Islamabad, Jan 17: The Sindh government has unveiled an ambitious plan to reshape Karachi’s public transportation by introducing 8,000 electric buses over the coming years. This innovative project is set to position Karachi as a leader in sustainable urban mobility while addressing the city’s growing transport challenges. Three Phases to Transformation The rollout will occur in three carefully planned phases. The first phase, already underway, will deploy 500 electric buses within a year. Currently, 50 state-of-the-art buses are operational on key routes, setting the stage for an eco-friendly commuting experience.
Author: Mawadat Fatima
Islamabad, Jan 17:PM Shahbaz Sharif’s will visit the UAE from February 11 to 13 to strengthen ties with the Gulf nation. He will meet UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The talks will focus on boosting economic ties, energy cooperation, and mutual investments. A key highlight of the trip will be the Prime Minister’s participation in the prestigious World Government Summit in Dubai, where he will join global leaders to discuss innovative governance and sustainable development.
Islamabad, Jan 17: The cement industry is set to achieve remarkable profitability growth in the second quarter of FY25, fueled by increasing domestic demand, robust retention prices, and declining raw material costs. Analysts forecast the sector’s profitability to surge to Rs. 16.5 billion, a 7% increase from the previous quarter’s Rs. 15.4 billion. This growth stems from a combination of higher domestic sales volumes and improved cost management, even amidst a 22% quarter-on-quarter rise in finance costs. On a year-on-year basis, profitability is projected to climb by 15%, driven by enhanced export performance, higher retention prices, and increased domestic sales.…
Islamabad, Jan 17: The “Apni Chhat Apna Ghar” initiative, launched by the Chief Minister of Punjab, is a groundbreaking housing program aimed at providing 100,000 affordable homes to eligible residents across the province. Designed to uplift low-income families, the program seeks to address housing shortages, improve living conditions, and promote socio-economic growth within four and a half years. Key Features of the Program The initiative will be executed through three distinct models, ensuring diverse opportunities for homeownership. 1. State Land Development Model Objective: Build 10,000 housing units on government-owned land. Execution: Developers, in partnership with the Punjab Housing and Town…
Islamabad, Jan 17: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif officially inaugurated the Honhaar Scholarship and CM Laptop Schemes at a prestigious ceremony held at Government College University Faisalabad. These groundbreaking initiatives aim to support and empower students across Punjab, ensuring access to quality education and modern resources. Under the Honhaar Scholarship Programme, financial aid worth Faisalabad division distributed 201.19 million to 4,690 students. This program helps students from public and private universities and colleges. Breaking down the allocations, 3,211 students from public universities received scholarships totaling Rs. 176.27 million, while 101 students from private universities were awarded Rs. 2.8 million.…
Islamabad, Jan 17: LMKR is spearheading the modernization of Karachi’s Urban Immovable Property Tax Administration System (UIPT-MIS) with a cutting-edge, comprehensive solution aimed at enhancing the city’s tax operations. This initiative, which was formalized on December 20, 2024, in collaboration with the Local Government & Housing Town Planning (LG&HTP) Department under the World Bank-funded CLICK program, aligns with the Government of Sindh’s mission to improve transparency, accountability, and efficiency in tax management. However, LMKR’s vast experience in GIS technology and enterprise solutions positions the company to develop and deploy an advanced Management Information System (MIS) alongside a GIS-based mobile application…
Islamabad, Jan 17: The World Bank has updated its economic growth forecast for Pakistan, projecting a growth rate of 2.8% for the fiscal year 2024-25 and 3.2% for FY26. This positive outlook is attributed to easing inflation, increased industrial activity, and a more stable political environment, as outlined in its latest Global Economic Prospects report. For FY24, the growth estimate stands at 2.5%, driven primarily by improved agricultural yields due to favorable weather conditions and a boost in industrial production following the relaxation of import restrictions. Notably, Pakistan achieved a significant milestone in August 2024 when headline inflation fell to…
Islamabad, Jan 17: Pakistan recorded a monthly current account surplus of $582 million in December 2024, marking the fifth consecutive month of surplus, primarily driven by higher remittances and an improved trade balance. This continued streak of surpluses has resulted in the country achieving a cumulative current account surplus of $1.21 billion in the first half of FY25, a significant turnaround from the $1.397 billion deficit recorded during the same period last year. According to recent adjustments, the earlier reported 5MFY25 surplus of $944 million has been revised upward, reflecting an additional $316 million in surplus adjustments. This robust performance…
Islamabad, Jan 17: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) convened its second board meeting on Thursday at its headquarters, chaired by Muhammad Ali Randhawa. Attended by all board members, the session covered a wide range of development and administrative matters, leading to significant decisions. One of the key outcomes was the approval of commercial plot auctions under various categories to boost investment. Chairman Randhawa highlighted the investor-friendly installment plan, allowing payments over two years. He stressed that all auctioned plots must be free of encroachments and fully equipped with essential amenities to attract more buyers.
Islamabad, Jan 16: The affiliation of thousands of private schools with education boards across Punjab is under threat due to delays in extending their registration, as reported by 24NewsHD TV. Qazi Naeem Anjum, head of Pak Awan-e-Taleem, has called for an immediate extension of school registrations to avoid disruptions in their affiliation with education boards. An important meeting was held in Lahore on Thursday to address issues related to the registration of private schools, changes in the 9th-grade syllabus, and teacher training for the updated curriculum. The meeting was chaired by Qazi Naeem Anjum, head of Pak Education House.
