menu_open Columnists
Aamir Shafaat Khan

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Dawn Business

We use cookies to provide some features and experiences in QOSHE

More information  .  Close

Consumers face tomato shock amid govt’s inaction

Consumers face tomato shock amid govt’s inaction

• Price surges to Rs560 per kg • Pulses stay costly despite global drop • Poultry prices fall amid overproduction KARACHI: The price of...

previous day 10

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Gold crosses Rs456,000 per tola

KARACHI: Domestic gold prices surged to a record high on Friday, with one tola (24kt) reaching Rs456,900 and 10 grams hitting Rs391,718 — marking an...

sunday 40

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Pakistan leads region in used car imports

KARACHI: The import of used cars in Pakistan is much higher than its regional peers and other countries. However, different countries have implemented...

07.10.2025 20

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Gold hits Rs403,600 per tola

KARACHI: Gold prices reached a record high of Rs403,600 per tola on Monday, up Rs5,900 from Saturday, as consumers continue to face fluctuating rates...

01.10.2025 20

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Tax filing gaps highlighted in jewellery sector

KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has revealed that more than 14,000 jewellers out of 35,000 registered have not filed income tax returns,...

29.09.2025 60

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Call for wheat imports to avert further rise in flour prices

KARACHI: Wheat importers have warned of an imminent supply gap of around 3 million tonnes and urged the government to allow immediate imports to...

25.09.2025 20

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Auto sector warns draft law may ‘criminalise’ business

KARACHI: The country’s auto sector has raised strong objections to the draft Motor Vehicles Industry Development Act 2025, warning that instead of...

17.09.2025 10

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Stakeholders differ over flood impact on supplies

KARACHI: Business stakeholders have expressed divergent views on the impact of floods on supply chains, with some citing delays in interprovincial...

15.09.2025 20

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Rains again halt Karachi’s industrial activities, disrupt supply chains

KARACHI: The industrial sector in Karachi was significantly impacted on Wednesday as heavy rains and flooding paralysed key industrial areas....

12.09.2025 20

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Yamaha discontinues bike assembly as part of ‘change in business strategy’

KARACHI: In a significant development for Pakistan’s organised auto sector, Yamaha Motor Pakistan Ltd (YMPL) has announced the discontinuation of...

11.09.2025 20

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Consumers face higher prices of flour, roti across country

KARACHI: Following a surge in sugar prices, consumers are now facing higher costs for flour and roti across various parts of Pakistan as wheat and...

10.09.2025 20

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

A legacy of unachieved auto goals

With the current auto policy soon expiring in June 2026, it is unfortunate that targets fixed under it between 2007 and 2025 have remained largely...

09.09.2025 20

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Gold hits record Rs376,000 per tola

KARACHI: Gold prices in Pakistan surged to new all-time highs on Wednesday, continuing the upward trend in the global market. The price of 10 grams of...

05.09.2025 10

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Flour millers blame Punjab ban for wheat crisis

KARACHI: As consumers continue to pay inflated prices for various flour types, millers have accused the Punjab government of creating an artificial...

04.09.2025 20

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Flour prices climb as supply concerns mount

KARACHI: Wheat and flour prices have surged sharply in Karachi’s wholesale market, raising fresh concerns about food inflation and market supply,...

03.09.2025 20

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Punjab floods disrupt supply chains; inflation risks loom

• Goods transporters report delays on routes other than motorways • Transport alliance urges Punjab administrations to install diversion signs for...

01.09.2025 40

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Gold exports in crisis as traders urge revival of SRO 760

KARACHI: Pakistan’s gold and jewellery export sector is facing a severe crisis following the abrupt suspension of SRO 760 on May 6, which halted...

29.08.2025 10

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Declining lending rates drive surge in auto loans

KARACHI: Outstan­ding auto loans rose to Rs285.6 billion in July, up from Rs276.6bn in June, marking the eighth consecutive month of growth,...

28.08.2025 10

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Wheat, vegetable prices surge as market disruptions continue

KARACHI: After over a year of price stability driven by declining interest rates and encouraging economic indicators, consumers are now facing rising...

25.08.2025 10

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Karachi deluge cripples industries, halts exports

KARACHI: Torrential rains on Tuesday severely disrupted industrial operations across Karachi, with many factories unable to resume afternoon and night...

21.08.2025 30

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Worn clothing imports rise as poverty surges to 45pc

• Arrival of used clothing hits a record $511m in FY25 • Flea markets have become vital for low-income groups as new branded goods become...

16.08.2025 40

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Auto sales see annual growth amidst monthly decline

KARACHI: After a 43pc surge during FY25, the new fiscal year FY26 began on a positive note, with sales of cars, light commercial vehicles (LCVs),...

14.08.2025 10

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Record food imports, skyrocketing prices hit masses

KARACHI: Pakistan’s food import bill rose to a record $8.14bn in FY25, up 3pc from $7.90bn in FY24, as imports of palm oil, soybean oil, pulses and...

08.08.2025 10

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Industry faces threat from influx of used vehicles

KARACHI: Local auto parts manufacturers have warned of a potential shutdown of Pakistan’s car assembly industry within the next two years if the...

03.08.2025 10

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Industry faces threat from influx of used vehicles

KARACHI: Local auto parts manufacturers have warned of a potential shutdown of Pakistan’s car assembly industry within the next two years if the...

03.08.2025 7

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

High interest rate stokes private sector woes

KARACHI: The business community, except multinationals, has expressed intense disappointment over the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) decision to...

01.08.2025 10

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Transparency in gold trade sought

KARACHI: Senior security officials on Monday held a meeting with bullion traders to address concerns over gold price speculation, rising rates, and...

30.07.2025 10

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Exporting produce at a cost

High production in the two most sought-after crops (onions and potatoes) has resulted in an all-time high vegetable export of 1.395 million tonnes...

22.07.2025 20

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Business bodies divided over today’s strike call

KARACHI: Confusion gripped the business community on Friday as key trade and industry bodies appeared divided over whether the countrywide strike...

20.07.2025 10

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Auto loans rise for seventh month on low interest rates

KARACHI: Low interest rates continued to attract buyers towards auto financing, with outstanding car loans rising to Rs276.6bn by the end of June —...

19.07.2025 20

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Imports surge as pulse production dips

The import of pulses has reached an all-time high of 1.32 million tonnes ($918m) in just 10 months of FY25, breaking the record of 1.315m tonnes...

15.07.2025 10

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Auto sales surge despite tractor setback

KARACHI: Pakistan’s auto industry posted a strong rebound in FY25, with double- and triple-digit growth across most segments, signalling a revival...

12.07.2025 20

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

PBC criticises industrial policy sans consultation

KARACHI: The Pakistan Business Council (PBC) has expressed surprise over the federal government’s approval of a new industrial policy without prior...

07.07.2025 10

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Automobile prices surge after budgetary levies

KARACHI: Following the imposition of a carbon levy and an increase in sales tax under the federal budget 2025-26, several automobile assemblers have...

06.07.2025 40

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Business leaders decry new tax measures, warn of strike

KARACHI: As banners condemning the proposed Finance Bill 2025-26 appeared across Karachi, businessmen voiced strong opposition to both the federal...

28.06.2025 10

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Low taxes fail to spur hybrid adoption in Pakistan

• Difference in upfront cost of hybrid, petrol cars is around Rs4m • Maintenance charges also make timeline to recover initial investment on...

24.06.2025 50

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Monetary policy draws mixed reaction

KARACHI: While multinationals praised the State Bank’s decision to maintain the interest rate at 11 per cent, local businessmen on Monday expressed...

18.06.2025 20

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Business leaders slam Centre, Sindh for ignoring Karachi

• For third year, no new mega project announced for the country’s economic hub • Meagre allocations for Sukkur motorway and K-IV projects...

16.06.2025 40

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Automobile sales flourish in May

KARACHI: Sales of cars, sport utility vehicles, pickups and vans clocked in at 14,762 units in May, reflecting a rise of 35 per cent year-on-year and...

14.06.2025 10

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Importers hastily raise prices of solar power systems

KARACHI: A worker at a shop arranges solar panels on Wednesday. According to Topline Securities, the country imported $2 billion worth of solar panels...

13.06.2025 10

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Budget lacks steps to cure economic ills, complain industry leaders

KARACHI: Some businessmen have extended a cautious welcome while others have labelled it a “camouflage budget” due to its unrealistic targets and...

12.06.2025 40

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Auto sector raises red flags over tariff reforms, used car imports

KARACHI: As the government prepares to unveil the federal budget for the next fiscal year, the upcoming National Tariff Policy 2025-30 — designed...

08.06.2025 30

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Business leaders demand tax relief for salaried class and industries in budget

Ehsan Malik, Pakistan Business Council CEO KARACHI: Business leaders have advised the government to avoid surprises in the upcoming federal budget...

01.06.2025 20

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Auto financing rises

KARACHI: Amid falling lending costs, auto financing increased by 2 per cent month-on-month and 12pc year-on-year to Rs263 billion in April. This was...

22.05.2025 20

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Fertiliser makers upset at tax hike proposal

KARACH: Fertiliser makers are upset over reports that the government intends to increase the federal excise duty on key ingredients to 10 per cent in...

16.05.2025 30

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Auto sales fall 5pc in April

KARACHI: Sales of cars, sports utility vehicles, pickups and vans clocked in at 10,596 units in April, reflecting a one per cent year-on-year (YoY)...

15.05.2025 10

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Commercial imports of used vehicles sought

KARACHI: As the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is pushing the government for rationalisation of tariffs on the auto industry, the All Pakistan Car...

14.05.2025 10

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

IMF wants cut in auto tariffs

KARACHI: The local auto industry and its suppliers are facing uncertainty ahead of the FY26 budget as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is...

12.05.2025 30

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Industry insists SBP policy rate cut ‘inadequate’

KARACHI: Contrary to the cautious welcome by the multinational companies, the entire business community slammed the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) for...

07.05.2025 10

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan

Assemblers announce price ‘adjustments’

KARACHI: Amid growing uncertainty over a war-like situation between Pakistan and India, auto assemblers on Wednesday surprised customers with price...

02.05.2025 10

Dawn Business

Aamir Shafaat Khan