ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani rupee currency fell further against the dollar on Friday and the stock market shed more than 800 points to close off its worst week in seventeen years, less than a week after Pakistan signed a bailout deal with the International Monetary Fund that comes with strict reform conditions.
The rupee has depreciated by almost five percent since the IMF and Pakistani authorities agreed to a bailout package last Sunday. On Friday, The Pakistani rupee, in the open market, closed at 151 against the dollar as compared to Thursday’s close of 147, Exchange Companies Association of Pakistan data said.
Taking a cue from the currency market, the stock market also shed 804 points on Friday, falling due to the devaluation of the rupee for the last two working days, an expected hike in the policy rate in the next monetary policy meeting on Monday and selling pressure from mutual funds (net selling of $14mn in 4 sessions).
Finance adviser Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh flew into Karachi on Thursday and met stockbrokers on Friday who requested setting up a “market support fund” to help rein in the continuous decline on the trade floor, local media reported.
“Rupee free fall against the dollar, falling foreign exchange reserves, likely surge in state bank policy rate announcement on May 20, concerns over IMF conditions and targets for the federal budget for fiscal year 19 played a catalyst role in bearish close,” said Ahsan Mehanti, the Chief Executive at Arif Habib Corporation.
“This movement reflects demand and supply conditions in the foreign exchange market,” the State Bank’s chief spokesman said in an emailed statement on Thursday. “It will help in correcting market imbalances.”
Market participants expect a further policy rate hike in the wake of the IMF agreement as the central bank is scheduled to announce the monetary policy for the next two months on Monday.
“The central bank is expected to increased 100 basis points bps 11.75 percent,” Muhammad Sohail, CEO of Topline Securities, told Arab News.
Pakistani rupee in freefall, stock market ends worst week in 17 years
Pakistani rupee in freefall, stock market ends worst week in 17 years
- Finance adviser Shaikh meets stockbrokers who suggest setting up “market support fund” to rein in continuous decline on trade floor
- Rupee hits 149.50 in interbank market before closing at 147.66 against US dollar, stock market sheds 804 points
Pakistan regulator says over 21,600 new companies registered in first half of FY26
- This reflects a 29 percent increase compared to the 16,839 companies that were registered during same period last year, says regulator
- These incorporations contributed $109.5 billion in paid-up capital, says Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan report
ISLAMABAD: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) said this week it registered over 21,600 new companies in the first half of the current fiscal year, reflecting rising investor confidence and positive economic outlook in the country.
In a report issued on Jan. 6, the SECP said it registered 21,668 companies in the first six months of the current fiscal year, adding that these incorporations contributed Rs30.7 billion [$109.5 million] in paid-up capital.
The report said this represented a 29 percent increase compared to the 16,839 companies registered during the same period last year.
“Pakistan’s business landscape continues to demonstrate strong momentum, reflecting rising investor confidence and a positive economic outlook,” the SECP report said.
The SECP said the latest increase has brought the total number of registered companies in Pakistan to 279,724. It said the top ten sectors by incorporations were led by the IT & e-commerce, with 4,277 companies, followed by trading (2,997 companies), services (2,686 companies) and real estate (2,031 companies).
“This sectoral diversity highlights expanding entrepreneurial activity, particularly in technology-driven and service-oriented industries,” the report said.
The SECP said foreign investment also remained “robust” during the period, adding that 524 newly incorporated companies received foreign investment amounting to Rs1.26 billion [$4.5 million] with the participation from 731 foreign investors.
“China emerged as the leading source, accounting for 71 percent of total inflows,” the SECP said. “It was followed by Afghanistan (8 percent), the United States (2 percent), and the United Kingdom, Germany, South
Africa, South Korea, Norway, Vietnam, Nigeria, and Bangladesh, each contributing 1 percent,” it added.
The SECP said an additional 11 percent of the investment originated from other countries.
