In The News

*G-20 debt relief timely initiative taken amid Covid-19 challenge Appreciating the G-20 debt relief initiative, Prime Minister Imran Khan observed that the G-20 relief was a timely initiative that complemented the attempts to cope with the Covid-19 challenge. However, PM …

How Abu Dhabi airports is facilitating inbound, outbound repatriation flights for Etihad Abu Dhabi Airports, in partnership with Etihad Airways, is facilitating a significant number of special flights from the UAE capital to 14 destinations, and repatriation flights for UAE …

Asia-Pacific Region Philippines allows malls, more businesses in capital to reopen The Philippines has allowed malls and more businesses in the capital to partially reopen on May 16 after a two-month lockdown that shrank its economy. Restaurants with delivery and …

Government eases offshore shareholding law The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has allowed Pakistani and dual nationals to keep secret their less than 10 percent shareholding in offshore companies – a move that is contrary to the political ideology of the …

*Technology and energy efficiency Ballast water treatment technologies Many ballast water treatment systems are now available on the market and, with ratification of the IMO Convention awaiting, ship owners have an excellent opportunity to evaluate how these systems perform before …

COMMODITY MARKETS IN 2020 * Coronavirus halts demand and supply of commodities International sources recorded that as states in the whole world contend with the health emergency of the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic effects of suspending approximately all activity have …

*Imran Khan’s phone call with Ethiopian Prime Minister Prime Minister Imran Khan, held a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali of Ethiopia. In the context of Pakistan’s ‘Engage Africa’ policy, the Prime Minister emphasized the significance of closer …

Major Gulf indexes fall alongside subdued global equities Major stock markets in the Gulf ended lower on Wednesday as doubts about the easing of coronavirus lockdowns and simmering US-China tensions cast a shadow over global equity markets. US President Donald …

ASIA-PACIFIC REGION Philippines GDP declines for first time since 1998 on shutdowns The Philippine economy contracted in the first three months of 2020 as restrictions to stem the coronavirus outbreak shut most businesses and sapped consumption, a trend seen worsening …

SBP reserves rise $259mn to $12.33bn The foreign exchange reserves held by the central bank increased 2.15 percent on a weekly basis, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Thursday. On April 30, the foreign …

*Environmental regulations Presently Shipping operates under a complex set of international and national regulations. Traditionally, the leaps in regulations have been event driven, and in some cases even driven through events outside the sector. A wellknown example is the Exxon …

Commodity markets in 2020 Gold International experts revealed that 2019 has been a golden year for precious metals as escalated trade disputes created a risk-averse environment among investors and demand for safe-haven assets increased. They expect the trend to continue …