August 28, 2026

Zeeshan Khan

Oil barrels representing petroleum fund

Petroleum Stabilization Fund: Finance Ministry Notifies Fresh Account to Shield Consumers from Oil Shocks

ISLAMABAD — In a major move to protect the public from global energy volatility, the Ministry of Finance has officially notified the establishment of the Petroleum Prices Stabilization Fund. Following a formal directive from the federal cabinet, all proceeds channeled into this strategic safety net will be parked under the “Special Deposit Fund” within the […]

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WHERE BUSINESS LEADERS SHAPE THE FUTURE (3) | IBM technology summit

Shaping the Future of Fintech: Top Financial Leaders Brainstorm AI Innovation and Governance at IBM Technology Summit 2026

The financial sector in Pakistan is standing at a massive crossroads, where artificial intelligence is no longer just a futuristic concept but a core driver of modern banking. Highlighting this shift, a powerful panel of Pakistan’s top financial visionaries recently took center stage at the highly anticipated IBM Technology Summit 2026. The exclusive session, titled

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Digital data tracking dashboard, tax audit system

Faceless Tax Audits Activated: FBR Integrates Machine Learning Slabs for AI Data Tracking

ISLAMABAD — The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is set to undergo an aggressive structural overhaul as the finalized budget framework legally mandates the transition into Faceless Tax Assessments. Moving entirely away from traditional, subjective physical interactions, FBR will now deploy central automated algorithms to execute corporate evaluations, directly capping arbitrary discrepancies. Alongside this digital

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Electric vehicles at charging station

Electric Vehicle Tax Holiday: Finance Committee Approves Total Zero FED Scheme for Sub-$75k Imported EVs

ISLAMABAD — In a major move to rapidly accelerate the country’s green energy transition, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance has formally finalized explicit custom updates for the Finance Bill 2026. Led by Chairman Syed Naveed Qamar, the parliamentary panel has officially signed off on a 0% Federal Excise Duty (FED) structure for all

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Cargo ship at sea near Strait of Hormuz

Hormuz Shipping Reopens: Pakistan and Qatar Broker Crucial 60-Day Peace Waiver for Global Trade

ISLAMABAD / BURGENSTOCK — Following intense, high-level diplomatic mediation at the Burgenstock resort in Switzerland, Pakistan and Qatar have successfully brokered a monumental joint-diplomatic breakthrough. Under the newly established framework, the US and Iran have agreed to an immediate 60-day operational waiver to restore absolute stability to the regional trade lines. The core agreement guarantees

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Vehicles at import processing facility

Vehicle Import Duty Reduction: Commerce Ministry Proposes Sweeping Engine Tariff Cuts Across All Slabs

ISLAMABAD — In a major development expected to dramatically shake up the domestic auto market, the Ministry of Commerce has briefed the parliamentary finance panel on a comprehensive plan to rationalize import duties across multiple vehicle engine capacities. Under the newly tabled framework, total cumulative duties and taxes on standard 1800cc cars will plummet from

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Person working on laptop, software export tax news

IT Export Concessional Tax: Government Secures 0.25% Fixed Regime Until June 2029 for Software Houses

ISLAMABAD / KARACHI — Providing massive long-term certainty to the country’s booming digital ecosystem, the final draft tracking of the FY2026-27 budget confirms that the concessional 0.25% final tax rate on IT export earnings is officially secured until June 2029. The decision comes right as data reveals Pakistan’s IT and telecom exports surged by 20%

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Mobile phone screen showing tax check app

Mobile Installment Tax Plan: NA Standing Committee Orders FBR and PTA to Build Easy Payment Structure

ISLAMABAD — In a major move to assist entry-level and mid-range smartphone users, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance, chaired by MNA Syed Naveed Qamar, has directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to jointly design an installment-based tax payment plan. Lawmakers voiced strong concerns over the booming

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Government official speaking, defence budget news

Defence Budget Spending Surge: Government Raises Military Allocation to PKR 3,000 Billion for FY27

ISLAMABAD — As National Assembly budget deliberations continue, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has outlined a 17.6% increase in the country’s national defense spending, elevating the final allocation to PKR 3,000 billion for the fiscal year 2026-27. Presenting the broader PKR 18,771 billion federal layout, the government emphasized that this significant fiscal step is explicitly driven

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Person speaking at podium, digital tax hearing

Social Media Earnings Tax: Senate Committee Backs 5% Direct Levy on Digital Content Creators

ISLAMABAD — The Senate Standing Committee on Finance, chaired by Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, has officially reviewed and endorsed a mandatory 5% tax on earnings generated through social media platforms under Finance Bill 2026. The new framework marks a massive push by the FBR to bring monetized content creation, influencer advertising, and digital entrepreneurs directly into

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