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Shabbir H. kazmi

Islamic banking in Pakistan: progress and outlook

Islamic banking in Pakistan- progress and outlook

In Pakistan, Islamic banking has registered substantial growth over the last few years. Along with increase in number of branches, windows and diversity of Islamic banking products and services, the size of Islamic banking balance sheet has improved significantly. The growth continued during FY20, as the assets and deposits of the Islamic banking grew by 21.4 percent and 22 percent, respectively. Due to substantial growth, Islamic banking has become systemically …

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Fast changing dynamics of global LNG market

Fast changing dynamics of global LNG market

Qatar witnesses a prosperous start to 2021, first scoring a major political goal by restoring diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia and ending its almost 4-year long embargo. Following a political breakthrough come an unexpected revenue bonanza, which saw Doha happily riding the waves of spiking Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) prices in Asia. The combination of both developments – Qatar casting away its pariah state and probably playing a more nuanced …

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Year 2020 has changed our lives for ever

Year 2020 has changed our lives for ever

It has truly been a year like no other, with the pandemic dominating not just every news cycle but each of our lives. From work to family life, where we went, and what we did, nothing was untouched by Covid-19. But as people got used to phrases like ‘self-isolate’ and ‘social distancing’, there were plenty of other news too. The year began with a new virus originating from Wuhan, China. …

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EASYPAISA: Transforming digital financial space in Pakistan

EASYPAISA- Transforming digital financial space in Pakistan

Easypaisa is Pakistan’s first mobile banking platform launched in 2009, the only GSMA mobile money certified service in the country. Initially launched as a money transfer service, Easypaisa empowers underserved masses by bringing convenience and freedom to their lives, and has today become an icon in money transfers, synonymous with convenience and reliability. Easypaisa was launched in 2009, and began with just 4,000 outlets across the country. At present it …

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Automobile industry review and outlook

Automobile industry review and outlook

Monthly sales of automotive industry for July 2002 were reported at 11,836 units, up 32%MoM, but down 10%YoY. This indicate a reversion to pre-COVID normalcy, completing a “V-shaped” recovery over five months while extending consecutive YoY downtrend to its 21st month (back to levels seen during 2009). Consequently, 7MCY20 total industry offtake was reported at 57,509 units, down 57%YoY), where major constituents moved down for Passenger Cars/LCVs. Recent comparisons reveal …

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Pakistan Day: time to reckon

Pakistan Day: time to reckon

Pakistan Day is celebrated with great fervor every year, but this year the circumstances are very different. People are living under extreme fear due to coronavirus pandemic, not only in Pakistan but around the world. The death of dozens of people from the pandemic, reminds us hundreds and thousands of people, who were assassinated after the partition of subcontinent. This also reminds the helplessness and the difficult administrative and financial conditions prevailing at …

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SBP reduces policy rate: too little too late

SBP reduces policy rate- too little too late

At its meeting on 17th March 2020, the State Bank of Pakistan’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided to cut the policy rate by 75 bps to 12.50 percent. The decision reflected the MPC’s view that the outlook for inflation has improved in light of the recent deceleration in domestic food prices, significant decline in consumer price expectations, sharp fall in global oil prices, and slowdown in external and domestic demand due to …

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Falling oil prices, biggest threat to US shale producers

Falling oil prices, biggest threat to US shale producers

The week ended on 13th March 2020 can be termed one of horrific weeks for crude oil producers and traders as prices went down about 50 percent since the start of the year. Oil rebounded a bit on Friday following movement in the US Congress to pass a coronavirus economic relief bill. Nevertheless, the near-term looks dire for oil markets, with supply rising quickly as demand continues to collapse. The added threat is likely …

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State bank of Pakistan must follow the US fed

State bank of Pakistan must follow the US fed

Federal Reserve of United States has cut rate in an emergency that has created opportunity for other central banks around the globe to cut rate, especially for those who held off so far out due to domestic and external concerns. It is expected that State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) will also follow the suite. However, many analysts expect the SBP to and opt for status quo in the upcoming monetary policy announcement. There are …

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Will OPEC plus opt for deeper oil cut?

Will OPEC plus opt for deeper oil cut

Members of Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) are scheduled to meet in Vienna in first week of March 2020. Top of the agenda item is to decide production quotas in the aftermath of coronavirus spread. To arrive at further production cut will not be easy because of United States emerging as one of the largest oil producing country as well as exporting substantial quantity. Even the bigger concern is …

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