Gold price per tola surge Rs1,400 in Pakistan
Gold prices in Pakistan increased on Wednesday in line with their incline in the international market. In the local market, gold price per tola reached Rs349,300 after a surge of Rs1,400 during the day.
Similarly, 10-gram gold was sold at Rs299,468 after it gained Rs1,200, according to the rates shared by the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA).
On Tuesday, gold price per tola slashed to Rs347,900 after it losing Rs3,600 during the day.
The international rate of gold also improved on Wednessday. The rate was at $3,309 per ounce (with a premium of $20), an increase of $14, as per APGJSA.
Meanwhile, silver price per tola increased by Rs32 to settle at Rs3,480.
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Express Tribune
5 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Development budget likely to top Rs4tr
Listen to article The government is set to approve a record Rs4.1 trillion national development budget for the Centre and provinces amid scarcity of resources that has compelled it to ban small-scale projects and not to include federally-funded province-specific new schemes for next year. Despite the threat of blocking water by India, the government has proposed to reduce the water sector allocation by 45% or Rs119 billion to just Rs140 billion for the fiscal year 2025-26 against the originally approved budget. Yet, the proposed federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) reflects the coalition government's political priorities, with hefty allocations for road infrastructure, while funding for education, health, and water has been significantly slashed for the fiscal year 2025-26. The Annual Plan Coordination Committee (APCC) will today (Monday) approve the national development budget outlays for the federal government, four provincial governments and the special areas of Pakistan. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal will chair the meeting, which will also recommend 4.2% economic growth and 7.5% inflation targets for the next fiscal year. The federal PSDP has been finalised by a committee constituted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif aimed at accommodating the needs of the coalition partners. The APCC will approve a cumulative Rs4.1 trillion outlay for development, which will be Rs300 billion or 8% higher than this fiscal year's original budgets approved by the National and four provincial assemblies. There has been a reduction in the federal PSDP, but the four provincial governments will cumulatively spend 28% higher than this year's budget from their own resources. Provinces are rich, thanks to the ill-planned National Finance Commission award of 2010. The APCC will approve Rs1 trillion federal PSDP, down by Rs400 billion compared to this fiscal year's original budget approved in June last year. The federal government will borrow Rs270 billion from abroad to fund this Rs1 trillion spending. The four governments plan to spend Rs2.8 trillion, higher by Rs609 billion or 28% over this year's original budgets. The provincial governments will also borrow Rs802 billion from abroad to fund their projects. Another Rs288 billion will be spent by the government-owned companies outside the federal budget. Punjab is on a spending spree, as it plans to spend Rs1.19 trillion, which is higher by Rs346 billion or 41% over this fiscal year's budget. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa will follow Punjab with Rs440 billion spending, also higher by 63%. Sindh government plans to spend Rs887 billion, higher by Rs60 billion or 7%. The Balochistan government is proposing Rs280 billion for development, which is higher by Rs32 billion over the originally approved budget. 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About 30-40% of PSDP goes to the provincial nature projects, which have seriously undermined the progress of mega and core projects of national significance, according to the planning ministry. The projects of national importance are delayed due to thin spread funding, and around 90% ongoing projects have been revised with cost increase and time overrun, it added. The APCC may also issue directions that the development funds should not be diverted to non-development purposes during the currency of the fiscal year. The APCC will review whether projects with high impact, focused on completion within 3-4 years, will be funded. The proposed PSDP gives priority to foreign-funded and core, and high-impact projects. However, a cursory look at the proposed PSDP suggests that despite tough economic conditions, the government has given importance to politically nature projects by increasing allocations for the National Highway Authority and the provincial nature projects. 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Express Tribune
a day ago
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Banks delay import payments
The price of local currency has started increasing gradually in both open and interbank markets Listen to article Commercial banks have once again started delaying import-related payments due to the limited availability of foreign currency, caused by major foreign debt repayments due before the end of June and the need to meet the reserves-related condition set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The situation warrants that the central bank either completely stop purchasing foreign currency from the markets or drastically reduce it to improve the supply of dollars, according to background discussions with multiple bankers. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Saturday did not provide an official version on the matter. Banking and market sources told The Express Tribune that some major and small banks were delaying import-related payments by two to three weeks, particularly in cases of open-account and contractual imports. The banks were also providing dollars for the clearance of letters of credit (LCs) to some major importers at rates higher than the interbank rate, they added. Because of the situation, the spread between the interbank and open market has started widening, and a few banks have again been compelled to ration the provisioning of dollars. The interbank rate was over Rs282 to a dollar, while in the open market the dollar was available close to Rs285, said banking and currency market sources. The situation is not as bad as the 2022 crisis, and it is high time that the central bank took notice to avoid any speculation in the market, said a senior executive of a private bank whose institution was also facing the challenge of ensuring sufficient dollar provision for import payments. Concerned authorities said on condition of anonymity that the local currency did come under pressure in both open and interbank markets. However, they said that it was a temporary phenomenon and would end soon. Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and Pak Arab Refinery Limited (PARCO) were also facing issues in getting the right price of the dollar for making payments against their imports. The sources said that PSO paid about Rs3 higher for its latest import payment compared to the previous contract. This would translate into a higher petrol price for consumers. Pakistan is scheduled to make $2.4 billion in foreign commercial debt repayments to China next month, in addition to payments to some other multilateral lenders. The foreign exchange reserves stand at $11.5 billion, which is not enough to make these payments and at the same time retain reserves in double digits. The IMF has also further tightened the end-June Net International Reserves (NIR) target to negative $7.5 billiona further tightening of $1.1 billion compared to the target agreed upon in September last year. To meet these targets and foreign debt repayments, the central bank is still purchasing dollars from the market. The end-March negative NIR target was $10.2 billion, which means the central bank needs an additional $2.7 billion cushion just to meet the end-June target, according to the IMF report. Another senior executive at a bank said that export and remittance proceeds were sufficient to cover imports, but the challenge lay with the financial account, which was putting pressure on the exchange rate. He said the central bank should refrain from buying dollars for a few weeks to ease market conditions. Representatives of the banking industry have already brought the issue of the emerging shortage of foreign currency to the attention of the central bank, according to those privy to the discussions. Despite the IMF programme, Pakistan has not received enough foreign loans this time. Central Bank Governor Jameel Ahmad said a few months ago that the SBP had bought over $9 billion from the local market in 2024 to build reserves. The SBP spokesperson did not respond to questions about the reasons behind the recent pressure on the rupee-dollar parity, or whether there was a backlog of about $1 billion in deferred import-related payments due to the dollar shortage. He also did not respond to questions regarding the increasing spread between the interbank and open market rates or the strategy the central bank is adopting to address the situation. The buying of dollars from the market has helped reduce foreign debt by $800 million during the first nine months of this fiscal year. A stable rupee has also played a major role in bringing down the inflation rate to low single digits. However, exporters complain that tight control over the dollar price is eroding their competitive edge, and they argue that market forces should be allowed to play their role. There is also a seasonal increase in demand for foreign currency due to Hajj, which central bank authorities expect will now subside.
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business Recorder
Gold prices decline further
KARACHI: Gold prices continued to fall on Saturday as world market further lost momentum, sliding under $3,300 per ounce, traders said. Local gold prices went down by Rs1,400 per tola and Rs1,200 per 10 grams following a decline in world bullion rates by $14 to sell at $3,288 per ounce. The plunge dragged down gold prices to Rs347,200 per tola and Rs297,668 per 10 grams, All Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewelers Association said. Domestic silver prices also reduced by Rs24 to Rs3,456 per tola and Rs2,962 per 10 grams. The international market traded silver for $33 per ounce, the association said. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
