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Shahid Iqbal

Shahid Iqbal

Business Recorder

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SBP issues criteria for Raast participants

KARACHI: To reduce cash transactions through digitalisation, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) issued a criterion on Saturday to enhance the technical...

monday 20

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Profit outflows surge 90pc in July-Jan

Profit outflows surge 90pc in July-Jan

KARACHI: The profit outflows slightly decreased in January but were still higher by 90 per cent in the first seven months of FY25, according to State...

22.02.2025 30

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Current account changes track, posts $420m deficit in Jan

Current account changes track, posts $420m deficit in Jan

KARACHI: The current account posted a deficit of $420 million last month, almost the same as in Jan 2024, but the deficit slashed a rising surplus...

20.02.2025 20

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Housing shortfall hits 12m units

Housing shortfall hits 12m units

KARACHI: More than 12 million houses are required across the country and the demand is rising due to negative growth in this sector. Some banking...

19.02.2025 10

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Domestic debt up by Rs2.5tr in six months

Domestic debt up by Rs2.5tr in six months

KARACHI: The federal government’s domestic debt surged by Rs2.5 trillion in the first half of the current fiscal year despite significant support...

16.02.2025 40

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Businesses repay banks Rs440bn in a fortnight

Businesses repay banks Rs440bn in a fortnight

KARACHI: After witnessing a steep increase in liquidity inflows during the first six and half months of the current fiscal year, the private sector...

14.02.2025 10

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Remittances surge $5bn in 7 months

KARACHI: Amid a robust inflow of remittances, Pakistan met the $5 billion annual growth target in the first seven months of the current fiscal year. ...

12.02.2025 30

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Banks’ investment in risk-free govt papers surges to Rs26tr

Banks’ investment in risk-free govt papers surges to Rs26tr

KARACHI: Banks’ investments in government papers reached Rs26 trillion by December 2024, contributing 57.6 per cent to the central government’s...

10.02.2025 20

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Local makers meet 95pc demand for smartphones in 2024

Local makers meet 95pc demand for smartphones in 2024

KARACHI: The production of locally manufactured or assembled mobile phones increased by 28 per cent in December 2024 amid high demand for low-priced...

09.02.2025 20

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

SBP buys $3.8bn to repay debt, boost reserves

SBP buys $3.8bn to repay debt, boost reserves

KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) purchased about $3.8 billion from banks in the first four months of the current fiscal year to improve its...

07.02.2025 20

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Low interest rate fails to spur growth

KARACHI: Despite a steep fall in the interest rate, the monetary expansion remained negative during the first seven months of the current fiscal year....

03.02.2025 20

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Foreigners withdraw 87pc money from T-bills

KARACHI: Pakistan witnessed 87 per cent foreign investment withdrawal from treasury bills (T-bills) due to a sharp reduction in profit rates in almost...

31.01.2025 10

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Govt’s commercial borrowing to shake rupee confidence

KARACHI: Currency market experts have warned that the absence of channels for attracting dollar inflows could pressure the rupee as the government may...

27.01.2025 20

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

NON-FICTION: WHAT AILS PAKISTAN’S ECONOMY?

A slim book is a good starting point for those who want to have a basic idea about Pakistan’s economic problems and policies over

26.01.2025 30

Dawn (Magazines)

Shahid Iqbal

Bank credit to private sector surges manifold

KARACHI: Bank advances to the private sector surged manifold during the first half of the current fiscal year. However, the textile sector — the...

26.01.2025 20

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Govt slashes T-bill rates by up to 41bps

KARACHI: The government again slashed the cut-off yields on treasury bills at the auction on Wednesday, reflecting a higher possibility of ano­t­her...

24.01.2025 10

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Repatriation of profit surges 114pc

KARACHI: The outflow of profit and dividends on foreign investments surged 114 per cent during the first half of the current fiscal year. The profit...

22.01.2025 40

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Current account posts $1.2bn surplus in July-Dec

KARACHI: The current account posted another surplus of $582 million in December 2024, bringing the total surplus for the first half of the current...

19.01.2025 10

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Govt raises Rs421bn, cuts yields on PIBs

KARACHI. The gover­nment on Wednesday rai­sed Rs421 billion through the auction of Pakistan Investment Bonds (PIBs) against the total bids of Rs1.5...

17.01.2025 20

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Govt retires Rs1.5tr bank debt

KARACHI: The government retired Rs1.541 trillion in commercial banks’ debt during the first half of the current fiscal year against a net borrowing...

16.01.2025 20

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

64pc of adults now have bank accounts

KARACHI: Financial inclusion, i.e the share of the adult population operating a bank account, has jumped from 16 per cent in 2015 to 64pc in 2023,...

15.01.2025 20

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Govt utilises 63pc of Roshan Digital Acc­ount inflows

KARACHI: Pakistan utilised 63 per cent of inflows it received through the Roshan Digital Acc­ount (RDA) by the end of Decem­ber 2024, reported the...

13.01.2025 30

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Remittances, exports will stabilise economy: SBP chief

KARACHI: State Bank Governor Jameel Ahmed expressed hopes on Thursday that an uptick in remittances and dip in inflation would lend stability to the...

11.01.2025 30

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Four Pakistani banks in S&P’s Asia-Pacific top 10 list

KARACHI: Four Pakistani banks ranked as the best among the top 10 Asia Pacific lenders in 2024, reported S&P Global Intelligence on Wednesday....

10.01.2025 20

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Banks advance record Rs1.9tr to private sector

KARACHI: The private sector borrowed a record Rs1.9 trillion from banks during the first half of FY25, registering a surge of 265 per cent from the...

08.01.2025 10

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

SBP reserves fall $371m in two weeks

KARACHI: The fast erosion of foreign exchange reserves has made it doubtful for the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to reach the $13 billion target by...

04.01.2025 9

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Paid-up capital for exchange companies doubled to Rs1bn

KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has almost doubled an exchange company’s minimum paid-up capital requirement to Rs1 billion. On Friday,...

29.12.2024 6

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Govt makes no budgetary borrowing in first half

KARACHI: The government borrowings from banks for budgetary support were negative during the first half of the current fiscal year ending Dec 31,...

27.12.2024 10

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Govt raises Rs1.6tr as T-bill yields hold steady

KARACHI: The government raised Rs1.65 trillion through the auction of Treasury Bills (T-bills) and Pakistan Investment Bonds (PIBs) on Tuesday,...

26.12.2024 10

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

64pc foreign investment withdrawn from T-bills

KARACHI: About 64 per cent of foreign investments in treasury bills (T-bills) have been withdrawn and returned to their destinations, disappointing...

25.12.2024 30

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Banks meet ADR limit to avoid tax

KARACHI: The banks have nearly achieved a 50 per cent advance-to-deposit ratio (ADR) to avoid the incremental tax imposed by the government if they...

23.12.2024 20

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Digital retail payments surge to Rs36tr: SBP

KARACHI: Retail payments through digital channels grew 9 per cent in volume to 1,699 million transactions valuing Rs36 trillion in the first quarter...

22.12.2024 20

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Dollar outflow jumps 112pc in five months

KARACHI: Amid improvements in foreign exchange reserves, Pakistan has eased the outflow of profits and dividends, which surged by 112 per cent in...

20.12.2024 7

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Current account posts fourth straight surplus

KARACHI: The current account recorded a fourth consecutive surplus of $729 million in November, marking the second-highest surplus since July 2013,...

19.12.2024 8

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Interest rate down to 13pc after 200bps cut

• Monetary Policy Committee notes inflation outlook susceptible to multiple risks, meeting revenue surplus targets will be uphill task • Core...

18.12.2024 6

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

SBP expected to stay cautious on rate cut approach

KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is expected to take a cautious stance on reducing the policy interest rate despite significant room for a...

16.12.2024 9

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Economy on road to attaining stability: Finance Minister

KARACHI: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has said that the economic challenges have been effectively addressed, and the country is on the right...

14.12.2024 6

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Govt raises Rs1.25tr, cuts T-bill yields by 100bps

KARACHI: The government on Wednesday cut the yields on treasury bills (T-bills) by up to 100 basis points across different tenors, strengthening...

13.12.2024 8

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Remittances fall 5pc in November

KARACHI: Remittances sent by workers during the first five months (July-November) of the current fiscal year FY25 jumped 34 per cent, but fell last...

11.12.2024 10

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Public companies incur Rs6tr losses in 10 years: Aurangzeb

KARACHI: Finance Minister Muha­mmad Aurangzeb said on Saturday that the growing burden of state-owned entities (SOEs) has cost the country Rs6...

09.12.2024 5

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Banks pump Rs2.2tr into non-govt sector

KARACHI: Banks pumped Rs2.2 trillion into the non-government sector, mainly the private sector and Non-Bank Financial Institutions (NBFIs), in the...

08.12.2024 9

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Govt raises Rs3.4tr via sukuk, PIBs

KARACHI: The government borrowed Rs2 trillion through auctions of sukuk (Islamic bonds) at the stock exchange and raised another Rs1.4tr by selling...

05.12.2024 5

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Expectations rise for big policy rate cut

KARACHI: The unexpected fall in inflation pushed the real interest rate to 10.1 per cent, creating ample room for the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP)...

03.12.2024 6

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Banks pump Rs1tr into non-bank financial institutions

KARACHI: Banks have pumped a record over Rs1 trillion into non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) to avoid incremental tax in case of failure to...

01.12.2024 4

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Meezan declared ‘best bank’ for second consecutive year

KARACHI: Meezan Bank Limited was honoured as the Best Bank of Pakistan for a second year in a row, at the ninth Pakistan Banking Awards, held on...

30.11.2024 5

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

SBP reserves jump $2.2bn since July

KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) foreign exchange reserves rose further by $131 million to $11.418 billion during the week ended on Nov...

29.11.2024 4

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Govt raises Rs1.2tr with cut in yields

KARACHI: The government has further slashed the returns on treasury bills (T-bills) by up to 66 basis points in the auction held on Wednesday....

28.11.2024 5

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

SBP removes minimum deposit rule for conventional banks

KARACHI: The State Bank has rem­oved the Minimum Deposit Rate (MDR) requirement for all conventional banks on deposits from financial institutions,...

27.11.2024 4

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

90pc bankers see cybercrimes as biggest threat

KARACHI: About 90 per cent of bankers believe that cybercrime is the biggest challenge confronting banking in the country, according to a survey...

26.11.2024 4

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal

Sharia governance framework for Islamic banking revised

KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has revised the Sharia Governance Framework to develop the Islamic banking industry and play a more...

23.11.2024 4

Dawn Business

Shahid Iqbal