06/04/2026
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*Daily News Headlines*
*Monday, April 6, 2026*
*Oil Rises on New Deadline as Trump Raises the Stakes Over Hormuz*
Oil gained as President Donald Trump imposed a fresh ultimatum on Tehran and threatened to strike power plants and other civilian infrastructure in Iran if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-05/latest-oil-market-news-and-analysis-for-april-6
*Operators of goods and public transport: Disbursement of subsidy begins*
On the instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the disbursement of subsidies announced to operators of goods and public transport, has commenced.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40414966/operators-of-goods-and-public-transport-disbursement-of-subsidy-begins
*Subsidy will help provide relief to masses: ministers*
Faced with massive public backlash over unprecedented rise in the fuel prices, the federal government has finally announced to have launched subsidy for public transport, claiming that the move would help provide relief to the masses.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40414965/subsidy-will-help-provide-relief-to-masses-ministers
*Dar speaks to Araghchi, reiterates support for de-escalation*
Islamabad and Tehran have agreed to “maintain close contact in view of ongoing developments,” as the former has reiterated its support for efforts to de-escalate the hostility in the wake of ongoing war in the region.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40414957/dar-speaks-to-araghchi-reiterates-support-for-de-escalation
*HESCO nominations still pending: PD to appoint SEPCO BoD after delays*
The Power Division is set to place a new Board of Directors (BoD) for Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO) after a prolonged delay attributed to political factors, while nominations for Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) are still not in sight, well-informed sources in the Power Division told Business Recorder.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40414961/hesco-nominations-still-pending-pd-to-appoint-sepco-bod-after-delays
*MoC to seek cabinet nod for Insurance Act, 2026*
The Ministry of Commerce (MoC) is set to seek the Federal Cabinet’s approval for the proposed Insurance Act, 2026, aimed at aligning Pakistan’s insurance sector with modern international standards, simplifying the legal framework, and strengthening regulatory oversight, well-informed sources told Business Recorder
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40414962/moc-to-seek-cabinet-nod-for-insurance-act-2026
*Superior courts: Ministry, AGP affirm FBR’s right to challenge President’s orders*
Ministry of Law and Justice and Attorney General for Pakistan have ruled that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is competent to invoke the Constitutional Jurisdiction of the Superior courts against the orders of the President of Pakistan.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40414955/superior-courts-ministry-agp-affirm-fbrs-right-to-challenge-presidents-orders
*Heavy rainfall may damage crops*
Heavy rainfall starting from today (Monday) may cause flash flood and damage to crops in different parts across the country, according to a latest weather alert issued by the government.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40414954/heavy-rainfall-may-damage-crops
*PHMA, PRGMEA say concerned at surge in fuel prices*
The Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PHMA) and Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) have raised serious concerns over the unprecedented surge in petroleum prices, warning that the country’s export-oriented hosiery and garments sectors are facing a severe cost crisis that could further erode their already weakened global competitiveness
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40414949/phma-prgmea-say-concerned-at-surge-in-fuel-prices
*Sindh CM secures fare freeze after talks with transporters*
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Sunday announced a major relief initiative for the public, securing a province-wide fare freeze after successful negotiations with transporters, alongside a targeted subsidy programme to offset the impact of soaring fuel prices.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40414916/sindh-cm-secures-fare-freeze-after-talks-with-transporters
*Prices of essential items show rising trend on fuel price hike*
Prices of essential food commodities have sharply increased owing to recent unprecedented hikes in prices of petroleum products, according to a weekly market survey carried out by Business Recorder here on Sunday.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40414907/prices-of-essential-items-show-rising-trend-on-fuel-price-hike
*OPEC+ agrees in principle on theoretical oil output hike amid Iran war paralysis, sources say*
OPEC+ agreed on Sunday to raise its oil output quotas by 206,000 barrels per day for May, a modest rise that will largely exist on paper as its key members are unable to raise production due to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/opec-debates-theoretical-oil-output-hike-amid-iran-war-paralysis-sources-say-2026-04-05/
*Pakistan stresses importance of dialogue as Iran military mocks Trump’s fresh deal ultimatum*
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has stressed the importance of resolving issues through dialogue in a conversation with Iran’s foreign minister, the foreign office said on Sunday, as Iranian military mocked US President Donald Trump’s fresh ultimatum to make a deal to end the war.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2638810/pakistan
*SBP’s Next Big Decision Could Be a Rate Hike Unless IMF Deposit Arrives in Time*
Multiple credible sources and central bank communiqués suggest that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is preparing to sharply raise its benchmark interest rate on 27 April by 150-300 basis points to around 12-14 percent in response to rising inflationary pressures linked to the ongoing US-Israel war against Iran and its spillover effects on the domestic economy.
https://propakistani.pk/2026/04/05/sbps-next-big-decision-could-be-a-rate-hike-unless-imf-deposit-arrives-in-time/
*90% Foreign Investment Exits Pakistan*
Nearly 90 percent of foreign investment recently parked in Pakistan’s domestic bonds has now exited the country, according to latest data by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
https://propakistani.pk/2026/04/05/90-foreign-investment-exits-pakistan/
*Will back govt on mini-budget, says Bilawal*
The oil refining sector maintained domestic fuel supplies in March 2026 despite disruptions to global crude markets caused by escalating tensions between the US and Iran.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2601141/will-back-govton-mini-budget-says-bilawal
*Refineries navigate supply risks as ME tensions disrupt flows*
The oil refining sector maintained domestic fuel supplies in March 2026 despite disruptions to global crude markets caused by escalating tensions between the US and Iran.
https://www.thenews.pk/print/1408158-refineries-navigate-supply-risks-as-me-tensions-disrupt-flows
*Govt mulls more gas rationing*
Pakistan is considering introducing a further reduction in gas supplies to domestic consumers through rationing amid the deepening Middle East war, which has disrupted oil and gas transportation through the region.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2601095/govt-mulls-more-gas-rationing
*Assemblers raise e-bike prices as demand grows*
Amid rising demand due to a sharp increase in petrol prices, electric bike assemblers have raised their prices by Rs5,000.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1988679/assemblers-raise-e-bike-prices-as-demand-grows
*FBR Revises Customs Value on Import of Empty Tin Cans*
The Directorate General of Pakistan Customs Valuation, Karachi, has issued a fresh customs valuation ruling revising the import value of empty tin cans from all origins for the assessment of duties and taxes.
https://propakistani.pk/2026/04/05/fbr-revises-customs-value-on-import-of-empty-tin-cans/
*Pakistan to launch Rs350bn wheat firm, scrap Passco*
Pakistan is moving to operationalise a Rs350 billion wheat company to replace the failing Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO), and absorb more than Rs527 billion in debt. The move targets chronic inefficiencies in wheat storage, mounting fiscal pressure and recurring food security risks.
https://www.thenews.pk/print/1408329-pakistan-to-launch-rs350bn-wheat-firm-scrap-passco
*No war surcharges on shipments*
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has said shipping agents assured that no war-related surcharges are being imposed on in-transit shipments or shipments on other routes.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2601096/no-war-surcharges-on-shipments
*US intelligence warns Iran unlikely to ease Hormuz Strait chokehold soon, sources say*
Recent U.S. intelligence reports warn that Iran is unlikely to open the Strait of Hormuz any time soon because its grip on the world’s most vital oil artery provides the only real leverage it has over the United States, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-intelligence-warns-iran-unlikely-ease-hormuz-strait-chokehold-soon-sources-2026-04-03/
*Fire reported at foreign oil companies' storage facilities in Iraq after drone strike*
Two drones hit the BP-operated (BP.L), opens new tab North Rumaila oilfield in southern Iraq on Saturday, wounding three Iraqi workers, security and energy sources said.
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/fire-reported-foreign-oil-companies-storage-facilities-iraq-after-drone-strike-2026-04-04/
*‘Silence’ stonewalls Pakistan-led US-Iran talks initiative*
A Pakistan-led initiative to facilitate US-Iran talks has been held up, with Tehran yet to formally respond to proposals for dialogue despite back channel exchanges in recent days, a senior official told Dawn on Friday.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1988294/silence-stonewalls-pakistan-led-us-iran-talks-initiative
*Pakistan set to repay entire $3.5b UAE loan*
Pakistan has decided to return the $3.5 billion debt of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this month, a senior cabinet minister said in a background briefing on Friday, ending speculations about the fate of the debt that Abu Dhabi had started rolling over only for a month.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2601013/pakistan-set-to-repay-entire-35b-uae-loan
*Govt faces ADB loan deadline crunch*
The cash-strapped government, already facing an acute economic crisis due to the Gulf war, may lose a $360 million loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) allocated to an international highway project, as April 5 is the disbursement deadline.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1988391/govt-faces-adb-loan-deadline-crunch
*Security risks prompt Barrick to scale back Reko Diq activity*
Barrick Mining Corp, a leading global mining, exploration and development company, will slow development of its Reko Diq copper-gold project in Pakistan and extend a strategic review until mid-2027, citing heightened security risks and uncertainty over costs and timelines.
https://www.thenews.pk/print/1407957-security-risks-prompt-barrick-to-scale-back-reko-diq-activity
*Sukuk share within govt debt portfolio increases*
The share of sukuk (Islamic bonds) in Pakistan’s overall government debt portfolio rose to 14 per cent in the first six months of fiscal year 2026, reflecting the country’s efforts to accelerate its transition to low-cost, Sharia-compliant financing, according to a government report.
https://www.thenews.pk/print/1407965-sukuk-share-within-govt-debt-portfolio-increases
*Public debt stands at 70.7pc of GDP, says Aurangzeb*
Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb on Friday said that during the July-January period of the financial year 2026, fiscal deficit was contained at Rs 64.7 billion (0.05 percent of GDP) against Rs 2070.9 billion (1.8 percent of GDP) in the same period of the last year while primary surplus remained in surplus of 3.2 percent of GDP.
https://epaper.brecorder.com/2026/04/04/1-page/1096618-news.html
*SBP injects Rs13.68tr into market*
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Friday injected more than Rs13.68 trillion into the money market through conventional and Shariah-compliant open market operations (OMO), based on realised value, to support short-term liquidity needs in the banking system that majorly stem from the government's fiscal needs.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2600956/sbp-injects-rs1368tr-into-market
*Weekly inflation surges 9.12pc*
Short-term inflation, measured through the Sensitive Price Index (SPI), increased by 9.12 per cent year-on-year in the week ending April 2, primarily due to higher retail prices of petroleum products in the domestic market.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1988390
*PL cut on petrol may lead to revise budgeted target*
The government’s decision to reduce the rate of petroleum levy (PL) on petrol by Rs 80 per litre for one month may lead to a revision of the budgeted levy target for the current fiscal year, sources said.
https://epaper.brecorder.com/2026/04/04/1-page/1096619-news.html
*IMF assured of timely power tariff hikes*
With the commitment to curtail the subsidy at Rs830 billion in the upcoming budget, Pakistan has assured the IMF for timely tariff increases to mitigate the effects of the recent Gulf war and its shocks to the global energy market.
https://www.thenews.pk/print/1408095-imf-assured-of-timely-power-tariff-hikes
*Fuel hike may trigger power tariff rise*
Federal Minister for Power Awais Leghari has indicated a possible increase in electricity prices following the recent surge in petroleum rates. According to the minister, consultations are underway to introduce energy-saving measures, including revised market timings.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2600999/fuel-hike-may-trigger-power-tariff-rise
*Dec-Feb electricity consumption up 3.5pc: PD*
Power Division (PD) has claimed that overall electricity consumption has increased by 3.5 percent in three months (December 2025 to February 2026) due to more use of electricity by industry under the Surplus Power Package.
https://epaper.brecorder.com/2026/04/04/1-page/1096610-news.html
*PABC pushes ahead with $110 million Afghanistan plant despite border closure*
Pakistan Aluminium Beverage Cans Limited is proceeding with plans to establish a manufacturing plant in Afghanistan despite continued closure of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border since October 2025.
https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2026/04/03/pabc-pushes-ahead-with-110-million-afghanistan-plant-despite-border-closure/
*Landmark approvals to transform Pakistan into regional maritime transshipment hu
The federal government has approved a series of maritime initiatives to position Pakistan as a competitive transshipment hub in the region.
https://epaper.brecorder.com/2026/04/04/1-page/1096614-news.html
*Transporters raise fares by 30pc as ‘subsidy falls short’*
Transporters have increased fares by up to 30 per cent following the recent fuel price hike, stressing that the government’s subsidy was insufficient to offset rising operational costs.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1988382/transporters-raise-fares-by-30pc-as-subsidy-falls-short
*How Rs200bn subsidy will be delivered*
Coordinated by the Centre for national uniformity, the provincial governments will now take the lead in rolling out subsidised fuel quotas to bikers, farmers and transporters through digital tools such as mobile apps, cash wallets and Kisan cards, with an estimated fiscal impact of around Rs65-70 billion per month.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1988379/how-rs200bn-subsidy-will-be-delivered
*BMP assails govt’s fuel taxation policy*
The Businessmen Panel (BMP) of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has issued a stark warning over the government’s aggressive fuel taxation policy, stating that the unprecedented surge in petroleum prices is pushing the national economy toward stagnation while severely undermining industrial competitiveness.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40414910/bmp-assails-govts-fuel-taxation-policy
Gold USD/oz 4,658.66
Gold USD/oz Future 4,682.42
Crude Oil WTI Spot USD 111.36
Crude Oil WTI Futures USD/ 110.98
R-BAY COAL –107.25 Ton
PKR/USD 279.10
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