Pakistan Pakistan Economy Updates

[Fatman17]

Transporters’ strike: USD500m worth of export containers stuck at factories: PTEA

ISLAMABAD: The Patron in chief of the Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA) Khurram MUKHTAR has issued an...

share.google

 

[Fatman17]

Petroleum levy collection hits record Rs1.57tr

Cost of running civil govt rises 16pc, crosses Rs1tr for first time; fiscal deficit shrinks to 2.6pc on the back of provincial surpluses, lower interest bill.

share.google

 

[Fatman17]

S&P: Pakistan may see more rating upgrades with deficit <3% - Profit by Pakistan Today

Political stability drove July's upgrade to 'B', the highest since 2016, but investment grade remains "multiple notches away", which needs stronger institutions with sustained annual growth of 4-5% or more, says Yee Farn Phua, Director of Sovereign Credit Ratings

share.google

 

[Fatman17]

Pakistan external debt and liabilities hit $138.85bn - Profit by Pakistan Today

Public debt makes up 76.89% of the total, as government's own external debt rises 5.79% to $87.03bn

share.google

 

[Fatman17]

‘Mineral Corridor’: from mines to manufacturing—I

This is Part I of a multi-part “The Mineral Corridor” series, examines Pakistan’s mineral opportunity and the...

share.google

Pakistan stands at a critical moment in its economic transformation. While the global economy enters a new era of critical mineral demand, the country has an opportunity to convert its geological resources into industrial capability. The real question is not whether Pakistan possesses mineral wealth, but whether it can transform those resources into value-added industries, exports and long-term economic growth.

 

[Fatman17]

Growers suffer as tobacco prices crash

Traders offer Rs350 per kg against official rate of Rs740.

share.google

 

[Fatman17]

Pakistan external debt and liabilities hit $138.85bn - Profit by Pakistan Today

Public debt makes up 76.89% of the total, as government's own external debt rises 5.79% to $87.03bn

share.google

 

[Fatman17]

Circular debt jumps by Rs364b | The Express Tribune

Circular debt jumps by Rs364b

share.google

Power sector inefficiency, lower recoveries, payment rows fuel debt spike

 

[Fatman17]

Pakistan’s petroleum exports reached an all-time high of $939 million in FY26, increasing 3.9 percent from $903 million in FY25, as lower domestic furnace oil (FO) demand and a shift toward low-sulphur petroleum products supported export growth.

Pakistan’s Petroleum Exports Hit All-Time High in FY26

Pakistan’s petroleum exports reached an all-time high of $939 million in FY26, increasing 3.9 percent from $903 million in FY25, as lower domestic furnace

propakistani.pk

 

[Fatman17]

WHY CASH REFUSES TO DIE IN PAKISTAN

Pakistan’s digital payments revolution is real, but so is the country’s stubborn dependence on cash. As money increasingly enters

share.google

If you took a trip to a livestock market this past Eidul Azha, you could see Pakistan’s cash paradox performing itself live.

On one side, a bank kiosk with a QR code taped to a pole and some digital transactions happening. A few feet away, a bigger deal closing the old way: a purchaser counting out bundles of Rs5,000 notes, folding them into a plastic bag — no camera, no receipt, no trace. Both transactions were real and both continue to grow. This is the puzzle that this article shall attempt to solve.

 

[Fatman17]

WHY CASH REFUSES TO DIE IN PAKISTAN

Pakistan’s digital payments revolution is real, but so is the country’s stubborn dependence on cash. As money increasingly enters

share.google

If you took a trip to a livestock market this past Eidul Azha, you could see Pakistan’s cash paradox performing itself live.

On one side, a bank kiosk with a QR code taped to a pole and some digital transactions happening. A few feet away, a bigger deal closing the old way: a purchaser counting out bundles of Rs5,000 notes, folding them into a plastic bag — no camera, no receipt, no trace. Both transactions were real and both continue to grow. This is the puzzle that this article shall attempt to solve.

Pakistan’s digital payments revolution is real, but so is the country’s stubborn dependence on cash. As money increasingly enters the financial system digitally, only to be withdrawn again for settlements, the real challenge lies not with consumers scanning QR codes but with the wholesalers, distributors and property markets, where the country’s biggest transactions still happen in cash…

The above sectors don't pay their taxes hence the dependence on cash...

 

[Fatman17]

Waiting for a miracle to happen is an old practice of Pakistan’s power elite. Every few years, the ruling establishment constructs a new narrative of hope: that a breakthrough is just around the corner, prosperity is waiting beyond the horizon, and Pakistan need only remain patient for the miracle to unfold. This habit of looking abroad for transformation dates back to the country’s inception, when its leadership placed its hopes in the US, joined Seato and Cento, and became a Western defence and security partner alongside Iran. Pakistan’s dreams of geopolitical influence and economic gains through its defence partnership with the US have been shattered repeatedly. Yet, its power elites have repeatedly restored their optimism and embraced new partnerships, expecting external allies to increase the country’s strategic weight and generate financial inflows.

Endless wait for a miracle

Pakistanis have been conditioned to look outward for a change in their fate.

share.google

 

[Nilgiri]

Waiting for a miracle to happen is an old practice of Pakistan’s power elite. Every few years, the ruling establishment constructs a new narrative of hope: that a breakthrough is just around the corner, prosperity is waiting beyond the horizon, and Pakistan need only remain patient for the miracle to unfold. This habit of looking abroad for transformation dates back to the country’s inception, when its leadership placed its hopes in the US, joined Seato and Cento, and became a Western defence and security partner alongside Iran. Pakistan’s dreams of geopolitical influence and economic gains through its defence partnership with the US have been shattered repeatedly. Yet, its power elites have repeatedly restored their optimism and embraced new partnerships, expecting external allies to increase the country’s strategic weight and generate financial inflows.

Endless wait for a miracle

Pakistanis have been conditioned to look outward for a change in their fate.

share.google

Yes this is the underlying reason the investment ratio is so low so long. There is not sufficient trust developed between Pakistani people with the Pakistani "political system" internally.

Without investment ratio high enough, you become/stay reliant on external events and external interests....all comes at a cost and whatever % ends up meshing with yours (and the inverse turning into things like the circular debt problem, low forex and so on....past the social development problem internally).

It all keeps political elite cushy enough and the musical chairs game politically....but genuine economy-growers and risk takers whither on vine, they sense loss and no reward for anything they try to do.

 

[Fatman17]

August 19, 2026 (MLN): The import bill of the petroleum group increased to $1.09bn in July 2026, marking a decrease of 28.71% YoY compared to the import bill of $1.28 bn recorded in July 2025, data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) showed.

Similarly, the imports of petroleum products fell by 29.39% MoM compared to the bill of $1.55 bn in June 2026.

It is pertinent to mention that the overall import bill has increased by 13.35% YoY to $6.15bn in June.

Likewise on a monthly basis, imports have grown by 0.03% MoM compared to the imports worth $6.15 bn recorded in June 2026.

The share of petroleum products in the total import bill stood at 17.76% in July 2026.

https://share.google/CtFgvlP19k2Go5SN6

 

[Fatman17]

Yes this is the underlying reason the investment ratio is so low so long. There is not sufficient trust developed between Pakistani people with the Pakistani "political system" internally.

Without investment ratio high enough, you become/stay reliant on external events and external interests....all comes at a cost and whatever % ends up meshing with yours (and the inverse turning into things like the circular debt problem, low forex and so on....past the social development problem internally).

It all keeps political elite cushy enough and the musical chairs game politically....but genuine economy-growers and risk takers whither on vine, they sense loss and no reward for anything they try to do.

The genuine economy growers don't see the light at the end of the tunnel (which unfortunately may not exist) are packing up and leaving and this includes MNCs and local business houses. I worked for a German company which entered Pakistan in the 60s, invested in a large factory producing pharmaceuticals and chemicals just wound up and left after 65 years.