Islamabad (Syed Javed Hassan Shah): Ayub Marriani, President of the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has termed the State Bank’s decision to maintain the interest rate at 11% as disappointing. He stated that inflation in the country has significantly decreased, and it is imperative to reduce the interest rate to a single digit to boost business activities. A high interest rate increases the cost of borrowing, negatively impacting private-sector investment and industrial growth. He emphasized that given the decline in inflation, there was room for a more aggressive cut in the interest rate.

President Ayub Marriani further said that the interest rate should be reduced immediately to lower production costs and enable Pakistani exporters to compete in regional and international markets. A lower interest rate is crucial for investment, job creation, and sustainable economic growth. The business community has long been demanding a single-digit interest rate to reduce the cost of doing business and stimulate economic activity.