The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) convened on Thursday under the leadership of Finance and Revenue Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb at the Finance Division, Islamabad. The session focused on crucial economic issues and resulted in several key approvals.

Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, Pakistan's Federal Finance Minister, highlighted on Thursday that the retail sector, which constitutes a substantial 19% of the nation’s GDP, is contributing a mere 1% in taxes, raising alarms about its insufficient participation in the national tax system.

The Directorate General of Customs Valuation in Karachi has updated the customs value for imported desiccated coconut, raising the price from $1 per kilogram to $1.6 per kilogram for all countries of origin.

The Power Division has established a six-member committee to oversee the ongoing privatization of Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO), and Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO).

Punjab's total government debt decreased by Rs24.8 billion in the second quarter (Oct-Dec) of fiscal year 2024-25, marking a 1.5% drop, according to a report from the Punjab Finance Ministry. This reduction was driven by foreign exchange gains and a reduction in the province’s net debt.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) review team is scheduled to visit Pakistan in the first week of March to evaluate the progress made under the $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF).

Auto financing in Pakistan rose to Rs241.6 billion in January 2025, up from Rs235.45 billion in December 2024, as falling interest rates drove more consumers to take out loans for vehicle purchases, according to the latest data from the State Bank of Pakistan.