Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan on Wednesday accused that the Sindh government was "dividing" the country amid coronavirus pandemic. The federal and provincial governments will have to work
The Sindh government on notified a new the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for every sector and place of gathering, including mosques, educational institutions and shopping centres.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said on Wednesday that six more people died of coronavirus in the province in the last 24 hours while 45 patients were in a critical condition, and 150 new coronavirus cases had emerged.
The Intern-ational Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected an increase in government gross debt by 1.9 percent to 85.4 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2020 against 83.5 percent in 2019.
The economic stresses caused by the global coronavirus pandemic could spark an outbreak of protests, the International Monetary Fund warned Wednesday, urging governments to take steps to prevent unrest. The IMF cautioned that "some countries remain vulner
US President Donald Trump's move to halt funding to the World Health Organization over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic prompted condemnation on Wednesday from world leaders as recorded global infections approached the 2 million mark. Trump, who h
The coronavirus outbreak will slash global oil demand in 2020 to erase a decade of growth and set up "the worst year in the history" of the sector, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said Wednesday.
With the global economy plunged into the worst recession in a century, the Group of 20 nations on Wednesday announced a one-year debt standstill for the world's poorest nations as they struggle to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Tuesday announced some more incentives to motivate banks and exchange companies for enhancement of home remittances through formal channels.
Wajid Jawad, former chairman of the Export Promotion Bureau (currently Trade Development Authority of Pakistan) has proposed establishment of 'Export Credit Fund' on modern lines for sustaining exports and generating growth.
Under the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) relief package, banks have deferred principal repayment of loans worth Rs 20 billion of over 80 thousands borrowers to facilitate them during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Prime Minister's top aide on accountability formally described sugar mill owners as 'sugar mafia'. This was gauged from the cabinet documents seen by Business Recorder, which also indicate that Inquiry Reports on sugar and wheat were leaked to a few T
Google said Wednesday it will launch an emergency fund to help local news outlets struggling to maintain operations in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.
Prime Minister Imran Khan met with Director General Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed on Wednesday and discussed matters of national importance.
The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), Faisalabad has allowed 132 industrial units to start production which have confirmed export orders but the industry in Karachi is still awaiting such instructions.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has decided the matter of imposition of super tax under Section 4B of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001 as "constitutional and valid".
They say there's always a silver lining even in the midst of a disaster. The news report that India and Pakistan are mulling restoring some economic activity appears to be highly positive development. India and Pakistan are planning to partially reopen th
A furious, aggrieved President Donald Trump dismissed rumors Monday that he was going to fire his top medical advisor on the coronavirus pandemic but launched new fights with the Democrats and the media ahead of the high-stakes reopening of the shuttered
The World, as we knew it, has changed. The global pandemic of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) is a major paradigm shift in all spheres of human activity - from economic to political to societal. Regardless of whether this passes relatively quickly or linge
Would it be stating the obvious to say the fear of economic losses is hand-wrestling with the fear of losing lives? The see-saw of living and making a living is leaving us paralysed? As Ezra Klien quipped, it is hard to decide which is scarier: conversati
In a first for the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), Gulzar Ahmed-led Supreme Court (SC), suo motu notice was taken of the federal and provincial governments' handling of the COVID-19 pandemic after reports sought from these governments on the issue failed
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) released its half yearly report July-December 2019 - a period when Pakistan did not report a single case of the Coronavirus (the first death from the disease was reported on 27 February 2020) and it had not been declared a
The provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday notified relaxation of lockdown for various businesses across the province from Thursday (today) with adherence to precautionary measures as defined by the government.
Brigadier Mohammad Ahmed has assumed the charge of new military secretary to Prime Minister Imran Khan, and replaced the outgoing military secretary Brigadier Waseem Iftikhar Cheema.
With increase in coronavirus cases in the federal capital, the federal government departments are making precautionary arrangements against this pandemic with some departments completely closed, while others maintaining skeleton staff to take care of offi
The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) has pledged Rs36.68 million support towards the Covid-19 response in Pakistan. The first batch of medical equipment support to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Pakistan, has already arrived
The Frontier Works Organization (FWO) is constructing Isolation Hospital and Infectious Treatment Centre (IHITC), a project worth Rs600 million, in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the National Institute of Health (
The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration on Wednesday extended imposition of Section 144 till April 30 in order to control spread of the deadly coronavirus.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that instead of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) it will decide Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa contract employees' case for regularization. A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed, heard the chairman KP Workers Welf
Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar Wednesday said the government was fighting on two fronts, against the COVID-19 and against hunger at the same time.
The government is likely to eliminate Fifth Schedule (conditional exemption of customs duty) of the Customs Act, 1990, introduce zero percent customs duty slab and withdraw additional customs duty and regulatory duties in phases under tariff rationalizati
The Ministry of Energy (Power Division) would start negotiations of power purchase agreements with independent power producers (IPPs) on Thursday (today) under the direction of the prime minister for seeking relaxations based on mutual agreement after an
The Chairman Hyderabad SITE Association of Trade and Industry Mazhar-ul-Haq Choudhry on Wednesday welcomed the decision of the Prime Minister Imran Khan for building unanimous decision of easing lockdown for trade and business activities.
Weather is expected to remain partly cloudy over the most parts of the country on April 23, Thursday, as the Met Office has ruled out chances of moon sighting of Ramazan on that evening.
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) will observe 6 working hours till April 28, 2020 due to Coronavirus pandemic. The SBP will observe office timings from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM from Monday to Thursday and 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Friday.
Patron-in-Chief of the United Business Group (UBG) and former president of the FPCCI, S. M. Muneer, has said that the government should provide interest-free loans to industrialists for 4 years otherwise all industries will be shut down, and the unemploym
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has so far brought back 1800 stranded Pakistanis from different parts of the world during Covid-19 crisis. According to details, the airline through continuous relief flights brought nearly 1800 Pakistanis back during
The Sindh High Court (SHC) has ordered customs authorities to refrain from creating hindrances in petroleum supplies of Z.Y. Company Bulk Terminals (Pvt) Ltd., which are not part of dispute over 1,000 MT motor gasoline imported from Malaysia between them.
Deputy Commissioner Tharparkar Dr Shahzad Tahir Thaheem has said that the district administration is purchasing ration items from the Utility stores as funds have been released by the Sindh Government and ration bags are being distributing among the poor
Sindh High Court (SHC) Wednesday acquitted Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Aamir Khan in a double-murder case. A division bench of SHC set aside the punishment of Aamir Khan and co-accused Tariq Bata in double-murder case in 2004 and orde
The export oriented and construction related sectors are finding it difficult to resume their operations with full capacity due to non-availability of complete supply chain.
Prime Minister's Advisor on Commerce and Investment, Abdul Razak Dawood Wednesday said that Pakistan's economic condition is very critical due to spread of Covid-19 and forecasts of the World Bank and the IMF indicate a dismal economic scenario.
To support the local manufacturers the government has decided to buy Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) for health professionals from the local market except for the N-95 masks.
Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has approved three projects at cost of Rs1.04 billion and recommended one position paper of value Rs175 billion to the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) for consideration.
The Finance Division has extended the cut-off date for the release of Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) funds as well as surrender of anticipated savings by the ministries and divisions for the current fiscal year in an effort to ensure maximum s
The Ministry of Interior on Wednesday said that the passport may be extended manually for a further period of one year on realisation of proportionate fee equivalent to Rs1,000 by submitting application on a plain paper along with copies of passport and c
The federal government's continued blockade of mail delivery services by air and railways as a preventive measure against coronavirus has created confusion due to lack of a clear policy while the Pakistan Post and private courier services are presently de
In the wake of the coronavirus, the cabinet committee of Punjab has recommended the Punjab government not to establish Ramadan bazaars in the province.
While there is no let up in the corona positive cases in the province, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Wednesday announced to increase the testing capacity of coronavirus in the province by 10,000 soon.
The Punjab government has extended lockdown in the province till 12am of 25th April and decided to immediately open low-risk sectors by ensuring implementation of SOPs to prevent corona virus the notification in this regard has been issued.
Reckitt Benckiser Pakistan Limited (RBPL) has officially announced their collaboration with the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSRC), Pakistan.
To combat risk of the spread of Covid-19 from the crowds, Research and Development Foundation (RDF) in collaboration with district administration, has installed hand-washing and safe-drinking facilities at 20 different locations in Hyderabad, under NCA Pa
Traders associations of the twin cities, while expressing serious concern over the government's decision of relaxing lockdown for some industries and extending for others, announced to keep the lockdown till April 30 with reservations.
Wheat harvest operations are in full swing across the country. Back in Oct-19, the Federal Committee on Agriculture set highest ever wheat production target of 27 million tons on an area of 9.2 million hectares for the then upcoming rabi crop season.
The British government on Wednesday dismissed a TV presenter's claim that there could be a link between 5G technology and coronavirus as "complete nonsense".
Turmoil in financial markets created some profitable opportunities for large banks in the first quarter, but results released Wednesday underscored the industry's expectations for a potentially deep US recession.
Malaysian anti-corruption campaigners expressed concern Wednesday that the United States had returned $300 million in funds stolen from the scandal-hit 1MDB state fund to an "unelected" government.
US retail sales suffered a record drop in March and output at factories declined by the most since 1946, buttressing analysts' views that the economy contracted in the first quarter at its sharpest pace in decades as extraordinary measures to control the
Germany in March plunged into a recession set to last until the middle of the year, the economy ministry said Wednesday, as the government readied an extension of the virus-fighting curbs that sparked the slump until May 3.
Apple on Wednesday unveiled a new entry-level iPhone in a launch without fanfare, aiming to appeal to consumers facing a suddenly bleaker economic backdrop.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced Wednesday she will take a 20 percent pay cut in a symbolic act of solidarity with people struggling financially during the coronavirus pandemic.
Millions of people in rural India will be allowed back to work next week despite a nationwide coronavirus lockdown, the government said Wednesday, as it conceded the hardships of shutting its vital farming economy were too great.
China on Tuesday denied criticising France's response to the coronavirus pandemic, saying there had been "misunderstandings" after French officials summoned the Chinese ambassador in Paris.
Some 74 million people in the water-scarce Arab region are at greater risk of catching the novel coronavirus because they lack a sink or soap at home, the United Nations said Wednesday.
Kayleigh McEnany, a former Fox News figure who is fiercely loyal to President Donald Trump, took over Wednesday as his new press secretary, entering the high-profile job at a time of turmoil in White House relations with the press.
Former White House hopeful Elizabeth Warren on Wednesday endorsed her onetime rival Joe Biden, becoming the final major Democratic candidate to publicly support his presidential bid.
People infected with the new coronavirus may start spreading the virus several days before they have any noticeable symptoms, according to a new modelling study published Wednesday.
Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures fell on Tuesday as strong global crop prospects outweighed a cold snap in the southern US Great Plains that could trim production, traders said.
Euronext wheat was lower on Tuesday as US prices fell sharply and a much-anticipated return to the market by Egypt brought only a small purchase by the world's top wheat importer.
US corn futures fell for a second straight session on Tuesday on demand worries as coronavirus restrictions limit travel and ethanol fuel use, and as weak livestock prices stoke fears of herd contraction, traders said.
The Karachi Port handled 70,346 tonnes of cargo comprising 48,777 tonnes of import cargo and 21,569 tonnes of export cargo including 3,469 loaded and empty containers during the last 24 hours ending at 0700 hours on Wednesday.
No major activity was witnessed on the cotton market as the government has extended the lock down for another two weeks. Textile sector has appealed the Prime Minister Imran Khan to extend the last date of the payment of gas bills. They were of the view t
US natural gas futures fell over 4% on Tuesday as the market focused more on projections that steps to slow the coronavirus spread will cut future demand rather than short-term forecasts for cooler weather and higher heating use over the next two weeks.
Shares in the Middle East ended in the red on Wednesday following warnings of the worst global recession since the 1930s, underlining the economic damage done by the coronavirus outbreak.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei index ended lower on Wednesday, after touching a month-high in the previous session, due to a selloff in value stocks that took a hit from worries over a looming recession. Investors still favoured defensive shares such as healthc
European shares closed firmly in the red on Wednesday, ending a five-day rally as the first batch of earnings reports underlined the business damage from the coronavirus pandemic, while energy stocks sank on worries of a plunge in oil demand.
China shares closed lower on Wednesday, as investor worries over an expected sharp drop in the country's first-quarter economic growth offset a brief boost from a widely expected cut to medium-term lending rates.
The S&P 500 recoiled on Wednesday from a four-week high, as dire forecasts for the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression were strengthened by a crash in business activity and dismal first-quarter earnings reports.
US stocks jumped on Tuesday as optimism that the Trump administration could move to ease lockdowns from the coronavirus outbreak overshadowed worrying earnings reports from JPMorgan and Wells Fargo.
Southeast Asian stocks ended mixed on Wednesday, with losses led by Indonesia and Thailand, as warnings of a global recession and a sharp decline in oil prices offset a key interest rate cut by the Chinese central bank.
Signs of a longer lockdown in Britain knocked 4% off UK's midcap shares on Wednesday, while plunging oil prices hit the commodity-heavy FTSE 100 index. The FTSE Mid 250 index, comprising companies more exposed to the British economy, posted sharper losses
The Indonesian rupiah strengthened on Wednesday, a day after the country's central bank held interest rates steady and unveiled measures to ease the liquidity crunch stemming from the coronavirus-induced economic stress.
The pound fell back on Wednesday from one-month highs against the dollar and euro as investors realised it was too early to be optimistic about a recovery from the coronavirus crisis.
Bleak US retail sales figures and a dramatic drop in New York state manufacturing data sent the dollar higher on Wednesday as investors fled risk assets for safe havens.
The dollar rebounded on Wednesday amid growing concerns that the damage to the global economy from the coronavirus pandemic will be long and protracted, boosting the safe-haven appeal of the greenback.
ICE cotton futures eased on Wednesday on the back of weaker equities as dismal US economic data exacerbated fears of the coronavirus-driven economic toll.
Copper fell on Wednesday as moves by China's central bank to bolster the economy were overshadowed by predictions of a deep global recession, which drove down stock markets and oil prices.
Oil prices were mixed on Wednesday after the United States reported a 19 million-barrel jump in inventories, the biggest weekly build ever, while forecasts showed global demand crumbling to its lowest levels in a quarter-century due to the coronavirus pan
Raw sugar hit 1-1/2 year lows below 10 cents per lb on Wednesday as the impact of coronavirus-related lockdowns again hammered oil prices and tempted Brazilian cane mills to increase sugar output at the expense of the biofuel ethanol.