Editorial

Opinion

As Pakistan’s IMF Extended Fund Facility winds down, the IMF insists the government meets agreed conditions—new taxes and a higher petroleum levy—while also shaping customs and retailer taxation changes.

Opinion

Pakistan has issued its first renminbi-denominated Panda bond worth RMB 1.75 billion, signaling deeper China ties and potential shifts in oil and gas payments beyond the dollar.

Opinion

US President Trump and China’s Xi Jinping meet in Beijing with Iran at the center of talks. Despite assurances, no breakthrough follows as Taiwan and trade issues linger.

Opinion

Senator Ishaq Dar says Pakistan’s moment has come with China’s IBI and the Digital Silk Road. The article argues the government must deliver education, universal internet, and reliable electricity to enable it.

Opinion

Millat Tractors, known for tractors, signed an MoU with a Chinese e-bike manufacturer to assemble and market e-bikes via a subsidiary. The move aligns with Pakistan’s push for EV adoption.

Opinion

PM Shehbaz Sharif seeks President Asif Zardari’s backing for the 27th Constitutional Amendment. Zardari says PPP central committee and other parties must approve. The amendment could reshape federation-province powers.

Opinion

The US-Iran confrontation appears stuck in a dangerous “sideways” pattern—neither war nor peace. A limping ceasefire buys time, but instability persists for both sides and the region.

Opinion

Trade bodies submit pre-budget proposals, but IMF approval limits government choices. Customs duty cuts, electricity supply, and policy continuity clash with IMF demands.

Opinion

The IMF Board approved Pakistan’s latest $1.32B tranche under the Extended Fund Facility and Resilience and Support Fund, targeting reserves of $17B. The move intensifies austerity pressures amid Gulf oil-price shocks.

Opinion

Reports from the IMF and Microsoft warn AI could fuel bank fraud and widen the divide between developed and developing countries, while tech layoffs raise fears for jobs.

Opinion

FAC will be lowered for July–September, refunding Rs 94 billion overcharged up to April. Domestic, commercial and industrial consumers may see Rs 1.75/unit relief as cooling season begins.

Opinion

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif calls for renewables like hydro, solar and biogas. The article argues the shift won’t fix today’s power and economic problems fast enough.