Business
‘2025 marks tentative stability, but structural risks persist’ | The Express Tribune
Chamber flags trade deficit, energy costs and weak investment despite easing inflation
LCCI President Faheemur Rehman Saigol. Photo (file)
LAHORE:
President of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Faheemur Rehman Saigol, has described 2025 as a year of gradual economic stability for Pakistan but warned that major structural challenges continue to restrict sustainable growth.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday, Saigol said several economic indicators improved during the year. However, issues including a widening trade deficit, high energy costs, slow investment and a limited tax net remain serious obstacles for the economy.
Emphasising ease of doing business, he said investors require predictable policies and lower costs to invest confidently in domestic industries. He expressed concern over high electricity prices, misuse of statutory regulatory orders and delays in export policy reforms. He also called for bringing exports back under the final tax regime to support exporters.
Saigol said the trade deficit continues to pose a major challenge and requires urgent attention. He welcomed the recent privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines, noting that its acquisition by a Pakistani consortium reflected growing local investor capacity. He added that privatisation of other state-owned enterprises should be pursued.
Reviewing broader trends, he said consistent policies, economic reforms and strong remittance inflows helped improve the business climate and restore confidence for investment, exports and industrial activity.
He highlighted that remittances reached about $38.3 billion in FY2024-25, a 26% increase from the previous year, and are expected to approach $42 billion by year-end. Remittances during JulyNovember FY2025-26 exceeded $16 billion, showing over 9% growth year-on-year, according to official data.
Saigol said strong inflows supported foreign exchange reserves, stabilised the rupee and reduced import pressures. He also cited a sharp decline in inflation, with average inflation falling to 4.5% from 23.4% a year earlier, easing pressure on consumers and businesses.
He noted improved market confidence, reflected in the KSE-100 index surpassing 170,000 points, higher foreign exchange reserves and reduced interest rates, which lowered borrowing costs. Despite growth in IT exports, he said investment remained below expectations due to high energy costs. He concluded that lasting growth requires continued reforms in energy, exports and taxation.
Business
Mark Zuckerberg arrives to testify in social media addiction trial
In one such case, 29 state attorney generals are pushing a California federal court to demand that the platforms make a number of changes immediately, before any trial, including forcing Meta to remove all accounts known to belong to users under 13 years of age.
Business
India eyes diversification of crude oil sources; Piyush Goyal says would ‘love’ high-quality coking coal from US – The Times of India
India is looking to diversify its sources of crude oil, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has said. Goyal’s comments assume significance in light of the India-US trade deal joint statement which lowers tariffs on Indian exports to 18%. The Donald Trump administration has also removed the 25% penal tariffs on India on the condition that it stops buying crude oil from Russia.India’s crude imports from Russia have dropped since the US imposed sanctions on two major Russian oil firms in late 2025. According to reports, the share of Russian crude in India’s oil imports has dropped to the lowest level since late 2022 and analysts expect the numbers to drop further in the coming months.
India would ‘love’ high-quality coking coal from US
Piyush Goyal said India is looking to broaden its sourcing of crude oil and coking coal and would welcome supplies of premium-quality coking coal from the United States.Also Read | 18% tariffs, boost to exports, agriculture protected: How India benefits from trade deal with US? Explained“We want to diversify our oil sources. I want to diversify the source of coking coal for example. I am dependent on 2 or 3 geographies (for that) and prices keep fluctuating. I would love to have American coking coal which is high quality coming to India,” he said according to a PTI report.He noted that the US is well positioned to supply several products that are critical for India’s economic growth, including graphics processing units used in artificial intelligence, infrastructure and equipment for data centres, and high-performance computing systems.Goyal said India can produce goods in areas where US manufacturers may not be competitive, while America can serve as an important provider of technology and investment capital.Also Read | Trump removes 25% penal tariff: What happens if India stops buying Russian crude oil?He added that demand for aircraft from the US is already estimated at about $100 billion over the next five years, with additional capacity required to expand domestic aviation and help lower fares.Under the proposed interim trade pact with the United States, India has conveyed its intent to procure goods worth $500 billion from America over the next five years. An Indian delegation is scheduled to travel to the US next week to conclude the legal drafting of the agreement, which is expected to be signed in March.Piyush Goyal said entering into a trade agreement with the US would be beneficial for India, noting that it would create significant opportunities for domestic businesses, particularly in labour-intensive sectors and technology-driven services.Referring to India’s free trade agreements, Goyal noted that nine such pacts have been concluded over the past four years. He added that these deals were negotiated from a position of confidence, emphasising that India now engages in trade talks assertively, without defensiveness, and with a focus on long-term interests.
Business
Plan to increase youth minimum wage could be delayed
At an event in south Wales, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “We’ve made commitments to young people in our manifesto, and we will keep to those commitments, including the commitment that we would make sure that the living wage would go up this April, which I can absolutely confirm to you will happen.”
-
Business1 week agoAye Finance IPO Day 2: GMP Remains Zero; Apply Or Not? Check Price, GMP, Financials, Recommendations
-
Fashion1 week agoComment: Tariffs, capacity and timing reshape sourcing decisions
-
Business1 week agoGold price today: How much 18K, 22K and 24K gold costs in Delhi, Mumbai & more – Check rates for your city – The Times of India
-
Business6 days agoTop stocks to buy today: Stock recommendations for February 13, 2026 – check list – The Times of India
-
Fashion7 days agoIndia’s PDS Q3 revenue up 2% as margins remain under pressure
-
Fashion1 week agoSaint Laurent retains top spot as hottest brand in Q4 2025 Lyst Index
-
Tech1 week agoRemoving barriers to tech careers
-
Politics6 days agoIndia clears proposal to buy French Rafale jets
