It is welcome to note that the upward spiral by the Pakistan Stock Exchange is continuing.

A clear sign of investors' confidence in the country's future is that the KSE Hundred Index hit a national all-time high at the end of the business week on Friday at the Pakistan Stock Exchange. The immediate reason for this boom in the stock market is the improvement in economic indicators after the IMF agreement, the progress in the Rekodic plan and the possibility of increasing exports due to the interest rate cut. The index also crossed the milestone of 93 thousand. Due to the boom, the prices of 54% of the shares increased and their value further increased by one billion one billion forty eight crores 73 lakhs 67 thousand 551 rupees. 

Investors seemed confident. Buying in profitable sectors led the market graph to touch a new high of 93140 points, which is the biggest interim limit of the stock exchange so far.  The extraordinary rise in the Hundred Index of the Pakistan Stock Exchange, which can rightly be called  positive recovery of the economy, is a welcome and major positive sign towards economic recovery.  Another reason for the boom is the possibility of more investment from other countries including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE and China, and other regional trade parleys in a difficult situation.  A record 8.8 remittances were received in three months with the policy rate, the rate of inflation came down from 32 percent to 6.7 percent. Investments and exports have increased. The improvement in the value of the rupee is also a matter worthy of attention.  The value of the dollar has come down in both foreign exchange markets. If the economy continues on the path of stability, it can be expected that Pakistan will stand on its own feet economically. Meanwhile, on the birth anniversary of the poet of Pakistan, Allama Muhammad Iqbal, the Prime Minister gave the nation the good news of a significant reduction in electricity rates during the three months of winter on the use of additional electricity compared to last year. All the domestic and industrial consumers who are facing dire straits will definitely get some sigh of relief in these three months with this decision.  Additional use of electricity to keep homes warm will be encouraged and thus the government will also get some relief in paying capacity charges to IPPs. However, for sustainable economic development, electricity must be affordable on a permanent basis. According to the government's decision, for the three months of December 2024 to February 2025, the flat rate for household consumers will be 26 rupees 7 for the use of additional electricity under the electricity facility package. Industries will save from Rs. 5.72 to Rs. 15.5 per unit. Electricity rates will be reduced by 18 to 37% for industries, from Rs. 13.46 to Rs. 22.71 per unit. Saving money per unit, total savings of 34 to 37 percent on commercial use.

This announcement was made by the Prime Minister while addressing the Iqbal Day ceremony on Friday. He reiterated his determination to stabilize the national economy and lead the country on the path of development by following Iqbal's philosophy.  He expressed that we as a nation will make Pakistan great by making hard work, hard work and only hard work. He explained that Iqbal gave a message to the Muslims of the subcontinent to free themselves from the neediness of others and make their own world according to the teachings of the Quran and the sayings of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), but we have forgotten this message and today even after 77 years, Pakistan is stuck in IMF debt.  The nations that were behind us have gone ahead. The Prime Minister said that the current government is moving ahead with the message of Allama Iqbal, "We have imposed a ban on the federal government's expenditure, the economic situation of the country has improved in recent months, inflation and interest rates have come down." This will increase investment and exports, agricultural development, employment opportunities for lakhs of people and Pakistan will regain its lost position. 

He expected that the ongoing IMF program would be the last and After this, the national economy will stand on its own feet without any external support. The present political and military leadership is undoubtedly working diligently for the sustainable recovery of the national economy.  It may be mentioned here that the  key point is that compared to all the regional countries, Pakistan has the highest electricity rates and the main reason for this is the agreements made with dozens of independent power generation companies for decades, under which the government pays them according to their full production capacity.  Payments are bound in dollars even if not a single unit of their electricity is used. Although efforts are underway to adapt these agreements to the national interest, progress in this direction should be accelerated to the last degree. It is clear to all that mismanagement, privileges of the ruling classes, unnecessary government expenses including heavily loaded federal and provincial cabinets are obstacles in economic recovery, effective measures are indispensable in all these respects for sustainable economic recovery. The purpose to say is that overall, positive indicators are signaling improvement but the price hike of essential commodities is still persisting and this sector needs to the Govt attention. The masses are unable to meet both ends meet as the prices are really very high and beyond the reach of the common man. We are an agriculture country and the sky-high prices of grains, pulses, vegetables and fruits is a matter of real concern. Time has come, the Govt should come hard on the profiteers and make them face the music. Essential kitchen items must be available at affordable prices as the common man cannot afford them in the wake of continuing prices of essentials despite a decrease in inflationary trends.