Gold extended its downward spiral on Tuesday for the fourth consecutive session as the Pakistan rupee continues to strengthen against the US dollar in both — interbank and open markets — fading the shine of the yellow metal.
The price of gold (24 carats) fell by Rs700 per tola and Rs600 per 10 grams to settle at Rs197,300 and Rs169,153, respectively, according to All-Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association (APSGJA).
The price of yellow metal fell Rs9,200 per tola in four trading sessions which was more than the amount it cumulatively gained Rs5,900, or 3.03% per tola during the week ended March 4.
The price of gold is declining due to the strengthening of the rupee which settled at 277.87 against the US dollar in the interbank market today after a meagre increase of 0.02% compared to Monday’s close of 277.92.
The precious commodity scaled to an all-time high of 210,500 per tola on January 30, 2023; however, the gold price started receding after the rupee recovered on hopes of revival of the $6.5 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout programme.
It should be noted that Pakistan meets almost all its gold demand through imports, and traders follow its international price in setting rates in the country. Jewellers import the metal against the US dollar and UAE dirham before converting its price into rupees.
Meanwhile, silver prices in the domestic market remained unchanged at Rs2,140 per tola and Rs1,834.70 per 10 grams, respectively.
In the international market, the gold prices eased, as investors awaited Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s testimony later in the day for clues on the future path of US interest rate hikes. The price of per ounce gold settled at $1,842 after a decline of $7.
Prices have eased from a more than two-week peak of $1,858.19 hit on Monday but remained hemmed in a narrow range.
The dollar index gained 0.1%, making bullion less affordable for overseas buyers.
Powell is due to deliver his semi-annual testimony before Congress on Tuesday and Wednesday. The US jobs report for February is due on Friday.
Gold’s quest to extend gains is set to be heavily influenced this week by potential policy clues from Powell’s testimonies and the incoming US payrolls report, said Han Tan, chief market analyst at Exinity.
If Friday’s jobs data shows significant resilience in the US labour market, it would pave the way for even higher US rates and could unwind the month-to-date gains garnered so far by gold, Tan added.
Despite being known as an inflation hedge, higher interest rates dent bullion’s appeal as they increase the opportunity cost of holding a zero-yield asset.
During his attendance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has met with officials of organisations and leaders of many nations. Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor, Muhammad Younas, met with Mohammad Aurangzeb. On the fringes of the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting 2025 Opening Banquet, there was an informal meeting. Additionally, the Finance Minister met with Anwar Ibrahim, the Prime Minister of Malaysia. Both leaders discussed economic cooperation and bilateral ties. Muhammad Aurangzeb also had a meeting with Dp World’s Rizwan Soomro and Yuvraj Narayan. They talked about how to strengthen Pakistan’s logistics and infrastructure systems to support trade. “The Pakistani government is committed to advancing joint projects and values partnerships in both business-to-business and business-to-government cooperation,” the finance minister added.
As Islamabad looks to Beijing to work with it to establish industrial zones for the production of electronic vehicles, the media said Wednesday that China’s ADM Group would invest $250 million to establish an electric vehicle manufacturing unit in Pakistan.
With an even more ambitious target of 90 percent by 2040, the Pakistani government established the National Electric Vehicles Policy (NEVP) in 2019 with the goal of having 30 percent of all passenger cars and heavy-duty trucks be electric by 2030.
By 2030, the policy aimed to achieve 50% of new sales for two- and three-wheelers and buses, and by 2040, 90%.
As part of the Special Investment Facilitation Council’s efforts to draw in foreign investment, Radio Pakistan reported that the Chinese company ADM Group had announced an investment of $250 million to establish an EV manufacturing plant in Pakistan.
“The switch to EVs is anticipated to save billions of dollars by reducing the cost of fuel imports.”
More than 3,000 electric vehicle charging stations will be installed throughout Pakistan, a South Asian nation, as part of ADM Group’s $350 million investment in the EV industry last year.
Pakistan announced earlier this month that, as part of its ongoing energy sector reform aimed at increasing demand, it would reduce the power rate for operators of electric vehicle charging stations by 45 percent.
Additionally, financial programs for e-bikes and the conversion of gasoline-powered two- and three-wheeled vehicles are planned by the government.
On January 15, the government approved a lower tariff of 39.70 rupees ($0.14) per unit, which will take effect in a month. The previous tariff was 71.10 rupees.
The government anticipates that investors in the industry will see an internal rate of return of over 20 percent.
There are currently over 30 million two- and three-wheeled cars in Pakistan, and they use more than $5 billion worth of petroleum each year, according to a report that Power Ministry adviser Ammar Habib Khan provided to the government and that was covered by Reuters.
The paper estimates that the ministry will save around $165 million in gasoline import expenses each year by converting 1 million two-wheelers to electric motorcycles in a first phase, at an estimated net cost of 40,000 rupees per bike.
In September, BYD Pakistan, a joint venture between China’s BYD and the Pakistani automaker Mega Motors, informed Reuters that, in accordance with international goals, up to 50% of all vehicles purchased in Pakistan by 2030 will be electrified in some way.
Authorities are poised to execute an ambitious investment promotion strategy through a collaborative initiative between the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA) and the Pakistan Administrative Staff College, aiming for substantial enhancements in industrial investment and economic development.
The Special Investment Facilitation Center (SIFC) will be instrumental in this transformative drive by establishing “Business Facilitation Centers” aimed at optimizing investment processes and attracting both domestic and foreign capital.
Principal features of the comprehensive plan encompass:
Forming collaborative working groups to augment domestic and international investment prospects
Formulating a comprehensive strategy to eradicate obstacles to industrial development
Formulating a novel model to tackle issues in the execution of industrial projects
Striving to enhance Pakistan’s international business rating by 50 points Targeting $20 billion in foreign industrial investments within the next five years.
The approach prioritizes digital transformation to enhance the transparency and efficiency of the investment process. SIFC’s strategy emphasizes fostering a favorable atmosphere for investors by streamlining bureaucratic processes and offering strategic assistance.
National administration officers are conducting ongoing study to identify and mitigate potential investment barriers, while a specialized research group is formulating a comprehensive strategy to solve current hurdles in industrial growth.