43+ min ago (276+ words) Karachi, Pakistan: The ongoing closure of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border since October 11 has dealt a severe blow to Pakistan's trade, manufacturing, and export sectors, worsening the country's already fragile economic situation. The standoff has not only halted two-way trade but also triggered shortages, price hikes, and production disruptions across key industries that depend on Afghan routes for imports and exports, as reported by Dawn. According to Dawn, the cement industry has been among the hardest hit. Imports of Afghan coal and exports of cement to Afghanistan have completely stopped, forcing manufacturers in northern Pakistan to rely on costlier coal imports from South Africa, Indonesia, and Mozambique. The price of Darra (local) coal has jumped from Pakistani currency (PKR) 30,000-32,000 to PKR 42,000-45,000 per tonne, while Afghan coal, previously available at PKR 30,000-38,000, has vanished from the market. Firms like Cherat, Fauji, and Maple Leaf…...

52+ min ago (9+ words) Prolonged border closure with Afghanistan worsens Pakistan's economic crisis...

3+ hour, 54+ min ago (561+ words) China's factory activity contracted for the eighth consecutive month in November, official data showed Sunday, suggesting the world's second-largest economy remains subdued despite a trade truce with the U.S. The manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), a key measure of industrial health, stood at 49.2 in November, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). That marked an improvement from 49.0 recorded in October but remained below the 50 mark that separates expansion from contraction. The reading missed a median forecast of 49.4 from a Bloomberg survey of economists. The figure comes after Chinese leader Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump met in South Korea in October and agreed on a temporary truce in their bruising trade war. Still, the data reflects manufacturers' difficulty in sustaining a recovery after COVID-19, compounded by a trade war with the U.S. that has ramped up pressure on businesses. Although manufacturing…...

5+ hour, 4+ min ago (344+ words) China's factory activity contracted for the eighth straight month in November, underscoring challenges for the country's economy despite the US-China trade truce. The official manufacturing purchasing managers index rose slightly to 49.2 in November from 49 in October, China's National Bureau of Statistics said on Sunday The PMI is measured on a scale between 0 and 100, with a reading below 50 indicating contraction. The contraction was in line with analyst expectations. A US tariff cut earlier this month likely would mean that Chinese exports could gain competitiveness in the US market, but it may be too early to say whether exports have regained momentum following the trade truce. US President Donald Trump said the US would cut its tariffs on Chinese goods after meeting Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea on October 30, raising some optimism over Chinese exports and manufacturing. A prolonged slump…...

5+ hour, 31+ min ago (448+ words) Workers labor at a ceramic ware factory, in Handan in north China's Hebei province on Nov. 4, 2025. (Chinatopix Via AP) Workers install printed circuit board at an electronics factory, in Fuyang, in central China's Anhui province on Oct. 31, 2025. (Chinatopix Via AP) Workers check on the products in the world's largest production base for recycled polyester filament yarn, in Siyang, in east China's Jiangsu province on Oct. 24, 2025. (Chinatopix Via AP) Workers labor at a textile manufacturer, in Binzhou in east China's Shandong province on Oct. 23, 2025. (Chinatopix Via AP) Workers install washing machines at a factory making washing machines for export, in Suqian in east China's Jiangsu province on Oct. 20, 2025. (Chinatopix Via AP) The official manufacturing purchasing managers index rose slightly to 49.2 in November from 49 in October, China's National Bureau of Statistics said. The PMI is measured on a scale between 0 and 100, with…...

5+ hour, 31+ min ago (322+ words) The official manufacturing purchasing managers index rose slightly to 49.2 in November from 49 in October, China's National Bureau of Statistics said. The PMI is measured on a scale between 0 and 100, with a reading below 50 indicating contraction. The contraction was in line with analyst expectations. A U.S. tariff cut earlier this month likely would mean that Chinese exports could gain competitiveness in the U.S. market, but it may be too early to say whether exports have regained momentum following the trade truce. U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. would cut its tariffs on Chinese goods after meeting Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea on Oct. 30, raising some optimism over Chinese exports and manufacturing. A prolonged slump in China's property market and falling home prices are still hurting consumer confidence, and real estate investments have been down. Intense price competition domestically in many sectors including…...

5+ hour, 31+ min ago (355+ words) China's factory activity contracted for the eighth straight month in November, according to an official survey on Sunday, underscoring challenges for the country's economy despite the U.S.-China trade truce. The official manufacturing purchasing managers index rose slightly to 49.2 in November from 49 in October, China's National Bureau of Statistics said. The PMI is measured on a scale between 0 and 100, with a reading below 50 indicating contraction. The contraction was in line with analyst expectations. A U.S. tariff cut earlier this month likely would mean that Chinese exports could gain competitiveness in the U.S. market, but it may be too early to say whether exports have regained momentum following the trade truce. U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. would cut its tariffs on Chinese goods after meeting Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea on Oct. 30, raising some optimism over Chinese exports and manufacturing. A prolonged…...

8+ hour, 34+ min ago (423+ words) The IMF has reportedly questioned how decisions are taken within the SIFC and who exercises authority over key economic matters. An insider described the council's operations as "not transparent", adding that its mechanisms lack clarity and accountability. IMF has also urged Pakistan to publicly declare the SIFC's annual performance, complete with verifiable details of the investments it claims to have facilitated. IMF officials are said to be concerned that the SIFC, which functions without constitutional protection, is not in a position to take responsibility for the economic impact of its decisions. Despite being established to fast-track foreign investment, the SIFC has struggled to bring in meaningful capital. According to the top source, the council has failed to secure any major foreign business deals or attract significant FDI for three consecutive years. Foreign investors remain wary of Pakistan's political instability, heavy…...

10+ hour, 15+ min ago (328+ words) November 29, 2025, 9:22 PM The official manufacturing purchasing managers index rose slightly to 49.2 in November from 49 in October, China's National Bureau of Statistics said. The PMI is measured on a scale between 0 and 100, with a reading below 50 indicating contraction. The contraction was in line with analyst expectations. A U.S. tariff cut earlier this month likely would mean that Chinese exports could gain competitiveness in the U.S. market, but it may be too early to say whether exports have regained momentum following the trade truce. U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. would cut its tariffs on Chinese goods after meeting Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea on Oct. 30, raising some optimism over Chinese exports and manufacturing. A prolonged slump in China's property market and falling home prices are still hurting consumer confidence, and real estate investments have been down. Intense price competition domestically in many…...

16+ hour, 6+ min ago (429+ words) " The government seems to be justified in expressing optimism over the country's economic out-look as the key indicators were showing improvement as The government seems to be justified in expressing optimism over the country's economic out-look as the key indicators were showing improvement as fiscal discipline was maintained through stronger revenue mobilization and prudent expenditure management. In its economic update and outlook for November, the Ministry of Finance said the industrial activity continued to strengthen amid implementation of reforms. It said the higher remittances and expanding Large-Scale Manufacturing (LSM) sector and IT exports strengthened the economic outlook. Backed by healthy realization of State Bank of Pakistan's profits due to record interest rates, the Ministry said the public debt declined by over Rs1.371 trillion, marking the first quarterly reduction in more than five years. There is no doubt that the credit for…...