MG Morning Breeze: Updates to Skim before Market

October 21, 2026 (MLN): Morning Breeze aims to lessen the load for its readers by curating noteworthy updates from the preceding day.

• Petrol price rises by Rs0.88, diesel by Rs0.53 per litre

The Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) has revised the ex-depot prices of petroleum products, raising the price of High-Speed Diesel (HSD) by Rs0.53 per litre and Motor Spirit (petrol) by Rs0.88 per litre, effective October 21, 2026. Read more

• Baku to host 3rd Islamic Finance Forum on October 22

Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, will host the 3rd Islamic Finance Forum (IMF’26) on October 22, bringing together local and international stakeholders to discuss developments, challenges, and emerging opportunities in Islamic finance. Read more

• Pakistan promotes PASBAN scheme to boost formal remittances

Pakistan is promoting the use of formal banking channels for overseas remittances through the PASBAN Remittance Reward Scheme, with the Consulate General of Pakistan in New York and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) jointly organizing a webinar to raise awareness among the Pakistani-American community about the scheme and its incentives. Read more

• Pakistan expands 5G to 24 cities after $509m spectrum auction

Pakistan has expanded its digital infrastructure with the deployment of 5G services across 24 major cities, following a $509m spectrum auction that added 480 MHz of spectrum to support growing demand for connectivity and artificial intelligence (AI). Read more

• Punjab churns out Rs1bn plan to modernise dairy farms

The Punjab government plans to invest Rs1bn in a two-year dairy mechanisation project that will subsidise modern machinery for 6,400 farmers across all 41 districts, Read more

• Govt to keep EFS, curb misuse

The Goverment is to continue the Export Facilitation Scheme (EFS), which lets exporters import raw materials and other inputs for export production without paying duties, while taking steps to curb its misuse, protect local industry and promote exports. Read more

• Oil climbs to $111 as Middle East tensions escalate

Oil prices advanced on Tuesday as escalating security concerns in the Middle East and the approaching expiry of U.S. front-month futures contracts kept investors focused on market risks. Read more

• Pakistan Post in the red as losses hit Rs12bn

Pakistan Post is facing an annual loss of around Rs12bn, which could climb to Rs18-19bn if pension expenses are included, with the government preparing a policy to cut the department’s costs that could involve reducing its workforce or privatising the service. Read more

• PSX Closing Bell: Bears Go Back-to-Back

The benchmark KSE-100 Index concluded Tuesday's trading session at 165,151.64, showing a decrease of 814.44 points or 0.49%. Read more

• Loads shareholders approve Rs903m loans for subsidiary

Shareholders of Loads Limited (PSX: LOADS) have approved two long-term loan facilities totalling up to Rs902.56m to the company’s subsidiary, Multiple Autoparts Industries (Private) Limited (MAIL), at the 46th Annual General Meeting. Read more

• PKR gains 3 paisa against USD, settles at 276.87

The Pakistani rupee strengthened against the US dollar in the interbank market on Tuesday, gaining 3.08 paisa to close at Rs276.87, compared with the previous session’s closing rate of Rs276.90. Read more

• Punjab keeps livestock exports on the hoof, up 43%

Punjab government has recorded a 43% increase in animal exports, with 400,000 animals prepared for export annually, as it expands support for the livestock sector through improved facilities and investment-friendly measures. The initiative is expected to generate Rs11bn in earnings for rural livestock farmers. Read more

• OGRA trims HSD crack spread to $38 per barrel

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has lowered the crack spread on high-speed diesel (HSD) to US$38 per barrel from US$41.89 per barrel, according to its daily pricing sheet uploaded on the regulator’s website. Read more

• NICL 1QFY27 profit jumps 32%

Nimir Industrial Chemicals Limited (PSX: NICL) reported a 32% surge in its net profit for the first quarter ended September 30, 2026 (1QFY27 / 3MFY27), reaching Rs666.27m compared to Rs503.52m in the corresponding period last year. Read more

• ISL Profit Surges 3.6x to Rs2bn in 1QFY27

Profit after taxation of International Steels Limited (PSX: ISL) rose more than 3.5-fold to Rs2.21bn for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 (1QFY27), compared with Rs620.34m in the same period last year. Read more

• AGTL rebounds to Rs1.7bn profit in 9MCY26

Al-Ghazi Tractors Limited (PSX: AGTL) staged a dramatic operational turnaround for the nine months ended September 30, 2026 (9MCY26 / 9MFY26), posting a net profit of Rs1.66bn compared to a net loss of Rs269.78m in the corresponding period last year. Read more

• FPCCI seeks U.S. investment in Pakistan’s mineral wealth

The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has engaged with U.S. Embassy officials to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan’s mining and minerals sector, focusing on technology transfer, commercially viable projects and direct buyer-seller linkages. Read more

• JS Global flags false Tradeology claims on social media

JS Global Capital Limited (PSX:JSGCL) has disowned any link with an entity operating as “Tradeology”, which it says is falsely claiming an association with the brokerage through promotional material circulating on social media. Read more

• ACPL 3MFY27 profit rises 29%

Attock Cement Pakistan Limited (PSX: ACPL) reported a 29% surge in its net profit for the first quarter ended September 30, 2026 (1QFY27 / 3MFY27), reaching Rs1.08bn compared to Rs834.70m in the corresponding period last year. Read more

• SGPL to change name to Crestwell Healthcare, new symbol CWHC

The security name and symbol of S.G. Power Limited (SGPL) will change to Crestwell Healthcare Limited (CWHC), effective Friday, October 23, 2026. Read more

• SECP sets up modern centre to combat cyber threats

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has established a modern Security Operations Centre (SOC) to protect critical information assets, identify cyber threats at an early stage and enable timely in SECP Chairman Dr. Kabir Ahmed Sidhu, Commissioners Imtiaz Haider, Muzzafar Ahmed Mirza and Zeeshan Khattak, along with other senior officials, attended the inauguration ceremony. Read more

• Gold price in Pakistan falls Rs3,600 per tola

Gold price in Pakistan decreased on Tuesday, with 24-karat gold being sold at Rs435,436 per tola, down Rs3,600. Read more

• Hormuz squeeze becomes Americas’ oil bonanza

The war in Iran is driving a boom in oil and gas production and exports across the Americas, as buyers rush to secure dependable supply amid growing expectations that disruption in the Middle East could last. Read more

• Pakistan’s external financing hits $3.74bn in September

Pakistan received $3.74bn in external financing in September 2026, taking cumulative inflows for the first quarter of FY27 (July-September) to $5.45bn, the latest report by the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) showed. Read more

• Pakistan, IMF discuss major tax reforms to boost economic growth

The Ministry of Finance and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are holding a two-day high-level workshop in Islamabad on October 20–21, 2026, to discuss reforms aimed at modernizing Pakistan’s tax system and making it more supportive of sustainable economic growth. Read more

• Pakistan must broaden tax base to achieve durable growth: IMF

Pakistan must move from cyclical adjustments to durable growth by broadening its tax base, strengthening revenue administration, reducing tax expenditures and protecting priority social spending, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said. Read more

• ATBA swings to Rs336m loss in 1QFY27

Atlas Battery Limited (PSX: ATBA) swung into a net loss of Rs336.13m for the first quarter ended September 30, 2026 (1QFY27 / 3MFY27), compared to a net profit of Rs50.46m in the corresponding period last year. Read more

• Pakistan must shift to sustainable, export-led growth: FM

Pakistan’s twin deficit has fallen to 2.6% of GDP at the close of last fiscal year from a cumulative 12.5% when the macro-stability journey began, with fiscal consolidation playing a big part, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said at the Pakistan Tax Conference. Read more

• Govt retires Rs464bn debt in a week

The government of Pakistan has retired a debt of Rs463.75 billion during the week ended October 09, 2026, which brings its total net retirement for ongoing fiscal year 2027 to Rs2.97 trillion, according to the central bank's weekly estimates. Read more

• M2 falls by Rs759bn in a week

Broad money (M2), the most widely used measure of money supply in Pakistan, dropped by Rs758.54 billion WoW to Rs44.27 trillion as of October 09, 2026, data released by State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) showed. Read more

• APL 3MFY27 profit jumps 74%

Attock Petroleum Limited (PSX: APL) reported a 74% surge in its net profit for the first quarter ended September 30, 2026 (1QFY27 / 3MFY27), reaching Rs6.64bn compared to Rs3.81bn in the corresponding period last year. Read more

• ATRL profit soars over eight-fold to Rs20bn in 1QFY27

Profit for the period of Attock Refinery Limited (PSX: ATRL) rose more than eight-fold to Rs19.61bn for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 (1QFY27), compared with Rs2.40bn in the same period last year. Read more

• Govt caps HSD crack at $38 per barrel for 3 months

The federal cabinet has approved amendments to the crude-based pricing mechanism for High Speed Diesel (HSD), setting a ceiling of $38.00 per barrel on the HSD crack for the Iran-US war period. The floor stays at $11.33 per barrel. Read more

• POL 3MFY27 profit surges 45%

Pakistan Oilfields Limited (PSX: POL) reported a 45% surge in its consolidated net profit for the first quarter ended September 30, 2026 (1QFY27 / 3MFY27), reaching Rs8.56bn compared to Rs5.89bn in the corresponding period last year. Read more

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