Business
Iran-US confrontation hits Pakistan’s exports to the Middle East hard
— The current Iran-US war has not only rattled the global energy markets and the international economy, but has also severely harmed Pakistan’s trade with shipments to Middle Eastern countries nosediving by as much as 70 percent.
Official documents obtained by Dunya News revealed that Pakistan had a substantial fall in exports in March and April. Exports to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries plummeted about 70 percent in March alone, from more than $315.1 million in March 2025 to $95.4 million in the same month in 2026.
The downturn continued in April albeit at a reduced pace, with shipments to GCC countries falling by more than 23 percent. April 2025 saw Pakistan send commodities worth $200 million to the region, while in April 2026, it exported goods worth $152.4 million.
The GCC bloc includes the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar.
March saw the UAE suffer the biggest loss in exports among member states, down 74 percent. Exports to Saudi Arabia decreased 56 percent, to Qatar by 64 percent and to Oman by 85 percent. While shipments to Kuwait fell 21 percent, with Bahrain recording a drop of 85 percent.
The violence has affected sea and air transport lines and raised prices for shipping and logistics, the Ministry of Commerce said. This has impacted the UAE hard because of the breakdown in its logistical network.
Pakistan is significantly reliant on the UAE’s Jebel Ali Port for regional trade, with approximately 80 percent of its trade with GCC countries moving through the key transit centre.
Trade experts worry that prolonged instability in the region could result in higher shipping insurance prices, slower flow of cargo and a further burden on Pakistani exporters already suffering rising production and transportation charges.
Analysts also see wider economic implications for Pakistan in case of lingering tensions, including pressure on foreign exchange earnings and trade balances, as the Middle East is a major destination for Pakistani exports and a key source of economic activity linked to overseas workers and regional trade.
Business
For three days, Pakistan lowers the price of petrol and diesel.
For a three-day period starting on August 1, the government has announced a slight decrease in the cost of petroleum products, including gasoline and high-speed diesel (HSD).
The Petroleum Division said that the price of high-speed diesel has been lowered by Rs0.66 per litre, resulting in a new retail price of Rs392.38 per litre.
Additionally, the price of gasoline has been lowered by Rs0.12 per litre, to Rs336.03 per litre.
According to the letter, the updated pricing will go into effect between August 1 and August 3.
According to the administration, the little cut was taken after accounting for both domestic economic and budgetary factors as well as global oil costs.
In light of persistent economic pressures and swings in the world’s crude oil markets, the most recent adjustment provides customers with little respite.
The most recent update comes after the government regularly reviews fuel costs, which are decided by the currency rate, domestic tax laws, and global market trends.
Business
FBR surpasses its July revenue goal by Rs40 billion.
In July 2026, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) collected Rs820 billion in net revenue, exceeding the monthly target by Rs40 billion.
The July tax collection target was set at Rs780 billion, but net receipts came in at Rs820 billion, according to FBR documents.
According to the papers, gross tax collections for the month totaled Rs918 billion. Net receipts were Rs820 billion after Rs98 billion of this sum was reimbursed to taxpayers under different refund categories.
Gross collections under the income tax head was Rs343 billion. Net income tax revenues fell short of the objective of Rs323 billion, coming in at Rs308 billion after the payment of Rs35 billion in refunds.
In July, sales tax collections came to Rs413 billion, while sales tax refunds were Rs53 billion.
The Federal Excise Duty (FED) collected Rs48 billion, compared to the objective of Rs47 billion, according to the FBR.
In July 2026, customs duty receipts totaled Rs115 billion, surpassing the designated objective of Rs105 billion by Rs10 billion.
Business
Foreign investors return to PSX after almost two years
Foreign investors became net purchasers at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) for the first time in almost two years, indicating restored confidence in the country’s capital market at the beginning of the current fiscal year.
According to official data, foreign investors invested $34.4 million in the PSX in July 2026, a significant reversal from June 2026 when they sold $180 million worth of shares and pulled money out of the market.
The data showed that foreign investors were net buyers for the first time in nearly 23 months, with banking and exploration companies receiving the greatest investment in the month.
Foreign investors made investments in the banking sector to the tune of $13.8 million during July, while investments in exploration businesses amounted to $6.7 million.
However, the data also revealed that international investors preferred to dispose of cement stocks over the same period.
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