ISLAMABAD: Short-term inflation, measured by the Sensitive Price Index (SPI), has risen to 5.08 percent in Pakistan on a year-on-year basis, the country’s statistics bureau said this week, with an increase observed in prices of edible items.
The SPI, which comprises 51 essential items collected from 50 markets in 17 cities, is computed on a weekly basis to assess the price movement of essential commodities at shorter interval of time so as to review the price situation in the country.
The SPI for the week ending on Dec. 26 increased by 0.80 percent as compared to the previous week, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). This is the third time short-term has increased in the South Asian country. Weekly inflation last decreased by 0.34 percent in Pakistan in the week ending on Dec. 5.
“During the week, out of 51 items, prices of 17 (33.33 percent) items increased, 10 (19.61 percent) items decreased and 24 (47.06 percent) items remained stable,” it said in a report.
Major increase was observed in prices of chicken (22.47 percent), tomatoes (20.75 percent), sugar (2.19 percent), vegetable ghee 1 kilogram (1.17 percent), firewood (0.95 percent), cooking oil 5 liter (0.74 percent), cooked beef and mustard oil (0.69 percent) each, liquefied petroleum gas (0.18 percent) and washing soap (0.09 percent).
The items that recorded a decrease in prices included onions (8.13 percent), potatoes (2.38 percent), bananas (0.68 percent), rice (0.50 percent) and eggs (0.30 percent).
Pakistan’s annual consumer inflation slowed to 4.9 percent in November, lower than the government’s forecast, according to the PBS. The finance ministry had projected inflation would slow to 5.8 percent-6.8 percent in November and ease to 5.6 percent-6.5 percent in December.
Consumer inflation cooled from 7.2 percent in October, a sharp drop from a multi-decade high of nearly 40 percent in May 2023.
Pakistan weekly inflation increases for third week in a row
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Pakistan weekly inflation increases for third week in a row
- Pakistan’s annual consumer inflation slowed to 4.9 percent in November, lower than the government’s forecast
- Major increase observed in prices of chicken, tomatoes, sugar, vegetable ghee, liquefied petroleum gas and soap
Pakistan says two astronaut candidates pass China screening for space mission
- Candidates complete medical and psychological assessments at China’s astronaut center
- Final selection for Chinese space station flight will take place after six-month training
ISLAMABAD: Two Pakistani astronaut candidates have successfully completed advanced medical, psychological and aptitude assessments in China for a human spaceflight mission, an official statement said on Saturday, bringing the country closer to sending on of them aboard a Chinese space station later this year.
The bilateral arrangement follows the signing of the Astronaut Cooperation Agreement between the two countries in February last year, which aimed to enable Pakistan’s participation in space-based activities.
The Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) had selected potential candidates who underwent advanced assessments at the Astronauts Center of China (ACC) and will now proceed to the next phase of training.
“The shortlisted candidates will undertake advanced astronaut training for six months at ACC,” the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement.
“Upon completion of training, one candidate will be selected for a spaceflight mission aboard the Chinese Space Station (CSS) in October / November 2026,” it added.
The program is part of Pakistan’s broader push to enter human spaceflight through cooperation with China, as Beijing expands international participation in its Tiangong space station amid growing competition in space exploration.
China has increasingly opened its space station to international collaboration.
Pakistan and China have also worked together in the past on satellite launches and lunar exploration projects.
The ISPR described the initiative as a “landmark” step reflecting strong Chinese support, saying Beijing had “selected Pakistan as the first foreign partner in its astronaut program.”
