In Brief
ECONOMY
Pakistan Stock Exchange holds a record high for seven straight sessions
On 3 October, Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) informed that it had a record-breaking run for the seventh consecutive session. They have a benchmark of the KSE-100 index and added 500.44 points, making close to 168,990. The contributors to these index gains are Fauji Fertiliser, United Bank, Hub Power, Systems Ltd, and Adamjee Insurance, who brought in 980 points. The banking sector saw some pullback as Meezan Bank, MCB Bank, Habib Bank, and Bank Al-Habib collectively lost 577 points. Energy stocks also slowed down, while the cement and steel sectors had a mixed performance, with the cement sector remaining resilient and the steel stocks struggling due to the rising cost of raw materials. On the market front, there were PKR 1.57 billion shares traded and a total turnover of PKR 78.6 billion. Deputy Head of Trading at Arif Habib Ltd, Ali Najib, expressed that the early increase has been driven by aggressive buying across sectors, and the profit margins showcased the volatility of the market. (“PSX breaks records for seventh straight session,” Dawn, 4 October 2025)
POLITICS
Ishaq Dar calls PPP and PML-N leaders to resolve the dispute through dialogue
On 4 October, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar urged that both the PPP and the PML-N resolve their issues. While speaking at the National Assembly, he called for a ceasefire between the parties and asked them to refrain from verbally abusing each other. Dar noted that the issues raised by PP will be resolved through dialogue and informed that he met with PPP senior leader Naveed Qama. This tussle comes in light of PPP senior leader Naveed Qamar’s walkout when PML-N’s Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz made remarks regarding Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. Qamar, during the talks, stated that while there are ongoing talks and assurances, there has been no improvement on the ground. (“Issues between PPP, PML-N to be resolved in a few days: Dar,” Dawn, 4 October 2025)
ECONOMY
Pakistan to receive USD one billion from the IMF, reports Dawn
On 4 October, Dawn reported that Pakistan will receive over USD one billion from the International Monetary Fund, as part of the third tranche of the Enhanced Fund Facility (EFF). The technical discussion has been concluded, and the two sides have agreed on a couple of waivers. As part of the deal with the IMF, the power sector has improved in terms of recovery and reduction of the circular debt. The second review will be conducted soon, as they foresee relaxation due to flood-related challenges. Sindh and Punjab governments failed to meet their cash surplus commitments, and the IMF is pressuring the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa region to increase spending for political reasons and maintain fiscal discipline. Due to the flood-related demands, the provinces are unlikely to perform between, even under pressure from the IMF. Currently, Punjab is required to deliver a PKR 740 billion surplus to the Centre, followed by Sindh with PKR 370 billion, KP with PKR 220 billion, and Balochistan with PKR 155 billion. (“Pakistan set to secure $1bn tranche despite slippages,” Dawn, 4 October 2025)
Inflation rises by 4.07 per cent in Pakistan due to an increase in retail prices
On 4 October, Dawn reported that the Sensitive Price Index (SPI) increased by 4.07 per cent due to an increase in retail prices of food in the domestic market. This upward trend could have been for the past ten weeks, during the surge in prices of perishable goods. The extraordinary spike in the retail prices of sugar and meat also contributed to reversing the trend. The prices for wheat flour remained the same, as prices for meat are on a steady rise. The inflation hit a record high of 48.35 per cent in May 2023, following a short fall to 24.4 per cent in August 2023, before surging to 40 per cent. (“Short-term inflation rises 4.07pc,” Dawn, 4 October 2025)
POLITICS
National Party Chief calls for meaningful dialogue to solve the Balochistan issue, reports Dawn
On 4 October, Dawn reported on National Party chief Dr Abdul Malik Baloch’s views on the Balochistan problem. Speaking at the Kech Cultural Festival, he called for meaningful dialogue to be the only solution for the province. He noted that the provinces' literacy rates are below 50 per cent; therefore, the height of ignorance. Eminent educationist Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy said: “Children must be taught in their mother tongue at the primary level to strengthen children’s identity and language skills.” Senior journalist Shehzada Zulfiqar said: “Journalism in Balochistan is under severe pressure and in decline, with weakened press bodies and mainstream media largely restricted to government narratives instead of highlighting provincial issues.” (“Unresolved national issues fuel Balochistan’s problems: Abdul Malik Baloch,” Dawn, 4 October 2025)
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