Issue 80 Budget Study Centre Nov 26, 2020 CPDI BUDGET ReadWATCH More Sindh accepts Karachi traders' demands, allows shops to stay open till 8pm under coronavirus curbs Geo.tv (Nov 26, 2020) KARACHI: The government of merchants of Pakistan's inform that markets in #Sindh Sindh announced Thursday financial capital but stressed will remain open till 8 PM," evening it has accepted the that "everyone including the the provincial government's demands put forth by the shopkeeper and visitor shall spokesperson, … Read More various traders and wear a mask". "This is to Hafeez shares Pakistan’s economic rebound at WEF The Dawn (Nov 26, 2020) ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the (WEF) that Pakistan had policies. Addressing the PM on Finance and Revenue witnessed remarkable second segment of the plenary Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh on improvement in fiscal and session of the WEF on Country Wednesday informed the current account deficits Strategy.. Read More World Economic Forum owing to prudent government Congress Pays $850,000 to Muslim Aides Targeted in Inquiry Stoked by Trump Nytimes.com (Nov 25, 2020) The House of Representatives technology specialists, after a theories amplified by quietly paid $850,000 this set of routine workplace President Trump Together, year to settle wrongful allegations against them the payments represent one termination claims by five morphed into fodder for of the largest known Pakistani-American right-wing conspiracy award….Read More Pakistan of 2020 'all about creating wealth', PM Imran tells World Economic Forum dialogue The Dawn (Nov 25, 2020) Prime Minister Imran Khan on make a profit in Pakistan, the Country Strategy Dialogue Wednesday said his adding that the Pakistan of (CSD) on Pakistan held by the government was removing 2020 was "all about creating World Economic Forum impediments and red tape to wealth" through virtually, the premier ... Read make it easier for investors to industrialisation. Addressing More China to put key ML-1 project on fast track Profit.pakistantoday.com.pk (Nov 24, 2020) ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and railway project. The Pakistan Nong Rong in a China have agreed to agreement was reached meeting in the federal capital accelerate efforts for the early between Federal Minister for on Monday. The main line completion of Karachi- Railways Sheikh Rashid and project involving 1,872km Peshawar Main Line-1 (ML-1) Chinese Ambassador to railway track .… Read More World Economic Forum to mark Pakistan's 'massive' Covid-19 'success' on Wednesday: Report Khaleej Times (Nov 24, 2020) The World Economic Forum recognition of the country's Khan, a senator from Khan’s (WEF) has reportedly 'successful policies against ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e- announced that Wednesday, Covid-19', with Prime Insaf party, revealed the news November 25 will be Minister Imran Khan the chief on Twitter on Tuesday..… 'Pakistan Strategy Day' in guest at the event.Faisal Javed Read More Japan stocks pop 2.5%; Asia-Pacific shares mostly rise amid vaccine hopes Cnbc.com (Nov 23, 2020) SINGAPORE — Stocks in coronavirus vaccine news, as The Nikkei 225 jumped 2.5% Japan led gains among Asia- well as U.S. President-elect Joe to close at 26,165.59 while the Pacific markets on Tuesday as Biden’s choice of former Topix index advanced 2.03% investors in the region Federal Reserve Chair Janet on the day to 1,762.40. reacted to more positive Yellen as Treasury secretary. Markets in Japan... Read More Improving Punjab’s performance with PRIDE The Dawn (Nov 23, 2020) A new World Bank financed target to help Punjab increase expenditure on infrastructure fiscal and governance reforms efficiency in its public and human capital by project, Punjab Resource expenditure, close its large tax deepening ongoing public Improvement and Digital gap and create fiscal space for financial management Effectiveness (PRIDE), will growth-enhancing reforms. .… Read More Asad asks Sindh govt to use Rs700bn allocated for Karachi The Dawn (Nov 22, 2020) KARACHI: Federal Min•i•ster government should utilise journalists after unveiling the for Planning, Develop•ment, Rs700 billion that has been plaque for the Reforms and Special allocated in its budget for the grou•nd•breaking ceremony Initiatives Asad Umar on projects in Sindh’s capital.He of BRT Common Saturday said the provincial said this while talking to Corridor...…..Read More IMF talks continue focus on tax reforms Profit.pakistan.com.pk (Nov 22, 2020) The International Monetary string of policy proposals tax system. According to a Fund (IMF) has conducted a from the rationalisation of tax report by Dawn which quotes detailed study of Pakistan’s rates to withdrawal of tax a source in the Federal Board existing tax system and made exemption and removal of all of Revenue (FBR), the report recommendations, including a distortions in the country’s is confidential...….Read More Govt allocates $150m for Covid vaccine Tribune.com.pk (Nov 21, 2020) ISLAMABAD: The federal country’s population. It has Committee (ECC) of the government has conditionally also decided to request G-20 cabinet “approved, in approved $150 million funds countries for additional debt principle, the provision of to procure the coronavirus relief of $915 million.The technical supplementary vaccine for 5% of the Economic Coordination grant of $150 …..Read More Pak economy on top in region: PM The News (Nov 21, 2020) ISLAMABAD: Expressing stressed that the fruits of meeting on the national satisfaction over the state of economic recovery should economy. Federal Ministers improvement and stability in reach the common man as Shah Mehmood Qureshi, the country's economy, Prime soon as possible. To this Khusro Bakhtiar, Hammad Minister Imran Khan Friday effect, Imran Khan chaired a Azhar, Finance .…..Read More Pakistan's economy to grow 1.5-2.5% in current fiscal, says report Business-standard.com (Nov 20, 2020) Cash-strapped Pakistan's the current fiscal year, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) economy, which has been hit according to the country's said the nation's economy hard by the coronavirus central bank. In its annual seems poised to pick up from pandemic, will turn around report for the fiscal 2019-20 where it was before the Covid- and grow 1.5-2.5 per cent in released on Wednesday, the 19 shock .…..Read More Pakistan improves compliance with WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement Profit.pakistantoday.com.pk (Nov 20, 2020) ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has (TFA) from 34pc in June 2018 effective implementation of considerably improved its to 79pc in November 2020, a TFA, Pakistan has improved implementation of the World statement issued by the 31 positions in ‘Trading Trade Organization (WTO)’s Federal Board of Revenue on Across Border Index’ .…Read Trade Facilitation Agreement Friday read. Owing to More State Bank forecasts growth to rebound 1.5 to 2.5 percent in FY2021 The News (Nov 19, 2020) KARACHI: The State Bank of as it says there has been a the trajectory of recovery on Pakistan (SBP) expects the visible rebound in economic which it had embarked prior economy to grow in the range activity after easing in to the Covid-19 outbreak,” the of 1.5 to 2.5 percent for the mobility restrictions. “The SBP said in the annual state of current fiscal year of 2020/21 economy is poised to resume Pakistan....Read More Pay, pension commission reconstituted The Dawn (Nov 19, 2020) ISLAMABAD:The government recommendations for budget and suggest a way has reconstituted the Pay and appropriate relief for civil and forward on contributory Pension Commission (PPC) by military government servants pension. In a notification expanding its membership and pensioners by removing issued by the ministry of from 18 to 25 to prepare distortions in next year finance, the.…..Read More IMF mission likely to visit Pakistan to discuss tax reforms, power sector Geo.tv (Nov 18, 2020) ISLAMABAD: The federal resumption of the bailout the PM on Finance Dr Abdul government is hopeful that programme. Flanked by Hafeez Shaikh said a staff the upcoming visit of an Federal Minister for mission of the lending body International Monetary Fund Information Shibli Faraz at a was due to arrive in the (IMF) mission will lead to the press conference, Advisor to country within …..Read More IMF programme likely to be revived soon: Hafeez Shaikh Thenews.com.pk (Nov 18, 2020) ISLAMABAD: Adviser to few weeks and expressed the Information & Broadcasting Prime Minister on Finance Dr hope that the Fund program Shibli Faraz here at the Q Abdul Hafeez Shaikh has said would be revived soon. Block on Tuesday, he also that the IMF mission would Addressing a press briefing claimed that there was no visit Pakistan within the next along with Minister for increase in the …..Read More ECC okays Rs38bn supplementary grants for security The Dawn (Nov 17, 2020) ISLAMABAD: A meeting of the grants totalling Rs38 billion International Airlines (PIA). Economic Coordination for security expenditures. It Presided over by Adviser to Committee (ECC) of the also approved Voluntary the Prime Minister on Finance Cabinet on Monday approved Separation Scheme (VSS) for & Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez four major supplementary the staff of Pakistan Shaikh, ...… Read More ‘IMF delegation to visit Pakistan for reinstatement of EFF programme’ Profit.pakistantoday.com.pk (Nov 17, 2020) ISLAMABAD: A mission of the programme, Adviser to Prime reinstated soon, with Pakistan International Monetary Fund Minister on Finance Dr Abdul negotiating on two main (IMF) will soon visit Pakistan Hafeez Shaikh told media on points: energy reforms and for talks on revival of the Tuesday. The adviser said that tax revenue growth. “We have Extended Fund Facility (EFF) the IMF programme will be good… Read More Holes in budgeted, authorised and actual development spending The Dawn (Nov 16, 2020) When an economy takes a development spending serves provides the private sector downturn, private investors as a stimulus for economic with business opportunities.