Thursday, February 19 2026

Selling observed at PSX, KSE-100 sheds nearly 2,200 points
Selling pressure was observed at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), with the benchmark KSE-100 Index shedding nearly 2,200 points during the opening minutes of trading on Thursday. At 9:50am, the benchmark index was hovering at 176,695.31, a decrease of 2,157.78 points or 1.21%. Selling was observed in key sectors, including cement, commercial banks, fertilizer, oil and gas exploration companies, OMCs, power generation and refinery. Index-heavy stocks, including ARL, HUBCO, MARI, OGDC, PPL, POL, PSO, SNGPL, MCB, MEBL and NBP, traded in the red. The Privatisation Commission Board (PC Board) under the chairmanship of Muhammad Ali, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation and Chairman, Privatisation Commission, constituted a Negotiation Committee to engage with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to negotiate the terms of a potential Financial Advisory Services Agreement (FASA) in connection with the proposed privatisation of Islamabad International Airport (IIA).
Related news categories: business economic-indicators psx stock-exchanges

Govt working to support SMEs, export-oriented industries: Rafaqat
Secretary Planning & Development Board Punjab Rafaqat Ali said at a meeting held at Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry that the government is taking practical steps to improve the country’s economic situation, and close coordination with the private sector is necessary to promote industry and trade. He said the government is working on several pilot programs to support SMEs and export-oriented industries. He added that under the Asaan Karobar Scheme, industries are being provided interest-free financial assistance for export-related value addition, and there is consideration to expand this program further. On this occasion, LCCI President Faheem Ur Rehman Saigol welcomed him while Vice President Khurram Lodhi and Executive Committee members Rana Shouban Akhtar and Irfan Qureshi were also present.
Related news categories: business economic-indicators misc

FBR directs businesses, professionals to integrate e-invoicing with income tax system
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Wednesday night issued a comprehensive list of businesses including professionals and service providers to register, install and integrate their electronic invoicing hardware and software with the Board’s computerized system for the purpose of income tax. According to an SRO.288(I)/2026 issued late night (Wednesday), the integrated enterprises (businesses) through Board’s online system shall provide information of their outlets, points of sale or electronic invoicing transactions. No supply shall be made by the integrated enterprises except through the integrated outlets, point of sale or electronic invoice or bill issuing machines.
Related news categories: business economic-indicators misc

PTCL battery theft shuts phone, internet services
The theft of backup batteries from a Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) mini exchange, located in the parking lot of the Alfalah Building near the Punjab Assembly has caused a shutdown of telephone and internet services due to the lack of main power supply. This incident has affected thousands of businesses in the area. The theft was discovered on Wednesday morning when the main power supply went out, and without the backup batteries, both internet and voice services ceased to function. Upon receiving numerous complaints, a PTCL team visited the mini exchange to investigate the issue and found the battery compartment broken, with the batteries missing.
Related news categories: business economic-indicators tech-comm

Dollar perks up as Fed appears in no rush to cut rates
The dollar was off recent lows on Thursday and hanging on to a bounce after minutes from the Federal Reserve showed policymakers did not seem to be in a rush to cut interest rates and that several were open to hikes if inflation proved sticky. US yields were higher and the dollar’s overnight gains against the euro and yen were consolidated in early trade in Asia, holding the euro below $1.18. The Aussie dollar held at $0.7045 after employment data showed the jobless rate stayed at multi-month lows of 4.1%. The New Zealand dollar was smarting, having notched its steepest percentage drop since last April’s tariff blitz, after the central bank took a cautious line about future interest rate hikes, undershooting market expectations.
Related news categories: business misc