Business
Islamabad may face new tax as city becomes autonomous entity
Sources said that if the federal capital is made an independent unit, proposals have been created to introduce a new local tax in Islamabad and the revenue collected will be used on basic services and administrative structure within the city.
Early recommendations are for levies to fund hospitals, schools, colleges and other educational institutions, welfare operations and the administrative framework in Islamabad, sources added. The suggestions are likely to be addressed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) team during the upcoming economic review while the new tax could be adopted in the budget of the next fiscal year.
No definitive estimate of amount to be collected has yet been prepared. Sources claimed the planned tax was aimed at generating fiscal room for Islamabad, considering the infrastructure requirements of the city.
The fifth review under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) is scheduled to be reviewed in Pakistan’s next round of talks with the IMF. The fifth review is also listed as a program milestone in the IMF program materials.
Sources said that Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will prepare tax suggestions in the first instance. These will be laid before the subcommittee created to study the question of taxation in connection with the infrastructure necessary to make of Islamabad an independent unit.
After approval by the relevant subcommittee, the recommendations will be referred to a committee chaired by the minister for planning. After approval there, the plans would be sent to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and then completed after approval by the IMF.
The Ministry of Finance has asked all relevant ministries and agencies to collect the necessary data and reports in preparation for the economic review talks with the IMF.
The relevant ministries will brief the IMF delegation on structural benchmarks and targets for economic reform, sources added. Also reforms in the energy sector will continue to be an important element of the talks and targets relating to circular debt in the electricity and gas industry are also expected to be discussed.
Sources said that if the talks between Pakistan and the IMF were successful it would open the way for the delivery of the fifth tranche under the present loan arrangement. Upon successful completion of the evaluation, the total estimated distribution would be $1.2 billion. Under the fifth tranche, Pakistan is scheduled to receive roughly $1 billion, while another $200 million could be granted to mitigate losses caused by climate change.
According to reports, the planned roadmap also include a new mechanism for the utilization of municipal taxes and distribution of resources. The administrative structure is being put in place and financial affairs are being coordinated with the international lender’s recommendations likely to be part of the effort to make the tax system more effective.
Business
Petrol price cut by Rs2.71, diesel drops 30 paisa per litre
Motorists have suffered another blow with the latest gasoline price review, which has once again seen petrol and diesel prices drop.
Petrol has seen a reduction of Rs2.71 per litre, while diesel has become 30 paisa cheaper.
According to the fuel price information provided, the new prices will come into force on Wednesday (14 October 2026).
New fuel prices
The petrol price has been cut by Rs2.71 per litre to Rs392.66 per litre.
The company announced that the price of high-speed diesel was decreased by 30 paisa per litre and the new pricing is Rs396.82 per litre.
Daily pricing mechanism
The latest revision comes after the government shifted to daily fuel price evaluations, allowing petroleum rates to respond more often to fluctuations in overseas markets.
Under the new mechanism, pricing will be determined based on international market rates averaged over seven days, among other things, such as benchmark prices, premiums and charges.
It is a scheme designed to ensure that changes in world oil prices are passed on to consumers more quickly.
According to the price information, fuel prices would not change on public holidays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Business
Dollar languishes as focus turns to CPI, Fed speakers
The dollar was down on Wednesday as traders anticipated further clues on timing of interest rate hikes to tackle stubborn inflation.
The dollar retreated from an 18-month high in the last session, as oil prices slipped and investors reviewed the AI-driven surge that has bolstered demand for U.S. assets. The euro clung to gains, with budget worries in France keeping regional bond yields high and markets on edge.
Attention now turns to the release of US consumer price index data and speeches by Federal Reserve governors that could provide clues on the interest rate outlook.The danger is that the core CPI surprises to the upside due to strong consumer demand and higher expenses, driving up market pricing of an October Fed hike and the USD’, Carol Kong, a currency strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, said in a note.
The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies, was down 0.02% at 102.16 after down 0.35% on Tuesday. The euro was up 0.04% at $1.1203.
The dollar was last barely changed at 158.32 yen and sterling was last up 0.03 percent at $1.3256.
The dollar continued losses on Tuesday as New York Fed President John Williams said he still expects one more rate hike this year, but sees no need for any increases in 2027.
The US Labour Department is set to issue its CPI for September, which is predicted to have increased by 0.6% month-on-month after a 0.4% rise in August, while annual inflation is expected to rise to 3.6% from 3.4%. Also set to be released is the Fed’s Beige Book.
Traders priced in a 77% likelihood the Fed will keep rates steady at its October 27-28 meeting, compared with 51% a month earlier, according to CME Group’s FedWatch Tool, while pricing in around 75 basis points of tightening to late 2027.
Bets on a Fed rate hike later this month were dumped after two members urged for gathering more evidence before judging whether additional tightening is needed, while Fed Governor Christopher Waller said inflation expectations remained “well anchored.”
Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin is slated to take part in a fireside chat in Virginia and Federal Reserve Vise Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman is to take part in discussions in Bangkok.
The International Monetary Fund and World Bank are holding their annual meetings in Bangkok, with European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde likely to appear multiple times on Wednesday.
The Australian dollar advanced 0.06% to $0.6984 against the greenback and New Zealand’s kiwi rose 0.09% to $0.5614.
Business
Oil prices up after escalation in Middle East tensions
The report said the weekend attacks on two oil tankers and strikes by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement on Saudi Arabia fueled investor concerns about future regional oil supply disruptions.
Brent crude prices jumped 76 cents, or 0.73%, to $105.48 a barrel at 7:04 p.m. EDT Sunday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures increased 59 cents, or 0.64%, to $92.44 a barrel.
Houthi fighters claimed responsibility for a missile attack on Riyadh’s international airport Saturday that killed 13 people and wounded more than 300 others.
Saudi police announced another death and further injuries Sunday in a second attack on the airport.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) cautioned U.S. airlines on Sunday to exercise extreme caution flying in or above Saudi airspace, citing increased security threats stemming from the ongoing military conflict and disruptions to navigation systems, Reuters reported.
A notification to airmen (NOTAM) by the FAA, effective through Dec. 10, comes after a series of strikes on Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, including a new wave over the weekend.”Threats could pose a potential risk to aircraft during all phases of flight, including overflight, arrival and departure,” the FAA said.
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