Author: Admin

Federal Budget Deferred to June 10 Amid IMF Talks and Eid Break

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New-Budget

ISLAMABAD – May 24, 2025: The federal government has officially postponed the announcement of the FY2025-26 budget to June 10, citing ongoing discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the upcoming Eid holidays as key reasons for the delay. The budget was previously scheduled to be unveiled on *June 2, with the *Pakistan Economic Survey 2024-25 now expected on *June 9. The revised schedule aims to ensure active participation of lawmakers during the budget session, which would have been disrupted by Eid-ul-Adha, anticipated around *June 7. Planning Minister Ahsan…

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IMF Wraps Up Visit, Budget Talks with Pakistan to Continue in Coming Days

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imf

Islamabad – May 24, 2025: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced on Saturday that discussions with Pakistan on the upcoming fiscal year 2025-26 budget will continue in the coming days, following the conclusion of its latest mission visit. High-level policy talks between Pakistan and the IMF began on May 19 in Islamabad but ended without a conclusive agreement. As a result, the government has postponed its federal budget announcement to June 10. In a statement, IMF Mission Chief Nathan Porter described the talks as “constructive” and said negotiations would continue…

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Awais Leghari Shares Power Sector Reform Vision with World Bank

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Awais-Leghari

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari on Thursday outlined Pakistan’s ambitious power sector reforms and future plans during a meeting with a World Bank delegation led by Anna Bjerde, Managing Director Operations. Leghari revealed that Pakistan is on track to introduce a *competitive electricity market, supported by the establishment of an *Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO). He said that the government would no longer serve as the sole electricity buyer, marking a significant shift in the sector’s structure. He also highlighted major financial reforms, including…

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Power Sector Reforms a Top Priority, Says PM Shehbaz

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Shahbaz-Sharif

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday reaffirmed the government’s commitment to comprehensive *power sector reforms, emphasizing that curbing *circular debt and ensuring long-term energy sustainability remain high priorities. Chairing a high-level meeting on *gas supply and consumption, the prime minister was briefed on a *long-term strategy for stabilizing the gas sector. He expressed optimism that ongoing reforms, particularly in the natural gas domain, would play a critical role in gradually reducing and ultimately eliminating the sector’s persistent circular debt. Sharif welcomed the establishment of new exploration blocks aimed at…

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Business Confidence Rebounds Sharply in Pakistan: OICCI Survey

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OICCI-Project

ISLAMABAD: Business sentiment in Pakistan has turned positive, with the Business Confidence Index (BCI) rising 16 percentage points to *+11%, up from *-5%* in the previous wave, according to the latest survey by the *Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI). The *Wave 27 BCI Survey, conducted in **March-April 2025, reflects growing optimism across the country’s key sectors. The *manufacturing sector led the rebound, improving from *-3% to +15%, followed by the **retail/wholesale sector, which climbed from *-18% to +2%*, while the *services sector rose from +2% to +10%.…

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