Public finance
The National Assembly in Pakistan has passed the Off the Grid (Captive Power Plants) Levy Bill, 2025, a money bill dictated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), without any debate or discussion. The bill aims to provide legal justification for imposing a grid levy on industrial captive power plants (CPPs)
Public finance
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is poised to introduce sales tax on imported raw materials used in the export of finished goods in the upcoming federal budget for 2025-26. This decision stems from the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) pressure to standardize tax treatment across all sectors, including
Economic growth
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reiterated his government's commitment to accelerating institutional reforms and macroeconomic stabilization, marking a significant milestone in the country's path to economic development. Following a period of recovery and stability, Prime Minister Sharif expressed gratitude to international organizations, including the International
Economic growth
Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari has expressed optimism that the ongoing loan programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will contribute to the country's economic growth. During a meeting with an IMF delegation led by Jihad Azour, President Zardari commended the IMF's constructive role
Economic growth
The debt-to-GDP ratio in Sub-Saharan African countries has doubled from 30% in 2013 to 60% in 2022, with Africa's total debt exceeding $1 trillion and debt servicing costs reaching $163 billion per year. This alarming trend has led to a debt crisis in over thirty low-income countries, with
Economic growth
Pakistan is reportedly planning to secure an additional $4.9 billion in commercial bank loans to bolster its foreign exchange reserves and meet its external financing obligations, following an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout. The move comes as economic growth falls short of targets, with the country achieving a growth
Public finance
Public spending cuts across six African countries have severely impacted the incomes of health and education workers, leaving them struggling to make ends meet. According to the ActionAid report, 97 percent of healthcare workers surveyed in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, and Nigeria could not cover their basic needs with
Economic growth
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has issued a warning that the recent reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US under President Donald Trump will have a detrimental effect on Pakistan's exports and economic growth. According to the IMF's latest report, the tariffs, including a 29% tariff on
Economic forecasting
Nigeria's economy, once the largest on the continent, has fallen to fourth position after two sharp devaluations of its currency shrank its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by more than half, causing the Naira to lose roughly 70% of its value against the dollar. This decline underscores the deep
Financial markets
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has issued a dire warning about the potential for a global financial meltdown due to the escalating trade tensions between the US and China. The world's lender of last resort attributes the heightened geopolitical risk to President Donald Trump's chaotic trade
Crisis management
Argentina has agreed to significantly ease its strict currency controls as part of a landmark $20 billion deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), marking a major turning point in President Javier Milei's libertarian economic agenda. The deal, which aims to stabilize the country's economy and
International Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) provides financial assistance to countries facing economic challenges. The level of outstanding credit is a key indicator of a nation's engagement with the IMF. Countries with low IMF credit outstanding enjoy several benefits, including greater economic stability, increased sovereignty, enhanced creditworthiness, and the
