National SME Survey launched
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In a landmark step towards data-driven policymaking, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) and Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) formally launched field operations for the National SME Survey at a ceremony held at the PBS office in Lahore, which coincided with the World MSME Day.
Senior leadership from both organisations attended the event and emphasised the critical importance of the SME Survey in shaping the future of Pakistan's economic landscape. In his speech, Smeda CEO Socrat Aman Rana highlighted that SMEs were the backbone of Pakistan's economy, contributing 40% to the national GDP, 31% to total exports and generating nearly 78% of total employment.
He underscored that despite their pivotal role, the lack of reliable and comprehensive data has historically hindered the development of effective, targeted SME policies. PBS Chief Statistician Naeemuz Zafar remarked that the survey was being undertaken in a phased manner and was designed to cover strategic sectors of SMEs.
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Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
National SME Survey launched
Listen to article In a landmark step towards data-driven policymaking, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) and Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) formally launched field operations for the National SME Survey at a ceremony held at the PBS office in Lahore, which coincided with the World MSME Day. Senior leadership from both organisations attended the event and emphasised the critical importance of the SME Survey in shaping the future of Pakistan's economic landscape. In his speech, Smeda CEO Socrat Aman Rana highlighted that SMEs were the backbone of Pakistan's economy, contributing 40% to the national GDP, 31% to total exports and generating nearly 78% of total employment. He underscored that despite their pivotal role, the lack of reliable and comprehensive data has historically hindered the development of effective, targeted SME policies. PBS Chief Statistician Naeemuz Zafar remarked that the survey was being undertaken in a phased manner and was designed to cover strategic sectors of SMEs.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Short-term inflation eases on lower food prices
Listen to article The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) for the week ended June 26, 2025 recorded a year-on-year (YoY) decrease of 1.52% and a week-on-week (WoW) decline of 0.18%, driven largely by falling prices of key food items including eggs, chicken, bananas, onions and potatoes, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). The SPI declined 0.18% compared to the previous week, primarily driven by a sharp drop in prices of essential food items such as eggs (-12.27%), chicken (-10.75%), bananas (-2.75%), onions (-1.46%) and potatoes (-1.27%). However, upward pressure was observed in electricity charges for Q1 (+6.88%), garlic (+5.15%), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG, +1.24%) and sugar (+0.88%), among others. Out of 51 monitored items, prices of 12 items (23.5%) increased, 14 items (27.5%) decreased and 25 items (49%) remained unchanged. On a year-on-year basis, the SPI showed a 1.52% decrease, with major drops in onions (-62.28%), tomatoes (-40.70%) and electricity charges (-37.62%). Meanwhile, notable annual increases were seen in ladies' sandals (+55.62%), sugar (+27.35%) and powdered milk (+25.97%). The SPI tracks prices of 51 essential commodities from 50 markets across 17 cities, providing a weekly snapshot of inflationary trends in Pakistan. The combined SPI stood at 309.80 points compared to 310.35 points a week earlier and 314.57 in the corresponding week of last year, according to data compiled by Arif Habib Limited. All income groups experienced a decline in the weekly inflation. The lowest income group (Q1) saw a marginal drop of 0.06%, while the highest income group (Q5) recorded a decrease of 0.25%. On a yearly basis, Q2 experienced the largest decline of 3.31%, followed by Q1 at 2.36% and Q3 at 1.80%. The least affected was Q5, with a year-on-year decline of just 0.33%. The historical yearly trend indicates that inflation remained in negative territory for most of March and April, hit a brief positive spike in mid-May and turned negative again through June, reflecting the return to disinflationary pressure. Following a 3.5% year-on-year reading in May 2025, the monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) is expected to stand at 3.1% in June 2025, noted Waqas Ghani Kukaswadia, Research Head at JS Global. "The base effect is now fading, signalling the return to normalised price trends." This would take the FY25 average to 4.6%, down from the FY24 average of 23.9%. Food inflation for June 2025 is expected to rise 2.8% on a year-on-year basis, which was 0.97% last year, owing to the dissipation of base effect. Nevertheless, price decreases in certain food items are likely to lead to a month-on-month decline in food inflation. Housing, gas and electricity category is projected to post a 4% year-on-year decline in June 2025, primarily due to reduction in electricity tariffs. Core inflation is expected to clock in around 8.5% year-on-year in June. Core inflation, which excludes food and energy items, has remained around 9-10% for the past many months. Urban core inflation was registered at 7.3% in May, while rural core inflation was reported at 8.8%.
Business Recorder
a day ago
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Weekly SPI inflation down 0.18pc
ISLAMABAD: The Sensitive Price Index (SPI)-based inflation for the week registered ended on June 26, 2025 has witnessed a reduction of 0.18 percent owing to a decrease in the prices of eggs by 12.27per cent, chicken 10.75per cent, bananas 2.75 per cent, onions 1.46per cent, potatoes 1.27 per cent, wheat flour 1.01 per cent, maash 0.49 per cent and moong 0.39 per cent, revealed SPI data released here on Friday by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). The PBS on year-on-year (YoY) depicted a decrease of 1.52per cent in SPI owing to a reduction in the prices of onions 62.28per cent, tomatoes 40.70 per cent, electricity charges for Q1 37.62 per cent, garlic 27.06 per cent, potatoes 19.80per cent, maash19.75per cent, tea Lipton 17.93per cent, wheat flour 15.54per cent, masoor7.62per cent and diesel 1.93per cent. Weekly inflation in Pakistan up 0.27% While on YoY,a major increase was observed in the prices of ladies sandal 55.62per cent, sugar 27.35per cent, powdered milk 25.97per cent, moong24.42per cent, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) 17per cent, beef 15.74per cent, vegetable ghee 2.5 kg 12.87per cent, vegetable ghee 1kg 12.59per cent, gur10.99per cent, firewood 10.70per cent, lawn 10.48per cent, and bananas 8.71per cent. On the other hand, on week on week basis increase is observed in the prices of electricity charges for Q1 6.88per cent, garlic 5.15 per cent, LPG 1.24 per cent, gur1.00 per cent, tomatoes 0.99 per cent, sugar 0.88 per cent, rice IRRI-6/9 0.69 per cent, milk fresh 0.38 per cent, curd 0.36 per cent, firewood 0.11 per cent and powdered milk 0.03 per cent. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
