Thursday, October 15, 2026Developing PakistanIslamabad
Long-form reporting, sector deep-dives, and analytical dispatches on the forces shaping Pakistan's economy.
Pakistan is moving to expand the Karachi Industrial Park into a larger hub for export-oriented manufacturing, investment and employment, adding momentum to efforts to turn underuti…
Pakistan is looking to expand manufacturing activity around one of its most important maritime gateways, with the government planning new industrial and commercial zones at Port Qa…
The company had suspended operations in February, with the facility remaining inactive until September. Its reopening followed intervention and coordination through the Special Inv…
Pakistan’s Export Processing Zones and Special Economic Zones are facing a significant policy transition after the government was told it must comply with commitments under its IMF…
Pakistan and China have signed five Memoranda of Understanding covering electric vehicles, battery manufacturing, construction materials, furniture, pine nuts and medical and busin…
Pakistan is set to establish a $50 million bulletproof glass manufacturing facility in Karachi, marking a new investment in domestic production of specialised protective materials.…
Pakistan’s manufacturing sector is showing renewed signs of momentum, with large-scale manufacturing rebounding strongly during FY2026 after a period of contraction. The recovery h…
Headline CPI has fallen to roughly 12–13% year-on-year in early 2026, down from peaks above 30% in 2023. The disinflation is real, but the structural story is not yet over.
A cumulative surplus above $1 billion reverses a $17 billion deficit from FY2022. The relief is real — but the underlying story is import suppression, not export dynamism.
The rupee is trading between 275 and 285 to the dollar, well off its 300+ lows. Reserves, remittances and enforcement all helped — but competitiveness questions linger.
Sector earnings are on track for PKR 500–600 billion annualised, driven almost entirely by 20%+ policy rates. When rates normalise, so will the P&L.
Exports are steady at $16–17B a year, but energy tariffs, 20%+ borrowing costs and Bangladeshi competition are all cutting into margins.
