Author: S.M. Inam

By S.M. inam KARACHI: Asian stock markets rallied after Donald Trump signalled an end to the ongoing conflict, boosting investor confidence across the region. At the Pakistan Stock Exchange, the benchmark index rose by more than 3.3 per cent at the start of trading. During the session, the index gained over 4,900 points, crossing the 153,600 level, reflecting strong buying activity. Regional markets also recorded sharp gains, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 rising around 4 per cent, while South Korea’s KOSPI surged by more than 6 per cent. Analysts said the rally was driven by expectations of easing geopolitical tensions and…

By S.M. Inam KARACHI: The federal government has decided not to impose a smart lockdown after failing to reach consensus with provincial authorities. The decision was made during a high-level consultative meeting at the Presidency chaired by President Asif Ali Zardari, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, federal ministers, National Security Adviser Lt Gen Asim Malik, and other senior officials in attendance. Leaders from all four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir, including PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, and GB Chief Minister Yar Muhammad, were also…

The special vessel MV HM Leader successfully docked at Gwadar Port, with crews efficiently handling 35 transshipment cargo units amid smooth, incident-free operations, underscoring Pakistan’s growing maritime capacity By S.M. Inam/Anwar Nawab KARACHI/GWADAR: Gwadar and Karachi ports emerged as vital safe havens for global shipping amid escalating Middle East tensions, as a new vessel berthed successfully at Gwadar and container ships queued up at Karachi, daily Metro Morning reported on Sunday. The special vessel MV HM Leader completed berthing operations at Gwadar Port, where crews handled 35 units of transshipment cargo without incident. Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid…

By S.M. Inam/Asghar Ali Mubarak ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Commerce has approved a temporary exemption from financial instruments, including bank guarantees and letters of credit, for exports to Iran, the Central Asian Republics, and Azerbaijan via Iran’s land route, officials said on Saturday. The decision follows a March 24 notification by the Ministry of Commerce received by The Express Tribune. The exemption, issued under the Import and Export Control Act 1950, waives the requirement under Paragraph 3 of the Export Policy Order 2022, which mandates compliance with Foreign Exchange Rules set by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). The concession…

By S.M. Inam ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has allowed the export of multiple goods to Iran, including rice, seafood, and pharmaceutical products. A temporary exemption has also been granted on the condition of bank guarantees and letters of credit for land-route exports. According to the Ministry of Commerce, exports via land routes to Iran, Azerbaijan, and Central Asian countries have been permitted. A special relaxation has been introduced for three months, effective from March 24 to June 21, 2026. Trade through Iran is expected to significantly reduce exporters’ costs and transit time. The statement said that the Ministry of Commerce has approved…

Islamabad pledged unwavering commitment to regional and global stability, with the foreign minister emphasizing persistent diplomatic and strategic efforts By S.M. Inam/Asghar Ali Mubarak ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has emerged as a central intermediary in the efforts to defuse the escalating conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran, with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirming that indirect talks between Washington and Tehran are underway through messages relayed by Islamabad. Turkiye and Egypt have also played supporting roles in these back-channel efforts. In a post on X on Thursday, Dar addressed what he described as “unnecessary speculation” in the…

By S.M. Inam KARACHI: Passengers across Pakistan are facing a steep surge in airfares as jet fuel prices have skyrocketed, with overall ticket costs rising dramatically due to increased fuel surcharges despite base fares remaining unchanged. The price of jet fuel has seen a massive increase from Rs176 to Rs417 per liter, raising concerns that air travel is becoming increasingly unaffordable for many passengers. According to a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) spokesperson, several airlines have increased fares by up to 100 percent through fuel surcharges, with all carriers making fuel-based adjustments to their pricing structures. PIA has imposed a $10…

By S.M. Inam KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange witnessed a negative trend on Thursday, with the benchmark KSE-100 index falling significantly during intraday trading. The index declined by 1,826 points, bringing it down to 156,487 points. During the session, the KSE-100 touched a low of 156,251 and a high of 157,571 points. A day earlier, the market had closed at 158,313 points, indicating a sharp drop in investor sentiment. #PSX #StockMarket #PakistanEconomy #KSE100 #MarketUpdate

By S.M. Inam KARACHI: All foreign airlines operating flights to Pakistan have been instructed to carry return fuel with them, following new directives issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority. According to a NOTAM issued in this regard, foreign carriers will be provided only limited quantities of fuel within Pakistan. Officials said that local airlines are being supplied fuel as per their full requirements. Airline sources reported that on Wednesday, a foreign airline flight from Karachi to Doha had to make a stop in Muscat for refuelling. Due to the need to carry extra fuel, foreign airlines are reportedly offloading passenger…

By SM Inam KARACHI: A vessel carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from Oman has reached Pakistan, but offloading has been delayed due to a technical fault at Port Qasim. According to sources, the ship arrived late Tuesday night with 3,800 metric tons of LPG intended for Sui Southern Gas Company as part of efforts to meet the country’s energy demand. However, unloading could not begin after a system malfunction halted operations, forcing the vessel to remain at the outer anchorage. Officials have not yet specified how long it will take to fix the issue. Meanwhile, another LPG shipment from Iraq…