MG Morning Breeze: Updates to Skim before Market

August 13, 2026 (MLN): Morning Breeze aims to lessen the load for its readers by curating noteworthy updates from the preceding day.

• HSD price rises Rs0.54, petrol drops Rs0.94

The Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) has revised the ex-depot prices of petroleum products effective August 13, 2026, raising the price of High Speed Diesel (HSD) by Rs0.54 per litre to Rs382.79, while the price of petrol (Motor Spirit) was reduced by Rs0.94 per litre to Rs324.98. Read more

• Karachi’s marine tourism poised to drive Pakistan’s blue economy

Karachi's marine tourism potential could become a key pillar of Pakistan's blue economy, but the sector remains held back by weak infrastructure, limited cruise facilities and poor connectivity, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said at the inauguration of a cruise coastal service. Read more

• Sony, TSMC to jointly mass produce next-gen image sensors from 2029

ony Semiconductor Solutions Corp. and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) will begin mass production of next-generation image sensors in 2029, with the two companies committing a combined 747bn yen ($4.7bn) to the venture. Read more

• Ishaq Dar seeks digital shift to facilitate overseas Pakistanis

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar has directed the adoption of digital technologies to facilitate overseas Pakistanis and enable them to access government services without requiring physical presence in Pakistan. Read more

• MCB Bank sees policy rate hold through CY26, plans 40 branches by year end

MCB Bank Limited (PSX:MCB) is expanding its retail footprint by opening 40 new branches during the current year, having already added 13 locations in the first half of CY26, to support its current account mobilization strategy, while the management has maintained a base-case outlook of interest rate stability through June 2027, projecting the State Bank of Pakistan’s policy rate to remain unchanged at 11.5% through the remainder of CY2026 Read more

• Gold price in Pakistan rises Rs4,200 per tola

Gold price in Pakistan increased on Wednesday, with 24-karat gold being sold at Rs463,936 per tola, up Rs4,200. Read more

• Pakistan's oil output slips 3%, gas production climbs 4% WoW

Pakistan's oil production fell 3.4% week-on-week to 68,194 barrels per day (bopd) during the week of August 1-8, down from 70,625 bopd in the preceding week, primarily on account of lower flows from the Nashpa field. Read more

• PKR extends gains, closes at 277.66 against USD

The Pakistani rupee edged higher against the US dollar on Wednesday, gaining 1.10 paisa in the interbank market to close at PKR 277.66 per dollar, compared with Tuesday’s closing rate of PKR 277.67. Read more

• PSX Closing Bell: Bulls Triumph

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) closed Wednesday's session higher, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index gaining 465 points as buying interest in oil & gas exploration, cement, power, and selected banking stocks helped lift the market. Read more

• APTMA seeks govt action as transport strike threatens textile exports

The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) has sought urgent government intervention over the indefinite goods transport strike that began on August 8, warning of serious disruptions to Pakistan’s textile industry, exports and employment. Read more

• Pakistan steps up diplomacy to ease regional tensions

Pakistan on Wednesday reiterated its commitment to dialogue and diplomacy as the preferred means of promoting peace and stability in the Gulf and wider Middle East, with the Foreign Office maintaining active contacts with regional stakeholders amid persistent tensions. Read more

• Interloop retains ‘AA-/A1’ ratings with stable outlook

VIS Credit Rating Company Limited (VIS) has reaffirmed the entity ratings of Interloop Limited (PSX: ILP) at ‘AA-/A1’, with the outlook maintained at ‘Stable’. Read more

• TPL Life, Mobilink Bank expand takaful partnership

TPLTPL Life Insurance Limited (PSX: TPLL) has expanded its strategic partnership with Mobilink Microfinance Bank Limited (Mobilink Bank) through an agreement aimed at introducing Unit-Linked Takaful Plans and facilitating the conversion of existing insurance products into Shariah-compliant solutions. Read more

• Honglian hybrid rice set to transform Pakistan’s rice production

Pakistan could significantly raise rice yields and farmer incomes through wider adoption of Honglian-type hybrid rice, as Chinese and Pakistani researchers highlighted the crop’s potential during an international symposium in China. Read more

• SBP targets to raise around Rs5.4tr: Auction Calendar Aug 26-Oct 26

The government is targeting to raise Rs5.40 trillion during the three months from August 2026 till October 2026 through the auction of Market Treasury Bills (MTBs) and Pakistan Investment Bonds (PIBs), according to the auction calendars released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). Read more

• Pakistan, Belarus agree to deepen agricultural, food security cooperation

Pakistan and Belarus have agreed to explore new avenues for strengthening bilateral cooperation in agriculture, food security, trade, investment and agricultural technology, with both sides pledging to translate the engagement into concrete commercial, technological and institutional outcomes. Read more

• SECP creates dedicated Shariah-compliant brokerage segment at PSX

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has established a dedicated Shariah-compliant brokerage segment in the capital market, with 33 brokerage houses already offering Islamic brokerage windows that account for around 52% of total trading volume at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). Read more

• Ahsan Iqbal seeks Chinese collaboration to boost industrial automation

Pakistan and China have agreed to deepen development synergy and advance mutually beneficial cooperation, as the government reiterated that transforming the country's productive sectors into engines of export growth remains a top priority. Read more

• Gold rises to $4,399 as markets await key US CPI report

Gold prices climbed on Wednesday, buoyed by fading expectations of a Federal Reserve rate hike next month as markets awaited a critical U.S. inflation reading that could redraw the policy outlook. Read more

• Govt borrows Rs181bn debt in a week

The government of Pakistan has acquired an additional debt of Rs181.47 billion during the week ended July 31, 2026, which brings its total net retirement for ongoing fiscal year 2027 to Rs347.02bn, according to the central bank's weekly estimates. Read more

• M2 rises by Rs502bn in a week

Broad money (M2), the most widely used measure of money supply in Pakistan, rose by Rs501.58 billion WoW to Rs44.07 trillion as of July 31, 2026, data released by State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) showed. Read more

• Govt, goods transporters agree to form Joint Monitoring Committee

The government concluded a two-day negotiations with the All Pakistan Goods Transporters Alliance in Islamabad, deciding to establish a Joint Monitoring Committee comprising Customs authorities and goods transporters, besides discussing short- and long-term measures to address issues faced by transporters in dealing with customs authorities. Read more

• Hyundai hybrid prices rise by over Rs2m

A 25% sales tax on applicable vehicles under the Federal Budget FY2026-27 has driven Hyundai Nishat Motor (Private) Limited to revise ex-factory prices across its hybrid lineup with effect from August 12, 2026, pushing costs up by over 15% across every model in the range. Read more

• HTL acquires land in Sindh for OMC segment expansion

Hi-Tech Lubricants Limited (PSX:HTL) has completed the acquisition of approximately 8.7 acres of land at Daulatpur, District Shaheed Benazirabad (Nawabshah), Sindh, for the proposed development and operation of an oil storage depot under the company's Oil Marketing Company (OMC) segment. Read more

• HBL sees NIM boost ahead on higher lending rates

The interest rate trajectory going forward is seen as largely dependent on developments surrounding the Iran conflict, according to a briefing session held to discuss Habib Bank Limited's (PSX: HBL) 1HCY26 financial performance. Read more

• Sindh highway projects get big boost under PSDP 2026-27

Sindh's motorway and highway infrastructure is set for a major boost in the current financial year, with the National Highway Authority (NHA) earmarking Rs49.305bn for key projects under its Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2026-27, including the Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway and rehabilitation of the flood-damaged N-5 corridor. Read more

• PM orders third-party audit of customs bonded warehouses

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed relevant authorities to conduct a comprehensive third-party audit of customs bonded warehouses covering the last three years. Read more

• SLGL profit surges 25% to Rs546m in 2HFY26

Secure Logistics-Trax Group Limited (PSX: SLGL) recorded a 25% increase in its net profit for the six months ended June 30, 2026, with profit after tax for the period climbing to Rs546.47m from Rs438.59m in the corresponding period last year. Read more

• Maritime Minister highlights blue economy potential, vision for Karachi

Pakistan possesses significant but largely untapped potential for marine tourism, which could emerge as an important component of the country's blue economy, with the government working to transform Karachi into a modern maritime hub through expansion of port infrastructure, logistics, tourism and other ocean-based economic activities. Read more

• MEBL eyes CY27 Shariah card launch, 1250 branches by year end

Meezan Bank Limited (PSX: MEBL) is preparing for a formal commercial entry into the credit card segment by 2027 through two newly structured, Shariah-compliant offerings the Meezan Charge Card and the Meezan Islamic Financing Card. Read more

• Oil rises, fresh shipping attacks weaken US-Iran peace hopes

Oil prices climbed on Wednesday as fresh attacks on shipping in the Middle East heightened concerns over supply disruptions, while uncertainty surrounding a potential US-Iran agreement kept the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed. Read more

• NBP issues foreign exchange rates

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

• WAHDAT acquires land in Sargodha for pasteurization plant

Wahdat Poultry Farm Limited (PSX:WAHDAT) has acquired 1.02 acres of land in the Bhalwal Industrial Estate, District Sargodha, for the establishment of its proposed pasteurization plant, funded through proceeds of the company's Initial Public Offering (IPO) at a total cost of Rs28.13m. Read more

• Asian markets trade mixed ahead of key US inflation data

Asian markets opened mixed on Wednesday as investors remained cautious ahead of the latest US inflation report, which could influence expectations for the Federal Reserve’s next interest-rate decision. Read more

• Finance Minister, PBC discuss investment climate, Tax reforms

The government reiterated its focus on private-sector-led growth, urging businesses to accelerate technological and digital transformation to remain competitive, while reaffirming commitment to a streamlined regulatory framework, structured tax reforms and mobilization of international financing to strengthen Pakistan's investment climate. Read more

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