MG Morning Breeze: Updates to Skim before Market

January 20, 2026 (MLN): Morning Breeze aims to lessen the load for its readers by curating noteworthy updates from the preceding day.

• Pakistan targets Saudi capital inflows

Pakistan is seeking to deepen Saudi investment in key sectors, including the privatization of airports and state-owned enterprises, as part of broader efforts to attract foreign capital. Read more

• JazzWorld, UBL seal Pakistan’s largest interest rate swap

JazzWorld has executed a Rs75bn interest rate swap (IRS) with United Bank Limited (UBL), the largest transaction of its kind in Pakistan, marked a milestone for the country’s local-currency derivatives market and corporate risk management practices. Read more

• Hascol Petroleum, Navy unveil modern fuel station

Hascol Petroleum Limited (PSX:HASCOL) and the Pakistan Navy have jointly inaugurated Hascol Anchorage, a modern company-operated fuel station in Islamabad, developed in collaboration with the Anchorage Scheme. Read more

• Bank deposit rate rises to 5.05% in Dec

The return on bank deposits has increased by 57 basis points to 5.05% in December 2025 compared to the deposit rate of 4.48% last month, according to the latest official data. Read more

• Pakistan, Indonesia tie up to boost vaccine self-reliance

Pakistan and Indonesia are exploring collaboration to expand local vaccine manufacturing and strengthen public health security. Read more

• KSE-100 rockets nearly 14,000 points in historic 19-day rally

The Pakistan Stock Exchange has delivered an extraordinary performance to start 2026, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index surging 13,707.37 points in just the first 19 trading days of the year marked the strongest opening rally in recent history. Read more

• Petroleum sector reforms aim to end smuggling, improve transparency

The government has rolled out wide-ranging reforms aimed at improving efficiency and transparency in the petroleum sector, with a focus on curbing smuggling, strengthening oversight and modernizing systems across the fuel supply chain. Read more

• PSX Closing Bell: Up, Up and Away

The benchmark KSE-100 Index concluded Monday's trading session at 187,761.69, showing an increase of 2,662.86 points or 1.44%. Read more

• PKR rises by 3 paisa against USD

The Pakistani rupee (PKR) gained by 2.80 paisa against the US dollar in Monday's interbank session to settle the trade at PKR 279.92 per USD, compared to previous closing of 279.95. Read more

• Trust Securities introduces massive 450m rights share offer

Trust Securities & Brokerage Limited (PSX: TSBL) has approved an increase in its paid-up share capital through the issuance of 450 million ordinary shares via a rights issue. Read more

• PPL discovers gas from exploratory well Bilitang-1 in TAL Block

Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PSX:PPL) has discovered gas from the Lockhart Formation at its exploratory well Bilitang-1 in the TAL Block, located in district Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. Read more

• Gold, Silver hit record highs on Trump tariff fears

Global precious metals markets surged on Monday, with gold and silver prices scaling fresh all-time highs, as investors sought refuge amid rising geopolitical uncertainty triggered by renewed tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump. Read more

• Petroleum import bill falls to $1.2bn in Dec

The import bill of the petroleum group decreased to $1.18 billion in December 2025, marking a decrease of 6% YoY compared to the import bill of $1.25 bn recorded in December 2024, data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) showed. Read more

• Gold price in Pakistan rises Rs7,500 per tola

Gold price in Pakistan increased on Monday, with 24-karat gold being sold at Rs489,362 per tola, up Rs7,500. Read more

• Oil prices edge up, Iran tensions ease

Oil markets inched higher on Monday, following gains from the previous session, as violence in Iran subsided, reducing concerns over a potential U.S. strike on one of OPEC’s largest producers. Read more

• NetSol transfers treasury shares to employees

The NetSol technologies limited (PSX:NETSOL) transferred/sold 96,244 treasury shares at Rs77.84 per share to the respective employees through their CDS accounts. Read more

• Textile exports rise 10% YoY in December

The country's total textile exports went up by 9.97% YoY to $1.59bn in December 2025 compared to $1.45bn in December 2024, data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) showed. Read more

• Bank Makramah restructures to boost shareholder value

Bank Makramah Limited (PSX: BML) is set to implement a capital reduction and strategic restructuring aimed at enhancing shareholder value and ensuring long-term operational stability. Read more

• Pakistan tightens vehicle import rules for overseas Pakistanis

The government has issued new regulations requiring that used vehicles imported under Gift and Transfer of Residence schemes must now originate from the same country where the overseas Pakistani resides. Read more

• Pakistan imports from China clocks in at $1.76bn

Among Pakistan’s top trading partners, China remained the top source of imports for Pakistan during December, followed by U. A. E. Dubai, U. S. A., and Saudi Arabia. Read more

• U. S. A. leads as top export destination for Pakistan in Dec

The U. S. A. remained the top export destination for Pakistan during December, with $537.56 million worth of shipments, up by 6.5% against the exports of $504.59m in same period last year. Read more

• Pakistan records foreign direct divestment of $135m in December

Pakistan has recorded a foreign direct divestment of $134.7m in December, compared to investment of worth $182.4m in the Same Period Last Year (SPLY), the latest data issued by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) showed. Read more

• China leads FDI in Pakistan with net inflow of $114m in December

China emerged as the largest investor in Pakistan in December 2025, with a net direct investment of $114.1m, followed by the Netherlands and Hongkong which invested $22m and $20.5m respectively, according to the data issued by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). Read more

• Pakistan's Communications sector records divestment of $385m in December

Pakistan’s Communications Sector witnessed the highest outflow through foreign investors worth $384.7 million in December 2025, as per the latest data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). Read more

• Service sector trade deficit posts $370m in December

The service sector of Pakistan posed a trade deficit of $370 million in December, reflecting an increase of 1.2x MoM, as compared to a deficit of $168m recorded in the previous month, the latest data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) showed. Read more

• Govt cuts expensive power plans

The government has abandoned the procurement of around 8,000 megawatts of high-cost electricity, a move expected to save the national exchequer approximately $17 billion. Read more

• PKR’s REER index decreases to 103.73 in December

Pakistan’s real effective exchange rate (REER) decreased to 103.7329 in December 2025, up from 104.88 in November 2025, a 1.09% MoM loss and a 0.07% rise YoY from 103.66 in December 2024. Read more

• Pakistan weighs $2bn tokenization of domestic debt

Pakistan is planning to tokenize up to $2 billion of domestic debt in an initial phase, primarily targeting retail investors. Read more

• Current account posts $244m deficit in December

Pakistan has recorded a current account deficit of $244 million, the latest data issued by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) revealed today. Read more

• Asia markets slip on geopolitical tensions, China data

Asia markets mostly traded lower on Monday, as investors digested escalating geopolitical tensions involving the United States and Europe alongside a fresh batch of key economic indicators from China. Read more

• NBP issues foreign exchange rates

The treasury management division of the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) on Monday issued the following exchange rates. Read more

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