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LAHORE: The Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) Punjab Zone has denied that the current surge in sugar prices is due to exports. The Association said that some unfounded misconceptions have been raised in media by linking sugar price hikes with sugar exports without establishing factual factors. A PSMA spokesman explained on Thursday that due to a conservative approach, the sugar industry was not timely allowed export permission which caused serious liquidity issues for the industry. At the end of September 2024, industry had two years of surplus sugar production in pipeline (approximately 1.5 million metric tons valuing Rs 250 billion)…
ISLAMABAD: Minister for National Food Security and Research (MNFS&R) Rana Tanveer Hussain assured the Pakistan Dairy Association (PDA) on Thursday that the government would review the 18 percent General Sales Tax (GST) on packaged milk, which has been increasing costs and creating financial difficulties for processors and farmers. The minister, during a meeting with the delegation of PDA, assured that the government will address the challenges in the dairy sector, particularly reviewing the impact of the 18 percent GST on packaged milk, said a senior official of the MNFSR. He said that the meeting discussed in detail the challenges faced…
KARACHI: The Chairman of National Business Group Pakistan, President of the Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum, President of All Karachi Industrial Alliance, Chairman of the FPCCI Advisory Board, Mian Zahid Hussain said that the textile sector, which has the highest exports and is the second-largest employment-producing sector in the country, is in crisis. Over 100 units have been closed, while many are running at half capacity. In addition, many industrial sectors face difficulties that need immediate attention. Mian Zahid Hussain said that when businesses start, the people will get employment, and the government will get revenue. He said that the…
KARACHI: The Centralized Assessment Unit (CAU) has uncovered a massive Rs5.4 billion FED evasion scheme involving goods misdeclaration by two prominent textile manufacturers. According to the details, the CAU, operating under the Faceless Customs Assessment System (FCAS), has exposed a massive fraud involving the misdeclaration of imported goods, preventing an attempt to evade Rs5.4 billion of Federal Excise Duty (FED) by two prominent textile manufacturers. The investigation began when officials detected one of the accused textile units attempt to falsely declare “Acetate tow” as “Polyester Stable Fiber” in shipments from the UAE to circumvent substantial duty payments required for the…
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan Thursday said that to make PIA’s privatisation more attractive, a new roadmap is being provided and it is expected that all stages of this privatisation process will be completed within the next three months. Aleem Khan said in a statement that all concerns of the parties interested in the process of privatisation of the airline have been addressed properly. Government has decided to make changes according to the preferences of the interested parties for the sale of PIA. PIA sell-off: Privatisation Commission says ‘fully prepared’ for second attempt He emphasised that there is an…
LAHORE: The Punjab government has launched a citrus restoration initiative worth Rs1.2 billion to establish certified nurseries, develop new orchards, and boost production and exports, all aimed at strengthening the national economy. Pakistan’s annual citrus exports have dropped significantly, from $200 million to $130 million, due to the adverse effects of climate change. This has led to the deterioration of citrus orchards, with trees succumbing to various diseases, reducing both the size and shelf life of the fruit. This issue was highlighted during a meeting chaired by Punjab Agriculture and Livestock Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani where efforts to revive…
KARACHI: Chairman, Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA), Hamid Arshad Zahur has appealed to the government for bringing the export based leather sector back to the Fixed Tax Regime (FTR) for the export based leather sector as prevailed prior to the budget 2024-2025, along with restoration of SRO 1125 to bring the leather sector back to the zero rated industry. While appreciating the early refunds of sales tax to its members, Chairman PTA requested the FBR to make the refund payments of outstanding duty draw back payments which are now pending since September 2024 and are now more than 6 months due.…
The US dollar fell in European trade on Thursday against a basket of major rivals, expanding losses for the fourth straight session and plumbing a four-month low amid a heavy selloff. Positive sentiment is dominating the market after German parties announced massive stimulus plans, while Donald Trump decided to exempt cars from the tariffs on Mexico and Canada. Now markets await important US labor data, which could provide crucial pricing to the odds of a Fed rate cut in March. The Index The dollar index fell 0.3% today to 104.02, the lowest since November 6, with…
Beijing’s supportive economic policies and optimism presented at the ongoing parliamentary session have buoyed a new bull run, riding momentum from January’s release of DeepSeek’s groundbreaking artificial intelligence (AI) model that shifted global attention to Chinese assets, while sending Hong Kong and Chinese mainland stock markets on a tear.Analysts have seen a swell of optimism among overseas investors, and some pundits are expecting more fund inflows as the Chinese government is determined to achieve an ambitious 5 per cent economic growth target for this year while using stabilisation tools to counter any uncertainties raised by US President Donald Trump.As China’s…
Every weekday, the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer releases the Homestretch — an actionable afternoon update, just in time for the last hour of trading on Wall Street. Market moves: Stocks are getting hit Thursday on concerns about economic activity, trade policy, and the pace of artificial intelligence infrastructure investment. Tech stocks are especially weak, and a Nasdaq close below 18,157 would send the index into correction territory, down 10% or more from its record-high close of 20,173 back on Dec. 16. Investors did get some hope earlier after President Donald Trump said he would delay tariffs until April…