Chiang Rai Governor Launches 2026 Trade Push to Boost Local Businesses

KARACHI: Positive momentum returned to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Monday as investors stepped up buying activity across major sectors, pushing the benchmark KSE-100 Index above the 181,000-point mark during the opening phase of trading. At around 9:40am, the benchmark index was trading at 181,066.59 points, showing an increase of 961.98 points, or 0.53%, compared with the previous close. The early-session recovery reflected renewed investor interest in large-cap and index-heavy companies. Buying was particularly visible across automobile assemblers, cement, commercial banking, fertiliser, oil and gas exploration, oil marketing companies (OMCs), power generation and refinery sectors. Among the major stocks supporting the upward movement were Mari Petroleum (MARI), Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDC), Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), Pakistan Oilfields Limited (POL), Hub Power Company (HUBCO), Habib Bank Limited (HBL), MCB Bank, Meezan Bank Limited (MEBL) and United Bank Limited (UBL). Most of these index-heavy shares traded in positive territory during the initial hours. The recovery came after a difficult week for the domestic equity market. The KSE-100 Index had closed the previous week at 180,104.61 points, declining by 1,325.41 points, or 0.7% on a week-on-week basis. Market sentiment had been affected by heightened geopolitical uncertainty, particularly concerns over the future of the US-Iran ceasefire and the potential impact of regional tensions on international energy supplies. Investors also remained cautious over developments affecting shipping activity around the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, both of which are critical routes for global energy and trade. Despite the pressure on equities, Pakistan’s domestic fiscal position and external-sector indicators had provided some support to investor confidence. However, geopolitical developments continued to dominate trading decisions, particularly because any prolonged disruption to oil supplies could raise import costs and increase inflationary pressures. Global markets remain cautious The cautious mood was also evident across international markets on Monday. Asian equities moved largely sideways as investors monitored developments in the Middle East and assessed the implications for energy prices and global inflation. Oil prices recorded significant gains during the previous week as uncertainty surrounding efforts to end the Iran conflict increased concerns about potential supply disruptions. Investors remained particularly focused on developments concerning the strategic Strait of Hormuz, where tanker traffic had remained disrupted amid the continuing tensions. Iran on Saturday called on the United States to acknowledge defeat, while US President Donald Trump warned Americans that higher gasoline prices could persist as long as the conflict continued. The situation in the wider region also remained volatile. In southern Lebanon, Israeli strikes on Saturday killed at least 11 people, according to the Lebanese health ministry. The casualties came amid renewed tensions following an earlier US-mediated framework aimed at easing hostilities between Lebanon and Israel. Oil prices remain elevated Crude oil prices remained at elevated levels on Monday after recording strong gains during the previous week. Brent crude was trading around $88.50 per barrel, little changed during the session after climbing approximately 6% last week. Meanwhile, US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude slipped around 0.3% to $82.12 per barrel, following a weekly gain of about 5.4%. Higher international oil prices remain a key concern for oil-importing economies such as Pakistan because a sustained increase can widen the import bill, put pressure on the current account and contribute to domestic inflation. For investors at the PSX, developments in global energy markets are particularly important because oil and gas companies have significant representation in the benchmark index, while higher fuel costs can also affect the profitability of other industries. Asian equities mixed In regional markets, MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was broadly flat on Monday. Japan’s Nikkei 225, meanwhile, gained around 0.4%. The mixed performance reflected investor caution as markets continued to assess the potential economic consequences of prolonged geopolitical tensions. Concerns over energy prices, inflation and interest-rate expectations remained central to global market sentiment. At the PSX, however, the strong opening suggested that domestic investors were willing to look beyond short-term geopolitical concerns and accumulate fundamentally strong stocks. Whether the KSE-100 can sustain its early gains will depend on developments in global oil markets, regional tensions and trading activity in heavyweight sectors as the session progresses.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iran have reaffirmed their commitment to significantly strengthen economic cooperation by increasing bilateral trade to $10 billion and accelerating efforts to finalize a long-awaited Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The understanding was reached during the 10th meeting of the Pakistan-Iran Joint Trade Committee, held in Islamabad on Tuesday. The session was jointly chaired by Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and Iranian Minister for Industry, Mine and Trade Dr. Mohammad Atabak, with senior officials from both countries participating in discussions aimed at expanding trade and investment ties. During the meeting, both sides reviewed the current state of bilateral trade and explored practical measures to unlock its full potential. The two countries agreed that stronger economic integration, improved connectivity, and enhanced cross-border cooperation are essential for achieving the ambitious trade target of $10 billion. Speaking on the occasion, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal said Pakistan and Iran enjoy longstanding historical, cultural, and religious ties, but stressed that these relations should now be translated into a robust economic partnership. He emphasized that expanding trade and investment would bring mutual economic benefits and contribute to regional prosperity. The minister underscored the importance of completing the Pakistan-Iran Free Trade Agreement at the earliest opportunity, describing it as a key step toward facilitating commerce between the neighboring countries. He also called for the removal of bottlenecks affecting border logistics, customs procedures, and cargo movement to ensure smoother and faster trade flows. Jam Kamal noted that bilateral trade could be further enhanced through the development of joint border markets, greater use of electronic data interchange systems, and closer coordination between relevant government agencies. He said modernizing trade infrastructure and simplifying customs procedures would help businesses on both sides benefit from increased commercial activity. The Joint Trade Committee also agreed to formulate a practical roadmap aimed at strengthening economic cooperation across multiple sectors. The roadmap will focus on trade facilitation, infrastructure development, logistics, and investment opportunities while encouraging closer collaboration between the public and private sectors. Iranian Minister Dr. Mohammad Atabak described Pakistan as one of Iran’s key long-term strategic trade partners and expressed confidence that bilateral economic relations could expand considerably in the coming years. He highlighted the importance of increasing regional trade and logistics cooperation, particularly by utilizing Pakistan’s Karachi and Gwadar ports to improve connectivity and facilitate the movement of goods. Dr. Atabak also voiced optimism about the early conclusion of the Pakistan-Iran Free Trade Agreement, saying it would create new opportunities for businesses in both countries. He added that cooperation in electricity trade, transport networks, and regional connectivity projects could open new avenues for economic growth and strengthen commercial links across the region.