Islamabad, Mar 14, 2025: Malaysia’s AirAsia is gearing up to commence flight operations to Pakistan, unveiling a direct air link between Karachi and Kuala Lumpur. The airline has successfully secured approval from Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), and flights are set to take off starting May 30, 2025. At the outset, AirAsia will conduct four flights weekly, ensuring a cost-effective travel solution for passengers commuting between the two nations. Experts in the aviation industry suggest that this initiative will not only boost connectivity but also generate employment opportunities and facilitate the Pakistani diaspora residing in Malaysia. AirAsia X CEO Benyamin…
Author: Mawadat Fatima
Islamabad, Mar 14, 2025: Gul Ahmed Textile Mills Limited has unveiled its plan to establish four fully-owned subsidiaries dedicated to specialized textile operations, with a strong emphasis on sustainability. This development was disclosed in a notification sent to the Pakistan Stock Exchange on Friday. The company’s Board of Directors gave the green light for these subsidiaries through circulation on March 13, 2025. This initiative aligns with Gul Ahmed’s long-term vision of shifting towards renewable energy sources while adhering to global sustainability standards essential for export markets. According to the official board resolution attached to the notice, “Management believes that these…
Islamabad, Mar 14, 2025: The government has significantly altered its net metering policy, introducing regulations that substantially reduce benefits for new solar panel owners by 63%. Additionally, the new framework compels consumers to purchase electricity from the national grid at prices over 550% higher than their sale rates. As per the updated policy, rooftop solar panel users will receive Rs10 per unit for the electricity they supply to the grid but must buy power at the prevailing market rate—currently around Rs65 per unit. Unlike the previous system, users can no longer offset their imported units with exported ones, creating a…
Islamabad, Mar 14, 2025: Visa (NYSE: V), a global leader in digital payments, has announced that cardholders in Pakistan can now add their Visa cards to Google Wallet. Visa made the announcement yesterday at a market-wide event attended by senior members of the Pakistani financial industry. Starting today, Visa cardholders of HBL, Bank Alfalah, UBL, and Meezan Bank can add their Visa cards to their Google Wallet on Android and Wear OS devices, enabling them to make payments wherever contactless options are accepted. JS Bank, Allied Bank, Zindigi, and Easypaisa will be available soon. This integration supports the growing demand…
Islamabad, Mar 14, 2025: NED University of Engineering and Technology has revised its admission criteria for the 2025/26 academic year, following a significant drop in intermediate exam pass rates, as reported by Express News. Under the updated policy, universities have reduced the importance of intermediate exam results for BE and BS admissions while increasing the weightage of the entrance test. They will now compile the merit list based on this new formula. This decision comes in response to a sharp decline in Karachi’s intermediate pass rates, where pre-engineering and pre-medical students recorded success rates of only 29% and 35%, respectively.…
Islamabad, Mar 14. 2025: Binance, the globe’s leading cryptocurrency exchange, has secured a groundbreaking $2 billion investment from MGX, and Abu Dhabi-based firm specializing in artificial intelligence and cutting-edge technology. This landmark deal signifies the first institutional backing for Binance, making it the most substantial investment ever received by a digital asset company . Additionally, it represents the largest transaction finalized in the stablecoin sector. With this investment, MGX acquires a minority stake in Binance, marking its entry into the blockchain and cryptocurrency space. MGX envisions leveraging this partnership to drive innovation at the intersection of AI, blockchain, and financial…
Islamabad, Mar 14, 2025: Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have mutually agreed to revise the country’s macroeconomic and fiscal policies for the ongoing financial year. As part of this adjustment, the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) annual tax collection target has been lowered from Rs. 12.97 trillion to Rs. 12.35 trillion. Despite the Rs. 620 billion reductions, the originally set tax-to-GDP ratio of 10.6 percent remains unchanged, as per reports from a leading national publication. The FBR has already faced a revenue deficit of Rs. 0.6 trillion in the initial eight months of the fiscal year. Consequently, the…
Islamabad, Mar 13, 2025: Oppo has officially confirmed the launch date for its much-awaited F29 series, scheduled for March 20, 2025, at 12 PM (local time) in India. This upcoming lineup will introduce two models—the Oppo F29 and Oppo F29 Pro, both promising a blend of premium design, durability, and powerful features. Highlights & Specifications Although Oppo has yet to release the full specifications, the company has shared some standout features that make this series worth the wait. Durability & Design The Oppo F29 and F29 Pro come with IP66, IP68, and IP69 ratings, ensuring exceptional water and dust resistance.…
Islamabad, Mar 13, 2025: The Foreign Ministry informed the National Assembly (NA) on Wednesday that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has not officially prohibited visa issuance for Pakistani nationals, contrary to circulating reports. In an official document presented to the NA, the ministry clarified that while the UAE Work Visas has implemented specific restrictions, these are not equivalent to a complete ban. The report attributed these limitations to multiple factors, including instances where Pakistani applicants were found submitting fraudulent academic credentials, job offers, and other forged documents. Additionally, concerns arose over individuals engaging in politically sensitive or criminal activities, as…
Islamabad, Mar 13, 2025: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecasted rain and thunderstorms in the northern regions of the country today (Thursday), with snowfall expected over higher elevations. The PMD’s daily weather bulletin states, “Wind and thunderstorms, along with showers and snowfall over mountainous areas, will hit select locations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Islamabad, and northern Punjab.” The Meteorological Office further explained that a weak westerly system is currently impacting the upper regions of the country. While the majority of areas will remain dry with partly cloudy conditions, intermittent rainfall is expected in several cities…
