<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" version="2.0"><channel>
                        <title>Latest Business News and Business News Headlines | Business</title>
                        <atom:link href="https://tribune.com.pk" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/>
                        <link>https://tribune.com.pk</link>
                        <description>The Express Tribune keeps you up to date with all the latest happenings from Pakistan and across the world!</description>
                        <lastBuildDate>Sat, 24 Oct 26 08:38:25 +0500</lastBuildDate>
                        <language>en-US</language>
                        <sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
                        <sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
                        <generator>https://laravel.com/</generator><item>
			<title>Govt increases diesel by Rs1.91, keeps petrol unchanged till Oct 26</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2636563/govt-increases-diesel-by-rs191-keeps-petrol-unchanged-till-oct-26</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2636563/govt-increases-diesel-by-rs191-keeps-petrol-unchanged-till-oct-26#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 23 Oct 26 17:41:58 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2636563</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Diesel will cost Rs393.66 under the daily pricing mechanism]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The federal government on Friday&nbsp;increased&nbsp;the price of&nbsp;high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs1.91&nbsp;per litre while keeping the price of petrol unchanged&nbsp;till&nbsp;October&nbsp;26.

According to a notification issued by the Petroleum Division, petrol would continue to be sold at&nbsp;Rs377.71&nbsp;per litre, while HSD would cost Rs393.66&nbsp;per litre from October 24&nbsp;to October 26.

The latest revision comes a day&nbsp;after the government&nbsp;decreased&nbsp;the price of petrol by&nbsp;Rs1.60&nbsp;per litre&nbsp;while increasing&nbsp;the price of high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs1.64&nbsp;per litre&nbsp;for October&nbsp;23.

Read:&nbsp;Govt cuts petrol by Rs1.60, increases diesel by 1.64 paisas for Oct 23

On July 17, the government announced a new pricing mechanism under which petroleum product prices would be reviewed and notified daily, replacing the weekly pricing mechanism, as renewed tensions between the United States and Iran continued to drive volatility in global oil markets and raise concerns over fuel supplies.

On September 13, PM Shehbaz announced a special relief scheme offering Rs100 per litre off petrol for motorcycles, three-wheeler rickshaws and cars with engines up to 800cc, in an attempt to shield lower-income consumers from the impact of rising petroleum prices.

Under the proposal, an estimated 11.8 million beneficiaries would be covered. Around 10 million two-wheeler users and 800,000 three-wheeler users would be entitled to relief on 20 litres of fuel per month, translating into a maximum monthly benefit of Rs2,000 per beneficiary.

Another one million users of cars up to 800cc would receive relief on 30 litres per month, providing them with a maximum benefit of Rs3,000 each.

On Sept 17, the government reintroduced austerity and fuel conservation measures amid rising fuel prices, tightening business operating hours and restricting public events.

Under the measures, notified with immediate effect, shops, markets, shopping malls, bazaars, departmental stores, grocery stores, general stores and kiryana shops would close by 9pm throughout the week, according to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division.

Marriage halls, marquees and other commercial venues hosting festive events would close by 10pm, while restaurants, cafes, eateries, food outlets and standalone fruit and vegetable shops would be allowed to operate until 11pm. Takeaway and home delivery services would remain exempt from the timing restrictions.

Also Read:&nbsp;Govt mulls $2b LNG import decision

Global geopolitical developments continue to pose significant risks. International oil prices are influenced by decisions taken by OPEC+, conflicts in the Middle East, sanctions on oil-producing nations, and disruptions in critical shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. Any interruption in these supply chains can immediately increase crude oil prices and freight costs. Since Pakistan imports the majority of its petroleum requirements, these developments quickly translate into higher domestic fuel prices.

Oil prices rose ​on Friday, with Brent crude touching its highest since late April, after Houthi attacks in Saudi &zwnj;Arabia stoked concern over further disruption to energy supplies from the Middle East, where UAE authorities also reported an oil spill.

Brent crude futures gained $4.01, or 3.54%, to $117.18 a barrel by 12:21 pm&nbsp;ET (1622 GMT). Brent&#39;s session high of $117.38 was the highest since the end of ​April. US West Texas Intermediate crude gained $3.75, or 3.77%, to $103.22.

&quot;The market ​is concerned about these continued Iranian attacks on tankers that we&#39;ve seen increase over the last week,&quot; said Andrew Lipow, president of &zwnj;Lipow ⁠Oil Associates. &quot;While there has been an increase in oil transiting out of the Strait of Hormuz, that could change at any minute.&quot;]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/fuel1760972553-0/fuel1760972553-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>PSX slides over 1,500 points as geopolitical tensions rattle investors</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2636488/psx-slides-more-than-1330-points-amid-saudi-arabia-houthi-conflict</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2636488/psx-slides-more-than-1330-points-amid-saudi-arabia-houthi-conflict#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 23 Oct 26 08:29:56 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2636488</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[KSE-100 settles at 162,374.88 points with banking, energy, and other sectors contributing to the decline]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) extended its losses on Friday, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index falling 1,550 points to close at 162,375, as escalating geopolitical tensions, rising international oil prices and cautious investor sentiment weighed on the market.

The benchmark shed 4,045 points, or 2.47%, during the week, while investors also squared positions ahead of the weekend.

PSX witnessed another negative trading day, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index declining 1,550 points (-0.95% DoD) to close at 162,375.

Read:&nbsp;Brent crude hits more than five-month high on concern over Middle East escalation

The market remained volatile, trading in both directions amid cautious investor sentiment driven by persistent geopolitical uncertainty and position-squaring ahead of the weekend, noted Ali Najib, Deputy Head of Trading at Arif Habib Ltd.

The index staged a brief recovery, reaching an intraday high of 163,987 (+43 points; +0.03%), before renewed selling pressure pushed it lower, resulting in a close below the 163,000 level.

On the index contribution front, MEBL, ENGROH, LUCK, HUBC, PPL, MCB, SYS, NBP, OGDC and HBL were the major laggards, collectively eroding 985 points from the benchmark.

Market activity remained subdued, with 384 million shares traded and total turnover reaching Rs18 billion. PASL led volumes, with 32.6m shares changing hands.

Read more:&nbsp;FM Dar arrives to attend first R4+E3 foreign ministers&rsquo; meeting in Istanbul

The KSE-100 Index ended the week on a negative note, declining 4,045 points (-2.47% WoW) to close at 162,375. During the week, the index traded between an intra-week high of 166,698 and a low of 162,292, as investor sentiment remained subdued throughout the week amid escalating geopolitical tensions and rising international oil prices, which heightened concerns over energy supply disruptions and the country&rsquo;s external account.

Going forward, the market is likely to remain volatile at 160-168k amid cautious investor sentiment, evolving macroeconomic conditions, especially the MPC announcement on Monday, where the street is expecting an increase of 50bps in the benchmark interest rates, and geopolitical developments.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/psx-21746053192-0/psx-21746053192-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Brent crude hits more than five-month high on concern over Middle East escalation</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2636462/oil-little-changed-as-supply-concern-lingers-amid-houthi-attacks-on-saudi-arabia</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2636462/oil-little-changed-as-supply-concern-lingers-amid-houthi-attacks-on-saudi-arabia#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 23 Oct 26 05:15:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2636462</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Brent crude futures are up $1.14, or 1%, at $114.31 a barrel]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Oil ​prices rose on Friday, with Brent crude touching a more than five-month high, after Houthi &zwnj;attacks in Saudi Arabia stoked concern over further disruption to energy supplies from the Middle East.

Brent crude futures gained $1.14, or 1%, to $114.31 a barrel by 1006 GMT, having earlier reached $114.72 for the highest level since May 4. US West Texas ​Intermediate crude gained $1.65, or 1.7%, to $101.12.

The Brent benchmark is on track for a third consecutive weekly ​gain of about 4%, while WTI is poised to finish 0.3% down on the ⁠week.

Saudi Aramco on Thursday ordered the evacuation of its headquarters in Dhahran on the Gulf near Bahrain, Reuters ​reported, as fighting intensified between the world&#39;s largest crude exporter and Yemen-based Houthis.

&quot;The market remains concerned about a ​potential escalation, which, in a worst-case scenario, could trigger renewed supply disruptions,&quot; said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo, adding that volatile oil flows and elevated freight rates have left the market undersupplied.

Read: Govt cuts petrol by Rs1.60, increases diesel by 1.64 paisas for Oct 23

Clashes between the Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition that backs Yemen&#39;s ​internationally recognised government have raged since the Iran-aligned Houthis pushed towards Bab el-Mandeb, a shipping chokepoint at ​the mouth of the Red Sea.

&quot;The key factors to monitor now are the extent of actual disruption and the time &zwnj;needed to ⁠restore operations, as these will ultimately determine how much of a supply risk premium the market is willing to pay,&quot; said XS.com analyst Linh Tran.

&quot;If attacks persist and delay deliveries, elevated prices will have a firmer foundation.&quot;

An oil spill from a tanker was detected off the coast of Umm Al Quwain, prompting containment operations ​and environmental assessments, the United ​Arab Emirates Ministry of ⁠Climate Change and Environment said on Friday. The ministry did not say what caused the spill, and authorities have not identified the tanker involved.

In Libya, an oil ​pipeline valve from the Hamada and Tahara oilfields to Zawiya port has been ​shut, leading ⁠to a reduction in production at both fields, the head of the National Oil Corporation told Reuters on Thursday.

Meanwhile, a Malta-flagged tanker with a cargo of 40,000 metric tons of Russian diesel is heading towards New York, LSEG ⁠data showed ​on Friday.

Russia had agreed to lift a self-imposed ban on diesel ​exports and supply the fuel to global markets, including the US, in an effort to lower fuel prices after an agreement between ​US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/iol1791924456-0/iol1791924456-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>IMF sees weak external position</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2636387/imf-sees-weak-external-position</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2636387/imf-sees-weak-external-position#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 22 Oct 26 21:06:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Shahbaz Rana]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2636387</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Estimates financing needs at 22-25% of GDP, CAD at $4.5b against official $2.5b]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Thursday that Pakistan&#39;s external financial position may weaken due to rising imports and moderating remittances, urging exchange rate flexibility to preserve foreign exchange reserves and tighter monetary policy to deal with rising inflation.

The global lender made these observations in its Middle East and Central Asia region report, released on Thursday, a week after the World Bank-IMF annual meetings.

&quot;Over the medium term, external positions should strengthen in Egypt, Jordan and Morocco, supported by lower commodity prices and export diversification, but weaken in Pakistan as imports rise and remittances moderate,&quot; according to the IMF.

The fund&#39;s remarks came days after it reached a staff-level agreement for disbursement of the $1 billion fifth loan tranche, subject to the government fulfilling prior actions.

The government has projected imports reaching $70 billion this fiscal year and remittances growing to $45.5 billion. The country is struggling to enhance exports, which have not grown despite years of incentives to handpicked exporters.

The IMF has projected Pakistan&#39;s current account deficit at 1% of gross domestic product (GDP), or around $4.5 billion, which is also far higher than official estimates of around $2.5 billion. The lender sees Pakistan&#39;s gross financing needs at around 22% to 25% of GDP, well above peer countries and carrying risks.

The report points to a very deep nexus between the government and commercial banks, estimating banks&#39; 63% exposure to public debt, also well above typical emerging market levels.

Concerns about rising government debt could lead to higher borrowing costs than in the baseline, heightening fiscal sustainability concerns in countries with large gross financing needs, such as Egypt and Pakistan, the IMF said.

&quot;Exchange rate flexibility can help preserve reserves and facilitate external adjustment (Egypt, Pakistan) but may also increase inflationary pressures through higher import prices,&quot; the lender said.

The government remains sensitive to any advice to allow the rupee to depreciate, citing inflationary impacts and no real positive impact on exports. The rupee appreciated by one paisa to Rs276.85 to the dollar on Thursday.

Inflationary pressures have risen most sharply in Egypt, to 14.5%, and in Pakistan to 11.1% year on year in August, reflecting higher food and energy-related prices and, in Egypt, also exchange rate depreciation, the IMF said.

The IMF has projected inflation to rise to 9.9% in Pakistan, 1.5% higher than its previous forecast.

&quot;Countries should stand ready to tighten monetary policy, particularly where inflation is already above target and the policy stance appears accommodative, with ex-ante policy rates below estimated neutral levels, a combination most evident in the Kyrgyz Republic and Pakistan.&quot;

The IMF&#39;s report comes days before the Monetary Policy Committee meeting, which may review the possibility of raising interest rates from the current level of 11.5%.

During recent review talks, the central bank had termed the monetary policy appropriately tight.

Policy-rate responses since the start of the conflict have differed across exchange-rate regimes, and among countries with flexible exchange rates, Pakistan was the only one to raise interest rates after the conflict began, it added.

Financial supervisors should continue to monitor bank liquidity and funding conditions, asset quality in the sectors most exposed to the conflict &ndash; tourism, transport and trade-related activities &ndash; and sovereign-bank linkages where public debt is elevated and banks hold large stocks of government securities, such as in Egypt, Pakistan and Tunisia, the lender advised.

The IMF has kept its economic growth forecast for Pakistan unchanged at 3.5%, lower than the official target of 4% and also less than the World Bank&#39;s projection.

During the review talks, Pakistani authorities had tried to convince the IMF that the annual growth target of 4% would be achieved.

Countries insulated from the conflict, such as Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Pakistan, have recorded stable or even higher hotel occupancy rates in 2026 compared with last year, the IMF said.

On the fiscal front, fiscal policy stances are expected to turn accommodative in 2026 in many regional economies, with consolidation resuming from 2027. The stance in 2026 is projected to be restrictive in countries with limited fiscal space such as Bahrain, Iraq and Pakistan, but also in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, it added.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/imf1792703401-0/imf1792703401-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>SBP reserves rise $19m to $21.5b</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2636388/sbp-reserves-rise-19m-to-215b</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2636388/sbp-reserves-rise-19m-to-215b#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 22 Oct 26 21:06:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Usman Hanif]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2636388</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Total stands at $26.8b; gold falls as global prices hit 2-month low]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) increased by $19 million to $21.49 billion during the week ended October 16, 2026, according to data released by the central bank on Thursday.

The country&#39;s total liquid foreign exchange reserves amounted to $26.83 billion during the week under review, including $5.34 billion held by commercial banks. Meanwhile, the Pakistani rupee gained Rs0.01 against the US dollar to close at 276.85, compared with Wednesday&#39;s close at 276.86.

Gold prices in the domestic market fell sharply, tracking a decline in the international market, where the precious metal dropped to its lowest level in more than two months as rising oil prices heightened inflation concerns and reinforced expectations of higher rates for longer.

In the local market, the price of gold declined by Rs3,000 per tola to Rs431,536, according to rates released by the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association. Similarly, the price of 10-gram gold fell by Rs2,572 to Rs369,972. On Wednesday, gold had shed Rs900 per tola.

Internationally, spot gold dropped 2.1% to $4,055.69 per ounce by 11:25 am EDT (1525 GMT), after touching its lowest level since August 4 earlier in the session. US gold futures for December delivery declined 1.9% to $4,071.40 per ounce, as per Reuters.

Higher oil prices amid escalating Middle East tensions have fuelled concerns that rising energy costs could keep inflation elevated, potentially limiting the scope for interest-rate cuts. Investors are also looking ahead to next week&#39;s Federal Reserve policy meeting and the release of US personal consumption expenditures (PCE) data.

Meanwhile, silver prices in Pakistan declined by Rs121 per tola to Rs6,086. Commenting on the international market outlook, Adnan Agar, Director at Interactive Commodities, said gold was facing sustained downward pressure. He placed the metal at around $4,044 per ounce, with the day&#39;s low at $4,034 and high at $4,140.

Agar identified $4,000 as a crucial technical level. A sustained break below the $4,000-3,950 range could open the way for further decline towards $3,800 and $3,700, he said. However, if gold holds above $4,000, the market could recover towards $4,150-4,180. He said the direction of the next move would depend on where prices closed in the coming sessions.

The outlook remains sensitive to oil prices, geopolitical developments and signals from the US Federal Reserve, which could shape expectations for rates and the appeal for non-yielding assets such as gold.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/sbp1783557532-0/sbp1783557532-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>PSX falls below 164,000 on oil fears</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2636396/psx-falls-below-164000-on-oil-fears</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2636396/psx-falls-below-164000-on-oil-fears#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 22 Oct 26 21:06:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2636396</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[KSE-100 index sheds over 2,000 points amid geopolitical jitters]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Pakistan Stock Exchange&#39;s (PSX) benchmark KSE-100 index fell below the 164,000-point level on Thursday, shedding over 2,000 points as escalating geopolitical tensions and rising international oil prices heightened investor concerns over the economic outlook.

At the close of trading, the KSE-100 posted a loss of 2,006.67 points, or 1.21%, and settled at 163,924.32.

Arif Habib Limited (AHL) noted that the week&#39;s downside draw at 164,000 was delivered as the KSE-100 fell 1.21% to close at 163,924. Only 11 shares rose while 89 declined. Unilever Pakistan Foods (+3.99%), Thatta Cement (+2.9%) and Standard Chartered Bank (+1.19%) provided the largest positive contribution to the index, whereas Engro Holdings (-2.29%), UBL (-1.39%) and HBL (-2.32%) were the heaviest drags.

Key banks reported results for nine months of calendar year 2026 that were broadly in line with expectations. HBL posted earnings per share (EPS) of Rs36.84 (up 5% year-on-year) and a dividend per share of Rs18; Meezan Bank reported EPS of Rs41.02 (up 6% year-on-year) and dividend of Rs23.5 and MCB recorded EPS of Rs37.26 (flat year-on-year) with dividend of Rs27.

In a key geopolitical development, Turkiye, Qatar, Pakistan and Indonesia signed an agreement in Doha to boost defence cooperation and strengthen defence capabilities. The &quot;Badr MoU&quot; is viewed as a signal of mutual interest in deepening partnerships. &quot;Market bias remains to the downside below the 167,000-168,000 zone. Year-to-date, the index is down 5.82%, with week-to-date and month-to-date declines of 1.50% and 3.56%, respectively,&quot; AHL said.

Total market capitalisation stood at Rs18.17 trillion ($65.6 billion). Regular-market turnover was 367 million shares valuing at Rs18 billion. Leading gainers in terms of index contribution included Unilever Pakistan Foods, Thatta Cement and Airlink Communication, while the largest losers were PTCL, Nishat Chunian Power and Power Cement, AHL added.

Topline&#39;s market review noted that the KSE-100 index witnessed a sharp sell-off, shedding 2,007 points (-1.21%), as escalating geopolitical tensions and rising international oil prices weighed on investor sentiment. The benchmark initially touched the intra-day high of 249 points before plunging to the low of 2,148 points, reflecting heightened volatility and mounting selling pressure.

Persistent geopolitical uncertainty, coupled with concerns over rising oil prices and their potential implications for Pakistan&#39;s economic outlook, kept investors on the defensive. ENGROH, UBL, HUBC, HBL and PTC emerged as the major laggards, collectively dragging the index down by 752 points and amplifying the market&#39;s downward momentum, Topline said.

Overall trading volumes were recorded at 367.09 million shares compared with the previous session&#39;s tally of 379.91 million. The value of shares traded during the day was Rs18 billion.

Shares of 494 companies were traded. Of these, 101 stocks closed higher, 355 fell and 38 remained unchanged.

Pakistan Refinery was the volume leader with trading in 25.88 million shares, losing Rs4.76 to close at Rs95.12. It was followed by Cnergyico Pk with 23.19 million shares, losing Rs0.17 to close at Rs12.35 and WorldCall Telecom with 22.16 million shares, losing Rs0.03 to close at Rs0.90. Foreign investors sold shares worth Rs376.5 million, the National Clearing Company reported.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/psx1792273264-0/psx1792273264-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Banks urged to remove SME credit hurdles</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2636389/banks-urged-to-remove-sme-credit-hurdles</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2636389/banks-urged-to-remove-sme-credit-hurdles#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 22 Oct 26 21:06:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2636389</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[PM aide underlines need for 100% increase in financing for small businesses]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Adviser to Prime Minister for Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan has called on banks and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to give due consideration to the financing challenges faced by SME clusters and take effective measures to address them as limited access to credit remains a major constraint on growth of many viable businesses.

The adviser held a consultative session with representatives of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), business clusters, banks, the State Bank and relevant government departments to address the challenges faced by businesses in accessing affordable and timely financing.

The representatives of various SME clusters highlighted the funding constraints and procedural hurdles affecting their businesses, including difficulties in obtaining credit and gaining access to suitable financing facilities to expand operations, meet working capital requirements and capitalise on emerging opportunities.

Khan stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed that financing for SMEs be doubled, underscoring the government&#39;s commitment to expanding access to credit and strengthening the role of SMEs in the national economy.

He stressed that banks must make concerted efforts to simplify lending procedures, improve coordination with business clusters and facilitate eligible enterprises in getting required funds. &quot;The benefits of financial support must reach businesses at the grassroots level and translate into tangible improvements in production, investment and employment.&quot;

The adviser highlighted that SMEs were a vital pillar of Pakistan&#39;s economy, contributing significantly to the GDP, exports and non-agricultural employment. He observed that limited access to credit was a major constraint on the growth potential of many businesses.

Khan mentioned that the objective of consultations was to bridge the gap between financial institutions and businesses by identifying practical obstacles and developing workable solutions. He called for stronger coordination among banks, the State Bank, government departments and SME representatives to ensure that financing facilities meet the actual needs of business clusters.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/haroon-akhtar-khan1791075945-0/haroon-akhtar-khan1791075945-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>NBC to take up GM corn cases on Friday</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2636395/nbc-to-take-up-gm-corn-cases-on-friday</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2636395/nbc-to-take-up-gm-corn-cases-on-friday#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 22 Oct 26 21:06:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2636395</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Committee to consider long-pending biosafety cases; none GMO still sells at premium]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The National Biosafety Committee (NBC) meets on Friday to consider a range of biosafety applications, including long-pending cases related to genetically modified (GM) corn technologies, according to a statement issued on Thursday.

The agenda follows the government&#39;s approval earlier this year of the National Agricultural Biotechnology Policy, which the government says will strengthen the regulatory framework for agricultural innovations. No decision on the pending applications has been announced.

CropLife Pakistan, an industry body representing seed and crop-protection companies, said approval of the pending GM corn biosafety licences would mark a milestone for agricultural biotechnology. CropLife Pakistan Executive Director Rasheed Ahmed said such a move could accelerate the adoption of advanced seed technologies, which he said would improve farm productivity, food security and the competitiveness of the sector.

GM corn has been cultivated commercially for more than two decades and is widely grown in major agricultural economies and across the Asia-Pacific region.

The committee&#39;s deliberations come against a separate constraint on the sector. Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) Country Head and Head of Grains and Oilseeds Muhammad Daniyal told The Express Tribune last month that Pakistan produces excellent non-GMO corn, which commands a higher price globally, but that inadequate systems for drying, storing and transporting the crop mean Pakistani corn is often not purchased in international markets at all. Where a buyer is willing, he said, agreements are struck at prices 10% to 15% below prevailing market rates. Daniyal said the issue was directly linked to the absence of basic infrastructure, and that aligning harvesting, drying, storage and marketing with required standards could earn the country millions of dollars.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/genetically-modified-corn1792707151-0/genetically-modified-corn1792707151-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Oil hits five-month high</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2636391/oil-hits-five-month-high</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2636391/oil-hits-five-month-high#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 22 Oct 26 21:06:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2636391</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Brent futures rise $3.51, or 3.2%, to $112.33 a barrel]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Oil prices climbed about 3% to a five-month high on Thursday after Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia stoked concerns of further disruption to energy supplies from the key exporting region.

Brent futures rose $3.51, or 3.2%, to $112.33 a barrel at 1705 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude rose $2.14, or 2.2%, to $99.29. That drove Brent into technically overbought territory for a third time in a week and put it on track for the highest close since May 4.

Saudi Aramco told staff to evacuate its headquarters in Dhahran, as fighting between the world&#39;s largest crude exporter and Yemen&#39;s Houthis intensified.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/1104517-OilManipulationx-1463429747/1104517-OilManipulationx-1463429747.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>PSX gains 779 points amid partial recovery</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2636194/psx-gains-779-points-amid-partial-recovery</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2636194/psx-gains-779-points-amid-partial-recovery#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 26 20:18:29 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2636194</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Draft auto policy, US-Iran de-escalation hopes bolster confidence]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) rebounded on Wednesday as institutional investors returned to buy select stocks following recent weakness, while expectations of progress in diplomatic efforts to ease US-Iran tensions helped improve sentiment.

The session commenced on a relatively healthy note and the KSE-100 index hit 165,845.69, up 694 points by 9.33 am. Adding to the positive tone, a committee reviewing Pakistan&#39;s Automotive and Auto Parts Manufacturing Policy 2026-31 proposed a broad set of reforms to boost exports, including preferential sales tax rates for new energy vehicles (NEVs), covering both locally assembled and imported cars.

The bourse touched the intra-day high of 166,242.43 and low of 164,731.91 while mostly trading in the green. At close, the benchmark KSE-100 index posted gains of 779.34 points, or 0.47%, and settled at 165,930.99.

According to KTrade Securities, the KSE-100 rose 779 points (+0.5%), a partial recovery with subdued trading volumes of 130 million shares. Activity remained concentrated in refinery, investment companies and securities, and technology and communication sectors, while selective buying in power generation, commercial banks and oil and gas exploration stocks provided support.

Sector-specific performance was positive, where commercial banks, power, cement and autos contributed to the index&#39;s gains. However, weakness in Attock Refinery, Fatima Fertiliser, Engro Holdings, Fauji Cement and Millat Tractors partially offset the advance. Meanwhile, Brent crude remained elevated at $110/barrel, causing macroeconomic uncertainty and tempering the risk appetite.

&quot;We expect the market to remain range bound amid cautious investor sentiment, with near-term direction driven by oil-price movements, geopolitical developments and corporate earnings,&quot; KTrade wrote.

&quot;The market gained momentum amid renewed institutional buying, driven by optimism over intensified diplomatic efforts to resolve the US-Iran conflict and expectations of easing geopolitical tensions. Additionally, the prime minister&#39;s approval of the draft auto policy for 2026-31 brought auto stocks back into investors&#39; focus,&quot; Arif Habib Limited Deputy Head of Trading Ali Najib wrote. The proposed auto policy aims to boost automotive exports to $6 billion through tariff rationalisation, localisation and EV incentives. The draft also envisages export-linked incentives and stricter safety standards, subject to requisite approvals. Hub Power, Habib Bank, UBL, OGDC, Mari Energies, PPL, Fauji Fertiliser, Sazgar Engineering, Lucky Cement and NCPL were the major contributors, adding 711 points to the index.

Overall trading volumes decreased to 379.9 million shares from 446.8 million a day ago. The value of traded shares stood at Rs21.3 billion.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/psx-bullish1784102893-0/psx-bullish1784102893-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Cash flow data could unlock SME financing</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2636193/cash-flow-data-could-unlock-sme-financing</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2636193/cash-flow-data-could-unlock-sme-financing#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 26 20:18:29 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2636193</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Digital banking service targets small and medium businesses]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Verifiable sales records and digital cash flows could help Pakistani small businesses overcome a major barrier to bank financing: their inability to demonstrate reliable financial performance, as digital banking platforms seek to bring undocumented businesses into the formal financial system.

A large number of Pakistan&#39;s micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) operate without formal registration or digitised accounts, making it difficult for banks to assess their creditworthiness. Consequently, lenders often demand collateral, which many small businesses cannot provide. Speaking at the launch of NEO BIZ, a digital banking service for SMEs, Mashreq Bank Pakistan CEO Muhammad Hamayun Sajjad said businesses often maintained bookkeeping records that banks did not consider reliable enough for lending decisions.

Pakistan has approximately 7.14 million MSMEs, contributing nearly 40% to gross domestic product (GDP), 30% to exports and employing more than 80% of the non-agricultural workforce. However, outstanding SME financing stood at around Rs882 billion as of December 2025, according to figures cited at the event.

Digital-first banking models could help bridge this gap by creating verifiable records of business transactions, including sales, payments and collections. Banks could use these records to assess turnover, analyse cash-flow patterns and evaluate repayment capacity, potentially enabling creditworthy businesses without conventional financial statements to access loans.

However, digital records alone would not guarantee financing, as lenders would still need to assess profitability, liabilities and business risks. NEO BIZ like services offer digital business account opening and management, payments and collections. Its broader roadmap includes transaction analytics, invoicing, bookkeeping, payroll solutions and business debit and virtual cards.

The planned development also includes cash-flow-based financing, tax facilitation and supply-chain services. Whether these features translate into increased lending will depend on their implementation and banks&#39; credit policies. &quot;Pakistan&#39;s SME sector is both dynamic and under-served, with significant gaps in access, awareness and digital capability,&quot; Sajjad said, adding that the platform was intended to simplify banking and reduce reliance on physical channels.

The initiative comes amid a longstanding debate over whether banks&#39; substantial exposure to government borrowing crowds out private-sector lending. Banks have argued that the relationship is not straightforward, maintaining that they can obtain liquidity through the State Bank of Pakistan open market operations (OMOs) while holding government securities and extending credit to businesses.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/sme-696x391-copy1767041812-0/sme-696x391-copy1767041812-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Envoy seeks shift from 'CT to IT' with US</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2636393/envoy-seeks-shift-from-ct-to-it-with-us</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2636393/envoy-seeks-shift-from-ct-to-it-with-us#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 22 Oct 26 21:06:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2636393</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Washington forum showcases 16 Pakistani tech firms in AI, cloud, fintech and health tech]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan wants to move its relationship with the United States from counterterrorism to information technology, Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh told a tech forum in Washington, describing the shift from &quot;CT to IT&quot; as the goal that would yield a mutually rewarding partnership.

&quot;A key goal is to make a transition in the bilateral relationship from &#39;CT to IT,&#39; moving from counterterrorism to information technology,&quot; the ambassador said at Pakistan-US Tech Connect 2026, hosted by the embassy with the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, OPEN Global and the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB).

The forum brought senior leadership from 16 Pakistani companies in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, data analytics, fintech and healthcare technology together with American counterparts, according to a statement issued on Thursday. It was designed as an executive networking forum to unlock partnerships across enterprise solutions, digital transformation, product development and strategic IT collaboration.

Attendees included Sindh Governor Syed Nehal Hashmi, representatives of major US technology and financial firms, multilateral institutions, government agencies and the Pakistani American business community. Structured executive panel discussions and curated business-to-business sessions sought to convert Pakistan&#39;s IT export capacity into commercial relationships.

The ambassador said the showcase aimed to display the &quot;best and brightest&quot; from the Pakistani tech industry directly to stakeholders in Washington, and its ability to meet international standards in fields such as AI.

&quot;Each time Pakistan and the United States have come together, we have produced results, and results not only for ourselves in the bilateral domain, but results for the whole world,&quot; he said. Hashmi urged the delegation to convert digital capabilities into tangible outcomes, including qualified business opportunities, pilot projects and high-value contracts, saying US enterprises seek partners able to deliver long-term value.

PSEB Chief Executive Officer Faisal Jeddy, Ignite CEO Bilal Abbasi and OPEN Global DC Chapter President Hassan Khalid cited the expansion of Pakistan&#39;s technology sector, noting that the country offers technical talent while the US offers market opportunities.

Panel discussions addressed a shift away from routine IT services and labour arbitrage towards proprietary intellectual property and scalable product innovation.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/ambassador-rizwan-sheikh1792704655-0/ambassador-rizwan-sheikh1792704655-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Govt pushes China for tariff concessions</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2636394/govt-pushes-china-for-tariff-concessions</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2636394/govt-pushes-china-for-tariff-concessions#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 22 Oct 26 21:06:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2636394</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Exporters raised the Punjab infrastructure cess]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan is seeking improved preferential access with major trading partners, including China, South Korea, T&uuml;rkiye, Japan and Vietnam, and has been advocating greater tariff concessions from Beijing in line with the treatment extended to other countries, Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan told a consultative meeting with exporters on Thursday.

He said discussions on preferential trade arrangements with South Korea were progressing, while engagement with other partners continued through diplomatic missions and bilateral consultations.

The meeting reviewed industrial energy costs, particularly the gas levy, and was told the Ministry of Finance had constituted a committee with government and industry representatives to review the levy policy and calculation formula.

Exporters raised the Punjab infrastructure cess, certification charges and repeated documentation amendment fees at the Department of Plant Protection, and proposed proportionate super tax relief linked to export-derived income.

The meeting reviewed the Export Facilitation Scheme&#39;s procedural requirements and eligibility criteria, and discussed business visa restrictions and insurance costs.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/jam-kamal-khan1593752413-0/jam-kamal-khan1593752413-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>'Urdu AI model Buraq to keep data at home'</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2636195/urdu-ai-model-buraq-to-keep-data-at-home</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2636195/urdu-ai-model-buraq-to-keep-data-at-home#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 26 20:18:29 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2636195</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Minister says identity, Raast &amp; WASL exchange must come before AI can scale]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan is building Buraq, its own large language model trained on Urdu and regional languages, and procuring sovereign compute capacity so that Pakistani data is processed within Pakistan, Federal Minister for IT and Telecom said at the Global AI and Digital Summit 2026 in Seoul.

The minister told a World Bank panel on digital government service delivery that the model, and the public compute capacity behind it, form the AI layer of a programme built on four foundations, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of IT on Wednesday.

On digital identity, the National Database and Registration Authority provides verified identity to more than 100 million Pakistanis, now extended into a digital identity that authenticates citizens online and records and enforces consent. On payments, the State Bank&#39;s Raast instant payment rail turns an AI model&#39;s identification of a qualifying household into delivery.

On data, WASL, the national exchange layer of the Digital Public Infrastructure stack built under the World Bank-supported Digital Economy Enhancement Project, lets institutions share data with every transaction authenticated, encrypted and logged. A citizen Super App and the National Open Data Ecosystem sit on top. On safeguards, the National Data Governance Policy sets a single rulebook for classifying, sharing, protecting and publishing public data.

Governments that skip the foundations get pilots that never scale and systems citizens do not trust, she said. AI is the last layer, not the first.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/buraq1792621274-0/buraq1792621274-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Pakistan, US near trade deal</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2635986/pakistan-us-near-trade-deal</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2635986/pakistan-us-near-trade-deal#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 26 21:38:07 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2635986</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Commerce secretary says substantial progress made, technical issues remain with USTR]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan and the United States have achieved substantial progress on several important provisions of their proposed bilateral reciprocal trade agreement, with only a few technical points left to be discussed with the United States Trade Representative (USTR), Commerce Secretary Jawad Paul told a meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan.

The review of the negotiations came during a meeting between the commerce minister and US Charg&eacute; d&#39;Affaires Natalie A Baker to discuss bilateral economic relations, market access and cooperation in agriculture, minerals, technology and investment, according to a statement issued on Tuesday. Both sides expressed commitment to advancing discussions towards a mutually beneficial outcome.

The meeting also discussed market access for Pakistani agricultural products, particularly mangoes and dates. Paul highlighted the need to expedite the visit of relevant US inspection teams for mango export arrangements and sought progress on the pending market access process for Pakistani dates, saying greater access would create export opportunities for growers, particularly in Balochistan. The US delegation indicated willingness to follow up with relevant American authorities.

Both sides also explored enhanced agricultural trade, including US exports of cotton and soybeans to Pakistan. Paul highlighted the importance of competitive pricing and trade financing in facilitating greater imports from the United States, with discussions covering possible financing arrangements and closer coordination with trade institutions and industry associations.

Kamal Khan underlined Pakistan&#39;s potential in agriculture, food processing, livestock and value-added production, and encouraged American companies to explore investment in modern agricultural machinery, food processing technologies, cold-chain infrastructure and improved farming practices. He invited US businesses and agricultural organisations to participate in FoodAg 2026, scheduled in Karachi from November 23 to 26.

The US charg&eacute; d&#39;affaires appreciated Pakistan&#39;s efforts to promote agricultural trade and expressed interest in facilitating engagement between American agricultural technology companies and Pakistani businesses. Kamal Khan identified dates, olive oil and other agricultural products as promising areas for value addition and export development in Balochistan. Minerals and mining also featured in the discussions, with both sides exploring investment, technical cooperation, skills development and responsible resource development.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/jam-kamal-khan1593752413-0/jam-kamal-khan1593752413-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Development hinges on tech innovation</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2635778/development-hinges-on-tech-innovation</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2635778/development-hinges-on-tech-innovation#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 26 21:41:41 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2635778</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Minister says EV charging facilities reflect private sector's efforts to promote clean energy]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain has emphasised that the future of Pakistan depends on sustainable development, technological innovation and responsible investment. &quot;Initiatives such as EV charging facilities demonstrate how the private sector can contribute to national efforts to promote clean energy, reduce environmental pollution and build a greener Pakistan,&quot; he said.

He welcomed the cooperation agreement between StarCharge, a leading global provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging and smart energy solutions, and McDonald&#39;s Pakistan, aimed at expanding access to EV charging facilities and promoting environmentally sustainable transportation across Pakistan.

Speaking at a ceremony, the federal minister appreciated the initiative, describing it as an encouraging step towards developing modern, environmentally friendly infrastructure and accelerating Pakistan&#39;s transition towards cleaner energy solutions.

Under the agreement, StarCharge and McDonald&#39;s Pakistan will explore opportunities to establish EV charging facilities at suitable McDonald&#39;s locations across the country. The proposed collaboration will combine StarCharge&#39;s expertise in EV charging technology with McDonald&#39;s extensive customer network. The two organisations will jointly assess potential locations based on technical feasibility, infrastructure requirements and commercial viability.

The food security minister stressed that the expansion of electric mobility infrastructure would help reduce dependence on conventional fuels, encourage the adoption of environmentally friendly transportation and support Pakistan&#39;s broader objectives of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.

He highlighted the importance of public-private collaboration in introducing modern technologies and attracting investment into emerging sectors of the economy. &quot;Pakistan needs innovative partnerships that translate technological advancement into practical benefits for citizens. The expansion of EV charging infrastructure will not only facilitate electric vehicle users but also encourage greater private-sector participation in sustainable development,&quot; he remarked.

The minister said that environmental sustainability and economic development must advance together, adding that initiatives promoting cleaner transportation could contribute to improved air quality, reduced carbon emissions and a more resilient national economy.

He appreciated the commitment of StarCharge and McDonald&#39;s Pakistan to exploring investment in green infrastructure and expressed hope that their cooperation would encourage other businesses to adopt similar environmentally responsible initiatives. The agreement reflects the growing role of private-sector partnerships in supporting the government&#39;s efforts to encourage electric mobility, strengthen charging infrastructure and promote a cleaner, greener and more sustainable future.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/rana1712639226-0/rana1712639226-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Pakistan showcases AI innovations at UAE fair</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2633366/pakistan-showcases-ai-innovations-at-uae-fair</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2633366/pakistan-showcases-ai-innovations-at-uae-fair#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 26 21:08:26 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2633366</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Pakistani pavilion was inaugurated by Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan is showcasing its growing capabilities in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies at the AI Everything Global 2026, one of the region&#39;s leading public-private gatherings on artificial intelligence, bringing together more than 500 exhibitors and 150 investors from 70 countries.

Pakistan has established a strong presence at the Abu Dhabi event, featuring five leading Pakistani technology companies presenting innovative AI-driven solutions and services including Al data intelligence, Al surveillance, Al sales solutions and sovereign Al. The pavilion has been established under PSEB.

The Pakistani pavilion was inaugurated by Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan. He interacted with participating Pakistani companies and highlighted the importance of enabling Pakistan&#39;s technology sector to play a proactive role in the rapidly evolving global AI landscape.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/331791323287-0/331791323287-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Farmers to get access to AI in daily lives</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2632507/farmers-to-get-access-to-ai-in-daily-lives</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2632507/farmers-to-get-access-to-ai-in-daily-lives#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 26 21:39:07 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2632507</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Parliamentary Secretary says they will be able to forecast their yields and productivity]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The government of Punjab is working towards incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into the daily lives of farmers as the provincial leadership believes in data and technological revolution. This was stated by Parliamentary Secretary Osama Leghari while speaking at the Pakistan Agricultural Coalition&#39;s Agri Connections Conference and Expo on Thursday.

&quot;I hope that during the remaining two and a half years of our tenure, we will successfully lay the foundation through which our farmers will have access to AI and will be able to forecast their yields and productivity,&quot; said Leghari.

He added &quot;a farmer is someone who buys wholesale, sells retail and pays carriage both ways so, we, as a government, have declared this the Year of the Value Chain&quot;. &quot;We are encouraging our partners&quot;.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/ai-r1788191908-0/ai-r1788191908-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>AI risk warnings rattle global markets</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2629308/ai-risk-warnings-rattle-global-markets</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2629308/ai-risk-warnings-rattle-global-markets#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 14 Sep 26 22:06:07 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2629308</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Wall Street's elite tech index, the Nasdaq 100, slid 1.2% to a six-week low in early trading as chip stocks]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[AI-linked stocks plunged worldwide on Monday after leaders of the biggest artificial intelligence companies warned of risks from rapid development, the starkest threat yet to the billions of dollars being poured into the industry that have driven world markets to record highs.

The selloff rippled through the industry, where companies are increasingly relying on debt and circular financing to fund ambitious AI spending plans even as global borrowing costs, reflected in multi-year-high bond yields, continue to rise.

Wall Street&#39;s elite tech index, the Nasdaq 100, slid 1.2% to a six-week low in early trading as chip stocks, which have led the AI sugar rush, fell the most.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/ai-r1789057210-0/ai-r1789057210-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Minister reaffirms BRI commitment at Hong Kong summit</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2628622/minister-reaffirms-bri-commitment-at-hong-kong-summit-1</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2628622/minister-reaffirms-bri-commitment-at-hong-kong-summit-1#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 26 20:18:01 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2628622</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[CPEC was transforming country's economic landscape through cooperation in infrastructure, energy, industrialisation]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan has reaffirmed Pakistan&#39;s commitment to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), saying the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is positioning the country as a regional hub for trade, investment and connectivity, according to a statement issued on Thursday.

Addressing the 11th Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong, he said CPEC was transforming the country&#39;s economic landscape through cooperation in infrastructure, energy and industrialisation.

&quot;Pakistan is emerging as a vital bridge between West, Central and East Asia,&quot; he said, citing expanding rail and road links with China and transit-trade arrangements with Central Asian states.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/jam-kamal-khan1593752413-0/jam-kamal-khan1593752413-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>UK fund eyes expansion of investment footprint</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2628617/uk-fund-eyes-expansion-of-investment-footprint</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2628617/uk-fund-eyes-expansion-of-investment-footprint#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 26 20:17:12 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2628617</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[BII expresses interest in climate finance, renewable energy and power transmission]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[British International Investment (BII) plans to invest at least $2 billion across Asia and Africa under its 2026-31 strategy, with a significant focus on South Asia, and has identified Pakistan as an important investment destination.

BII Managing Director and Head of Asia Srini Nagarajan shared the plans with Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb at a meeting to discuss expanding BII&#39;s investment footprint and mobilising private capital, according to a statement issued on Thursday. Nagarajan expressed BII&#39;s interest in significantly expanding its investment in the country over the coming years, and outlined its focus on mobilising private capital alongside its own investments in infrastructure, climate finance, financial services, technology and private markets.

Aurangzeb welcomed BII&#39;s commitment, highlighting improved macroeconomic stability and investor confidence, alongside the government&#39;s focus on structural reforms, privatisation and private-sector-led growth.

The delegation highlighted the potential of private equity, fund-of-funds structures and private credit to deepen financial intermediation. Nagarajan welcomed capital-market reforms and efforts to improve the investment and exit environment.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/british-investiment1789076009-0/british-investiment1789076009-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Americans hit with record gasoline prices</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2627655/americans-hit-with-record-gasoline-prices</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2627655/americans-hit-with-record-gasoline-prices#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 05 Sep 26 19:56:36 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2627655</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[National average gasoline price will probably hit $4.03 on Labour Day]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[With the war in the Middle East still raising energy costs, Americans face record-high gasoline prices for Labour Day weekend, just as political campaigns kick off for midterm Congressional elections.

The national average gasoline price will probably hit $4.03 on Labour Day, far surpassing the previous record of $3.83 per gallon set in 2012, said GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan. &quot;Gasoline, while not at all-time records, is at its highest level ever recorded this late in the calendar year, meaning Americans could for the first time ever see a national average price of gasoline above $4 per gallon on Labour Day,&quot; De Haan wrote in a blog post.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/untitled-design-21774068195-0/untitled-design-21774068195-0.png" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>China donates livestock vaccines for CPEC 2.0</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2627156/china-donates-livestock-vaccines-for-cpec-20</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2627156/china-donates-livestock-vaccines-for-cpec-20#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 02 Sep 26 22:10:52 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[APP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2627156</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Minister urges scientists to develop focused projects for modernisation]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain has called upon agricultural scientists and researchers to develop focused and innovative projects under the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC 2.0), saying agriculture will be a key component of the mega initiative aimed at enhancing productivity and modernising the sector.

Speaking at a vaccine handover ceremony at the National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), Hussain said the livestock sector constitutes 60% of Pakistan&#39;s agricultural economy and remains vital for rural livelihoods and food security.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China donated veterinary vaccines against lumpy skin disease and brucellosis. Hussain expressed gratitude to the Chinese government and its ministry for the donation.

Highlighting the sector&#39;s economic weight, Hussain noted that livestock contributes significantly to agricultural GDP, provides employment to millions of rural households and supplies essential commodities including milk, meat, hides and skins. He warned that lumpy skin disease and brucellosis pose serious threats to animal health, reproduction and milk production, resulting in heavy economic burdens for smallholder farmers.

Under the prime minister&#39;s directives, the government is placing paramount focus on boosting agricultural productivity. The Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences has been engaged to provide recommendations for modernising research institutions like PARC, with implementation slated to begin within two to three months.

Hussain noted that 1,000 Pakistani students have already returned after acquiring practical knowledge in China and are being integrated into various agricultural sectors. The process to send an additional 1,000 students to China is underway and will be completed by March.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/rana1712639226-0/rana1712639226-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Govt taps HK expertise for virtual assets</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2626989/govt-taps-hk-expertise-for-virtual-assets</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2626989/govt-taps-hk-expertise-for-virtual-assets#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 01 Sep 26 21:51:48 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2626989</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Finance minister appreciated efforts to engage with international policymakers]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan is exploring emerging opportunities in the virtual assets and digital finance ecosystem, including the potential application of blockchain and tokenisation technologies in financial markets, following constructive engagement between the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) and Hong Kong policymakers, according to a statement issued on Tuesday.

PVARA Chairman Bilal Bin Saqib briefed Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb on his recent visit to Hong Kong, where he held discussions with the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, Hong Kong Monetary Authority, and Securities and Futures Commission. The meetings covered international practices relating to digital assets, stablecoins, compliance frameworks and digital financial infrastructure. Saqib shared perspectives on digital financial products, tokenisation and potential areas for institutional cooperation.

Aurangzeb emphasised the importance of developing a responsible, transparent and well-structured digital assets ecosystem that supports innovation while maintaining appropriate safeguards. The finance minister appreciated efforts to engage with international policymakers and stressed the importance of building on these engagements to identify practical use cases that can contribute to the development of Pakistan&#39;s digital financial ecosystem.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/untitled-design-691781586997-0/untitled-design-691781586997-0.png" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Oil slips ahead of US announcement</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2625659/oil-slips-ahead-of-us-announcement</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2625659/oil-slips-ahead-of-us-announcement#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 26 21:06:44 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2625659</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Treasury Department announced new sanctions on 60 individuals]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Oil prices fell more than $2 a barrel on Monday as investors took profits after recent gains and awaited details of expected new US sanctions on Iran, which could further disrupt supplies.

Brent crude futures were down $1.71, or 1.81%, to $92.69 at 1648 GMT, while US WTI crude was at $85.34 a barrel, down $1.72, or 1.98%. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the US was launching an &quot;economic onslaught&quot; against Iran&#39;s financial connections around the globe.

The Treasury Department announced new sanctions on 60 individuals, entities and vessels but that list did not include any of the Chinese financial institutions suspected of facilitating Iran&#39;s oil trade.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/iran-sold-oil1785020521-0/iran-sold-oil1785020521-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item>	</channel>
                </rss>
