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Cement Price in Pakistan- April 18, 2026
BusinessPakistanCement Price in Pakistan- April 18, 2026By Web Desk-Apr 18, 2026s of April 18, 2026, cement prices in Pakistan for a standard 50kg bag of ordinary Portland cement (OPC, typically 53 grade) range from approximately ARs. 1,340 to Rs. 1,450, depending on the region, quality, brand, and local market conditions. The nationwide average hovers around Rs. 1,380 to Rs. 1,420 per bag, with only modest fluctuations observed in recent weeks. In major cities: Karachi and southern markets (inc...
'IMF board nod awaited for next tranche'
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said Pakistan has reached a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with approval from the lender's executive board expected shortly. The step would unlock the next tranche of funding as the country signals a return to global financial markets. According to the finance ministry, the minister shared the development during a meeting with representatives of S&P Global Ratings, where discussions focused on Pakistan's improvi...
Consumers to benefit from further fall in oil prices
Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani has said that petroleum prices are being reviewed on a regular basis, with any adjustments being aligned with global market trends. He noted that petroleum levies were being rationalised and the levy on diesel currently stood at zero while petrol carried a levy of Rs80, adding that any further decline in international oil prices would be passed on to consumers. Speaking during his visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Saturday...
Urea sales hit six-year low in 1QCY26
Pakistan's urea sales dropped sharply to a six-year low in the first quarter of calendar year 2026 (1QCY26), reflecting a significant slowdown after aggressive discount-led buying in the previous quarter, analysts and industry data show. "Urea sales have dropped to a 24-quarter low of 1.04 million tonnes in 1Q2026 as the companies rolled back the discounts offered previously, wherein hefty advance buying was witnessed in December 2025," noted Topline Securities. The decline follo...
Work on floating jetty begins with Rs120m cost
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry on Saturday announced that construction work has begun on an environmentally efficient floating jetty at the Korangi Fisheries Harbour at a cost of Rs120 million to facilitate the offloading of export-quality fish catch. The minister was chairing a meeting of the Korangi Fisheries Harbour Authority (KoFHA) board, attended by its Director General Dr Shahid Aslam, Chairman Abrar Asim and other members. He described the project a...
Balochistan holds key to economic goldmine
Former National Security Adviser General (retd) Nasir Khan Janjua has said that the true importance of Balochistan has not yet been fully understood, even though the province has the potential to take Pakistan to new heights of development, according to a statement issued on Saturday. Speaking at a session at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Janjua said that Gwadar and Chabahar are gateways to Asia, and in the future, global trade will increasingly move towards Pakistan, espe...
Govt moves to end used car influx
Pakistan's auto sector has welcomed a major policy shift aimed at revitalising local manufacturing, as the government moves to phase out used car imports under the baggage scheme, previously responsible for tens of thousands of vehicle inflows annually. The decision, which effectively halts a channel that brought in 42,125 units in FY2025 alone, is being seen as a turning point in efforts to reduce idle capacity and stimulate domestic production. Indus Motor Company (IMC) appreciated the ef...
Oil regulator seeks answers to use of confidential documents
Pakistan's petroleum regulator has directed an oil and gas exploration company to clarify what it says is the misuse of confidential documents amid an ongoing ownership dispute and regulatory action linked to Spud Energy. According to a letter available with The Express Tribune, the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division), through the Directorate General of Petroleum Concessions (DGPC), has directed Frontier Holdings Limited (FHL) chief executive officer to clarify the company's positio...
Record U.S. drought sparks fears about wildfires, water and food prices
U.S. Record U.S. drought sparks fears about wildfires, water supply and food prices April 18, 2026 / 11:08 AM EDT / CBS/AP Add CBS News on Google Drought in the contiguous United States has reached record levels for this time of year, weather data shows. Meteorologists said it's a bad sign for the upcoming wildfire season, food prices and western water issues.More than 61% of the Lower 48 states is in moderate to exceptional drought - including 97% of the Southeast and two-thirds of the West,&nb...
Dubai holds steady as global tensions put resilience to the test
Dubai: Dubai has, over the past two decades, demonstrated a consistent ability to navigate global financial crises and a pandemic. The current climate, however, feels distinct. There is a palpable gravity to today’s global headlines, yet on the ground in the UAE, the atmosphere remains one of focused, professional composure. This is not a region reacting to a moment, but a region relying on its institutional depth. This period can be viewed as the ultimate stress test for the Gulf’s long-term tr...
Explained: On way to 4th largest, how India slipped to 6th rank & what it means
In fact, IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook (April 2026) sees India sitting at the sixth spot this financial year too. What has led to the sudden fall? Why has India dropped to the sixth position, falling behind the UK, instead of overtaking Japan to become the fourth largest economy?
Judge blocks $6.2bn merger of local TV giants amid fears of monopoly
NewsWorldAmericasJudge blocks $6.2bn merger of local TV giants amid fears of monopolyThe deal is on hold pending the resolution of a lawsuitAp Correspondent Saturday 18 April 2026 15:44 BSTBookmarkBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popover{"translations":{"comments":"Go to comments","share":"Share","copyLink":"Copy link","bookmark":"Bookmark","removeBookmark":"Remove bookmark"},"showComments":false,"showBookmark":true,"articleId":"CF1:2960196To1","articleMeta":{"url":"https://www.indepe...
Pakistan successfully concluded ‘Staff-Level Agreement’ with IMF: FM
BusinessPakistanPakistan successfully concluded 'Staff-Level Agreement' with IMF: FMBy Web Desk-Apr 18, 2026Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue of Pakistan, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, held a constructive meeting with representatives of S&P Global Ratings on the sidelines of the World Bank–IMF Spring Meetings 2026 During the meeting, the Finance Minister confirmed that Pakistan has successfully concluded a Staff-Level Agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with...
US again lifts sanctions on Russian oil stranded at sea two days after Trump’s treasury secretary promised not to
NewsWorldAmericasUS politicsUS again lifts sanctions on Russian oil stranded at sea two days after Trump’s treasury secretary promised not toIt prolongs a similar 30-day waiver issued in MarchAnna Loren Saturday 18 April 2026 15:38 BSTBookmarkBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popover{"translations":{"comments":"Go to comments","share":"Share","copyLink":"Copy link","bookmark":"Bookmark","removeBookmark":"Remove bookmark"},"showComments":false,"showBookmark":true,"articleId":"CF1:296021...
The money is there; Pakistan just can't use It
A familiar pattern defines Pakistan's climate trajectory: disasters strike with increasing intensity, pledges follow with urgency, yet the financial systems required to convert those pledges into resilience remain weak. From devastating floods to prolonged heatwaves and mounting agricultural stress, climate risk is no longer theoretical but an everyday reality. The real uncertainty lies in whether Pakistan can develop a climate finance system capable of responding with the necessary scale, s...
Why Oil Markets Won’t Recover Quickly From the Iran War
The war in Iran has sent shockwaves through global energy markets, pushing oil and gas prices higher and raising concerns about long-term supply disruptions. IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol tells Chrystia Freeland that even if the Strait of Hormuz reopens soon, damage to more than 80 energy facilities could take years to repair, keeping markets volatile. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has warned that the imbalance between supply and demand, combined with infrastructure damage, cou...
Major Banks Shake Off Private Credit Fears
SaaSpocalypse. Credit defaults. The war in Iran. A lot of worries are hitting the $1.8 trillion private credit market at the same time, setting off a scramble by some investors to withdraw money from the industry’s giants. Bloomberg TV Anchor Dani Burger and Puck Founding Partner William D. Cohan join David Gura and Christina Ruffini on Bloomberg This Weekend to discuss. (Source: Bloomberg)
Closed? Open? Closed? Why is Iran changing course on the Strait of Hormuz?
The shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz only hours after its reopening is a tactic by Iran to gain leverage over the United States before possible negotiations, according to Chinese analysts. With the clock counting down to the end of a two-week ceasefire on Wednesday, a deal with Washington was still possible and the likelihood of Tehran imposing a toll on the waterway was low, they added. The assessment came as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Saturday that control of the...
ECB Moves Away From April Hike as Peace Talks Progress: Overview
European Central Bank officials are leaving Washington ever so slightly more optimistic than when they arrived, as ongoing US-Iran peace talks raise the prospect of energy shipments resuming from the Gulf.
Federal Agency Probes Suspicious Oil Trades Made Before Trump Pivots
The top US derivatives regulator is investigating a series of suspiciously well-timed trades in the oil futures market ahead of recent policy pivots by President Donald Trump related to the war in Iran, according to people familiar with the matter. Commodity Futures Trading Commission former chairman Gary Gensler joins David Gura and Christina Ruffini on Bloomberg This Weekend to discuss. (Source: Bloomberg)