Finance Ministry has released its monthly economic outlook report, highlighting mixed trends across key indicators of Pakistan’s economy. The report shows improvements in revenues and reserves alongside pressure on exports and investment. Policymakers and markets are closely watching these developments for future direction.
According to the report, the State Bank of Pakistan set the policy rate at 11.5 percent under its latest monetary policy. Non-tax revenue increased by 7.7 percent, reflecting improved government collections. Therefore, fiscal indicators show partial stability in the short term.
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Remittances from overseas Pakistanis rose by 8.2 percent, reaching 30.3 billion dollars during July to March. In addition, the Pakistan Stock Exchange index crossed a record level of 165,823 points. Market capitalization also surged by 44.3 percent to 18.34 trillion rupees.
However, external trade and investment indicators showed pressure during the same period. Exports fell by 5.8 percent, while imports increased by 7.9 percent, widening the trade gap. Meanwhile, foreign direct investment dropped by 27 percent to 1.35 billion dollars.
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Inflation stood at 7.3 percent in March, while large-scale manufacturing rose by 5.9 percent. Foreign reserves remained stable at 20.6 billion dollars, with the State Bank holding 15.1 billion dollars. Consequently, the report presents a mixed economic picture with both gains and challenges.