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PR launches property recovery worth Rs65b | The Express Tribune

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PR launches property recovery worth Rs65b | The Express Tribune



KARACHI:

Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi on Thursday unveiled reforms, recovery measures, and development projects aimed at modernising Pakistan Railways and making it more efficient, transparent, and business-friendly.

During a visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Abbasi said that railway lands worth Rs15 billion had been recovered, while properties worth another Rs50 billion would be retrieved this year. He clarified that railway property is non-saleable, though revenue-sharing partnerships are being pursued for better use.

Highlighting Karachi’s role, Abbasi remarked, “Without Karachi, Pakistan’s economy collapses, and without Karachi Division, Railways ceases to exist.” He said the Thar coal transport project was progressing nationwide, while groundbreaking for the 480km Karachi–Rohri line is expected by June 2026.

On modernisation, the minister said 155 stations are being shifted to solar power, including 27 in Karachi. So far, 60 stations have been solarised. Wi-Fi is being installed at 40 stations, and ATM and Wi-Fi services will be expanded to all major stations. A new CIP lounge at Karachi Station will open on September 22, while railway saloons have been made available to the public at affordable rates.

Abbasi said Pakistan Railways had initiated digitisation and reduced losses. Regularisation of meters saved Rs4 billion, while ticket theft earlier cost Rs1 billion annually. He warned that ticketless travellers and facilitators would face imprisonment, stressing that “even ministers or Railways chairman will have to buy tickets.”

The minister announced that 11 passenger trains had already been outsourced, with nine more to follow within six days. By December, 38 trains will be outsourced. Freight trains are also being outsourced to meet rising demand. Two trains have been handed to NLC, which is seeking 10 more. Eight railway hospitals and 14 schools are also being outsourced, though employees will continue to receive free medical care.

Abbasi admitted that trains were facing delays due to floods, while fares could not be reduced immediately. He said bogies and engines received eight years ago were of such poor quality that they had worn out despite a 30-year life expectancy. An inquiry has been ordered.



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Post-Budget Session: Bulls Push Sensex Up By Over 900 Points, Nifty Reclaims 25,000

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Post-Budget Session: Bulls Push Sensex Up By Over 900 Points, Nifty Reclaims 25,000


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The BSE Sensex is trading higher by 371 points, or 0.47%, at 81,090.24, while the NSE Nifty rises by 70 points to trade above 24,850 at 24,889.25.

Stock Market Today.

Stock Market Today.

Market Updates Today: A day after the market crash following the Budget’s provision to hike Securities Transaction Tax (STT), the domestic equity market on Monday saw heightened volatility. After opening nearly flat, the NSE Nifty rose to the day’s high, then touched the day’s low before sharply recovering to trade at the day’s high of 25,093.

As of 3:16 pm, the BSE Sensex surged by 932 points, or up 1.13%, to 81,641.87 in the afternoon trade and the NSE Nifty rose by 267 points, or up 1.07%, to trade above 25,000 at 25,093.27. After opening nearly flat, the NSE Nifty rose to the day’s high, then touched the day’s low before sharply recovering to trade at the day’s high of 25,093.27.

Among the 30 Sensex shares, 25 stocks were trading in the green. Among the top gainers were PowerGrid, Adani Ports, BEL, Reliance, Mahindra & Mahindra, Larsen & Toubro, and IndiGo, rising by up to 7.91%. The laggards were Axis Bank, Infosys, Titan, TCS, and Trent, falling by up to 1.97%.

After opening nearly flat, at around 9:30 am, the BSE Sensex jumped by 350 points to 81,112.03 in the opening trade, while the NSE Nifty rose 91 points to trade above the 24,900 level at 24,910.85. However, the benchmarks gave up all gains and declined to day’s low amid heavy volatility.

Aakash Shah, technical research analyst at Choice Equity Broking Private Ltd, said, “Near-term sentiment remains cautious despite some support from domestic technical indicators. The broader market direction will largely be influenced by global equity cues, crude oil price movements, and institutional fund flows.”

On Sunday, the Nifty saw an aggressive sell-off after the Budget 2026 announcement to hike STT, plunging nearly 870 points from 25,440 to an intraday low of 24,571, before staging a partial recovery to close at 24,825.

“A strong bearish candle was formed, with the index closing decisively below the 200-day EMA, indicating a deterioration in trend strength. Immediate resistance is placed at 24,950–25,000, while key support lies in the 24,650-24,700 zone. The RSI slipped to 31, reflecting oversold conditions, while India VIX surged 10.73% to 15.09, highlighting elevated market volatility,” Shah said.

On Sunday, February 1, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold equities worth Rs 588 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) also remained net sellers, offloading shares worth Rs 682 crore, adding to the pressure on the market.

V K Vijayakumar, chief investment strategist at Geojit Investments Ltd, said, “Yesterday’s market selloff resulting in 495 point crash in Nifty was a knee-jerk reaction to the sharp increase in STT on F&O trades. This was not a revenue-raising measure, but a decision to discourage retail traders from complex F&O trading, in which 92% of them were losing money. This decision is in the interest of retail investors. But this decision impacted the market sentiments, which were already impacted by the decision to make no changes in the LTCGs tax, which a section of the market was expecting rather unrealistically.”

It is important to understand that the Budget is a growth-oriented Budget with fiscal prudence. The 10% nominal GDP growth projected in the Budget is achievable and has the potential to deliver around 15% earnings growth in FY27. The market will soon start discounting this positive. But it is possible that FIIs may continue to sell impacting the market. Retail investors should keep their cool and remain invested and continue to invest systematically. A significant upturn in the market may take time; perhaps a retreat from AI trade globally. We don’t know when this will happen. But we know that an earnings rebound is imminent in response to this growth oriented Budget. That is a clear positive, he added.

News business markets Post-Budget Session: Bulls Push Sensex Up By Over 900 Points, Nifty Reclaims 25,000
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Gold and silver sell-off gathers steam in correction after record highs

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Gold and silver sell-off gathers steam in correction after record highs



Gold and silver prices have continued to drop sharply in a “brutal” sell-off after hitting record highs in recent weeks.

The precious metals began falling on Friday in response to US President Donald Trump’s nomination for the incoming chairman of the Federal Reserve.

His choice for former Fed governor Kevin Warsh to replace current chairman Jerome Powell when his term ends in May soothed some investor nerves, which boosted the US dollar but saw appetite for safe-haven investments gold and silver slump in response.

Gold and silver suffered their worst trading days for decades on Friday and were down heavily again on Monday, with spot prices off by another 7% and 11% respectively at one stage.

Silver had plunged by nearly 30% on Friday and gold dropped over 9% in its worst one-day drop since 1983.

Gold and silver had been enjoying a record breaking rally as investors sought refuge amid global geopolitical uncertainty, conflict and tariff woes.

Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote, said: “The sell-off has been far more brutal than I, and many, expected.”

He added: “For silver, the rally on the way up was faster than gold’s, so the correction on the way down is faster too.”

Kathleen Brooks, research director at XTB, added: “If the sell off continues, then gold and silver are at risk of eroding their losses for the year so far.

“The historic move lower in silver prices has not stemmed a fall at the start of this week.

“Traders have not yet found a level that they are happy to buy the dips, and the timing of Chinese Lunar New Year in mid-February could accelerate the sell off, as Chinese traders reduce risk ahead of the holiday.”

UK and US stock markets are expected to open in the red on Monday, as the gold and silver rout has a knock on effect on mining giants, while Brent oil was also 5% lower.

Derren Nathan, head of equity research at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “Mining stocks are likely to feel the heat as metal prices scramble to find a floor.

“Oil prices are also trending the wrong way for investors in commodity-focused companies.”



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Budget’s mild fiscal consolidation to be positive for GDP growth: Report

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Budget’s mild fiscal consolidation to be positive for GDP growth: Report


Mumbai: Lower revenue as a share of GDP has been more than offset by cuts to subsidies and spending on current schemes, leading to the smallest fiscal consolidation in six years, likely positive for growth, a new report has said. 

The fiscal consolidation for FY27 is the slowest in six years. And the budgeted disinvestment, which is a below-the-line funding item, is likely to see the highest rise in six years, the report from HSBC Global Investment Research said.

“The central government continues with fiscal consolidation, though signing up for a gentler path for FY27; the fiscal impulse will likely turn neutral after several years in the negative, and this should be good news for GDP growth,” the research firm added.

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The report said that the services sector was the focus of the Budget, “with ambitious plans and increased outlays for medical institutions, universities, tourism, sports facilities, and the creative economy.”

Urban infrastructure saw a renewed push with each City Economic Region (CER) set to receive get Rs 50 billion over 5 years.

Seven new high-speed rail corridors will connect major cities, the report noted, adding large cities will also get an incentive of Rs 1 billion if they issue municipal bonds worth more than Rs 10 billion.

The report highlighted policy priorities, saying, “new manufacturing sectors were given incentives, namely biopharma, semiconductors, electronic components, rare earth corridors, chemical parks, container manufacturing, and high-tech tool rooms.”

Direct taxes are expected to grow faster than nominal GDP while indirect taxes will expand more slowly, with gross tax revenues budgeted to rise about 8 per cent year‑on‑year, the report said.

Central government set a fiscal deficit target of 4.3 per cent of GDP for FY27 after a 4.4 per cent estimate for FY26, and nominal GDP growth was pegged at 10 per cent.



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