Business

Gold rates in Pakistan increase as week starts

Published

2 years ago

Farwa

Yellow metal gains Rs1,600 per tola.
Prices of silver remain unchanged local market.
Gold rates make nominal gains internationally.

KARACHI: Gold prices in Pakistan started the week on a positive note as the international rates also saw a nominal increase on Monday.

According to data released by All-Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association (APSGJA), the price of gold (24 carats) gained Rs1,600 per tola and Rs1,371 per 10 grams to settle at Rs214,800 and Rs184,156, respectively.

Meanwhile, the price of the yellow metal gained $2 to settle at $1,957 in the international market today.

The gold rate has been volatile in Pakistan recently amid continued political and economic uncertainty, and high inflation. People prefer to buy gold in such times as a safe investment and a hedge.

According to market practice, local prices of gold usually go up on the rupee’s depreciation against the US dollar and declining prices of commodities in the international market.

Moreover, people also tend to buy and sell the precious commodity ahead of the month of Muharram — which marks the beginning of the new Islamic year, eventually increasing the yellow metal’s demand.

Data shared by the association showed the price of silver remained unchanged at Rs2,650 per tola and Rs2,271.94 per 10 grams.

Meanwhile, the local currency fell by 0.60% against the greenback in the interbank market today, according to the data shared by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

The rupee closed at Rs279.26 against the dollar.

Business

E&P Companies Will Invest $5 Billion in Pakistan’s Petroleum Industry

Published

11 hours ago

Farwa

Over the next three years, local and foreign companies involved in Pakistan’s oil and gas exploration and production sector have shown a strong desire to invest more than $5 billion in the nation’s energy sector.

Recent changes to the Petroleum Policy and the implementation of an exclusive tight gas policy, which provide better incentives and a more investor-friendly regulatory framework, are credited with the increase in investor confidence.

These strategic changes are expected to boost domestic energy production, open up new avenues for growth, and draw large amounts of both domestic and foreign investment.

Business

With inflation slowing, the SBP is anticipated to lower the policy rate for the eighth time in a row.

Published

12 hours ago

Farwa

Businesspeople anticipate another reduction in the policy rate when the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) releases the updated rate.

The interest rate for the upcoming two months will be announced by the central bank. It is still unclear if the rate will stay the same or be lowered to reflect stakeholder expectations.

According to experts, the policy rate will be lowered in order to further boost the nation’s economic sector.

Interest rates may be lowered for the seventh time in a row if the inflation rate declines significantly more than anticipated.

In its last six sessions, the MPC had cut the policy rate by 10 percent. In January 2025, it decreased the rate by one percent to 12pc.

12PC POLICY RATE

In January, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) announced cut in key policy rate by 100 basis points (bps) to 12 percent from 13pc in line with expectations of the business community.

The policy rate, which had been at 22 percent since June 2024, was slashed by 1,000 basis points to 12 percent.

The SBP governor said the decision was taken with careful consideration. “Although inflation is expected to decline next month (February), core inflation remains a pressing concern,” he stated.

Ahmed highlighted strong remittance inflows and robust export growth as key factors supporting the current account.