SBP removes condition of 100% advance payment on import of hundreds of items

Govt raised Rs1.14tr through sale of T-bills to meet its expenditures

SBP expected to increase policy rate by 100-200 basis points

Rupee inched up 0.04%, or Rs0.11, to close at Rs283.92 against the US dollar

Controlled imports improved CAD but slowed economic activities to a near halt, rendering millions of people jobless

Current account deficit declines 86% to $74mn in Feb, narrowly failing to turn around deficit into surplus

Makes it mandatory for e-commerce players to accept payments through cards

POL products still account for $11.87b, almost one-third of the overall import bill at $40.11b

Former SBP governor says public banks should direct 50% lending to agriculture

It points to risk of default amid worsening balance of payments crisis