Amount is 2.9% higher than allocation for 2017-18

President Mamnoon Hussain administered oath to Ismail during a ceremony at the Presidency

Reforms made under IMF programme have now been reversed; government doles out relief with elections around the corner

 ‘Report confirmed significant improvement compared with the situation prevailing five years ago’

Economy expands to $313b; per capita income increases to $1,640, income inequality also up

ECC extends financial close deadline for Chinese firm to December 1

Figures reflect improving domestic security situation

Committee chief says undue favours in merger deal has tainted SBP’s image

Cautions CPEC will turn into just transit route if Pakistan loses sight of the project’s bigger picture

Some major projects of CPEC are almost near completion while there are problems in other schemes