The federal government has revived plans to restore Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM), signaling a major policy shift after previously deciding to wind up the loss-making state-owned enterprise. The development follows renewed interest from international parties in bringing the dormant steel producer back into operation, with Russian company Industrial Engineering LLC emerging as a key potential partner for the revival, modernisation and restructuring of the mill. Well-informed sources said the government has initiated consultations with the Russian firm to assess the technical, financial and operational requirements for restoring PSM’s production capacity. Two protocols have already been signed between Industrial Engineering LLC and Pakistan Steel Mills under the Ministry of Industries and Production. The first agreement was signed in Moscow on July 10, 2025, and provides a framework for cooperation on the revival, modernisation and restructuring of PSM. The second protocol was signed on November 26, 2025, during the 10th session of the Pakistan-Russia Intergovernmental Commission. The second agreement focuses on assessing the operational and capital expenditure required to restart manufacturing activities at the steel mill. Feasibility assessment under way According to sources, the authorities have also carried out an exercise to calculate production costs and evaluate the commercial viability of restarting PSM. The assessment is expected to help determine whether the mill can operate sustainably and compete in the domestic and international steel markets after years of inactivity. The findings will form the basis for recommendations to the government before a final decision is taken on the future structure and operations of the enterprise. Sources said the relevant authority would submit recommendations to the Cabinet Committee on State-Owned Enterprises (CCoSOEs), seeking an end to the liquidation process and approval to pursue the revival option with the participation of international investors. The move represents a reversal of the government’s earlier policy. Government had approved liquidation In May 2024, the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) had decided to scrap Pakistan Steel Mills after efforts to find a buyer failed to produce a viable offer. The Cabinet Committee on Rightsizing subsequently approved the liquidation of the existing mill in August 2024. However, the government has now shifted its focus towards rehabilitation, apparently encouraged by renewed international interest and the possibility of securing foreign technical and financial support. A formal summary regarding the proposed policy shift has been submitted to the Ministry of Industries and Production for consideration, sources said. A parliamentary secretary also indicated that the government’s policy direction had changed and that efforts were now being made to restore PSM to operational status. He said the timeline agreed upon with the Russian company would be followed, with the relevant departments expected to take further steps after completion of the ongoing assessments. Power minister signals renewed revival efforts Separately, Minister for Power Sardar Awais Leghari said recommendations for reviving Pakistan’s dormant steel giant would soon be presented to policymakers, reinforcing indications that the government is seriously reconsidering the future of PSM. Speaking at a webinar titled “Pakistan-Russia: Strengthening Trade, Education and Energy Collaboration,” jointly organised by the University of World Civilizations Moscow (UWCM) and the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS), Leghari highlighted the growing momentum in Pakistan-Russia relations. He said bilateral ties had strengthened over the past two decades on the basis of mutual trust, respect and a shared interest in regional stability. The minister’s remarks come as Pakistan explores greater Russian involvement in key economic and industrial sectors, including the possible rehabilitation of PSM. Financial burden remains a challenge Pakistan Steel Mills has remained largely dormant for years, creating a continuing financial burden for the government. Following the earlier decision to wind up the enterprise, the government has continued to bear the salaries and other expenses of its remaining employees. Meanwhile, some of the mill’s liabilities and operating costs have been met through proceeds generated from the sale of scrap. The proposed revival could therefore provide an opportunity to turn the idle industrial asset into a productive enterprise while reducing the recurring financial burden on the national exchequer. However, the government is expected to carefully evaluate the mill’s outstanding liabilities, infrastructure requirements, production costs, technology needs and long-term market prospects before committing substantial public resources. If the revival plan moves forward with foreign participation, the project could also open the door to new investment, technology transfer and employment opportunities in Pakistan’s steel and related industrial sectors.

LAHORE: Federal Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik has indicated that consumers could receive some relief in petroleum prices within the next two days if international crude oil rates remain stable, while acknowledging that elevated fuel costs continue to place pressure on households and the wider economy. Speaking in Lahore, the petroleum minister said the government was closely monitoring developments in the international oil market and would take the prevailing global prices into account during the next petroleum price review. Malik explained that petroleum prices in Pakistan are linked to international market trends and are calculated on the basis of a seven-day average. He said the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) is responsible for determining the prices under the existing mechanism. He added that the movement of global oil prices during the next couple of days would be particularly important in determining whether consumers could receive positive news in the upcoming review. Government averts fuel supply crisis The minister said Pakistan had managed to maintain uninterrupted supplies of petroleum products despite severe pressure created by regional tensions and volatility in international energy markets. According to Malik, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his team took measures on both the economic and diplomatic fronts to ensure that the country did not experience a fuel shortage. He said the government had continued supplying petroleum products across the country even during a period when uncertainty in the region was creating serious risks for energy-importing nations. “There was no shortage of petroleum products in Pakistan during the tension,” Malik said, stressing that maintaining fuel supplies remained one of the government’s key priorities. He acknowledged, however, that preventing a shortage did not eliminate the financial burden caused by high international oil prices. International oil market remains a major concern Malik said the recent regional conflict created extraordinary volatility in global energy markets. He pointed to sharp increases in crude oil, petrol and diesel prices during the period of heightened tensions. He said crude oil prices had at one stage climbed as high as $170 per barrel, while diesel prices reached around $280 and petrol prices also touched $170. The minister further referred to periods when market expectations pointed towards even more dramatic increases, with petrol and diesel prices moving towards levels of around $500. Such volatility, he said, demonstrated the difficulties faced by countries that rely heavily on imported energy to meet domestic requirements. Pakistan, being an energy-importing country, remains particularly vulnerable to sudden increases in international oil prices because changes in global rates can quickly affect domestic fuel prices, transportation expenses and industrial costs. Expensive fuel putting pressure on people The petroleum minister conceded that high fuel prices are creating difficulties for ordinary citizens and businesses. He said an increase in petroleum prices does not remain confined to fuel stations, as higher transportation and energy costs eventually affect the prices of goods and services throughout the economy. According to Malik, expensive petroleum products increase the cost of moving agricultural produce, industrial raw materials and finished goods, thereby adding to inflationary pressure. “The people are suffering” because petroleum products are expensive, he said, while maintaining that the government was making efforts to provide relief within its available financial capacity. Petroleum levy collection exceeds target Malik also disclosed that the government collected around Rs1,900 billion through the petroleum levy during the previous year, exceeding the official target of Rs1,700 billion. The collection represents an important source of government revenue, but the minister acknowledged the broader economic implications of relying on petroleum-related revenues while consumers are already facing high fuel costs. He said the government had to balance revenue requirements with the need to protect consumers from excessive increases in petroleum prices. Prices cut when conditions allowed The minister said the government reduced petroleum prices whenever international market conditions and other relevant factors created room for downward revisions. He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had ordered reductions when an agreement was reached and circumstances permitted the government to pass on the benefit to consumers. Malik said the administration was attempting to manage fuel prices within the limits imposed by international markets and domestic economic conditions. He also recalled the prime minister’s commitment to introducing greater transparency in the petroleum pricing mechanism. The minister said the government had been required to make difficult decisions as part of broader efforts to stabilise the economy and place Pakistan on a sustainable development path. Heavy reliance on imported energy questioned Malik also raised concerns over Pakistan’s longstanding dependence on imported energy. He questioned why the country had continued relying on overseas energy supplies for decades despite having significant potential for developing domestic oil and gas resources. The minister said Pakistan obtains around 90% of its energy requirements from foreign sources, leaving the economy exposed to fluctuations in global energy prices and geopolitical developments. He argued that reducing this dependence should be treated as a long-term national priority. According to Malik, Pakistan has promising gas resources in areas such as Waziristan and Balochistan, and greater efforts are required to explore, develop and utilise domestic reserves. He said increasing local production could eventually reduce pressure on the country’s import bill and provide greater protection against international price shocks. Focus shifts towards domestic energy development The minister said Pakistan could not continue responding to every international energy crisis after it had already occurred. Instead, he stressed the need for long-term investment in exploration, infrastructure and domestic energy production. He said the government wants to move the country away from a cycle in which international price increases immediately translate into domestic economic difficulties. Malik described development of local energy resources as an important component of Pakistan’s broader economic strategy. He said the government was working towards an environment in which energy availability could support industrial expansion, investment and economic growth. Major energy infrastructure initiative planned Malik also referred to a new infrastructure initiative, saying the prime minister and the field marshal had assigned a major internationally recognised company to undertake energy infrastructure work within a

HYDERABAD: The prices of wheat and flour have witnessed a fresh increase in Hyderabad, putting additional pressure on household budgets and raising concerns among consumers already struggling with rising food costs. According to market sources, flour is currently being sold at prices ranging between Rs135 and Rs145 per kilogram in different parts of the city. The increase has triggered concern among citizens, particularly low- and middle-income families, who rely on flour as a staple food item. Flour mill owners said the price of a 10-kilogram flour bag has risen from Rs1,350 to Rs1,450, marking an increase of Rs100. They attributed the latest rise primarily to higher wheat prices in the open market. The price of wheat has also recorded a significant increase. According to grain market traders, the price of a 100-kilogram wheat sack has climbed from Rs10,800 to Rs11,800, reflecting an increase of around Rs1,000. Traders said fluctuations in wheat prices in the open market were directly affecting flour prices, leaving millers with little option but to revise their rates. Citizens have expressed frustration over the continued increase in the prices of essential food items. They urged the authorities to monitor wheat and flour markets and take effective measures to prevent unnecessary price hikes. Consumers also called for stronger market oversight and action against profiteering so that essential food commodities remain available at affordable prices.

Asian stock markets opened higher on Monday, taking cues from Wall Street’s latest gains after weaker-than-expected US employment data reduced expectations of an immediate increase in borrowing costs. However, rising oil prices and uncertainty surrounding developments in the Gulf limited the overall optimism in financial markets. Investors were also closely monitoring the situation around the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global energy supplies, after Iran said discussions over the reopening of the strategic waterway were nearing an agreement. Iran announced on Sunday that negotiations with Oman on establishing new shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz had reached their final stages. Tehran, however, maintained that normal traffic through the waterway would resume only after the United States fulfilled additional conditions. The uncertainty surrounding the route kept pressure on crude markets. Brent crude futures increased 0.9% to $84.32 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude gained 0.7% to $78.74 per barrel. The latest increase in energy prices has added another layer of uncertainty for investors ahead of the release of US inflation figures. US Inflation Data in Focus Market participants are now turning their attention to the US consumer price index report scheduled for Wednesday. Economists are expecting headline consumer inflation to rise by 0.1%, while core inflation, which excludes food and energy costs, is projected to increase by 0.2%. A stronger-than-expected inflation reading could revive concerns that the Federal Reserve may be forced to keep interest rates higher for longer and potentially consider another rate increase at its September meeting. Michael Feroli, chief US economist at JPMorgan, said his forecast for core inflation at 0.22% would probably not be sufficient on its own to trigger a rate increase in September. However, he cautioned that repeated monthly increases close to 0.3% could change the outlook. Feroli also highlighted the possibility of a rebound in prices of core goods after they declined for two consecutive months, saying this would be an important factor for markets to monitor. Expectations for a September rate increase have weakened significantly in recent days. Futures markets now indicate roughly a 44% probability of a rate move in September, compared with about 67% a week earlier. Asian Equities Follow Wall Street Higher The decline in expectations for an immediate increase in US interest rates helped US Treasury bonds rally on Friday and supported a strong performance by Wall Street equities. The positive momentum carried into Asian trading on Monday. Japan’s Nikkei index climbed 0.6%, while South Korea’s benchmark market gained 0.5%. MSCI’s broad index of Asia-Pacific shares excluding Japan also advanced 0.3%, reflecting improved investor sentiment across regional markets. The gains came as traders continued to assess the impact of softer US employment data on the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy outlook. Lower expectations for interest-rate increases generally support equities because cheaper financing conditions can encourage investment and improve corporate earnings prospects. European Markets Show Caution European markets were less enthusiastic, with futures pointing to modest declines at the start of trading. EUROSTOXX 50 futures and Germany’s DAX futures each slipped 0.1%, while FTSE futures were down 0.4%. In the United States, S&P 500 futures declined 0.1%, while Nasdaq futures remained largely unchanged. The subdued futures performance followed a particularly strong week for US technology stocks, with the Nasdaq gaining around 5% amid a series of encouraging corporate earnings reports. Strong Corporate Earnings Support US Stocks Corporate earnings have remained a major source of support for US equities. According to analysts at Bank of America, nearly 90% of companies in the S&P 500 had reported their results, with earnings per share rising approximately 30% year-on-year after excluding investment gains recorded by Alphabet and Amazon. The proportion of companies exceeding earnings expectations also remained unusually strong. Around 76% of reporting companies beat analysts’ earnings-per-share estimates, matching the highest level recorded since 2021. Artificial intelligence-related businesses continued to stand out among the strongest performers. Bank of America analysts said companies linked to AI had recorded median earnings-per-share growth of around 28%, compared with approximately 12% for businesses without a direct AI connection. However, analysts expect the pace of AI-related earnings growth to moderate in the coming quarter, with consensus forecasts pointing to growth of around 16%. Investors will have fewer major earnings releases to digest this week, although several important technology companies are scheduled to report results. These include semiconductor manufacturer Applied Materials, networking equipment company Cisco and cloud infrastructure provider CoreWeave. Bond Yields and Dollar Remain in Focus In the bond market, the yield on the benchmark 10-year US Treasury note edged slightly higher to 4.673%. Investors are also preparing for approximately $125 billion in new US government debt issuance during the week, which could influence Treasury yields and broader financial-market conditions. The recent decline in bond yields, combined with improving appetite for riskier assets, has placed pressure on the US dollar. The euro remained close to a seven-week high at around $1.1557. Meanwhile, the dollar was little changed against the Japanese yen at approximately 157.85. Currency traders remain cautious about the possibility of intervention by Japanese authorities if the yen weakens further. Japan has previously expressed concern over sharp and rapid movements in its currency, particularly when excessive weakness threatens to increase import costs. Gold Holds Near Record Levels Gold also remained firmly supported as lower bond yields improved the appeal of the non-interest-bearing precious metal. Spot gold was trading around $4,342 an ounce after recording a gain of more than 7% during the previous week. The metal continues to benefit from a combination of factors, including expectations surrounding US monetary policy, movements in Treasury yields, currency fluctuations and geopolitical uncertainty. With investors awaiting US inflation data and closely watching developments around the Strait of Hormuz, markets are likely to remain sensitive to changes in energy prices and interest-rate expectations in the days ahead.