KARACHI: Woman investors in Pakistan are “cautiously” looking at the country’s ongoing talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and will buy more shares in companies listed on the bourse, if the negotiations succeed.
Woman investors in Pakistan’s commercial capital of Karachi hope that Islamabad’s negotiations with the global lender for a review of its $7 billion program would end on a positive note, thus allowing the market sentiments to boost.
The Washington-based lender has sent a team of experts, led by Nathan Porter, to see if the South Asian nation is complying with the conditions it has set under its reforms-oriented extended fund facility (EFF).
A successful review would not only lead to the release of about $1 billion to cash-strapped Pakistan, but also open new avenues for investors who have been buying and selling company shares at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX).
“I will be putting more money into the stock market for sure and I would be advising my clients to do the same,” said Saniya Bilal Doni, a 33-year-old CFA charter holder who has been actively investing in Pakistan’s stocks, real estate and gold markets for the last four years.
The mother of two holds a finance degree from the University of Toronto and prefers to make long-term, dividend-based investments in what she called “well performing” banking, real estate, fertilizers and technology stocks that make her portfolio keep growing. Doni though did not quote any numbers to show how big her investment portfolio is.
Having worked for various asset management funds in Canada and Abu Dhabi after completing her graduation in 2013, Doni now is managing her family’s portfolio as well as advising high net-worth individuals on how they should manage their investment portfolios.
She expects more money to come into Pakistan’s economy as a result of a successful IMF review that would help the stocks market increase more.
“All the stocks should technically go up. Yes, that has an impact because as an economy we are unfortunately dependent on IMF’s funding,” she said.
“I am paying attention to all of that, especially as I, you know, make changes to the portfolio, if any, and also if I advise clients.”
Inflation-hit Pakistan has about 350,000 registered individuals who invest in stocks, according to Najeeb Ahmed Khan Warsi, head of online trading at Foundation Securities Ltd.
This number looks dismal given the fact that Pakistan is the world’s fifth most populous nation, with more than 240 million people. The number of woman investors at 5 percent is even negligible.
Like others, these woman investors are also concerned about the outcome of Pakistan’s talks with the IMF, which usually take a couple of weeks to conclude.
“As an investor I am very cautious at the moment. I am holding on to my stocks. I am holding on to my investments. I am very careful with that,” said Isra Ghous Rasool, a 22-year-old business management student who bought some Shariah-compliant stocks a year and half ago to prove that women too can invest in stocks.
Pakistan’s central bank has almost halved the interest rates to 12 percent since June last year and made the booming stocks market an attractive place for investors like Doni and Rasool. The stock gauge KSE-100 Index almost doubled last year and gained 87 percent in US dollars terms to make Pakistan one of the world’s best performing markets.
Women like Doni and Rasool think that being investors makes them financially independent and empowered enough to have more control over their finances and choices without depending on their male relatives.
“I have a better relationship with money. I am able to dictate what I want in life and be able to actually pay for it,” said Doni, who sees another rate cut coming on March 10 when Pakistan’s central bank is scheduled to revise the borrowing rate.
“I am definitely looking for more opportunities in the stock market.”
Doni thinks investments help people hedge inflation which though now has eased to a single digit, but was seen peaking to 38 percent in May 2023.
Despite such good examples, Pakistan remains a male-dominated society where women tend to stay away from financial markets and use traditional saving methods like running committees.
Maham Alavi, a 40-year-old Pakistani brand manager, is running an all-women group of investors on Facebook from the Saudi capital Riyadh for the past decade.
Her Facebook group, Women Investment Forum, has now expanded to 15,000 members, about half of them being confident investors or analysts working in different fields in and outside Pakistan.
Alavi herself vets all the Facebook profiles to avoid an online scam.
“I started this group in Sep 2016 with the intent to learn myself and gather as many women as I could because the PSX had always been a male-dominated field in Pakistan,” she told Arab News from Riyadh.
Women Investment Forum is an educational group and does not tell its members where to invest or what to buy.
“That is their decision to make. We try to empower them so they can make decisions themselves,” said Alavi, a mother of two.
Pakistan’s stock exchange also organizes workshops and awareness sessions to promote financial literacy among women that makes them financially independent. One such event is being organized by the PSX on March 10 in Karachi to celebrate the International Women’s Day.
Both Doni and Rasool are equally critical of the prevailing political uncertainty in the country that by and large keeps investor sentiments dampened in Pakistan.
Pakistan is facing a political crisis since April 2022, when prime minister Imran Khan was ousted from power through a parliamentary no-trust vote. Khan remains in jail and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party keeps agitating on roads across Pakistan demanding the release of its political prisoners, including Khan.
“Political noise does play a huge role and whenever I’m trying to, you know, encourage, overseas Pakistanis to invest into Pakistani stock market or, you know, real estate, this is their number one concern,” said Doni, while sitting in her home office in Karachi’s Clifton area.
Rasool said political uncertainty has a huge impact on stock fundamentals. Recalling how the stock market had reacted to the arrest of Khan, she said a lot of stocks were oversold and a lot of investors had opted for selling their holdings in panic.
In their Women’s Day message, Alavi, Doni and Rasool said women, who make up half of Pakistan’s total population, should at least start learning about making investments in stocks for long-term gains.
“The IMF guys are right now in the country, so things are on the upward trajectory. If you’re still on the fence, on the sidelines, at least equip yourself with the right knowledge,” Doni urged.
Women investors await Pakistan-IMF talk results to decide on stock investments
https://arab.news/c7mpv
Women investors await Pakistan-IMF talk results to decide on stock investments
- IMF has sent a team of experts to see if the South Asian nation is complying with the conditions it has set under the $7 billon program
- A successful review will not only lead to the release of about $1 billion to cash-strapped Pakistan, but also open new avenues for investors
OPEC+ moves to set 2027 production baselines
RIYADH: OPEC+ announced on Wednesday that it will establish a framework to determine new oil production baselines for 2027, marking a significant step in its long-term planning, said an official statement.
The alliance — comprising the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and partners including Russia—has been negotiating revised production baselines for several years. These baselines serve as reference points from which member states adjust their output levels.
According to the statement issued following the group’s meeting, said it had tasked the OPEC Secretariat with developing a mechanism to assess each country’s maximum production capacity. These assessments will form the basis for 2027 production targets across all member nations.
Since 2022, the group has implemented three tiers of output cuts. Two remain in place through the end of 2026, while the third is being gradually phased out by eight participating countries. No changes were made to the group’s current production policy at Wednesday’s session.
Due to the sensitive nature of the discussions, all sources spoke on condition of anonymity.
The 2027 baselines, once finalized, are expected to guide production policy after the current round of cuts expires.
Oil prices, which dipped below $60 per barrel in April—the lowest level in four years—following OPEC+’s decision to accelerate May output and amid trade tensions triggered by US tariffs, have since rebounded to around $65.
Saudi Arabia launches advanced manufacturing center to boost industrial innovation
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia has launched the Advanced Manufacturing and Production Center, a key initiative aimed at accelerating the Kingdom’s industrial transformation through the adoption of advanced technologies and sustainable practices.
Unveiled on May 28, the center is set to play a central role in promoting efficiency, flexibility, and growth within the manufacturing sector. It will utilize technologies associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution to localize production and enhance Saudi Arabia’s competitiveness on the global stage.
The initiative also supports strategic industries while aligning with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, the country’s long-term plan to diversify its economy. A major focus is encouraging private sector collaboration to speed up the integration of emerging technologies into industrial operations.
The launch supports the National Industrial Strategy, introduced in October 2022, which aims to increase the number of factories in the Kingdom to approximately 36,000 by 2035. The strategy is designed to attract investment, scale up local production, and strengthen non-oil exports.
The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources is overseeing several projects to advance the Kingdom’s industrial and logistical infrastructure, positioning Saudi Arabia as a key player in global manufacturing and trade.
“Adopting the latest industrial technologies raises the efficiency of our industrial sector and enhances its competitiveness regionally and globally,” said Khalil bin Ibrahim bin Salamah, deputy minister of industry and mineral resources for industrial affairs, in a post shared by the ministry on X.
In an accompanying video, the ministry reiterated the center’s significance in meeting national goals: “The Advanced Manufacturing and Production Center opens doors to industrial investment opportunities and stimulates the sector to adopt new manufacturing technologies within industrial facilities.”
The center is supported by several initiatives and programs, including the Future Factories Program, which aims to modernize 4,000 factories across the Kingdom. The FFP focuses on integrating advanced manufacturing systems to boost efficiency and build more resilient supply chains—particularly in critical sectors such as food and petrochemicals.
According to its official website, the center serves as a hub for industrial innovation, providing consultancy services, training, and technological solutions. It is dedicated to fostering sustainability and competitiveness across the manufacturing sector.
Through these efforts, the center is expected to significantly contribute to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals by localizing high-tech capabilities, attracting investment, and advancing the industrial sector’s role in the nation’s economic diversification.
Closing Bell: Saudi main index rises to close at 11,052
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index advanced on Wednesday, closing higher by 127.58 points, or 1.17 percent, to reach 11,052.76, reflecting broad market optimism.
Trading activity remained robust, with a total turnover of SR4.57 billion ($1.21 billion). Of the listed stocks, 202 posted gains while 44 declined.
The Kingdom’s parallel market, Nomu, also recorded gains, rising 340.91 points, or 1.28 percent, to close at 26,932.95. The market saw 48 advancing stocks against 34 decliners.
Meanwhile, the MSCI Tadawul 30 Index climbed 15.12 points, or 1.08 percent, ending the session at 1,413.70.
Fawaz Abdulaziz Alhokair Co. emerged as the session’s top performer, with its share price jumping 5.77 percent to SR16.50.
Ataa Educational Co. and Kingdom Holding Co. followed closely, gaining 5.46 percent and 5.22 percent to close at SR61.80 and SR8.66, respectively.
On the downside, United Carton Industries Co. registered the steepest decline, falling 4.87 percent to SR46.85. Banan Real Estate Co. dropped 2.4 percent to SR4.48, while Nama Chemicals Co. slipped 1.78 percent to SR27.55.
On the announcements front, Saudi AZM for Communication and Information Technology Co. disclosed it has submitted a request to transfer its listing to the main market.
Additionally, the initial public offering for Flynas Co. began on May 28 and will conclude on June 1. The offering is priced at SR80 per share, with a retail tranche comprising 10.25 million shares. According to a statement, BSF Capital is the lead manager.
Alkathiri Holding Co. announced that its subsidiary has signed a 50-year lease agreement valued at SR143 million with the Asir Region Municipality to develop a commercial and hospitality project in the city of Abha.
According to a statement published on the Saudi stock exchange, the project will feature a four-star hotel with a capacity of 180 keys, alongside retail and entertainment facilities. The development aims to boost tourism and enhance commercial services in the Asir region.
The lease will officially begin upon the land handover by the Investment Committee of the Asir Region Municipality.
Shares of Alkathiri Holding closed Wednesday’s trading session at SR2.06, marking a 1.96 percent gain.
In a separate disclosure, Mufeed Co. announced that its board of directors has recommended to the ordinary general assembly the transfer of its statutory reserve balance — totaling SR3.49 million, as reported in the financial statements for the year ended Dec. 31, 2024 —to retained earnings.
Saudi Arabia’s Asir region revitalizes 95% of stalled projects
- Asir is a vast region in the Kingdom with a population exceeding 2 million people
- Interest from global players seeking early opportunities in the region’s evolving landscape has grown
ABHA: Saudi Arabia’s Asir region has successfully revitalized 95 percent of its previously delayed project, an important milestone that is strengthening investor confidence as the region moves forward with SR29 billion ($7.73 billion) worth of initiatives across various sectors.
In an interview with Arab News, Hashim Al-Dabbagh, CEO of Asir Region Development Authority, stated that a dedicated committee, chaired by Asir Gov. Prince Turki bin Talal, was formed several years ago to tackle long-standing investment challenges that had stalled progress in the region.
“The total number of cases that have been brought to this committee to address has been 63, all brought to the table,” Al-Dabbagh said.
He continued: “Of these 63 cases that have been brought to this committee to address and to solve, 60 cases have been solved, and three are in the pipeline right now, and they’re working on them, and they’re going to solve them relatively soon.”
Of the 60 resolved, 57 were concluded with outcomes that satisfied investors, reflecting a resolution rate of nearly 95 percent.
“This committee and the work that they have done has created some very positive vibes across the investment ecosystem in Saudi Arabia, which you sense in this forum because there are some very large investors that are coming to Asir, some coming back to Asir which had not been interested in this region in the past,” Al-Dabbagh said.
The board operates in collaboration with various public and private entities, including ASDA, the Ministry of Investment, the Ministry of Tourism, the Tourism Development Fund, and King Khalid University, ensuring a unified approach to accelerating investor activity in the region.
This resolution mechanism plays a key role in supporting the region’s development strategy, which focuses on unlocking investment potential across various sectors.
“First of all, we have a strategy that drives everything that we are doing,” Al-Dabbagh said.
He added: “The strategy has been approved by the center of government, and it says that Asir should be a year-round preeminent destination, so already we know that we need to focus on the tourism sector and complementary and adjacent sectors to the tourism sector. That’s one, and that gives us a lot of momentum in working with the government ecosystem and the private sector.”
Al-Dabbagh emphasized that Asir is more than just a tourism destination, noting that it is a vast region in the Kingdom with a population exceeding 2 million people.
“Within the Asir Development Authority, we have a whole department called Economic Development Department, and they are working diligently this year on sectoral studies across the board.”
He added: “This includes, obviously, tourism-related sectors, but also other ones, so just as an example, we are looking at sports, we are looking at construction. We’re looking at fisheries and agriculture. We’re looking at renewable energy. We’re looking at mining among other sectors.”
The authority is also aligning its economic strategy with educational institutions to ensure the region’s workforce is equipped to meet the demands of upcoming sectors.
“We are working closely with King Khalid University, the TVTC (Technical and Vocational Training Corp.), Bishop University, and other educational institutions to align the strategies and to make sure that their graduates are able to find jobs in the opportunities that are going to be realized as we realize this strategy,” he said.
On attracting investments, Al-Dabbagh stated: “What I call the investment ecosystem in Asir, it’s the framework that we use to assess investments, is comprised of three components. The first component is the Invest in Asir committee, and that’s headed by Prince Turki in his capacity as the chairman of the Aseer Development Authority and includes all the public and private sectors.”
He explained that the region offers a compelling opportunity for early movers due to its untapped potential, strategic government backing, and the ability to enter key sectors before they reach full maturity, providing investors with a critical advantage in shaping long-term development.
“Asir relative to those mature, tourism destinations, offers relatively less mature areas, so when they’re coming in, they’re coming in early and they’re going to have a ... not a first mover advantage, but an early mover advantage compared to people that are going to see this place for five years or 10 years down the road when all these incumbents are already on the ground.”
Attracting FDIs
Foreign direct investment is also gaining momentum in Asir, with growing interest from global players seeking early opportunities in the region’s evolving landscape.
“One of the speakers in today’s forum was Fatih (who is managing partner of FTG Development), and they are looking at an investment worth billions in Asir. That is just one example, and foreign direct investors, they look for successful local investors to partner with,” Al-Dabbagh said.
He concluded: “Our doors are open. We’re very happy to meet with the investors from anywhere.”
EU lifts economic sanctions on Syria
BRUSSELS: The European Union lifted economic sanctions on Syria on Wednesday in an effort to support the country’s transition and recovery after the toppling of former president Bashar Assad.
The move follows a political agreement reached last week by EU foreign ministers to lift the sanctions.
The EU will keep sanctions related to Assad’s government and restrictions based on security grounds, while also introducing new sanctions against individuals and entities connected to a wave of violence in March, the Council said.
“The Council will continue monitoring developments on the ground and stands ready to introduce further restrictive measures against human rights violators and those fueling instability in Syria,” it added.
