Pakistan has been witnessing devaluation year after year ever since one can remember. People in general longed to see a stronger rupee. Depreciation was resulting in constant increase in price pushing more people below the poverty line. Currently the Rupee is trading between PKR98. No one can say for sure where the exchange rate will be in the future. Some predict devaluation to previous levels other claim another round …

  The Punjab Board of Investments is actively involved in finding opportunities for business. Punjab being an agricultural land, needless to say there are numerous investment opportunities in farming. The government has identified potential sectors, which need investments and on the government target list. Many initiatives have been taken to resolve the energy and power crisis including development on Thar coal. The government has set positive examples by keeping law …

  Crude oil determines inflation and also determines the GDP of an oil exporting nation. In more advance economics as discussed earlier, oil is used for investments i.e. trading of commodity futures. Irrespective of the current market price, futures are locked at a higher price being traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange (or NYMEX), as well as the International Petroleum Exchange. Speculation that who trade large volumes can easily …

  Takaful is Islamic insurance and is relatively a new concept in the financial markets. Takaful is based on pooling of funds where gains and losses are shared equally. Prime markets for Takaful include GCC and Malaysia. Earlier this decade when Islamic banking was picking up pace and Islamic banks was actively penetrating the market, estimates were circulated that Islamic banking in terms of deposits would be 10 percent of …

  CNG was introduced in Pakistan to counter high price of fuel. As a new business venture, many businessmen opened CNG stations to reduce the cost of transportation. Import of CNG kit became a wide market and gained popularity in the transport industry. Introduced in mid 1990s no one predicted the issues arising out of CNG supply, which we witnessing today. As the price of fuel based on international oil …

  The history of National Savings Organization dates back to the year 1873 when the Government Savings Bank Act, 1873 was promulgated. During the First World War, the British Government introduced several schemes for collection of funds to meet the expenditure. It was in this context that the Post Office Cash Certificates and during the Second World War, Post Office Defense Savings Certificates were floated. The need to setup a …

  At a time when inflation is at its highest and cost of living is squeezing the pocket month-on-month, savings need to be placed to ensure that additional income can offset high cost of living. Investments by individuals depend on the knowledge of investment avenues. The simplest investment is keeping money in a savings account where more complex invest structures include mutual funds, equity and money market investments. The stock …

  Microfinance involves loans which are given to those who would not qualify for conventional bank loans. The loans extended could be as low as PKR 10,000 to assist basic needs and small business startups. The idea for microfinance is to alleviate poverty to focus on economic development. With the risky profile of the borrower, loans carry high degree of risk. Collateral is ascertained primarily through estimates. The repayment is …

  Pakistan is the most vibrant market for sale and purchase of mobile connections and cellular phones. The industry is regarded to be the best in Asia in terms of sales. Major cellular companies have eyed Pakistan for increase in sales in double digits; part of the reason being population of 180 million people which creates an automatic demand. In recent times, high demand is witnessed for purchase of mobile …

  The banking sector through CY13 faced tough challenges with external factors including law and order situation, political uncertainty, strikes causing closure of bank branches in distressed areas to name a few. State Bank of Pakistan require banks to have minimum capital of PKR 10 billion by December 2014, which will be a challenge for banks below the required threshold forcing another round of mergers and acquisitions. The CAR for …