US crude oil futures turned negative on Monday for the first time in history, ending the day at a stunning minus $37.63 a barrel as traders sold heavily because of rapidly filling storage space at the key Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery point.

Pakistan Stock Exchange Monday opened on a strong positive note and remained bullish throughout the session on the back of aggressive buying mainly by local investors and institutions.

Pakistan rupee again gained value in open market against major currencies on Monday.

The coronavirus pandemic has exposed "systemic weaknesses" in global health systems, the G20 said Monday, but there was no mention of Washington's contentious decision to halt World Health Organization funding.

A meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE) has decided that a decision on making the inquiry report on power sector public would be taken by the federal cabinet.

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Pakistan rose sharply, ie, by 137 percent YoY during the first nine months of this fiscal year (FY20).

While emphasising the need for adopting good taxation principles with sometime increase in the tax-base and sometime increase in rates, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Monday, stated that it was working closely with the Pakistani authorities on prep

Prime Minister's Advisor on Institutional Reforms and Austerity, Dr. Ishrat Hussain has opposed restructuring of Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) but recommended removal of incumbent Chairperson and effective follow up of cases pending in courts.

Prime Minister's Advisor on Finance and Revenue Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh has said that autonomy of State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) should be accompanied by some checks and balances, well-informed sources told Business Recorder.

In order to facilitate donors, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has advised banks to take further necessary steps for collection of funds under the Prime Minister's COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Fund-2020.

The Supreme Court noticed no mechanism of transparency in distribution of relief funds among the people affected by the lockdown due to coronavirus pandemic.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan Monday said that after discussion it had been decided that mosques would remain open throughout the country, while prayers would be offered following the precaut

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has asked banks for deduction of Zakat at source in respect of saving banks/profit and loss sharing and similar bank accounts and deposit on first Ramazan.

Almost 140 million (139.197 million) text messages were received at the federal government's designated Short Messaging Service (SMS) number seeking financial assistance under Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme, out of which 55.47 million were freshly regist

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will not allow a shareholder or a partner of a builder or developer to change the ownership of an incomplete project for claiming exemption from Section 111 (source of investment) of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001.

Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has decided to commence special audit to ascertain the facts behind wheat and sugar crisis.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is contemplating initiating a thorough probe into mega sugar and wheat scam after reviewing all legal aspects and other issues.

Karachi Port Trust (KPT) has extended free period from 5 days to 15 days to facilitate the businesses during Covid-19 crisis.

A gunman who at one point masqueraded as a policeman killed at least 16 people in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia during a 12-hour rampage, authorities said on Sunday, in what was the country's worst modern-era mass shooting.

Religious authorities in the United Arab Emirates said medical workers treating COVID-19 patients are exempt from fasting during Ramazan and urged Muslims not to congregate for prayers during the holy month expected to start this week.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has rejected and expressed deep concern over the anti-Muslim prejudice in India in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, and called for equal treatment of all citizens.

The cost of "Acquisition of Land & Resettlement of Diamer-Bhasha Dam Project " went up to Rs164.050 billion in 2nd revised PC-I against cost of Rs60.051 billion in original PC-I and Rs101.732 billion in 1st revised PC-I.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on National Health Dr Zafar Mirza on Monday, while expressing serious concern over the closure of the normal operations of the hospitals across the country had said that the government would very soon launch

Over more than 400 small and medium-sized steel re-rolling mills, without having furnaces, rely on imported re-rollable materials and rolled billets as their raw materials. Small and medium-sized units are more labour-incentive compared to large steel pro

Covid-19 rolls on like Hitler's blitzkrieg. Human society is advanced enough to cope with some consequences. But it does not have the tools to cope with three occurrences:

With all its tragedies, unprecedented complexities and uncertainties, the coronavirus pandemic should focus minds on the inadequacies in our healthcare and social security systems that need rectification at the earliest. Consider.

All parts of Pakistan have been hit by the Corona Virus. The pandemic continues to spread rapidly and the, more or less, partial lockdown persists throughout the country. Already, the negative economic consequences are becoming visible. The federal and th

During his recent visit to occupied Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Indian Army chief Gen M. M. Naravane tried to turn around the argument that applies to his side rather than Pakistan when he accused this country of "exporting terror" at a time India was busy al

The world has changed. There is a global recession and economies across the world are coming up with monetary and fiscal stimuli to deal with growing Covid-19 challenges. Pakistan is amongst the worst affected economies. In the recent past, the country ju

The Sindh government and the All Pakistan Restaurant Association (APRA) have agreed on SOPs to ensure safety measures to prevent Covid-19.

The federal government has given Rs 50 million to the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration to be spent for treatment of coronavirus patients as total cases reached 181 in the city on Monday.

The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) is legally empowered to proceed against companies in public interest for creating a level-playing field to enhance economic efficiency and to protect consumers from anti-competitive behaviour.

Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Monday demanded an 'on camera' investigation of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Shahbaz Sharif, on April 22 (Wednesday) as he (Shahbaz) has be

An Additional Sub-Inspector (ASI) of the Karachi (Sindh) Police has been taken under arrest over allegations of having links with Indian spying agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

Five terrorists were killed, and a soldier embraced martyrdom in North Waziristan, an ISPR press release said here on Monday. It said the terrorists carried out an armed raid on a security force's check post, 10 kilometers west of Miranshah in North Wazir

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday urged upon people to stay maximum at home leading the government lead to ease the gradual lockdown. "The more people show self-discipline, the easier it will be for us to manage the COVID-19 plus ease the lockdown gradu

Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani on Monday wrote a letter to National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar to make the chamber of the National Assembly available for sitting of Senate to assume its constitutional role, while taking all precautionary measures in vie

Minister Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi has informed that he has submitted the final draft of Pakistan Shipping Policy to the cabinet, and is waiting for green signal from State Bank of Pakistan for approving money-laundering prevention clauses.

The Universal Service Fund (USF) has awarded contract worth Rs 92 million to Jazz for providing hi-speed broadband in Kurram Lot (Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa).

The opposition members urged the federal and provincial governments to evolve a unanimous strategy for lockdown in the country to avoid confusion among the people.

"Tom Moore a 99-year-old retired army captain has raised around 24 million pounds for the UK health service."

The business & industrial community of Karachi, which was already largely pessimistic about the business and economic conditions for 2020 before the outbreak of Coronavirus, fears that the economy is taking a beating at the hands of the Covid-19 Pandemic,

The Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) is suffering from its worst-ever financial crisis due to the lockdown, official sources said on Monday.

Following the meeting of the Board of Directors, ICI Pakistan Limited announced its financial results for the nine months period ended March 31, 2020.

The management of Pakistan International Airline (PIA) is going to revise the fares of special flights being operated to bring back stranded Pakistanis to the homeland and expatriation of other citizens to their home countries.

National Investment Trust Limited (NITL) has successfully launched its Asset Allocation Fund (NIT-AAF). Experienced Fund Managers of NIT Funds will allocate investments between Equity & Debt Markets as per market conditions to achieve competitive returns

Qingdao Overseas Economic Cooperation Association and Qingdao Investment Promotion Center of China have donated surgical face masks to Pakistan China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI) amid coronavirus spread in Pakistan.

The employees of Pakistan Railways on Monday donated their one-day salary to Prime Minister's Corona Relief Fund. Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed presented the donation cheque worth Rs 50,185,000 to Prime Minister Imran Khan. Sheikh Rash

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that 227 new cases emerged on Monday when 1,600 new tests were conducted and five more people lost their lives, taking the death toll to 61.

In order to manage feelings of anxiety, or distress associated with Covid-19, and quarantines, Local Government Sindh is brining an innovative to provide free of cost counselling to the recovered patients of this pandemic.

A simple and flat income tax rate of 10 percent for all entities and 20 percent for companies can achieve fairness in the taxation system of Pakistan, said renowned tax expert Dr Ikramul Haq.

The Punjab food department has constituted committees throughout the province at district level which will be led by officials from the Punjab agriculture department to ensure smooth wheat seed movement in the province and resolve the issues being reporte

Announcing relief for tenants of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) markets' shops, Mayor Karachi Wasim Akhtar Monday said that they will be given four next months to pay rent of April and May in installation.

Telenor has made a donation of Rs50 million to the Prime Minister's COVID-19 Relief Fund in continuation of efforts to provide relief to the Pakistanis during the coronavirus pandemic, said a press release issued on Monday.

KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has said that Coronavirus testing capacity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been increased from initial 40 tests per day to 1000 tests per day and efforts are in progress for bringing further enhancement in it.

The Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry has expressed grave concern over electricity loadshedding in industrial estates, carrying out by the Peshawar Electric Supply Company, particularly in Small Industrial Estate Kohat Road Peshawar.

Punjab Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid said on Monday that about 700 patients have so far recovered from COVID-19 at different hospitals across the province.

Comprehensive and solid policy is being followed for the purchase of wheat in a transparent manner by providing all out facilities to the wheat growers.

Dalian iron ore futures rose on Friday after miner Rio Tinto said China's demand for the steelmaking raw material continues to recover, but grim Chinese economic data showing the impact of the coronavirus outbreak kept investors' optimism in check.

On Friday at Pakistan Mercantile Exchange Limited, PMEX Commodity Index closed at 3,653. The traded value of metals, energy and COTS/FX was recorded at PKR 4.369 billion and the number of lots traded was 13,220.

Rice export prices in India bounced to an eight-month high this week, as traders resumed signing new contracts after a gap of nearly three weeks, while rains brought some relief in drought-hit Thailand, easing prices off a multi-year peak.

Coffee trading in Vietnam remained frozen even as the government eased a 15-day lockdown for some parts of the Southeast Asian country, while fresh beans had started to come in Indonesia, traders said on Thursday.

The Karachi Port handled 161,504 tonnes of cargo comprising 100,355 tonnes of import cargo and 61,149 tonnes of export cargo including 2,600 loaded and empty containers during the last 48 hours ending at 0700 hours on Monday.

Amid hope of softening in the lock down in the coming days the trading opened on Monday in the Cotton market as the Sindh government has given approval of starting their operations to seventeen factories related to export oriented industry.

ICE canola futures slipped on Friday for the fourth time in five sessions, pressured by weakening crush margins and lower soya prices. Most-active July canola lost $1.20 to $463.60 per tonne. Overall trading volumes were thin.

Euronext wheat futures rose on Friday, driven by strength in spot prices as signs Russia may soon fill its export quota and a large sale of French wheat to Egypt reinforced expectations of robust overseas demand for European Union supplies.

INTRODUCTION

Chairman Pakistan Tanners' Association (PTA) Sheikh Afzal Hussain, and PTA Vice Chairman Muhammad Shafi have urged Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to grant permission with immediate effect with relaxed/acceptable "SOP" for the operation of leathe

Bank Alfalah and PayFast have joined hands to enable MasterCard Payment Gateway Services (MPGS) on PayFast's payment gateway with the objective of transforming the financial services sector in Pakistan.

At the beginning of this year, it was difficult to imagine a situation in which social and economic activity would be globally curtailed. Yet, a few months on, here we are. The coronavirus pandemic has forced people around the world to implement social di

Pakistan Oxygen Limited (PSX: PAKOXY), formerly Linde Pakistan, was established in 1949 as a private limited company under the Companies Act 1913, (now Companies Act, 2017). It was later converted into a public limited company in 1958.

China cut its benchmark lending rate as expected on Monday to reduce borrowing costs for companies and prop up the coronavirus-hit economy, after it contracted for the first time in decades.

Volkswagen has agreed to pay 620 million euros in compensation to 200,000 car owners in the biggest German lawsuit over the group's "dieselgate" emissions cheating scandal, the company said Monday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reached a historic deal Monday with one-time rival parliament speaker Benny Gantz to form an emergency unity government, ending the country's worst political crisis.

Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Monday slammed their common foe the United States for maintaining sanctions amid the coronavirus pandemic. On his first official meeting with Zarif in a year, Assad expre

Peter Beard, the influential photographer renowned for his wildlife shots, was found dead after going missing several weeks ago. He was 82 years old. "We are all heartbroken by the confirmation of our beloved Peter's death," his family said in a statement

Researchers Monday unveiled a coronavirus "heat map" powered by Facebook data which is aimed at helping track the spread of the disease and plan for reopening society. The Carnegie Mellon University project offers "real-time indications of COVID-19 activi

The World Health Organization insisted Monday that it had been warning from the very start about the dangers of the novel coronavirus, which has killed more than 164,000 people globally.

Germany and other parts of Europe took tentative steps to ease lockdown measures on Monday but officials warned the battle against the coronavirus pandemic was far from over.

Thai stocks settled 2.2% higher on Monday, after the country's monarch approved a massive stimulus package to cushion the impact of the coronavirus on the economy, while most other markets in the Southeast Asian region slipped.

China stocks ended higher on Monday as a key Chinese lending rate was cut for the second time this year to shore up the coronavirus-hit economy. At the close, the Shanghai Composite index was up 0.5% at 2,852.55.

European stock markets erased early gains on Monday as a slide in oil prices hammered energy stocks, with investors also bracing for the worst corporate quarterly earnings season since the 2008 financial crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The S&P 500 and the Dow Jones headed lower on Monday following a strong two-week rally as oil prices crashed and investors grew cautious at the start of a week that is likely to bring more dismal quarterly earnings reports and economic data.

Stock markets in the Gulf ended lower on Monday after oil prices fell amid concern that US storage facilities will soon be full as the novel coronavirus pandemic destroys demand. Brent oil futures sank 3.3% to $27.2 a barrel.

Japanese shares pulled back on Monday from a near six-week high hit in the previous session, as caution set in before corporate earnings results that are likely to reveal the damage wrought by the novel coronavirus pandemic.

UK stock markets edged higher on Monday as more firms rolled out measures to weather the coronavirus crisis in what could be the worst earnings season for European companies since the 2008 financial crisis.

The rouble weakened against the US dollar on Monday, hit by falling oil prices as global shutdowns to combat the coronavirus pandemic continued to weigh on demand and storage facilities headed towards full capacity amid a supply glut.

The dollar was little-changed against a basket of currencies on Monday as tumbling oil prices pressured oil-linked currencies and as investors awaited the outcome of a European Union summit this week on how to tackle economic fallout from the novel corona

The dollar's early gains fizzled on Monday as investors squared positions before a European Union summit this week on how to tackle the economic fallout of the novel coronavirus crisis.

The Malaysian ringgit led declines among Asian currencies on Monday, as the region's export-focused economies stood to suffer a severe hit from the coronavirus pandemic, while Malaysia was also facing a loss in export earnings from weak oil prices.

Sterling slid on Monday as Britain's death toll from the novel coronavirus increased and officials said it was too soon to talk about easing the lockdown.

Primary assistance the poor section of society received is from the relief network of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) across the country during lockdown from Covid-19 threat, Chief of JI Karachi, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman said Monday.

Director General FDA Muhammad Suhail Khawaja has directed WASA officers for devising comprehensive and useful Monsoon Drainage Plan to cope with the challenges of early disposal of water from low lying areas of the city in case of possible torrential rain

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday granted bail to Taha Raza, ex-senior vice-president of Summit Bank, while dismissed the bail applications of leading banker, Hussain Lawai and former director general Parks and Horticulture KMC Liaquat Qaimkhani.

TCL, Pakistan's No.1 LED TV brand, launches the grand summer sale which is started from Monday and will end on April 30, 2020.

Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has called for allowing export of vegetables to Afghanistan to mitigate the hardships of growers, agents and exporters and to earn foreign exchange for the country.

Pakistan rejected the "irresponsible and completely ill-founded" remarks by Indian External Affairs Ministry in response to Prime Minister Imran Khan's criticism over the Modi government's discriminatory attitude towards Indian Muslims.

Nestlé Pakistan has stepped up its national response to COVID-19 pandemic by partnering with Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) for installation of hand hygiene stations at public places, quarantine and health facilities across Balochistan and KPK.

All timings are in PST (Pakistan Standard Time).

The weather report on Monday (April 20, 2020) and the forecast for Tuesday (April 21, 2020).