Pakistan aims to agree outline of new IMF loan in May, says finance minister
WASHINGTON: Pakistan hopes to agree the contours of a new International Monetary Fund loan in May, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb told Reuters, and has kicked off talks with rating agencies to lay the groundwork for a return to international debt markets. The country’s current $3 billion arrangement with the fund runs out in late April […]
Profit-booking pulls stocks down marginally
KARACHI: Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Thursday closed with marginal losses as dispirited investors continued to book profits at higher valuations. In the morning, trading commenced on a positive note as the KSE-100 index touched the intra-day high of 70,645.29 points in the initial hours but soon it stumbled over concerns about the poor economic […]
Korda makes strong start to LPGA record bid
MIAMI: Nelly Korda made a strong start to her bid for a record-equalling fifth straight LPGA Tour win with a four-under-par 68 Thursday at the Chevron Championship, the first women’s major of the year. The world number one from the United States was two strokes behind leader and compatriot Lauren Coughlin, who shot a superb […]
Textile exports dip 7.7% as pessimism prevails
LAHORE: Textile exports from Pakistan have again slipped into the negative territory as March 2024 figurers showed a month-on-month (MoM) decline of 7.67%, marking the second consecutive month when global sales of the major sector of the economy slowed down. Textile exports came in at $1.299 billion in March against shipments valuing at $1.407 billion […]
Duplantis to unleash ‘inner’ pole vault contest as Olympics beckon
PARIS: Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis kicks off his outdoor season at the Xiamen Diamond League meet on Saturday confident that his “inner” competition will keep pushing him to new heights. The US-born Swede has dominated men’s pole vaulting over the last three seasons, setting seven world records and packing out his trophy case as opponents fail […]
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia vow to solidify efforts in defence collaboration
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on Friday agreed to solidify efforts in defence collaboration, with the army chief reaffirming the army’s continued support towards capacity building of Royal Saudi Land Forces, said a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The assertion came during a meeting between Army Chief General Asim Munir and the kingdom’s Assistant Minister of […]
Countries urge de-escalation after reports of Israeli attack on Iran
TEHRAN: Countries around the world urged de-escalation after Iran’s state media reported explosions in the central province of Isfahan Friday, as US media quoted officials saying Israel had carried out retaliatory strikes on its arch-rival. Air defence systems over several Iranian cities were activated, state media reported, after the country’s official broadcaster said explosions were heard […]
Tap semiconductor sector, says Tarar
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Thursday stressed enhanced collaboration between the public and private sectors to accelerate the country’s economic development. Speaking at the First Pakistan Semiconductor Summit, he highlighted the establishment of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) to attract investment and ensure ‘ease of doing business’. The minister […]