر عمیر نیازی نے کہا ہے کہ پی ٹی آئی کیخلاف حکومت کے اقدامات بوکھلاہٹ کی طرف اشارہ ہیں۔جیو... [...]

مریم نواز کے دفاع میں رانا ثناء اپنے ہی وفاقی وزیر کے سامنے کھڑے ہوگئے

September 15, 2026 6:09

وزیراعظم شہباز شریف کے مشیر سیاسی امور سینیٹر رانا ثناء اللّٰہ نے کہا ہے کہ مریم نواز کے سرکاری جہاز کے استعمال کو خواہ مخواہ ایشو... [...]

گلگت بلتستان کا 218 ارب سے زائد کا بجٹ پیش

September 15, 2026 5:09

گلگت بلتستان اسمبلی میں مالی سال 2026-27ء کا 218 ارب 84 کروڑ 50 لاکھ روپے کا بجٹ پیش کردیا گیا۔ وزیر خزانہ محمد علی اختر نے گندم سبسڈی کے لیے... [...]

پاک بحریہ کے سربراہ ایڈمرل نوید اشرف سے انڈونیشین نیول چیف کی ملاقات

September 15, 2026 5:09

تصویر سوشل میڈیا۔پاک بحریہ کے سربراہ ایڈمرل نوید اشرف سے انڈونیشین نیوی کے چیف ایڈمرل ڈاکٹر محمد علی نے نیول ہیڈکوارٹرز اسلام آباد... [...]

حکومت کی 100 روپے سبسڈی پر اب کسٹمر اور پیٹرول پمپ اونر آپس میں لڑیں گے: ہمایوں خان

September 15, 2026 5:09

چیئرمین آل پاکستان پیٹرول پمپ اونرز ایسوسی ایشن ہمایوں خان نے کہا ہے کہ حکومت کی 100 روپے سبسڈی پر اب کسٹمر اور پیٹرول پمپ اونر آپس میں... [...]

اویس لغاری نے اربوں کے زرمبادلہ کی بچت کی نوید سنادی

September 15, 2026 5:09

وفاقی وزیر توانائی سردار اویس احمد خان لغاری نے اربوں روپے کے اضافی بوجھ اور قیمتی زرمبادلہ کی بچت کی نوید سنادی۔ایک بیان میں وفاقی... [...]

سندھ بھر میں نئے اسلحہ لائسنس کے اجرا پر مکمل پابندی عائد

September 15, 2026 4:09

سندھ بھر میں نئے اسلحہ لائسنس کے اجرا پر مکمل پابندی عائد کر دی گئی۔ ترجمان وزیر داخلہ سندھ نے کہا ہے کہ نئے آرمز ڈیلرشپ لائسنس کے... [...]

فریال ٹالپر کی ہدایت پر گرفتار کونین شاہ نے ضمانت حاصل کرلی

September 15, 2026 4:09

پیپلز پارٹی ویمن ونگ کی صدر اور رکن سندھ اسمبلی فریال ٹالپر کی ہدایت پر گرفتار ملزم کونین شاہ نے 20 ہزار روپے میں ضمانت حاصل... [...]

اسحاق ڈار سے امریکی ناظم الامور کی ملاقات، دو طرفہ تعاون، خطے کی صورتحال پر گفتگو

September 15, 2026 4:09

تصویر سوشل میڈیا۔نائب وزیراعظم و وزیر خارجہ اسحاق ڈار سے پاکستان میں متعین امریکی ناظم الامور نیٹلی بیکر نے آج اسلام آباد میں... [...]

جماعت اسلامی کے نائب امیر لیاقت بلوچ نے پیٹرول ریلیف پیکیج کو مسترد کردیا

September 15, 2026 3:09

نائب امیر جماعت اسلامی لیاقت بلوچ۔جماعت اسلامی کے نائب امیر لیاقت بلوچ نے کہا ہے کہ پیٹرول ریلیف پیکیج کو مسترد کرتے ہیں۔ لاہور سے... [...]

ٹرمپ انتظامیہ نے اسرائیل کو 2.5 ارب ڈالر کا اسلحہ بیچنے کی منظوری دیدی

September 16, 2026 2:09

ٹرمپ انتظامیہ نے اسرائیل کو دو اعشاریہ آٹھ ارب ڈالر کا اسلحہ بیچنے کی منظوری دیدی، تقریباً ایک ٹن وزنی چالیس ہزار بم بھی ان امریکی... [...]

خطے کے ممالک کی اپنے مستقبل کا فیصلہ خود کرنے کی حمایت کرتے ہیں، چین

September 16, 2026 1:09

چین کے وزیرِ دفاع ڈونگ جن نے کہا کہ چین بیرونی مداخلت کے بغیر خطے کے ممالک کی اپنے مستقبل کا فیصلہ خود کرنے کی حمایت کرتا... [...]

مکہ کی فضائی حدود میں داخل ہونے کی کوشش کرنے والا ڈرون تباہ

September 15, 2026 11:09

سعودی اتحاد نے کہا ہے کہ فضائی دفاعی نظام نے مکہ کی فضائی حدود میں داخل ہونے کی کوشش کرنے والے حوثی ڈرون کو روک کر تباہ کر دیا۔سعودی... [...]

ایران جنگ جلد نئے مرحلے میں داخل ہوجائے گی، نائب صدر امریکا

September 15, 2026 11:09

امریکا کے نائب صدر جے ڈی وینس نے کہا ہے کہ ایران جنگ جلد نئے مرحلے میں داخل ہوجائے گی۔امریکی اخبار کو انٹرویو میں جے ڈی وینس نے کہا کہ ... [...]

امریکی مخالفت کے باوجود ایران آئی اے ای اے کی جنرل کمیٹی کا رکن منتخب

September 15, 2026 10:09

فوٹو: بشکریہ ایرانی میڈیاامریکی مخالفت کے باوجود ایران بین الاقوامی ایٹمی توانائی ایجنسی کی جنرل کمیٹی کا رکن بننے میں کامیاب... [...]

امریکی پائلٹ ریسکیو کرنے کی ویڈیو جعلی ہے، ایرانی حکام کا دعویٰ

September 15, 2026 10:09

فائل فوٹوایران نے دعویٰ کیا ہے کہ پینٹاگون نے امریکی پائلٹ کو ایران سے ریسکیو کرنے کی جو ویڈیو جاری کی ہے وہ جعلی ہے۔ ایرانی حکام کا... [...]

باب المندب کی بندش، قطر نے سنگین نتائج سے خبردار کردیا

September 15, 2026 8:09

فائل فوٹوقطر نے آبنائے باب المندب کی بندش کے سنگین نتائج سے خبردار کردیا۔قطری وزارت خارجہ کے عہدے دار ابراہیم ال ہاشمی نے کہا ہے کہ... [...]

امریکا کا ایران سے جنگ میں فوجی ہلاکتوں، زخمیوں اور تباہی کا اعتراف

September 15, 2026 3:09

امریکا نے ایران سے جنگ میں 18 فوجیوں کی ہلاکت اور 417 کے زخمی ہونے کا اعتراف کرلیا۔امریکی محکمہ دفاع کے انسپکٹر جنرل کے مطابق یہ ہلاکتیں... [...]

خلا کو جنگی میدان میں تبدیل کرنے کی کسی بھی کوشش کی مخالفت کرتے ہیں، چین

September 15, 2026 12:09

تصویر سوشل میڈیا۔چین نے امریکا کےخلائی مدار میں ہتھیار تعینات کرنے کی مخالفت کی ہے اور امریکا سے خلا میں اپنی فوجی طاقت بڑھانے کا... [...]

غزہ میں تباہ عمارتوں سے فلسطینی شہدا کی باقیات ملنے پر اقوام متحدہ کا اظہار تشویش

September 15, 2026 12:09

اقوام متحدہ انسانی حقوق ایجنسی کے سربراہ وولکر ترک ۔غزہ میں تباہ شدہ عمارتوں سے فلسطینی شہدا کی باقیات ملنے پر اقوام متحدہ انسانی... [...]

اعجاز خان نیشنل پیس اینڈ جسٹس کونسل کے ڈپٹی سیکریٹری انسانی حقوق مقرر

September 15, 2026 10:09

اعجاز خان — تصویر بشکریہ رپورٹر جاپان میں مقیم معروف پاکستانی سماجی شخصیت اعجاز خان کو نیشنل پیس اینڈ جسٹس کونسل پاکستان کے شعبۂ... [...]

سعودی کابینہ کے اجلاس میں حوثی حملوں کی مذمت، دفاع کے جائز حق کا اعادہ

September 15, 2026 9:09

---فائل فوٹوسعودی ولی عہد اور وزیرِ اعظم محمد بن سلمان کی زیرِ صدارت سعودی کابینہ کا اجلاس ہوا۔سعودی میڈیا کے مطابق محمد بن سلمان نے... [...]

’حوثیوں سے 2 اہم سمندری راستوں کو خطرہ ہے‘، تجزیہ کار کا مشرقِ وسطیٰ میں طاقت کا توازن بدلنے کا دعویٰ

September 15, 2026 9:09

محقق، جارج ٹاؤن یونیورسٹی قطر کے پروفیسر، مشرقِ وسطیٰ کے تجزیہ کار لوسیانو زکارا---فائل فوٹومحقق، جارج ٹاؤن یونیورسٹی قطر کے... [...]

’ انتہائی ذہین مصنوعی ذہانت تیار کرنا ایسا ہے جیسے کسی خلائی مخلوق کو بلایا جائے‘: اوپن اے آئی و اینتھروپک کے سابق محقق کا انتباہ

September 15, 2026 9:09

— فائل فوٹواوپن اے آئی اور اینتھروپک کے سابق محقق جیکب کوکسن نے خبردار کیا ہے کہ انتہائی ذہین مصنوعی ذہانت تیار کرنے کی کوشش ایسے... [...]

متعدد عالمی کمپنیوں نے بھارت میں اپنی سرمایہ کاری صفر کر دی: رپورٹ

September 15, 2026 9:09

بمبئی اسٹاک ایکسچینج— فائل فوٹوبھارتی شیئرز میں عالمی سرمایہ کاروں کی دلچسپی میں نمایاں کمی آ گئی۔عالمی جریدے بلوم برگ کی رپورٹ کے... [...]

عالمی منڈی میں خام تیل کی قیمتوں میں اتار چڑھاؤ جاری

September 16, 2026 4:09

—فائل فوٹوامریکا و ایران کی جنگ کے باعث عالمی منڈی میں خام تیل کی قیمتوں میں اتار چڑھاؤ جاری ہے۔امریکی خام تیل کی قیمت 104 ڈالرز فی... [...]

پیٹرولیم مصنوعات کی قیمتوں میں آج بھی اضافہ کردیا گیا

September 15, 2026 5:09

آئندہ 24 گھنٹوں کےلیے پیٹرولیم مصنوعات کی نئی قیمتوں کا اعلان کردیا گیا۔اس حوالے سے جاری نوٹیفکیشن کے مطابق ڈیزل کی قیمت میں 6 روپے 41... [...]

پاکستان کا سعودی عرب کیساتھ تجارتی خسارہ 18.37 فیصد کم ہوگیا

September 15, 2026 2:09

پاکستان کا سعودی عرب کے ساتھ تجارتی خسارہ 2 ماہ میں 18.37 فیصد کم ہوگیا ہے۔ ذرائع کا کہنا ہے کہ جولائی اور اگست 2026 میں تجارتی خسارہ 47... [...]

ملک میں آج بھی سونا سستا ہو گیا

September 15, 2026 10:09

---فائل فوٹوملک میں سونے کی قیمتوں میں کمی کا سلسلہ جاری ہے، آج بھی سونا سستا ہو گیا۔آل پاکستان صرافہ جیمز اینڈ جیولرز ایسوسی ایشن... [...]

ڈیزل کی قیمتوں میں اضافے کی وجہ ٹرمپ ہیں: چک شومر

September 15, 2026 4:09

---فائل فوٹوزامریکی سینیٹر چک شومر نے ڈیزل کی ریکارڈ بلند قیمتوں کا الزام یوکرین پر عائد کرنے پر صدر ڈونلڈ ٹرمپ کو شدید تنقید کا نشانہ... [...]

سعودی عرب کی تیل کی اہم پائپ لائن بند، عالمی منڈی پر بڑا خطرہ منڈلانے لگا

September 15, 2026 4:09

---فوٹو بشکریہ غیر ملکی میڈیا سعودی عرب کی مشرق سے مغرب تک جانے والی اہم تیل پائپ لائن پر ڈرون حملے کے بعد اس کی ترسیل عارضی طور پر معطل... [...]

پشاور میں اشیائے خور و نوش مہنگی

September 15, 2026 4:09

—فائل فوٹوپشاور میں اشیائے خور و نوش کی قیمتوں میں اضافہ ہو گیا۔پشاور کے ایک دکاندار کے مطابق چاول 360 روپے کلو سے بڑھ کر 380 روپے کلو... [...]

امریکا میں ڈیزل کی فی گیلن قیمت تاریخ کی بلند ترین سطح پر

September 14, 2026 12:09

امریکا میں ڈیزل کی فی گیلن قیمت تاریخ کی بلند ترین سطح 6 اعشاریہ 2 ڈالر سے اوپر چلی گئی۔ عالمی منڈی میں خام تیل کی قیمتوں میں اتار... [...]

مانیٹری پالیسی: اسٹیٹ بینک کا شرحِ سود 11.50 فیصد پر برقرار رکھنے کا فیصلہ

September 14, 2026 10:09

—فائل فوٹواسٹیٹ بینک کی مانیٹری پالیسی کمیٹی نے شرح سود ساڑھے 11 فیصد پر برقرار رکھنے کا فیصلہ کیا ہے۔ پالیسی اجلاس میں 10 اراکین میں... [...]

ملک میں سونے کے بھاؤ میں کمی ریکارڈ

September 14, 2026 9:09

---فائل فوٹوملک میں سونے کی قیمتوں میں اتار چڑھاؤ کا سلسلہ جاری ہے، آج سونے کے بھاؤ میں کمی ریکارڈ کی گئی ہے۔آل پاکستان صرافہ جیمز... [...]

فیول ریلیف اسکیم پر پیٹرولیم ڈیلرز کا اظہارِ تشویش

September 14, 2026 9:09

—فائل فوٹوپاکستان پیٹرولیم ڈیلرز ایسوسی ایشن نے فیول ریلیف اسکیم پر تشویش کا اظہار کرتے ہوئے کہا ہے کہ فیول ریلیف اسکیم پر عمل درآمد... [...]

خام تیل کی قیمت 107 ڈالرز سے تجاوز کر گئی

September 14, 2026 3:09

---فائل فوٹو عالمی منڈی میں خام تیل کی قیمتوں میں 2 فیصد سے زائد اضافہ ہو گیا۔سعودی عرب میں اہم آئل پائپ لائن کی بندش اور خطے میں حوثیوں... [...]

رواں مالی سال کا دوسرا مانیٹری پالیسی اجلاس آج ہوگا

September 14, 2026 1:09

رواں مالی سال کا دوسرا مانیٹری پالیسی اجلاس آج ہوگا۔ اسٹیٹ بینک کا پالیسی ریٹ 11.50 فیصد ہے۔مالیاتی شعبے کی اکثریت کا اندازہ ہے کہ شرح... [...]

ایران سے پاکستان کی درآمدات میں 17 فیصد اضافہ

September 13, 2026 10:09

---فائل فوٹوخطے میں غیر یقینی صورتحال کے باوجود ایران سے پاکستان کی درآمدات میں اضافہ ریکارڈ کیا گیا ہے۔ذرائع وزارت تجارت کے مطابق... [...]

آئی ایم ایف جائزہ مذاکرات، پاکستان کو نئے اہداف اور شرائط سے آگاہ کیے جانے کا امکان

September 13, 2026 6:09

---فائل فوٹو آئی ایم ایف مشن کی رواں ماہ پاکستان آمد کی تاحال تصدیق نہیں ہوسکی، جبکہ وزارت خزانہ کے ذرائع کے مطابق امکان ہے کہ آئی ایم... [...]

Medicare is using AI to approve claims. The result has been ‘alarmingly high denial rates.’

September 15, 2026 11:09

A pilot program using artificial intelligence to approve care for Medicare beneficiaries has resulted in high levels of denials and delayed decisions and prompted warnings from a vendor about a lack of readiness, according to a lawsuit seeking information about the program. [...]

‘My total balance should be $20 million’: I invested $1.1 million in a crypto platform. Have I lost it all?

September 15, 2026 10:15