MG Morning Breeze: Updates to Skim before Market

March 16, 2026 (MLN): Morning Breeze aims to lessen the load for its readers by curating noteworthy updates from the preceding day.

• Govt to pay Rs23bn to keep petrol, diesel prices unchanged

The government has decided to keep the prices of petrol and high-speed diesel unchanged from March 14, 2026, while absorbing the increase through subsidies despite a sharp rise in international oil prices, according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division). Read more

• Weekly Market Roundup

Pakistan’s equity market remained under selling pressure during the outgoing week, as the benchmark KSE‑100 Index closed at 153,866.17, compared to 157,496.10 recorded on March 6, 2026. Read more

• Key Pakistan Market Stats and Economic Indicators

Weekly roundup of Key Economic releases and market data and statistics Read more

• Pakistan breaks the shackles of foreign fuel dependency

Pakistan is no longer a prisoner of global commodity markets, having successfully dismantled a decade-long dependency on imported energy that once threatened to collapse the national economy. Read more

• SECP triples Sahulat Account limit to Rs3m

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has significantly expanded access to the stock market for small investors by raising the investment limit for Sahulat Accounts from Rs1 million to Rs3 million. Read more

• BofA’s Hartnett sees market echoes of 2008 financial crisis

Bank of America’s Chief Investment Strategist, Michael Hartnett, warns that current market conditions are starting to mirror the prelude to the 2008 global financial crisis, driven by soaring oil prices and mounting concerns around private credit, according to Bloomberg. Read more

• Arif Habib, Power Cement to join KSE-100 from April 1

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) has completed the re-composition of the KSE-100 Index and KSE-100 Price Return Index for the review period September 2025 to February 2026. Read more

• PM keeps petrol prices unchanged

Petroleum product prices will remain unchanged in Pakistan despite rising global oil prices, after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif decided to maintain the current rates to ease the financial burden on the public, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). Read more

• PKR extends stability streak against USD

The Pakistani rupee recorded a slight appreciation against the US dollar in Friday’s interbank trading, strengthening by 1.03 paisa to close at PKR 279.31 per USD, compared with the previous session’s closing level of PKR 279.32. Read more

• OMO Result: SBP injects Rs13.4tr into market

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) conducted a reverse repo and Shariah Compliant Modarabah based Open Market Operation (OMO) today, in which it cumulatively injected a total of 13.39 trillion into the market of which Rs12.7tr were injected through reverse repo OMO. Read more

• Big Bird converts Rs1.5bn directors’ loan into equity

Big Bird Foods Limited (PSX: BBFL), a Lahore-based food company, has received approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) to convert Rs1.5 billion of directors’ loans into equity, the company announced on Friday. Read more

• PSX Closing Bell: Taking a Step Back

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) ended Friday’s session slightly lower as the benchmark KSE-100 Index closed at 153,866.16, down 555.27 points or 0.36%, following a week of choppy trading. Read more

• Imports dip 8% MoM in February, transport, food lead gains

Pakistan's total import bill for February 2026 stood at $5.32bn (Rs1.49 trillion), barely changed from a year ago down just 0.41% year-on-year but significantly lower than January 2026's $5.80bn, a month-on-month drop of 8.39%, according to the latest data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). Read more

• Gold price in Pakistan falls Rs7,100 per tola

Gold price in Pakistan decreased on Friday, with 24-karat gold being sold at Rs533,262 per tola, down Rs7,100. Read more

• Gold retreats amid oil surge

Gold prices initially moved higher on Friday but later pulled back, leaving the precious metal on track for a second consecutive weekly decline as rising energy costs dampened expectations of near-term interest rate cuts in the United States. Read more

• SECP launches new retirement annuity schemes

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has approved a range of new annuity products aimed at providing stable income to individuals after retirement. Read more

• Textile exports drop to $1.3bn in Feb 2026

The country's total textile exports drop by 7% YoY to $1.31bn in February 2026 compared to $1.41bn in February 2025, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). Read more

• Wahdat Poultry hatches Rs637m IPO plan

Wahdat Poultry Farm Limited, an Islamabad-based vertically integrated layer-egg enterprise that commands roughly half of Pakistan's nascent packaged and enriched-egg market, filed a draft prospectus with the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on March 13, 2026. Read more

• Breakup of trade data in February: PBS

Pakistan's trade deficit widened sharply on a month-on-month basis in February 2026, rising 10.55% MoM to $3.04bn, compared to $2.75bn recorded in January 2026, according to provisional data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). Read more

• Banks set to cut costs with remote work, digital push

Pakistan’s banking sector is likely to introduce a range of austerity and cost-control measures after the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) declared a work-from-home arrangement for internal staff on Fridays along with a 50% reduction in onsite presence. Read more

• Crescent Star Luxuries rebrands as Crescent Star Ventures

Crescent Star Insurance Limited (CSIL)'s wholly owned subsidiary, Crescent Star Luxuries (Private) Limited, has received approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) to change its name to Crescent Star Ventures (Private) Limited. Read more

• Zuma Resources returns to PSX's Normal Counter

Zuma Resources Ltd (PSX: ZUMA) has officially been shifted from the Pakistan Stock Exchange’s “Non-Compliant Segment” to the “Normal Counter,” indicating the company’s full regulatory compliance and resumption of commercial operations, according to a PSX notice. Read more

• Pakistan receives $625m external financing in Jan 2026

Pakistan secured external financing worth $625m in January 2026 from multiple financing sources, 58% lower than last month. Read more

• Agritech urea plant operations to resume, gas supply restored

Agritech Limited's (PSX:AGL) Urea plant is set to resume full operations following the restoration of Re-liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) supply by Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (PSX:SNGP), bringing relief to the fertilizer manufacturer after a period of suspended production. Read more

• Oil drops after U.S. opens window for Russian oil purchases

Global oil prices slipped on Friday morning after the United States allowed countries a temporary window to purchase Russian oil that is currently stranded at sea, offering short-term relief to energy markets rattled by the escalating conflict involving Iran. Read more

• NBP issues foreign exchange rates

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

• Asia markets fall on oil tops $100 on Middle East tensions

Asia markets opened on a weaker note Friday after oil prices surged sharply amid escalating concerns that prolonged conflict in the Middle East could disrupt global energy supplies and trigger broader economic uncertainty. Read more

• Govt standardizes Affordable Housing Scheme with uniform 5% markup

The Government of Pakistan has officially approved a significant expansion of the Markup Subsidy and Risk Sharing Scheme for Affordable Housing Finance, drastically increasing the maximum loan size from Rs3.5 million to Rs10 million. Read more

• PTC's subsidiary bags 180 MHz spectrum

Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PSX: PTC)'s wholly owned subsidiary, Pak Telecom Mobile Limited (PTML), has successfully secured 180 MHz spectrum in Pakistan’s latest Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS)/5G auction. Read more

• LOTCHEM moves closer to acquire Engro’s 56% stake in EPCL

Engro Holdings Limited (PSX: ENGROH)'s subsidiary, Engro Corporation Limited, has received a non-binding offer from Lotte Chemical Pakistan Limited for the acquisition of approximately 56.19% of the paid-up share capital of Engro Polymer & Chemicals Limited (EPCL). Read more

• Air Link to list Select Technologies on PSX

Air Link Communication Limited (PSX: AIRLINK)'s wholly owned subsidiary, Select Technologies Limited, is planning to raise capital through an initial public offering and seek a listing on the Pakistan Stock Exchange, according to a notice sent to the exchange. Read more

• Pakistan reaffirms support for Saudi Arabia amid regional tensions

Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and promoting peace and stability in the region. Read more

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