The purpose of the IMF loan programme is to promote macroeconomic stability in Pakistan and fiscal and monetary policies should support the same vision, remarked International Monetary Fund (IMF) Country Representative for Pakistan Esther Perez Ruiz. Speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Tuesday, she underlined that the aim of the IMF programme was to bring a set of policies that could promote sustainable and inclusive policy growth. “Pakistan’s tax-to-GDP (gross domestic product) ratio is very low,” she said, adding that the objective of eliminating sales…
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US Embassy Waives Off Interviews for More Pakistani Passport Holders
The United States Mission to Pakistan has announced the expansion of interview waiver eligibility for Pakistani citizens renewing B1/B2 tourism and business visas at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and the U.S. Consulate General in Karachi. This procedural change will improve customer service and enable more efficient processing for the renewal of tourism and business visas for qualified and eligible Pakistani citizens. Potentially eligible applicants with scheduled appointments were contacted directly and informed of the option to submit their applications through this new procedure. Note that as required by U.S.…
Read MoreSukhi Kinari Hydropower Project Nears Completion
Talking to journalists on a visit to the project site in Mansehra, the officials of the Sukhi Kinari hydropower project said the project — being built on a BOOT [build, own, operate, and transfer] basis — would add 884-megawatt electricity to the national grid. According to the officials, 93 percent of work on tunnels, 80 percent on penstock, and 90 percent on powerhouse has so far been completed. Highlighting the distinguishing features and achievements, officials told the media persons that a Pressure Shaft System had been installed 745 meters deep,…
Read MoreOil surpasses $92 per barrel as US storm heightens supply concerns
Oil prices reached seven-year highs on Friday as geopolitical tensions and a winter storm in the United States fuelled concerns over supply disruptions. Brent crude rose $1.29, or 1.4%, to $92.40 a barrel by 1100 GMT, having earlier touched its highest since October 2014 at $92.66. US West Texas Intermediate crude rose $1.36, or 1.5%, to $91.63 after also scaling a seven-year peak at $91.91. Both benchmarks were on course for a seventh consecutive weekly gain. “The latest upswing was triggered by a cold snap in Texas, which is fuelling…
Read MoreCASA-1000 project: PD to seek legal opinion on notice issued by Afghan contractor
Power Division is to seek legal opinion from Law Ministry on Force Majeure notice issued by Afghan contractor working on CASA-1000 project since Taliban took over control of the country as World Bank is reluctant to take any position on this issue, well informed sources in Economic Affairs Division (EAD) told Business Recorder. The Central Asia-South Asia (CASA-1000) $1.2 billion project which will bring 1300 megawatts (MW) of seasonal power from Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic to Afghanistan and Pakistan has been put on ice after Taliban took over. At a…
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