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S. M. Tanveer expresses disappointment over no change in policy rate – SUCH TV

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S. M. Tanveer expresses disappointment over no change in policy rate – SUCH TV



Mr. S. M. Tanveer, FPCCI leader, has expressed deep disappointed over the State Bank of Pakistan’s decision to maintain the current policy rate, saying that the SBP has failrd to address the pressing needs of our economy.

According to him, with inflation under control and the Consumer Price Index (CPI) at a notable low, the persistence of high interest rates is stifling economic growth and exacerbating the challenges faced by businesses and consumers alike. The high policy rate is deterring investment, hindering job creation, and placing an undue burden on the industrial sector, which is crucial for our economic development, he stressed.

In my view, said Mr. Tanveer, no economic uplift is possible without a significant reduction in the policy rate to 6 percent. This move would not only stimulate economic activity but also make borrowing more accessible for businesses, thereby fostering growth and development. Furthermore, he said, it is imperative to bring electricity tariffs to a regionally competitive level of 9 cents per kWh. This adjustment is essential for reducing the cost of doing business, enhancing our export competitiveness, and ultimately driving economic prosperity.

It may be noted that the SBP policy rate is currently 11.00%. The SBP’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has held the rate unchanged at this level since May 2025, most recently on September 15, 2025. This decision was made despite expectations for a cut, reflecting caution due to rising floods potentially spiking food prices and renewing pressure on the currency.

Patron-in-Chief UBG has urged the government to revisit the policy rate without delay. He said the current economic environment demands a more accommodative monetary policy to revive the economy and support the business community. Delaying this crucial decision will only prolong the economic stagnation and hinder Pakistan’s progress, he said, adding that it is imperative for the government to take immediate action to ensure a conducive environment for economic growth and development.



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LPG crisis: No respite for restaurants yet – The Times of India

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LPG crisis: No respite for restaurants yet – The Times of India


MUMBAI/BENGALURU: The restaurant industry is struggling to run regular operations due to the meagre supplies of LPG cylinders . With the govt’s move to hike commercial LPG allocation to up to 70%, it will take some time before the measure actually translates into sustained supply, executives said. “Supply is still hugely limited and erratic. A feeling of uncertainty looms large,” said Anurag Katriar, founder at Indigo Hospitality. The key question is how quickly this revised allocation will translate into on-ground availability, said Pradeep Shetty, vice-president at Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI).A walk along Indiranagar’s 12th Main, known for its cluster of independent restaurants, reflects the strain. “It is all hand-to-mouth at this point,” said Nikhil Gupta, who runs brands including The Pizza Bakery and Paris Panini . The move doesn’t directly help the restaurant sector which is still getting 20%-30% of LPG supplies, said Sagar Daryani, co-founder & CEO at Wow! Momo Foods and president at National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI). State-wise, the supply situation varies with some such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan restricting allocation for restaurants, hurting the sector , Daryani said.



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Asda boss rejects profiteering claims as petrol price tops 150p

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Asda boss rejects profiteering claims as petrol price tops 150p



Motorists are facing higher fuel prices ahead of Easter break due to the conflict in the Middle East, the RAC says.



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E-cheques coming soon? RBI unveils Payments Vision 2028, plans wider oversight of digital players – The Times of India

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E-cheques coming soon? RBI unveils Payments Vision 2028, plans wider oversight of digital players – The Times of India


The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday unveiled its ‘Payments Vision 2028’ document, outlining a roadmap that includes exploring electronic cheques, expanding regulatory oversight to digital platforms, and strengthening safeguards in the fast-growing payments ecosystem, PTI reported.The central bank said it will examine the introduction of e-cheques to combine the advantages of paper instruments with the speed and reliability of digital payments. “To leverage the unique benefits of paper-based instruments and the speed and reliability of electronic payments, and cater to new business use cases, the introduction of electronic cheques in India shall be explored,” the RBI said.Alongside, the RBI is considering widening the regulatory ambit to include entities such as e-commerce marketplaces and centralised platforms that play a growing role in facilitating digital transactions.“In addition, e-commerce marketplaces and centralized platforms have been assuming significant responsibilities that could have implications on the orderly functioning of the payments ecosystem. These aspects shall be examined in detail and, if required, the scope of direct regulations shall be extended to cover such entities,” the document said.The vision document also proposes allowing users to enable or disable transactions across digital payment modes, similar to controls available for card transactions.To address fraud risks, the RBI is exploring a “shared responsibility framework” under which both the issuing bank and the beneficiary bank would share liability in cases of unauthorised digital transactions.The central bank also plans to review cheque design and security features, introduce a Domestic Legal Entity Identifier (DLEI) framework for better transaction traceability, and bring in a Cyber Key Risk Indicators (KRI) framework for non-bank payment system operators.Other initiatives include exploring white-label solutions in the Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AePS), developing interoperability in the Trade Receivables e-Discounting System (TReDS), and introducing a ‘Payments Switching Service’ to ease customer migration across platforms.The RBI said it will also review the cross-border payments ecosystem to improve efficiency and streamline authorisation processes, alongside publishing periodic reports on global and domestic payment trends.Additionally, the central bank aims to enhance access to payment data and reimagine the card payments ecosystem by promoting secure tokenisation, improved transparency in pricing, and greater choice for users and merchants.



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