TOP STORIES
- Electricity bill shock: NEPRA slaps consumers with Rs2.06 per unit hike
NEPRA approves a positive Fuel Charge Adjustment of Rs2.0581 per unit for July 2026, with eligible consumers to pay the additional amount in September bills. - Petrol price nears Rs350 per litre in Pakistan
Petrol price rises by Rs2.84 to Rs349 per litre as the government passes on higher international fuel costs, while HSD increases to Rs374.31. - Shehbaz Sharif approves trade facilitation board
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will personally chair the new board aimed at streamlining trade processes, removing barriers and improving port efficiency. - Pakistan raises $3 billion through landmark Eurobond sale
Strong $6 billion order book highlights renewed investor demand as Pakistan returns to international capital markets
FINANCE
- PM Shehbaz says Pakistan completes difficult economic turnaround
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says fiscal, structural and governance reforms have restored macroeconomic stability and strengthened investor confidence. - FBR tax-to-GDP ratio rises to 10.3%, Aurangzeb targets 12%
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb says Pakistan must raise the FBR tax-to-GDP ratio to 11%-12% in the short term while advancing structural reforms and private-sector investment. - Pakistan’s forex reserves decline by $59m in one week
Pakistan’s total foreign exchange reserves fell to $22.528bn by August 28, despite a $20m increase in reserves held by the State Bank. - Pakistan’s trade deficit surges 18.11% to $7.12bn in 2MFY27
Pakistan’s trade gap widened sharply in July-August 2026 as imports grew 13.03%, significantly outpacing the 7.04% increase in exports.
NATIONAL
- PTI convoy faces roadblocks as Sohail Afridi reaches Karachi
KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi accuses the Sindh government of obstructing the PTI convoy as the party’s mobilisation campaign reaches Karachi ahead of its September 27 protest. - Afridi vows Karachi march as PTI accuses Sindh government of blocking routesKP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi says PTI will continue its Karachi mobilisation despite alleged road blockades and arrests of party workers in Sindh.
- Petrol price cut by Rs3.13, diesel hiked by Rs3.74 for next three days
The government has lowered the petrol price to Rs345.87 per litre while raising HSD to Rs378.05, effective from September 5, 2026. - Electricity bill shock: NEPRA slaps consumers with Rs2.06 per unit hikeNEPRA approves a positive Fuel Charge Adjustment of Rs2.0581 per unit for July 2026, with eligible consumers to pay the additional amount in September bills.
TAXATION
- Customs Peshawar to auction 73 non-duty-paid vehicles on September 9
The Customs Enforcement Peshawar auction includes Toyota Prius hybrids, cars, jeeps, pickups, vans and trucks located across several districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. - RTO Hyderabad launches digital invoicing enforcement drive
Tax authorities stop around 30 goods vehicles over missing digital invoices, while offering businesses an opportunity to ensure voluntary compliance with sales tax requirements. - FBR rationalises withholding tax on minimum tax for Tax Year 2027
The Federal Government can reduce certain minimum-tax withholding rates by up to one percentage point where the tax burden threatens the economic viability of businesses. - FBR exempts foreign income of returning expatriates in Tax Year 2027
Returning expatriate Pakistanis can claim a limited-period exemption on qualifying foreign-source income under Section 51 of the Income Tax Ordinance for Tax Year 2027.
MONEY & BANKING
- SBP launches women microfinance credit guarantee facility with 25% first-loss cover
The new facility provides banks and DFIs with first-loss guarantees of up to 25% to expand financing for women-led microenterprises and improve access to institutional funding. - Imran Sarwar appointed NBP president and CEO for three years
The Federal Government has appointed Imran Sarwar as National Bank of Pakistan President and CEO for a three-year term with immediate effect. - Pakistan accelerates cashless drive with new digital targets
Finance Division reviews digital payment progress, merchant adoption and government transactions ahead of the Prime Minister’s Cashless Initiative review. - Deutsche Bank eyes wider role in Pakistan’s investment and financingDeutsche Bank signals interest in expanding corporate and investment banking engagement with Pakistan
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
- PM Shehbaz backs Rs3bn export insurance plan to boost SMEs
EDF and EXIM Bank initiative aims to widen export credit insurance access and support Pakistan’s shift toward an export-led economy. - Khurram Ijaz slams electricity tariff hike, terms it blow to industry
Khurram Ijaz says the Rs2.0581 per-unit electricity tariff increase will raise production costs, fuel inflation and further weaken the competitiveness of Pakistani businesses. - Maritime minister proposes business facilitation centre to ease port issues
New one-window facility aims to streamline port services, reduce delays and lower costs for exporters and importers - PCDMA warns FBR IRIS glitches are delaying sales tax returns
The Pakistan Chemicals & Dyes Merchants Association has urged the FBR to urgently resolve IRIS technical issues affecting timely Sales Tax Return filing.
AUTOMOTIVE
- Customs Peshawar to auction 73 non-duty-paid vehicles on September 9The Customs Enforcement Peshawar auction includes Toyota Prius hybrids, cars, jeeps, pickups, vans and trucks located across several districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
- Pakistan auto industry faces policy reset as PIDE calls for major reforms
PIDE urges structural changes to Pakistan’s proposed Automobile Policy 2026-2031, with stakeholders calling for tariff stability, stronger technology transfer, vendor development and export growth. - Chery Master reveals launch date for new Q electric hatchback in Pakistan
Chery Master Pakistan will launch the all-electric Chery Q at Pakistan Auto Show 2026 on September 18, with pricing and bookings to be announced as demand for electric vehicles grows. - Mitsubishi set to grow Pajero range with two new SUVs
The iconic Pajero nameplate is expected to expand into smaller SUV segments, including a possible kei-class model for Japan.
IT & TELECOM
- Oppo Find X10 series confirmed for September launch
Oppo reveals the camera-focused Find X10 and Find X10 Pro Max ahead of their China debut - Google Photos expands manual photo stacks and AI wardrobe tool
Google Photos is rolling out manual photo stacking on Android while making its AI-powered virtual wardrobe feature more widely available in the US - Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max leak reveals new dark cherry colour
Apple’s upcoming Pro models appear in leaked hands-on footage, revealing new colour options ahead of the company’s September 9 event - Apple reportedly plans App Store changes to boost revenue
Apple is exploring ways to increase App Store margins and generate more recurring revenue, with CEO John Ternus and services chief Eddy Cue reportedly driving the effort