Wednesday, June 24 2026

Buying observed at PSX, KSE-100 up 600 points in early trade
Buying activity was observed at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), with the benchmark KSE-100 Index gaining over 600 points during the opening minutes of trading on Wednesday. At 10:05am, the benchmark index was hovering at 178,345.60, up by 652.68 points or 0.37%. Buying momentum was observed in key sectors, including automobile assemblers, cement, commercial banks, fertiliser, oil and gas exploration companies, OMCs and power generation. Index-heavy stocks, including KE, MARI, OGDC, POL, PPL, HBL, MCB, NBP and UBL, traded in the green.
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‘Belt & Road Trade & Investment Forum’: Pakistan advocates new phase of China-South Asia industrial cooperation
Pakistan has emphasized the need to advance China–South Asia economic cooperation from traditional trade relations toward deeper industrial partnerships during the 2026 Belt and Road Trade and Investment Forum, held in Beijing under the theme “Creating the New Pattern for a Shared Future.” Atif Ikram Sheikh, Vice President of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Pakistan Chapter) has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), describing the country as a key partner in promoting regional connectivity, trade, investment, and economic integration across South Asia.
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SBP allows non-bank investors to participate in GIS auctions
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has expanded investor access to Government of Pakistan Ijarah Sukuk (GIS) auctions conducted on a Bai-Muajjal basis, allowing non-bank investors, including corporate, investment funds and individuals, to participate alongside Islamic banks and Islamic banking branches. The move is aimed at broadening the investor base, enhancing market liquidity and supporting the development of Pakistan’s Islamic finance sector. SBP, in 2025, decided that Government of Pakistan (GOP) may outright purchase GIS on deferred payment basis (Bai-Muajjal) and sell these GIS on ready payment basis through uniform price based competitive bidding auction process. However, initially only Islamic banks and Islamic banking branches were eligible to participate in these auctions.
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SBP blames high govt borrowing for diluting tight monetary policy impact
Excessive government borrowing from the banking sector, indirect taxes, and the informal economy dilute the impact of tight monetary policy in controlling inflation, a senior official of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said on Tuesday. Dr. Fayyaz Hussain, Additional Director, Monetary Policy Department, SBP, stated this in a webinar on the topic of ‘Managing Stability During Uncertain Times: Role of Monetary Policy in Pakistan’ organised by Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE). He said that excessive borrowing from the banking sector affects the demand and objective of tight monetary policy. Apart from this, it also crowded out the private sector from borrowing because banks have more incentive to lend money to risk-free government securities.
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35 changes made in Finance Bill, 2026: Airlines get sales tax exemption on aircraft import
The government has made over 35 major changes in the Finance Bill 2026 and amended Finance Bill to allow all Pakistani airlines to avail sales tax exemption on the import or lease of aircrafts and its parts from July 1, 2027. According to the amendments approved in the Finance Bill 2026 on Tuesday, a new entry in sales tax exemption schedule said, “Import or lease of aircrafts and parts thereof by any airline company registered in Pakistan. This will be effective from July 1, 2027”. Some amendments relating to the Climate Support Levy in the original Finance Bill 2026 have been dropped through amendments in the Finance Bill.
Related news categories: business economic-indicators misc transport