Business
PSX ends flat on Friday’s heavy sell-off | The Express Tribune
KARACHI:
Pakistan’s stock market witnessed choppy trading during the week ended February 6 as the benchmark KSE-100 index closed largely flat amid mixed macroeconomic signals, external uncertainties and domestic security concerns.
Inflation inched up slightly, trade deficit widened on a cumulative basis despite record monthly exports, while foreign exchange reserves posted a modest increase, reflecting a cautiously stable macroeconomic backdrop.
On a day-on-day basis, the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) commenced the week on a positive note, with the KSE-100 index advancing 883 points (+0.48%) to close at 185,058. On Tuesday, the bourse extended its positive momentum, gaining 1,843 points (+1%) to settle at 186,900.
The market maintained its upward trajectory on Wednesday as the index rose 931 points (+0.50%) to 187,832. However, the PSX came under heavy selling pressure on Friday after a break on Thursday on account of Kashmir Solidarity Day, with the KSE-100 tumbling 3,703 points (-1.97%) to close at 184,130.
Arif Habib Limited’s (AHL) weekly commentary noted that the KSE-100 remained positive for most of the week before giving up gains towards the close, ending at 184,130, marginally lower by 45 points (-0.02% week-on-week).
Inflation edged up slightly as the Consumer Price Index (CPI) clocked in at 5.8% year-on-year (YoY) in January, compared to 5.6% in December. According to PBS data, Pakistan posted a trade deficit of $2.7 billion in Jan’26. Exports rose to $3.1 billion, up 3.7% YoY and a sharp 35% month-on-month (MoM), marking the highest-ever monthly goods exports. Imports stood at $5.8 billion, down 1.4% YoY and 4.9% MoM. On a cumulative basis, the trade deficit for 7MFY26 widened to $22 billion, reflecting a 28.2% YoY increase, AHL said.
Petroleum sales rose 12% MoM to 1.52 million tons in Jan’26 (+10% YoY), driven by lower motor spirit (MS) and high-speed diesel (HSD) prices, recovery in automobile sales, higher tractor sales under the Green Tractor Scheme, and reduced smuggling. MS offtake went up 2% MoM, HSD surged 20% MoM, while furnace oil (FO) volumes jumped 76% MoM due to lower hydel generation. Cumulatively, 7MFY26 petroleum offtake reached 9.67 million tons (+3% YoY).
Refinery sales rose 11% YoY in Jan’26, led by higher MS and HSD offtake. HSD supplies increased 16% YoY to 511k tons, while FO production declined 6.2% YoY, with most volumes likely exported at a loss despite improved local demand. During 7MFY26, refinery throughput stood at 6.2 million tons (+10.6% YoY).
Fertiliser offtake remained weak in Jan’26 following front-loaded Rabi season demand and significant discounts in prior months. Urea offtake fell 52% YoY to 214k tons, while DAP sales declined 37% YoY and 52% MoM to 39k tons, impacted by higher international prices and seasonal demand slowdown. SBP-held reserves increased by $56.1 million to $16.16 billion, AHL added.
In its report, JS Global observed that the KSE-100 index experienced a volatile week amid heightened US-Iran tensions and domestic security concerns, ultimately closing largely flat WoW at 184,130 points. On the macro front, Pakistan’s CPI for Jan’26 clocked in at 5.8%, keeping the real interest rate at 4.7% and taking the 7MFY26 average inflation to 5.24%.
Meanwhile, the country posted a trade deficit of $2.7 billion during Jan’26, down 6.6% YoY, driven by a 3.7% rise in exports and a 1.4% decline in imports. On the external financing front, the UAE rolled over a $2 billion loan for one month at a financing rate of 6.5%, allowing room for further discussions on the facility’s tenor and financing rate. Separately, Pakistan requested Saudi Arabia for a two-year extension in its $1.2 billion oil financing facility, JS mentioned.
In another development, Pakistan lost its comparative advantage versus India as the US lowered Indian tariffs from 50% to 18%, which was likely to be detrimental to Pakistan’s textile exports. Lastly, in the latest T-bill auction, the government raised Rs823 billion against the target of Rs650 billion, with yields increasing up to 39 basis points across different tenors, it said.
Business
Gold, iPhone, Laptop From Dubai: How Much Can You Bring To India Without Paying Customs Duty?
Last Updated:
India’s Baggage Rules 2026 raise duty-free limits to Rs 75,000, introduce weight-based jewellery allowances, allow one laptop duty-free, and simplify customs for arrivals.
Items that exceed the Rs 75,000 limit will attract customs duty (typically around 10% + social welfare surcharge on the duty), which is significantly lower than earlier effective rates.
India has updated its customs and baggage rules affecting what international passengers, including people arriving from the UAE, can bring into the country without paying duty. These changes are part of the Baggage Rules, 2026, and the Customs Baggage (Declaration & Processing) Regulations, 2026, which came into effect from February 2, 2026, following announcements in the Union Budget 2026.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of what’s changed and what it means:
1. Higher Duty-Free Allowance for Personal Items
Passengers arriving by air or sea can now bring goods worth up to Rs 75,000 duty-free, higher than the Rs 50,000 limit earlier.
This limit applies to Indian residents, people of Indian origin (PIO/OCI), NRIs, and foreign nationals with valid visas. It covers personal effects and items carried in bona fide accompanied baggage — personal use items, not for commercial sale.
Foreign tourists have a separate duty-free cap of Rs 25,000 (up from Rs 15,000 earlier).
For crew members, the limit is Rs 2,500.
2. Simplified Jewellery Rules
The old value-based limits on jewellery imports have been replaced with weight-based allowances for returning residents/PIOs:
• Women: up to 40 grams of jewellery duty-free
• Men/Others: up to 20 grams duty-free
This applies to passengers who have stayed abroad for at least a year and are bringing jewellery in bona fide baggage.
Earlier, jewellery allowances were defined by value rather than weight, which often caused confusion and disputes at customs.
3. Laptop and Electronics Allowances
• One laptop can be brought in duty-free, separate from the Rs 75,000 general limit, for travellers aged over 18 years (excluding airline crew).
• Other electronics (smartphones, watches, cameras, etc.) are counted within the Rs 75,000 allowance.
This dual-bucket system (laptop + Rs 75,000 limit) is particularly beneficial for travellers bringing gadgets from the UAE, where prices are often lower.
4. Simplified Customs Process
The new regulations also introduce:
• Advance and electronic baggage declaration to streamline arrival processing.
• Unified digital declaration linked to immigration systems, reducing paperwork.
• Clearer rules around temporary imports / re-imports and Transfer of Residence (ToR) benefits for long-term expatriates.
5. What Still Requires Duty or Has Restrictions
Even under the new rules, certain items remain outside duty-free allowances and must be declared:
• Alcohol beyond allowed limits
• Tobacco products above the limits
• Cars, TVs, and other large goods
• Gold bars/coins or precious metals in non-jewellery form
• Commercial quantities of any item
Items that exceed the Rs 75,000 limit will attract customs duty (typically around 10% + social welfare surcharge on the duty), which is significantly lower than earlier effective rates.
Example (From UAE To India)
If an NRI returning from Dubai brings:
• One laptop: duty-free separate allowance
• A phone (Rs 50,000), watch (Rs 15,000) & clothes: these total Rs 65,000 — all duty-free within the Rs 75,000 limit
• Gold jewellery (30 g): duty-free under the new weight limits
The above would be cleared without duty. Only items or values above these thresholds may attract charges. However, for updated and item-specific rules, check customs rules from official government website.
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February 08, 2026, 16:01 IST
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New Delhi: Farmers across India are waiting for the 22nd instalment of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, under which eligible beneficiaries receive Rs 2,000 directly in their bank accounts. While the government has not officially announced the release date, the next payment is expected between February and March 2026, based on the scheme’s usual schedule.
The PM Kisan scheme provides Rs 6,000 per year in three equal instalments to landholding farmer families through direct benefit transfer.
Farmer ID Requirement
A key update this year is the growing importance of the Farmer ID, which is being introduced as part of the government’s farmer-registry initiative. The ID is mandatory for new registrations in several states where the registry system has already started, though it may not yet be required everywhere in the country.
Authorities say the Farmer ID will help verify beneficiaries, prevent duplication, and ensure that financial assistance reaches genuine farmers.
e-KYC Still Essential
Along with the Farmer ID, e-KYC remains compulsory for all registered PM Kisan beneficiaries. Farmers who fail to complete e-KYC or update their records may face delays in receiving the next instalment.
The government has also introduced new methods such as OTP-based and facial-authentication e-KYC to make the process easier for farmers.
What Farmers Should Do
To avoid missing the next instalment, farmers should:
Complete e-KYC verification
Ensure Aadhaar is linked to their bank account
Update land and registration details
Obtain a Farmer ID if required in their state
New Delhi: India’s bullion market saw a pause in its recent rally on February 8, with gold prices easing slightly after touching record highs in late January. The price of 24-carat gold was around Rs 1.56 lakh per 10 grams, while 22-carat gold traded close to Rs 1.43 lakh per 10 grams in major markets across the country.
Silver prices remained volatile but stable compared to recent swings, trading at about Rs 2.85 lakh per kilogram. The metal has seen sharp movements in recent weeks, reflecting changing global demand and investor sentiment.
The correction in gold prices comes after the metal reached an all-time high of nearly Rs 1.79 lakh per 10 grams last month, driven by strong global demand for safe-haven assets. Since then, some investors have booked profits, leading to a decline in prices.
Market experts say precious-metal prices are currently being influenced by international economic conditions, currency fluctuations, and expectations around interest-rate decisions by major central banks. These factors often affect global bullion prices, which in turn impact domestic rates in India.
Despite the recent dip, demand for gold remains steady, especially with the wedding season and festive purchases supporting jewellery sales. Analysts believe gold and silver prices may continue to move cautiously in the coming weeks as global markets remain uncertain.
Overall, the bullion market is entering a phase of consolidation after a strong rally, with investors closely watching global trends for the next direction in prices.
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