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Rs40b fine on mills termed ‘wrong’ | The Express Tribune

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Rs40b fine on mills termed ‘wrong’ | The Express Tribune



ISLAMABAD:

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan on Tuesday said that a fine of Rs40 billion on sugar mills imposed by the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) was “politically motivated” and was totally wrong.

He ruled out that sugar millers were involved in recent prices hike; rather he argued that the price surge was due to a 20% decline in sugarcane output instead of market collusion.

Talking to journalists after attending the Auto Parts Summit 2025, organised by the Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (Paapam), the PM aide accused the former CCP chairperson of casting a double vote in the decision to impose the fine of Rs40 billion on sugar millers.

“I challenge the CCP’s decision about sugar mills, which is 100% wrong,” Haroon Akhtar said and advocated the “deregulation of ex-mill sugar prices” while the government should only keep reserve stocks.

“The sugar price solution lies in deregulation,” he said and dismissed the talk that the decision for sugar export was behind the price hike. He elaborated that the country had a two-year surplus of 1.5 million tons of sugar when the government allowed the commodity’s export.

The government kept 0.5 million tons as strategic stock and allowed export of 0.7 million tons. When the new crushing season started, the country had still surplus of around 0.5 million tons.

Haroon Akhtar said that the subsequent 20% drop in sugarcane output pushed down sugar production by about 1.4 million tons, triggering market tightness. “Mills are dispatching sugar at around Rs167 per kg,” he said, adding that they had made borrowing at nearly 22%.

While pushing for sugar price deregulation and keeping just strategic reserves, he noted that prices of other crops such as rice were not controlled. “Industries grow when the government exits price control,” he remarked.

The special assistant added that the commission’s stock analysis was “entirely flawed” and the tribunal had sent the order back. He questioned the voting process, alleging that there was a split decision where the then chairperson cast an additional vote.

He stressed that sugar was exported under a transparent process, which brought about $450 million in foreign exchange.

The PM aide also raised question about appointments in Utility Stores Corporation (USC) and stressed that the government would release overdue salaries of USC employees soon.

He announced the launch of a Voluntary Separation Scheme for permanent, temporary and daily-wage staff, with compensation for contract workers as well.

Regarding Pakistan Steel Mills, Haroon Akhtar said that the government wants to revive the entity through public-private partnership. A feasibility study is likely to be completed and the decision will be taken based on the study.

Speaking earlier as chief guest at the Auto Parts Summit, the special assistant to the PM said that the government was committed to enforcing the New Energy Vehicle (NEV) Policy 2025-30.

He said that the government was going to introduce a vehicle certification law that would mandate safety testing for both locally produced and imported used vehicles. The imported cars failing to comply will be sent back and the domestic ones will have to meet specified standards before launch.

Pakistan has signed the 1958 UN convention, which requires compliance with 169 standards. He said the country had so far met 17 standards and would expand coverage beyond four-wheelers to two- and three-wheelers as well.

“The government’s goal is not to shut car manufacturers or make vehicles expensive. Our task is to bring advanced policies,” he said, adding that they were working to introduce an updated auto policy next year alongside the existing EV framework.

Akhtar said seven major carmakers were producing vehicles locally and more than 1,200 auto parts manufacturers were also operating in the country. “The auto and parts ecosystem contributes about 3% to GDP and supports over 2.5 million jobs,” he said and acknowledged the expensive energy, limited access to technology and financing.

The government has reduced interest rates and energy prices and is steering towards export-led growth, Akhtar said and urged manufacturers to invest in R&D and modern technology to meet global quality benchmarks.

Regarding recent engagements with Chinese firms and the visit to Tokyo, the PM aide said that Japanese officials had raised concerns about tariff protection. He pointed out that prior tariff measures were aimed at curbing imports and raising revenue, which incidentally provided protection.

He added that the forthcoming industrial policy would set the direction on taxation, interest rates and energy tariffs. It will also pitch Pakistan not merely as a market but as an export base. “Build vehicles of that quality here and export from Pakistan,” he said.

While addressing the summit, auto parts makers criticised the government for protecting the import of used cars. They also denounced the lack of political stability and inconsistency in policies that halted growth in the auto sector.

Paapam Chairman Usman Malik said that developed countries were protecting their auto industries and even the United States was saving its industry through tariffs.



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Electric cars eligible for £3,750 discount announced

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Electric cars eligible for £3,750 discount announced


Pritti MistryBusiness reporter, BBC News

Ford A bright yellow Ford Puma parked beside a street. A person in a red jacket, black shorts, and white sneakers walks on the pavement in front of a green building with horizontal white slats. The car faces right, and its license plate reads 'HOI108'.Ford

The first electric vehicles (EV) eligible for the £3,750 discount under the government’s grant scheme have been announced.

The Department for Transport confirmed Ford’s Puma Gen-E or e-Tourneo Courier would be discounted as part of plans to encourage drivers to move away from petrol and diesel vehicles.

Under the grant scheme, the discount applies to eligible car models costing up to £37,000, with the most environmentally friendly ones seeing the biggest reductions. Another 26 models have been cleared for discounts of £1,500.

Carmakers can apply for models to be eligible for grants, which are then automatically applied at the point of sale.

More vehicles are expected to be approved in the coming weeks and the DfT said the policy would bring down prices to “closely match their petrol and diesel counterparts”.

The government has pledged to ban the sale of new fully petrol or diesel cars from 2030.

But many drivers cite upfront costs as a key barrier to buying an EV and some have told the BBC that the UK needs more charging points.

According to Ford’s website, the recommended retail price (RRP) for a new Puma Gen-E starts from £29,905 while a petrol equivalent is upward of £26,060. With the reduction applied, buyers would be looking in the region of £26,155 for the EV version.

The grants to lower the cost of EVs will be funded through the £650m scheme, and will be available for three years.

There are around 1.3 million electric cars on Britain’s roads but currently only around 82,000 public charging points.

Full list of EVs eligible for the £1,500 discount

  • Citroën ë-C3 and Citroën ë-C3 Aircross
  • Citroën ë-C4 and Citroën ë-C4 X
  • Citroën ë-C5 Aircross
  • Citroën ë-Berlingo
  • Cupra Born
  • DS DS3
  • DS N°4
  • Nissan Ariya
  • Nissan Micra
  • Peugeot E-208
  • Peugeot E-2008
  • Peugeot E-308
  • Peugeot E-408
  • Peugeot E-Rifter
  • Renault 4
  • Renault 5
  • Renault Alpine A290
  • Renault Megane
  • Renault Scenic
  • Vauxhall Astra Electric
  • Vauxhall Combo Life Electric
  • Vauxhall Corsa Electric
  • Vauxhall Frontera Electric
  • Vauxhall Grandland Electric
  • Vauxhall Mokka Electric
  • Volkswagen ID.3

The up-front cost of EVs is higher on average than for petrol cars.

According to Autotrader, the average price of a new battery electric car was £49,790 in June 2025, based on manufacturers’ recommended prices for 148 models.

The equivalent for a petrol car was £34,225, but the average covers a broad range of prices.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the grant scheme was making it “easier and cheaper for families to make the switch to electric”.

Edmund King, president of the AA, said drivers “frequently tell us that the upfront costs of new EVs are a stumbling block to making the switch to electric”.

“It is great to see some of these more substantial £3,750 discounts coming online because for some drivers this might just bridge the financial gap to make these cars affordable.”



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Donald Trump tariffs: Why did Nifty50, BSE Sensex tank in trade? Top reasons stock for market fall – The Times of India

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Donald Trump tariffs: Why did Nifty50, BSE Sensex tank in trade? Top reasons stock for market fall – The Times of India


Investors simultaneously grappled with additional challenges, including unfavourable global market indicators. (AI image)

Stock market today: Nifty50 and BSE Sensex, the Indian equity benchmark indices, crashed in trade on Thursday, a day after Donald Trump’s 50% tariffs on India came into effect. While Nifty50 closed at 24,500.90, down 211 points, BSE Sensex ended at 80,080.57, down 706 points or 0.87%.The newly imposed tariffs emerged as the main factor affecting market performance, whilst investors simultaneously grappled with additional challenges, including unfavourable global market indicators and continuous withdrawal of foreign investments. These factors collectively intensified the market decline, causing the benchmark indices to fall further.The severe downturn resulted in BSE-listed companies losing Rs 4.14 lakh crore in market capitalisation, bringing the exchange’s total market value down to Rs 445.80 lakh crore.

Why did the stock market fall today? Top reasons

50% US tariffs on IndiaThe new 25% additional tariffs from Washington on Indian goods became effective on Wednesday, creating uncertainty for exporters and overall market sentiment.Dr. V.K. Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Investments, believes these duties will affect equities temporarily but shouldn’t cause widespread concern.“The 50% tariff imposed on India, which has already come into effect, will weigh on market sentiments in the near-term. But the market is unlikely to panic since the market will view these high tariffs as a short-term aberration which will be resolved soon,” Vijayakumar said, noting US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant’s statement that “at the end of the day India and US will come together.”Additionally, Vijayakumar identified high valuations and poor earnings performance as ongoing issues. He expects export-focused industries to experience short-term difficulties, whilst suggesting investors consider moving towards reasonably priced domestic consumption sectors. He recommends transitioning from volatile small-cap investments to more stable large-cap consumer stocks for better risk management.FII sell-off continuesForeign institutional investors extended their selling momentum for the third consecutive session. Exchange data showed that on August 26, FIIs sold shares valued at over Rs 6,500 crore. Conversely, domestic institutional investors emerged as net buyers, investing Rs 7,060 crore.The selling pattern has affected multiple sectors. In early August, FIIs withdrew approximately Rs 31,900 crore across eight sectors, with financial and technology sectors experiencing the highest outflows. Net equity sales reached Rs 20,976 crore in the first half of the month, following July’s withdrawals and pushing the total outflows for the year to Rs 1.2 trillion.Earlier this month, Jefferies reported that foreign portfolio investor presence in India had reached its lowest level in a decade. Despite consistent domestic inflows providing support, analysts suggest that any market recovery could remain unstable.Dr. V.K. Vijayakumar of Geojit Investments emphasised the importance of domestic institutional support. “The strong pillar of support to the market is the aggressive buying by DIIs flush with funds,” he noted, explaining that domestic investments are helping balance the foreign outflows.Global markets in redAsian markets displayed weakness on Thursday as investors weighed Nvidia’s exceptional earnings against growing worries regarding the company’s business interests in China.The MSCI Asia-Pacific index, excluding Japan, fluctuated throughout the session before declining 0.2%. Similarly, US stock futures declined during extended trading hours, with S&P 500 e-minis dropping 0.2% and Nasdaq futures declining 0.4%. Despite reporting outstanding results, Nvidia’s shares retreated as uncertainties persisted over its Chinese operations amidst ongoing US-China trade tensions.Japanese markets showed volatility following news that Tokyo’s chief trade representative cancelled a planned visit to Washington, postponing discussions about a recently concluded trade agreement. The Nikkei 225 registered a 0.4% increase. In contrast, Hong Kong’s market performance weakened, with the Hang Seng Index recording a 1% decline.Market sentiment further deteriorated following US political developments, as President Donald Trump announced the removal of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. This decision raised questions about the central bank’s autonomy, although Cook has indicated her intention to legally contest the dismissal.Technicals show market weaknessTechnical indicators suggest market weakness ahead, although some strategists anticipate a potential short-term recovery.At Geojit Investments, Chief Market Strategist Anand James observed bearish conditions, identifying 24,071-23,860 as target levels. He acknowledged that the sharp 2% drop over four sessions could spark a recovery, with 24,780 and 24,870 acting as resistance points. “Inability to float above 24,630 or clear 24,900 will signal that bears continue to have the upper hand,” he said.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market and other asset classes given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)





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Stock Market Updates: Sensex Slides 700 Points, Nifty Below 24,550; IT, Realty Stocks Under Pressure

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Stock Market Updates: Sensex Slides 700 Points, Nifty Below 24,550; IT, Realty Stocks Under Pressure


Last Updated:

Domestic equities are trading under pressure on Thursday, with export-focused stocks facing headwinds

Sensex Today.

Sensex Today.

Sensex Today: Indian equities extended losses on Thursday, August 28, as markets digested the impact of fresh 50% tariffs on US exports that came into effect a day earlier.

At 1:30 PM, the BSE Sensex was down 562 points, or 0.70%, at 80,224, while the Nifty50 fell 163 points, or 0.66%, to 24,549.

Shriram Finance, HCL Tech, Infosys, Sun Pharma, Tata Motors, TCS, Power Grid, Bharti Airtel, IndusInd Bank, ICICI Bank, Trent, Jio Financial, and M\&M led the Nifty losers. On the other hand, Titan, Adani Ports, Asian Paints, Larsen & Toubro, Eternal, and Bajaj Finance bucked the weak trend.

The new duties, among the steepest in Asia, follow India’s continued imports of Russian crude oil and have strained ties between New Delhi and Washington. Shares of export-oriented sectors such as apparel, textiles, auto parts, engineering goods, gems & jewellery, shrimp, and carpets were in focus.

In the broader markets, the Nifty Midcap and Smallcap indices shed 0.9% each. Volatility also inched up, with India VIX down 0.9%.

Sectorally, IT and Realty indices slipped over 1% each, while all major sectors ended in the red barring Consumer Durables, Metals, and Oil & Gas.

Global Cues

In contrast, most Asian benchmarks were trading higher, tracking overnight US gains before a late pullback. Japan’s Nikkei rose 0.3%, while South Korea’s benchmark gained 0.3%, leading advances on the MSCI Asia Pacific index.

Meanwhile, US futures slipped in Asian trading after chipmaker Nvidia’s sales outlook missed lofty expectations, hinting at a slowdown in AI-driven growth after years of strong momentum.

On Wednesday, the S&P 500 gained 0.24% and the Nasdaq rose 0.21%, both closing in positive territory.

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Aparna Deb

Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a…Read More

Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a… Read More

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