Cautious optimism on macroeconomic indicators

KARACHI: Mian Zahid Hussain, President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum & All Karachi Industrial Alliance, Chairman National Business Group Pakistan and Chairman Policy Advisory Board FPCCI, has expressed cautious optimism regarding Pakistan’s latest macroeconomic indicators.

While welcoming the record-breaking performance of the Pakistan Stock Exchange and significant foreign financing agreements, he underscored the need for the government to translate these high-level gains into relief for the struggling industrial sector and the common citizen.

“The current economic landscape presents a dichotomy of historic market highs and deep-rooted industrial pain,” said Mian Zahid. He noted that the KSE-100 Index reaching a historic peak of 188,621 points reflects strong investor confidence in the reform agenda and the anticipation of a 1% further policy rate cut on January 26.

However, he warned that the ‘real economy’ continues to face headwinds, evidenced by a current account deficit of USD1.174 billion for the first half of FY26—a sharp reversal from the $957 million surplus recorded in the same period last year.

The veteran business leader lauded the signing of three major financing agreements worth $603 million with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).