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SBP seen holding rates steady as oil surge threatens inflation trajectory

The central bank ​is expected to hold its key policy rate steady at a policy ‌review on Monday, a Reuters poll showed, as rising global energy prices and regional tensions cloud the inflation outlook and limit the room for cuts. All 10 analysts in a Reuters poll expect the State ​Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to hold the rate at 10.5 per cent, after policymakers held the rate ​in January . The central bank has cut the key rate by a cumulative ⁠11.5 percentage points since mid-2024, from a record high of 22pc. Escalating Middle East tensions ​after the US and Israel attacked Iran have raised the risk of disruption to shipping ​through the Strait of Hormuz and pushed oil-and-gas prices higher, adding to Pakistan’s import bill and inflationary pressures. Analysts expect inflation to average between 6pc and 8pc in the coming months , but warned higher oil prices could push it up ​further. “Energy prices should dictate the policy rate trajectory. Inflation could average around 7pc during ...
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77pc of 10-year-olds unable to read and understand simple text, reveals report

ISLAMABAD: The country continues to face critical challenges in financing and ensuring access to education, reveals a government report released on Thursday. With an alarming number of out-of-school children and 77 per cent of ten-year-olds unable to read and understand a simple text, the urgency of aligning financing priorities with teacher quality, learning materials, and stronger assessment systems has never been greater. Whereas the country’s declining trend in education spending reflects a progressive weakening of education’s position within the national fiscal framework. This was pointed out in a new 171-page report titled “Public Financing in Education 2025-26” released by Pakistan Institute of Education (PIE) –a subsidiary of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training in Islamabad. The report covered low funding in overall education sectors, the role of provincial foundations, learning outcomes, underfunded special education and several other areas. The re...
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T20 World Cup: India eye special performance to conquer ‘street-smart’ England

India will need a “special performance” to beat a “street-smart” England in their T20 World Cup semi-final in Mumbai, bowling coach Morne Morkel warned on Wednesday. Sanju Samson’s sparkling 97 not out enabled India to chase down 196 against the West Indies in a winner-takes-all clash on Sunday in Kolkata. Morne said India would again need someone “to put their hand up” against Harry Brook’s side on Thursday night to keep the nation’s dream of a home World Cup win alive. Morkel agreed India had not put together a flawless display in the tournament yet, but said that did not matter. “We haven’t really spoken about the perfect game,” Morne told reporters at Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium after India’s final training session before Thursday’s big clash. “It’s not about how you get to the semi-finals. It’s about the next two games, how we’re going to play there. “I think the quality of this team has been shown that on the day somebody will put their hand up. “Then hopefully, especial...
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In-camera briefing on regional situation concludes at PM House

The leaders of parliamentary parties, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, were on Wednesday given an in-camera briefing on the regional situation. PM Shehbaz had invited parliamentary leaders and party heads to “sit down and develop a course of action so we can move forward”, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said on Tuesday while addressing the National Assembly. The briefing began shortly after 11:30am and concluded after more than two hours. It mainly discussed the ongoing ‘ Operation Ghazab lil-Haq ’ against terrorist hideouts and the Middle East conflict. “The meeting was given an in-camera briefing regarding the Pakistan-Afghanistan situation, the hostilities in Iran, Middle East and the Gulf, and Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts,” read a statement from the PM Office (PMO). It added that the parliamentary leaders of the participating political parties “freely expressed their views”. “The participants underscored the need for national unity, consensus and unanimity in the curren...
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Indian media aflutter after ‘airplane shaped balloon’ spotted in occupied Kashmir

A balloon in the shape of an airplane has caused a stir on Indian media. According to several media outlets, the balloon has been taken into police custody. Indian news agency ANI posted on X that an “aircraft-shaped balloon” with “PIA” written on its was found in Rajouri in occupied Kashmir. “The police team took the object into possession. No electrical or electronic components were found affixed,” the post said, citing police. The images shared with the post showed a deflated balloon in the shape of a plane and with the words PIA on the sides, ostensibly a reference to Pakistan International Airlines. The development was also reported by the Hindustan Times , Times of India . Meanwhile, NDTV also shared the the same on its X account. “Further proceedings underway to determine its origin,” it said. In 2021, a similar incident had occurred, with authorities in occupied Kashmir seizing a plane-shaped balloon bearing the name of the Pakistan International Airlines. Acc...
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FM Dar expresses concern at ‘sudden’ US-Israel attack on Iran despite ‘positive direction’ in talks

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday expressed concern at the “sudden” US‑Israel coordinated attack on Iran, despite “positive direction” observed in talks between Washington and Tehran. The minister made the remarks while addressing a session of the Senate. He recalled that the process of talks between the two countries was “going successfully”, citing the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Austria, where Pakistan held a meeting with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief, Rafael Grossi, who Dar said was “optimistic that dialogue was heading in a positive direction”. The foreign minister also recalled his conversation with the foreign minister of Oman last night, where he was told that the last round of talks between the US and Iran had ended “on a positive note”. “He told me that after the talks, the Omani FM flew to Washington, where he met the vice president and told him that the dialogue was going in a positive direction,” Dar said...
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PPP delegation meets with PM Shehbaz, discusses prevailing local and regional situation

A PPP delegation met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Tuesday to discuss the political situation in the country as well as the regional situation. A press release issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said that a delegation of PPP parliamentarians met with the premier today. “The Pakistan People’s Party is an important coalition party of the government,” PM Shehbaz said according to the statement. “The PPP supported the government at every step in important decisions for national development and progress, for which it is grateful.” The meeting discussed the current political situation in the country as well as the prevailing regional situation in the Middle East, but the statement did not provide details of the discussions. The PPP delegation included Senator Sherry Rehman, Raja Pervez Ashraf, and Members of the National Assembly Naveed Qamar and Aijaz Jakhrani. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqb...
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