Author: Iqra Khan

Islamabad, Feb 8: Pakistan’s Commerce Minister, Jam Kamal Khan, engaged in crucial talks with leading Saudi business figures during the “Made in Pakistan” exhibition in Jeddah, held from February 5-7, 2025. The exhibition focused on fostering business collaborations, investment opportunities, and encouraging Saudi brands to enter the Pakistani market. Khan highlighted a 22% increase in Pakistan’s exports to Saudi Arabia, which reached $700 million in the previous year, and emphasized a business-friendly environment in Pakistan, including tax exemptions, investor protection laws, and access to Pakistan’s large consumer market of 240 million people. Saudi investors showed interest, especially in sectors like…

Read More

Islamabad, Feb 8: Fazal Moqeem Khan, President of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), expressed serious concern over the unusually hot weather in January, highlighting it as a clear sign of the intensifying effects of climate change. He emphasized the urgent need for collaborative efforts, including large-scale plantation drives, to combat the growing threat of global warming. In a statement released on Saturday, Khan warned that if temperatures continue to rise in the coming years, it would exacerbate the energy crisis in the country, already grappling with insufficient power supply. This, he noted, would further strain businesses, industries,…

Read More

Islamabad, Feb 8: Lahore’s Traffic Police have rolled out a comprehensive traffic management plan to ensure smooth vehicle movement during the upcoming tri-nation cricket series. Over 1,000 traffic officers will be deployed across the city to regulate traffic flow and minimize congestion. To address illegal parking, 20 forklifts and four breakdown vehicles will be used to keep the roads clear. Cricket fans will have access to designated parking areas, including spots near Government College, Liberty, CBD near Centre Point, and LDA Plaza. While no roads will be permanently closed during the series, temporary traffic disruptions may occur when teams are…

Read More

Islamabad, Feb 8: The National Highway Authority (NHA) has awarded all four sections of the Rs120 billion Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (Carec) Tranche-III corridor project to Chinese firm Ningxia Communication Construction (NXCC) following the opening of financial bids on Thursday. However, the bidding process has stirred controversy, with competing firms planning to challenge the decision in court, citing irregularities and a lack of transparency. According to sources reported by Dawn, several bidders filed formal complaints with the NHA’s Grievance Redressal Cell (GRC) before the bids were opened. They allege that their concerns were not addressed and that the process…

Read More

Islamabad, Feb 8: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reducing electricity tariffs for both domestic and industrial consumers, highlighting the ongoing positive outcomes of the power sector reforms. During a review meeting, the Prime Minister expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far but emphasized the need for quicker implementation to ensure that electricity remains affordable and environmentally sustainable. The Prime Minister noted that renegotiations with independent power producers (IPPs) are playing a significant role in reducing electricity costs, benefiting both consumers and the national treasury. He also vowed to intensify efforts to combat power theft,…

Read More

Islamabad, Feb 8: The Pakistan Tax Bar Association (PTBA) has urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to establish a fully operational tax office in Gwadar, highlighting the city’s growing economic significance and the need for enhanced tax compliance mechanisms. The call came after a recent tax awareness seminar in Gwadar, during which PTBA provisionally set up the Makran Tax Bar to serve Gwadar, Turbat, and surrounding areas. Currently, Gwadar only has an FBR facilitation center, which PTBA argues is inadequate for addressing the increasing tax compliance and procedural needs of the businesses in the region. Given Gwadar’s pivotal role…

Read More

Islamabad, Feb 8: The Ministry of Energy (Power Division) has introduced an advanced automated electricity complaints redressal system, designating all members of the Punjab Provincial Assembly (MPAs) as priority consumers. This new initiative aims to enhance the speed and efficiency of resolving electricity-related grievances within the timeframes set by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA). According to a letter from Federal Minister for Energy, Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, the MPs of Punjab will now have their complaints handled promptly through the 118 helpline, bypassing the need for direct interactions with Distribution Companies (DISCOs). This move is part of…

Read More

Islamabad, Feb 8: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called on the international community to offer grant-based financial assistance to developing nations like Pakistan, stressing that achieving climate adaptation and green transformation is impossible without external support. His comments were made during the Breathe Pakistan International Climate Change Conference, where he underscored the “cruel paradox” facing Pakistan, a country contributing less than 1% to global emissions while being one of the most vulnerable to climate change. Reflecting on the catastrophic 2022 floods, which submerged a third of the country, displaced 33 million people, and caused damages worth $30 billion, the Prime…

Read More

Islamabad, Feb 8: In 2024, Pakistan significantly boosted its local mobile phone production, meeting 95% of domestic demand through local manufacturing, a marked improvement compared to the five-year average of 67% and the eight-year average of 47%, according to a report by Topline Securities. Data from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) revealed that local manufacturers assembled 2.95 million mobile phones in December alone, a 28% increase from the previous month. However, this surge in local production comes alongside a rise in mobile phone imports. The State Bank of Pakistan reported that mobile phone imports surged to $52.9 million in the…

Read More

Islamabad, Feb 8: Pakistan’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) agreement with Qatar includes a provision that allows either party to initiate renegotiation talks next year. However, no decision has been made regarding whether such negotiations will take place, according to Pakistan’s Petroleum Minister Musadik Malik. He made the clarification following remarks he had made to a parliamentary energy committee, which were reported by The News, suggesting that the current deal with Qatar was costly and that Pakistan planned to seek better terms in the future. Malik explained to Reuters that he had been outlining the specifics of various LNG contracts, noting…

Read More