Small Business

Pakistan’s seafood industry is gaining new opportunities as Russia shows growing demand for Pakistani fish, with 16 processing plants approved for exports and a potential $300 million market opening for the sector.

FBR introduces new tax rules for social media earnings, targeting high-earning content creators and non-resident Pakistanis with significant audiences in Pakistan.

Engro Holdings has appointed Junaid Iqbal as President and CEO-Designate of Engro Corporation, with the leadership transition set to take place after Ahsan Zafar Syed completes his term in April 2027.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has warned that long marches, sit-ins and strikes could cost Pakistan’s economy around Rs120 billion per day, with services, industry and agriculture facing significant losses.

A global Kaspersky survey found that 86% of SMB respondents experienced at least one cyber incident in the past year, with phishing, ransomware and data theft among the major threats.

The government has launched a 25% first-loss credit guarantee to expand financing access for women entrepreneurs through microfinance institutions.

The Pakistan Freelancers Association (PAFLA) has urged the government to maintain the 0.25% tax rate on foreign exchange earnings for the next decade to support the country's growing digital workforce. PAFLA also proposed state funding for capacity-building programs, the creation of regional freelancing hubs, and subsidies for international professional certifications. This request comes as freelancing export receipts reached USD 959 million between July and April of FY2025–26, marking a 49% increase from the previous year. Furthermore, PAFLA warned that imposing additional taxes on knowledge-based content creators or implementing complex tax mechanisms could drive freelancers toward informal financial channels, ultimately harming Pakistan's foreign exchange position.

Former FPCCI Vice President Tariq Haleem has warned that the upcoming FY2026–27 federal budget, drafted under stringent IMF conditions, may impose significant hardships on the public and business community by stifling economic growth. To mitigate these risks, he urges the government to abandon aggressive revenue collection tactics in favor of broadening the tax base, implementing a single-digit General Sales Tax (GST), and offering targeted incentives for the maritime and shipping sectors. Ultimately, Haleem advocates for a strategic shift toward economic self-reliance by reducing dependence on external debt and prioritizing policies that foster employment and productivity.

Pakistan's proposed power tariff reforms will stoke inflation by shifting IMF-mandated subsidy cuts to middle-class households, while cutting industrial prices 13-15% for export relief. Middle-class bills may rise 50%, with 100-300 unit users facing up to 76% hikes from new fixed charges; low-income households get PKR 400 fees. NEPRA's solar export rate cuts spark review to avert grid defection amid utility strains.