MG Morning Breeze: Updates to Skim before Market

August 22, 2025 (MLN): Morning Breeze aims to lessen the load for its readers by curating noteworthy updates from the preceding day.

• Askari Bank half-year profit jumps 24% to Rs10.7bn

Askari Bank Limited (PSX: AKBL) reported a robust financial performance for the half year ended June 30, 2025, with profit after tax rising 24% to Rs10.70bn, translating into earnings per share of Rs7.38 compared to Rs5.61 in the same period last year. Read more

• Insurance sector grows to Rs3.5tr as takaful leads expansion

The insurance industry in Pakistan witnessed notable growth in 2024, with total assets rising to Rs3.5 trillion from Rs2.9tr a year earlier. Gross premiums recorded a 7% YoY increase and reached Rs677bn compared to Rs631bn in 2023. Read more

• Breakup of trade data in July: PBS

Pakistan’s trade deficit in July 2025 widened by 10.57% MoM to $3.18 billion, compared to $2.87bn in June 2025, according to provisional data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). Read more

• SBP reserves rise $13m to over $14bn

The foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) increased by $13 million or 0.09% WoW to $14.26 billion during the week ended on August 15, 2025, data released by the State Bank of Pakistan showed on Thursday. Read more

• PSX Closing Bell: All Fall Down

The benchmark KSE-100 Index concluded Thursday's trading session at 149,235.26, showing a decrease of 1,355.74 points or 0.90%. Read more

• Power Division dismisses reports of trillions in sector irregularities

Power Division rejected media reports highlighting audit findings of Rs4.8 trillion ($17.3 billion) in irregularities in the power sector, saying the figures were based on “initial observations” rather than conclusions. Read more

• Gold price in Pakistan rises Rs2,000 per tola

Gold price in Pakistan increased on Thursday, with 24-karat gold being sold at Rs357,200 per tola, up Rs2,000. Read more

• PKR appreciates by 3 paisa against USD

The Pakistani rupee (PKR) increased by 2.93 paisa or 0.01% against the US dollar in Thursday's interbank session to settle the trade at PKR 281.92 per USD, compared to previous closing of 281.95. Read more

• Panther Tyres powers ahead with solar energy initiative

Panther Tyres Limited has taken a bold step toward sustainability by commissioning a 2.5 megawatt solar power system at its manufacturing facility, the Company's filing on PSX revealed today. Read more

• Govt revises savings returns

The government has revised profit rates across National Savings Schemes (NSS), with conventional short-term products offering higher returns and Islamic instruments seeing notable reductions. Read more

• BankIslami Profit falls by nearly 37% in half-year FY25

BankIslami Pakistan Limited (PSX: BIPL) reported a 37.34% drop in profit after taxation for the half year ended June 30, 2025, clocking in at Rs4.41 billion compared to Rs7.04bn in the same period last year. Read more

• New avenues open for Pakistan-Bangladesh economic cooperation

Bangladesh has expressed keen interest in knowledge sharing and industrial collaboration with Pakistan, identifying leather, shipbuilding, sugar, agro-processing, and SMEs as key areas for potential cooperation. Read more

• OGDC to pocket Rs87.7bn as circular debt unwinds

Oil & Gas Development Company (PSX: OGDC) is set to receive a combined Rs87.7 billion in upcoming payments, as revealed during the Pakistan Day Conference 2025 hosted by Topline Securities for foreign investors. Read more

• Lotte Chemical posts around 66% drop in half-year profit

Lotte Chemical Pakistan Limited (PSX: LOTCHEM) recorded a sharp decline of 65.8% in its profits during the six months ended June 30, 2025. Read more

• Germany’s Voltfang turns used EV batteries into renewable power banks

German startup Voltfang has opened Europe’s largest facility dedicated to refurbishing used electric vehicle (EV) batteries into storage units for renewable energy, marking a milestone in the country’s energy transition drive. Read more

• Allied Bank half-year profit drops 25%

Allied Bank Limited (PSX: ABL) posted a profit after tax of Rs17.98bn (EPS: Rs15.71) for the half year ended June 30, 2025, down 25.3% from Rs24.08bn (EPS: Rs21.03) in the same period last year. Read more

• PSX suffers panic selling as Imran Khan granted Bail

Panic selling gripped the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Thursday after the Supreme Court accepted bail pleas of former prime minister Imran Khan in eight cases linked to the May 9, 2023 riots, snapping the market’s four-day bullish streak. Read more

• Govt steps up climate adaptation to safeguard agriculture

The government of Pakistan intensified efforts to address climate change impacts on agriculture and food systems, with officials warning that water scarcity and low productivity posed critical threats to national food security. Read more

• Saudi Riyal available at PKR 75.65 in open market

The current exchange rates for the Saudi Riyal (SAR), UAE Dirham (AED), and Qatari Riyal (QAR) against the Pakistani Rupee (PKR) as of [10 am PST] showed minor movements in today’s session, maintaining a largely stable trend. Read more

• Pakistan, Iran step up talks to boost agricultural trade

The government of Pakistan is stepping up efforts to expand agricultural trade with Iran, positioning the country as a key supplier of food commodities to its western neighbor. Read more

• CHCC profit jumps nearly 58% in FY25

Cherat Cement Company Limited (PSX: CHCC) has reported a 57.85% increase in its net profit for FY25, reaching Rs8.68 billion compared to Rs5.5bn in the previous year. Read more

• Chashma Sugar Mills initiates amalgamation process with wholly-owned subsidiary

Chashma Sugar Mills Limited (PSX: CHAS) has shared that its Board of Directors has approved a Scheme of Amalgamation with its wholly-owned subsidiary, Ultimate Whole Foods (Private) Limited. Read more

• Gold holds position as signals awaited at Jackson Hole

Spot gold was up 0.62% at $3,336.50 an ounce as of [11:35 am] PST, according to data reported by Mettis Global. Read more

• Govt picks around Rs229bn through Sukuk auction via PSX against a target of Rs200bn

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) conducted an auction for the sale of Government of Pakistan Ijara Sukuk (GIS) bonds, raising Rs228.99 billion against the Rs200bn target set for GIS Variable Rental Rate (VRR), GIS Fixed Rental Rate (FRR), and GIS FRD. Read more

• Pakistan advances digital reforms with BOI–SECP integration MoUs

The Board of Investment (BOI) on Thursday signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with multiple federal and provincial regulators for integration with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan’s (SECP) eService Portal. Read more

• Pakistan, Azerbaijan stress stronger business, people-to-people ties

Pakistan and Azerbaijan discussed ways to advance their trade and economic roadmap during a meeting between the Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Commerce, Mr. Rana Ihsaan Afzal Khan and the Ambassador of Azerbaijan at the Office of the Coordinator, Kohsar Block.Block. Read more

• SBP notifies 1LINK as designated payment system

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has officially notified 1LINK (Private) Limited as a Designated Payment System under Section 4(1) of the Payment Systems & Electronic Funds Transfer Act, 2007. Read more

• Oil edges higher amid robust U.S. consumption

Oil prices ticked up on Thursday, supported by a sharper than expected drop in U.S. crude and fuel inventories which signalled firm consumption in the world’s largest oil market. Read more

• Pakistan buying spree lifts White Sugar premium to 13-month high

White sugar’s premium to the raw variety widened to the highest in more than a year as purchases by Pakistan boost demand for the refined sweetener, as Bloomberg reported. Read more

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