Rs1tr PSDP marked by political priorities

Marred by political considerations and fiscal constraints, the coalition government has proposed a Rs1 trillion Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for FY2025-26 – a significant cut from last year’s original Rs1.4 trillion allocation. The reduced PSDP reflects the government’s prioritization of infrastructure projects, particularly roads, often aligned with coalition allies’ interests. In contrast, funding for […]

Salaried class gets tax relief

In a much-needed relief for the tax-burdened and inflation-stricken government employees, the government jacked up their salaries by 10% along with a 4% cut in income tax rate across various slabs in the federal budget unveiled on Tuesday. The government has taken a significant step to provide substantial relief to lower and middle-income sectors, proposing […]

Monsoon contingency plan chalked out

Balochistan Chief Secretary (CS) Shakeel Qadir Khan on Tuesday chaired a meeting to review preparations for the forecast of 2025 monsoon. The main objective of the meeting is to mobilize all relevant institutions and deal with the possible challenges of the monsoon under a coordinated strategy. Secretary Irrigation Hafiz Abdul Majid, DG PDMA, while all […]

US, E3 submit Iran resolution at IAEA

European powers and the United States submitted a resolution to the UN’s nuclear watchdog board on Tuesday condemning Iran’s “non-compliance” with its nuclear obligations, in a bid to up pressure on Tehran, diplomats told AFP. “The text has been submitted,” three diplomatic sources told AFP on Tuesday night. Paris, Berlin, London and Washington formally tabled […]

PSX soars to new peak

The Pakistan Stock exchange (PSX) closed at a record high on Tuesday, though the benchmark KSE-100 index fluctuated within a narrow range amid uncertainty surrounding the budget announcement. The index registered the intra-day high of 970 points and intra-day low of 51 points, before settling at 122,024, an increase of 383 points. Analysts noted that […]

Status quo maintained on equity taxes

The Federal Budget FY26 has been largely welcomed by market participants, particularly equity investors, as it avoids raising capital gains or dividend taxes while introducing policies favouring equities over fixed income. While some sectors stand to benefit, others face selective pressures, resulting in a broadly balanced economic impact. For the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), the […]