Ports and shipping sector plays a vital role in the economic development of a country, as efficient ports and terminals lower the cost of imports, bring revenue through exports, increase our foreign exchange reserves and enhance tax collection. Recent trends in the shipping industry have shown that cargo ships are becoming larger. These vessels have enhanced capacity to transport cargo in bulk quantities which makes commodities cheaper for the …

  Upgraded Asian Development Bank (ADB) growth outlook, a bubbling equity market, the sliding LSM growth, an improved foreign reserves position, the still reluctant FDI, and a persisting energy deficit is what the calendar year 2014 had in store for us. While FY14 GDP growth of 4.1% coupled with the expectation of a similar growth rate for FY15 is something to sing about, a deeper analysis may bring to surface …

  The banking industry in Pakistan faces tough competition unleashed in the global arena. Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have transformed the global economy bringing about a revolutionary change in the financial sector. This revolution finds manifestations today in shape of innovative banking products and services such as Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), Internet banking, tele-banking and so on. Online banking has introduced non-traditional channels of delivering services in the banking …

  The calendar year 2014 (CY14) has proved to be another good year for Pakistan equities with benchmark KSE-100 Index gaining over 27.3%. It was also evident that during the period under review activity at the bourse lost pace slightly as daily average traded volumes declined by 6.4% to 208 million as compared to 222 million for CY13. Despite this bullish trend only 4 IPOs made their way to the …

  When the PML-N came into power, the economy wasn’t in very good shape. In order to reduce the damage to the economy, the government derived a plan along with the support of the IMF and the main focus of the government was to bring about energy reforms, to improve the external balance and to stabilize public finance. The plan, if successful over the tenure of the government is likely …

  The steel fall of international oil prices have a combined effect both on the oil based economies as well as on the developing economies but in different directions. The oil price situation has developed an interesting situation similar to what it happens even in the province of Sindh before the arrival of Monsoon season as the date farmers pray for late start of the rainy season as the rain …

  Overall fiscal year 2014 was a better year for the economy. As for the actual behavior of various macroeconomic indicators, real GDP during financial year 2014 grew by 4.1 percent compared to 3.7 percent in the previous year and the target of 4.4 percent is better close to meet. The fiscal deficit was indeed contained at 5.5 percent. Growth saw a modest revival, especially in manufacturing. Manpower, for instance, …

  Oil, like the snake eyes, has a killer’s fascination. Economic booms, bubbles, and bursts, all taking shapes in the slimy womb of this slick monster. The oil story has been written by the master oil CEOs like John Browne of British Petroleum, the deceptive oil ministers of oil-rich countries like Ali al-Naimi of Saudi Arabia, the yesteryears Seven Sisters of the West, the counterforce OPEC, and above all, the …

  The October 1987 New York stock market crisis and the 2008 financial meltdown were controlled as fast as they came. That was in sharp contrast to the 1929-30 depressions that threw the world markets first into convulsions and then into a prolonged state of agony. The keyword separating the two sets of — pre and post World War II — financial crises was “liquidity.” The abolition of fractional reserve …

  In the absence of quality and price check mechanism the used cars traders are duping Pakistani consumers by offering them imported used cars with no warranty or spare parts availability while denying even the benefit of appreciation of Pakistani rupee this year, this was stated by Iqbal Shah, Chairman Pakistan Automobile Manufacturer Assembler Dealer Association (PAMADA). These used vehicles prices are compared with new locally-made cars, which are superior …