Friday, January 16 2026

Strong buying at bourse, KSE-100 crosses 185,000 level
Strong buying momentum was observed at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), with the benchmark KSE-100 Index crossing the 185,000 level during the second half of the trading session on Friday. At 2:45pm, the benchmark index was hovering at 185,117.47, an increase of 3,661.14 points or 2.02%. Analysts attributed the buying spree to expectations of a further policy rate cut in the upcoming Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting. “There has been fresh buying from funds and institutional investors, while selling pressure has largely subsided,” Sana Tawfik, Head of Research at Arif Habib Limited, told Business Recorder
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Rupee registers improvement against US dollar
The Pakistani rupee registered marginal gain against the US dollar in the inter-bank market on Friday. At close, the local currency settled at 279.95, a gain of Re0.01 against the greenback. On Thursday, the e local unit closed at 279.96. Internationally, the US dollar was poised for a third weekly gain on Friday after positive US economic data lowered expectations for rate cuts by the Federal Reserve anytime soon. The greenback rose overnight on a surprise decline in weekly jobless figures and was steady in Asian morning trade. The yen remained at levels that risked intervention in currency markets by Japan to defend its currency.
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Federal govt punctures claims of stronger provincial tax performance
Khurram Schehzad, Advisor to the Finance Minister of Pakistan, has challenged claims that Pakistan’s provinces are outperforming the centre in tax collection, presenting Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) data that shows provincial revenues remain far below their potential, despite having large constitutionally assigned tax bases. “There’s a claim circulating that provincial tax performance has been better than the federal, and that this should settle the debate on whether resource allocation needs revisiting,” said Schehzad, in a post on X Friday. “The factual details point to a different conclusion.” According to FBR figures for FY25, shared by Schehzad, the federal government collected over Rs13 trillion in taxes and levies, equivalent to 11.3% of GDP. “Federal collections are on a trajectory to reach 15% of GDP by June 2028,” he said.
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Gold price per tola remains stable in Pakistan
Gold prices in Pakistan remained stable on Friday. In the local market, gold price per tola remained at Rs482,462 during the day. Similarly, 10-gram gold was sold at Rs413,633, according to rates shared by the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA). On Thursday, gold price per tola reached Rs482,462 after a decline of Rs3,700 during the day. The international rate of gold also remained stable at $4,601 per ounce (with a premium of $20). Meanwhile, the price of silver also increased by Rs100 to reach Rs9,525 per tola.
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Nothing political: Pakistan not singled out in US visa curbs, says ex-envoy
Former Pakistan’s envoy to the United States, Hussain Haqqani, has said that Pakistan has not been singled out in the recent US restrictions on immigrant visas, stressing that the move is administrative in nature rather than politically motivated. “Pakistan is not the only country on that list,” said Haqqani on Thursday, during an interview on the Aaj News programme News Insight with Amir Zia. “Many others are included as well — some of them are US allies, and some are even personally close to Trump. The basis for this is that people from these countries, after obtaining green cards or immigration status, try to access America’s social security system.”
Related news categories: business economic-indicators misc