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Punjab is facing a worsening utility crunch as electricity outages have reportedly risen to eight hours in urban areas and up to 16 hours in rural districts, while gas supply during cooking hours has also tightened. Officials link the crisis to electricity shortfalls, reduced fuel availability for power plants and a gas pipeline disruption in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has ordered the Food Department to speed up wheat procurement for the 2025-26 rabi season, activate centres across all districts and ensure timely payments to farmers. The move aims to support small growers, curb hoarding and stabilize the wheat market as the province begins large-scale crop purchasing.
Pakistan is assessing bilateral loans, commercial borrowing and Eurobonds after the UAE sought repayment of a $3.5 billion facility, putting fresh pressure on reserves. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said Islamabad is keeping all options open while staying committed to its IMF reform path.
Pakistan’s Privatisation Commission Board has approved the next-stage framework for selling FESCO, GEPCO and IESCO, while also clearing a Citibank-led consortium as top-ranked adviser for the Roosevelt Hotel transaction. The twin moves revive two major reform files and shift attention to cabinet approval, investor interest and execution.
Pakistan’s maritime affairs minister has urged exporters to pursue a $10 billion rice export target and promised government backing through port reforms, lower costs and faster cargo handling. Officials say improved logistics, expanded cultivation and more efficient ports could turn rice into a much larger source of foreign exchange for the country.
Pakistan has started limited power loadshedding of up to three hours as lower hydropower generation and reduced RLNG supplies create a 2,000-2,500MW shortfall. Officials say the move is meant to avoid heavier reliance on costly furnace oil, but consumers may still face higher bills and further pressure on supply.
The Pakistan Stock Exchange rebounded strongly on Tuesday, with the KSE-100 Index gaining more than 4,000 points in intraday trade after Monday’s steep sell-off. The recovery was supported by renewed hopes for continued diplomacy in the region and Fitch’s reaffirmation of Pakistan’s B- sovereign rating.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb says Pakistan is exploring multiple funding options, including Eurobonds, sukuk and commercial borrowing, as it prepares to return a $3.5 billion UAE facility this month. He also says the Middle East shock has strengthened the case for a strategic petroleum reserve and faster movement toward renewable energy.
Fitch Ratings has affirmed Pakistan’s long-term foreign-currency rating at B- with a stable outlook, citing progress on fiscal reforms and macroeconomic stability. The agency, however, warned that Pakistan remains highly vulnerable to energy-price shocks and rising external financing pressures.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has reached Washington for the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings, where he is expected to present Pakistan’s reform agenda and hold talks with senior global financial officials. The visit comes as Islamabad seeks economic stability amid rising external risks and volatile energy markets.
Pakistan’s stock market fell sharply after failed US-Iran talks and a jump in oil prices shook investor confidence, pushing the KSE-100 down more than 5,500 points intraday. The sell-off has renewed concern about Pakistan’s exposure to external shocks, especially through energy costs and inflation.
Pakistan is preparing to divert more domestic gas to power plants after an LNG shortfall raised the risk of higher electricity tariffs and wider summer outages. Officials hope the move will ease pressure on the grid, but consumers may still face some loadshedding as demand rises.
