MG Morning Breeze: Updates to Skim before Market

May 18, 2026 (MLN): Morning Breeze aims to lessen the load for its readers by curating noteworthy updates from the preceding day.

• Jewelers back FIA against financial crimes

Karachi’s jewelry trade has reaffirmed its full support for the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in the fight against smuggling, money laundering, corruption, and other financial crimes that harm the national economy. Read more

• Jet Green Airlines eners operational readiness phase

Jet Green Private Limited has moved into the operational readiness phase following years of regulatory delays, after the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) successfully cleared the path for the long-stalled $30 million private airline project. Read more

• Weekly Market Roundup

Pakistan’s equity market witnessed a sharp correction during the week ended May 15, 2026, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index closing at 165,596.07, significantly lower than 171,115.82 recorded on May 08, 2026. Read more

• Key Pakistan Market Stats and Economic Indicators

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

• Petrol, Diesel prices slashed by Rs5

The Ministry of Petroleum has declared a reduction in petroleum prices, providing relief to consumers across the country. Read more

• SBP expands cashless drive to livestock markets for Eid 2026

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has launched its "Go Cashless" campaign for Eid al-Azha 2026, which significantly scales up its push to digitize payments in cattle markets across the country as one of the busiest commercial seasons of the year approaches. Read more

• A Nation on the Mend, But Scars Run Deep

A scene buried in the IMF's 131-page staff report on Pakistan, released today, captures the country's economic condition better than any single number can. Read more

• PSX Closing Bell: From Green Dreams to Red Reality

The benchmark KSE-100 Index extended its losing streak on Friday, closing at 165,596.07, down by 902.76 points or 0.54%, as investor sentiment remained weak amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and rising global oil prices. Read more

• K-Electric reaffirms ‘AA/A1+’ ratings with stable outlook

K-Electric’s (KEL) entity ratings have been reaffirmed at ‘AA/A1+’ (Double A/A One Plus) with a ‘Stable’ outlook by VIS Credit Rating Company. Read more

• Pakistan, China deepen digital economy ties

Pakistan and China have further strengthened their bilateral economic ties as a high-level Chinese business delegation held a meeting with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister's House, reaffirming the two nations' commitment to deepening digital economy cooperation and industrial collaboration. Read more

• ADB, AIIB back Pakistan's historic Panda Bond

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) have joined forces to back Pakistan's debut Panda bond, which marks the first time a partial credit guarantee has been used to secure a domestic AAA rating in the People's Republic of China (PRC) for a bond with less than 100% guarantee coverage, setting a landmark precedent for mobilizing private sector capital in emerging markets. Read more

• Pakistan's economic revival in full swing

The country's economy was experiencing renewed stability, disciplined reforms, and forward-looking transformation, said Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue. Read more

• PKR’s winning run stretches to 160 sessions versus USD

The Pakistani rupee continued its extraordinary winning run on Friday, appreciating for the 160th consecutive session against the US dollar. Read more

• Pakistan opens door to impact investing

The Government of Pakistan is developing an enabling policy framework to support impact investing, encourage private-sector participation, and channel capital towards measurable social, economic, and climate outcomes. Read more

• QUICE to merge with IFPL

Quice Food Industries Limited (PSX:QUICE) has approved, in principle, a Scheme of Arrangement for the amalgamation of Indus Fruit Products Limited (IFPL) with and into QUICE, with the merger to be executed through a share swap under Sections 279 to 283 read with Section 285 of the Companies Act, 2017. Read more

• Gold price in Pakistan falls Rs15,500 per tola

Gold price in Pakistan decreased on Friday, with 24-karat gold being sold at Rs476,862 per tola, down Rs15,500. Read more

• OMO Result: SBP injects Rs1.6tr

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 Rs1.62trillion into the market, of which Rs1.06tr were injected through reverse repo OMO. Read more

• Oil tops $109 per barrel

Oil prices climbed on Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump issued a sharp warning toward Iran, as he signals that his tolerance for the ongoing standoff is wearing thin. Read more

• Jewellers seek fair deal, new tax mechanism proposed

Jewellers across Pakistan are hoping to benefit from a newly proposed "Special Procedure for Income Tax 2026," introduced under Section 99C of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001 with the objective of making the jewellers' business easier, transparent, and stable. Read more

• Pakistan's Hybrid Sukuk goes live at PSX

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) has declared the listing of Government of Pakistan (GoP) Hybrid Sukuk (GHS) for trading in the secondary market starting Monday, May 18, 2026. Read more

• Colgate plans asset acquisition from P&G Pakistan

The Board of Directors of Colgate-Palmolive (Pakistan) Limited, in its meeting held on May 14, 2026 at 05:00 at its registered office in Karachi, approved to negotiate and enter into an Asset Purchase Agreement with Procter & Gamble (Pakistan) Limited. Read more

• Weekly SPI increases by 0.47%

Pakistan's short-term inflation, measured by the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), increased by 0.47% for the week ended May 14, 2026, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). Read more

• Pakistan doubles down on energy reforms

Amid one of the most turbulent global commodity cycles in recent memory, Pakistan's energy authorities have doubled down on a commitment that would once have been considered politically untouchable: automatic, fortnightly alignment of domestic fuel prices with international markets. Read more

• Sitara Petroleum Service concludes public subscription with Rs2.7bn in bids

Sitara Petroleum Service Limited has received an overwhelming response to its Initial Public Offering (IPO), with the public subscription figures reaching a total of 143,505,000 ordinary shares. Read more

• IMF flags Pakistan's narrow tax base, structural gaps

The International Monetary Fund has flagged Pakistan's persistently narrow tax base, undertaxed agriculture sector, and deteriorating GST efficiency as central risks to the country's fiscal programme, even as Pakistan pushes ahead with sweeping reforms under the Extended Fund Facility all against the backdrop of a significant supply shock, the Middle East war, and heightened global uncertainty. Read more

• SCRA balance rises Rs430m to Rs28bn

The SCRA balance increased by Rs429.83 million during the week ending May 08, 2026 to close at Rs28.02 billion. Read more

• IMF urges SBP to stay hawkish

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has urged Pakistan to maintain an “appropriately tight” monetary policy stance and remain ready to raise interest rates again if inflationary pressures intensify amid rising global commodity prices and ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Read more

• IMF sees Pakistan reserves doubling by 2031

By the time Pakistan's fiscal year 2031 draws to a close, the country's foreign exchange reserves, once a source of existential anxiety, are projected to stand at $31.7 billion. Read more

• Pakistan races to build climate defenses

Pakistan is undertaking its most sweeping institutional overhaul of climate policy to date, rolling out measures spanning flood preparedness, green finance, electric vehicles, carbon levies, and renewable energy even as the country braces for a potentially more destructive 2026 monsoon season and carries over Rs 5.2 trillion in energy sector circular debt that threatens to crowd out climate spending. Read more

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