Business

$7 billion deal: PM hopes that all IMF requirements are met on time

Published

3 weeks ago

Farwa

Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan’s prime minister, has stated that Pakistan intends to finish the present International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.

The prime minister told the federal cabinet on Tuesday, “Remember that this should be Pakistan’s last IMF program.” The PM emphasised throughout the meeting the necessity of continuing reforms to guarantee long-term economic stability and the government’s commitment to prompt fulfilment of IMF conditions.

He expressed optimism that the required steps to satisfy IMF requirements would be completed on time and said, “The case will soon go to the IMF board, and after approval, we will embark on a new journey.”

Shehbaz addressed the gathering, “Measures are being taken to meet the conditions of the IMF program,” emphasising the need to quicken the pace of gains that have already begun and declaring that Pakistan is progressively approaching economic recovery.

The people were given assurances by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that Pakistan had ample resources and is capable of surmounting its difficulties. “I’m confident we’ll make it to our goal. He acknowledged that the road is challenging but not unachievable, saying that “nations have changed their fortunes through hard work.”

The prime minister observed that enormous adversity frequently results in notable advancement, reflecting on the challenges faced by other great nations. In addition to stressing the need of stopping smuggling and eliminating corruption in revenue collection, he underlined the gravity and resolve of the government’s efforts to stabilise the economy.

In order to cut back on needless spending, Prime Minister Sharif also demanded that the government expedite its right-sizing and downsizing projects. “We should push ahead with cost-cutting measures,” the PM emphasised.

Congratulating Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and other officials on their work in managing the economy, he asked the pertinent agencies to accelerate cost-cutting initiatives.

With the inflation rate dropping to 9.6% in August, he also emphasised a promising trend in inflation reduction. He indicated a slow recovery in the economy when he added, “The burden of inflation is gradually easing.”

To sum up, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stressed the importance of proceeding swiftly with economic change, saying, “The journey is long, but with collective effort and determination, we can achieve our goals.”

Business

Pakistani stock market close to a ten-year high: Bloomberg

Published

15 hours ago

Farwa

Pakistani stocks ended Thursday close to their all-time high as optimism was raised by strong inflows of foreign capital and strengthening macroeconomic data, according to Bloomberg.

The benchmark KSE-100 index of the Pakistan Stock Exchange reached a new high earlier in the day and gained 1.1% to settle just short of the previous record of 81,865.10.

The measure has increased by more than 30% this year, according to data collated by Bloomberg, helped by foreign investors’ net purchases of $87 million in local shares, the greatest amount since 2014.

Because of a stronger economic outlook and a significant initial loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund in July, Pakistan’s stock market has performed among the best in the world this year.

The country’s current account balance has improved recently, and the central bank has cut interest rates in response to a slowdown in inflation.

Nevertheless, moving forward carries some risk. In July, FTSE Russell downgraded Pakistan from secondary emerging market to frontier market status. The choice will take effect on September 23.

Business

Report: Solar is expected to set new records this year.

Published

2 days ago

Farwa

In 2023, there was an expected 87% increase in growth. This year’s increase is 29% over the previous one, according to the research.

The cheapest source of electricity globally is solar power, and as such, it is expanding quicker than many anticipated, according to Euan Graham, an Ember electricity data analyst.

Ember estimates demonstrate the rapid growth of solar energy: in 2024 alone, new solar capacity will surpass the 540 GW of additional coal power added globally since 2010.

Expected to add 334 GW, or 56 percent of the global total in 2024, China continues to lead the globe in this industry.

According to the survey, it is followed by the US, India, Germany, and Brazil. These five nations will account for 75% of the new solar capacity in 2024.

According to the research, maintaining the sector’s growth required grid capacity and battery storage.

“Providing enough grid capacity and developing battery storage is critical for handling electricity distribution and supporting solar outside of peak sunlight hours as solar becomes more inexpensive and accessible,” the statement stated.

“Solar power might continue to surpass forecasts for the remainder of the decade if these issues are resolved and development is sustained.”

Business

The PSX has resumed operations, achieving a gain of 970 points.

Published

2 days ago

Farwa

The optimistic close at the PSX was propelled by rumors preceding the International Monetary Fund (IMF) executive board meeting on September 25, at which the approval of a $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) is expected, stated Ahsan Mehanti of Arif Habib Commodities.

Strong economic indicators, such as increasing remittances, escalating exports, and a declining trade deficit, further bolstered investor confidence. Furthermore, the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) commitment to a $2 billion yearly concessional loan until 2027, along with a robust rupee, significantly contributed to the market’s favorable performance, he stated.

Widespread purchasing at the PSX was noted among blue-chip stocks, with major players like Mari Petroleum (MARI), Engro Fertilizers (EFERT), United Bank Limited (UBL), Meezan Bank Limited (MEBL), and Fauji Fertilizer Company (FFC) recording substantial increases. According to Topline Securities, these stocks collectively resulted in a significant 682-point increase in the index.

Pioneer Cement Limited (PIOC) announced its fiscal year 2024 results, revealing a profits per share (EPS) of Rs 22.79 and a cash dividend of Rs 10 per share. This announcement contributed to the favorable sentiment in the market.

Trading volume surpassed 400.2 million shares, resulting in a total turnover of Rs15.9 billion. Worldcall Telecom Limited (WTL) topped the volume chart, transacting more than 32.2 million shares.

The Large Scale Manufacturing Index (LSMI) demonstrated a year-on-year (YoY) gain of 2.4% in July 2024. This expansion was propelled by multiple critical areas.

Tobacco experienced a significant increase of 90.2%, establishing it as the foremost contributor to the LSMI growth. Conversely, the automotive sector witnessed a substantial increase of 72.0%, indicating robust demand and output.

The transport equipment category experienced an 11.7% increase, signifying robust growth in the manufacturing of transport-related machinery and equipment. The other manufacturing sector experienced a gain of 10.7%, positively impacting the overall LSMI.

Nevertheless, not all industries exhibited strong performance. The leading decliner was the fabricated metal sector, which experienced an 18.4% decrease, signifying a contraction in metal product manufacturing. The electrical equipment industry experienced a substantial decline of 19.4%, indicative of reduced output levels.

In July 2024, the LSMI decreased by 2.1% on a month-on-month (MoM) basis. This fall signifies a minor contraction in manufacturing operations relative to the preceding month, although the favorable year-on-year growth.