Author: yasir

April 12, 2025 – Islamabad: Pakistan has achieved a significant public health milestone with the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) passing a national standard that limits industrially produced trans fats to less than 2% of total fat across all food categories. This landmark decision aligns Pakistan with international best practices that limit the use of industrially produced trans fatty acids in the food supply chain. Trans fats are a harmful compound used in foods including fried foods, margarine, and commercial baked goods that increases the risk of heart attack and deaths. Every day, millions of people consume trans fats in their diet without knowing it. The approval of this new standard is the result of a collective effort between governmental…

In an ambitious effort to cultivate psychoanalytic thinking in Pakistan, the Aga Khan University’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) has partnered with the Department of Psychology at the University of Exeter, to host an international conference titled “Journeying Beyond the West: Can Psychoanalysis Find New Roots in Pakistan?” at AKU’s Stadium Road campus in Karachi. Psychoanalysis is a type of therapy that not only gives relief from mental health issues, but also helps people know more about themselves, and make better choices in life. While Pakistan has no formal history of psychoanalysis, practitioners, and theorists with a keen interest…

The 29th edition of Textile Asia, the premier internationaltextile exhibition and a much-awaited trade fair for the textile andgarment industry, will take place from April 12 to 14, 2025, acrossseven halls at the Karachi Expo Centre. The theme of the exhibitionis, “The Road to a Value-Added Textile Sector,” underscoring its focuson innovation and industry growth.Nasir Hussain Shah, Sindh’s Minister for Energy, Planning, andDevelopment, will attend as the chief guest.The event is expected to draw over 50,000 trade visitors and 550+delegates from more than 17 countries, offering unmatchedopportunities for networking and business expansion. With over 650exhibitors, including leading brands from China,…

The Pakistan Footwear Material and Machinery Show (PFMMS) 2025 officially opened today at the Expo Center Lahore, marking a major milestone for Pakistan’s growing footwear industry. The inauguration ceremony was led by Minister for Industries and Investment, Chaudhary Shafay Hussain, alongside the Ambassador of Italy to Pakistan and the Consul General of China, reflecting the event’s international importance and strengthening diplomatic and trade relations. Organized by the Pakistan Footwear Manufacturers Association (PFMA), this year’s show is the largest ever, hosting over 250 exhibitors from more than 10 countries including China, Italy, Germany, Vietnam, and Hong Kong. The exhibition brings together…

The Pervaaz Campaign, launched under the European Union-funded SAFER Project (Safe and Legal Alternatives for Pakistani Potential Migrants and Migrants on the Route), received widespread recognition at the final SAFER event held in Brussels for its transformative role in raising awareness around irregular migration among Pakistani youth. At the gathering—hosted at the Press Club Brussels Europe on April 7, 2025, and attended by migration experts, EU stakeholders, and international partners—the campaign was highlighted as a model of impactful, community-based digital engagement. Through emotionally resonant storytelling, regional influencer partnerships, and multilingual content, Pervaaz created meaningful dialogue around dignified and informed migration…

Zindigi, powered by JS Bank, has formalized a strategic agreement with the Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) Police to modernize the region’s traffic fine issuance system through advanced digital solutions. This collaboration marks a transformative shift from traditional paper-based systems to a modern, fully digital framework, redefining traffic management. Zindigi will equip AJK Police with handheld smart devices integrated with Bluetooth-enabled printers, allowing officers to issue traffic fines digitally and in real-time. Furthermore, citizens will have the ability to pay their fines instantly via a range of modern payment methods, including mobile wallets, ATM/debit cards, credit cards, and QR codes,…

Pakistan’s leading digital microfinance institution, Mobilink Bank, has added yet another feather in its cap by winning silver for its ‘Invisible Heirs’ campaign at the prestigious Dubai Lynx Awards 2025 – the MENA region’s biggest creative and marketing event. The campaign excelled in the Creative Strategy Corporate Purpose & Social Responsibility category for elevating consciousness against the systemic denial of inheritance share for most women in Pakistan. Mobilink Bank’s campaign tackles gender-based financial inequality head-on to foster financial autonomy for women. The campaign featured a powerful video narrative highlighting women’s emotional and societal challenges in securing their inheritance, sparking a…

The findings of a major international clinical trial EFFORT, recently presented at a conference hosted by Aga Khan University (AKU), offer new hope for the global fight against Plasmodium vivax malaria – the most prevalent strain in Pakistan accounting for over 80% of cases in the country. The results hold significant promise for transforming how the disease is treated and, ultimately, eliminated. Plasmodium vivax poses a particular challenge to malaria control because it can lie dormant in the liver and cause relapses weeks or months after the initial infection. In Pakistan, one of the greatest hurdles to malaria control is…

The eastern Turkish province of Erzurum, designated as the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) Tourism Capital of 2025, is set to host the Palandöken Economic Forum on April 26-27, 2025. Founded as the Regional Cooperation for Development (RCD) in 1964 by the Islamic Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Republic of Türkiye, the Forum was rechristened as the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in 1985. The highly anticipated Forum, themed “An Equitable Future in a Smart World: Intelligent Economies and Global Inequality”, will bring together distinguished international figures, including state authorities, academics and business professionals, to discuss the impact…

Lucky Investments Limited has made history by executing the largest ever mutual fund launch witnessed in Pakistan. The newly established Asset Management Company has raised an unprecedented PKR 50 Billion during the Initial Public Offering (IPO) of its Lucky Islamic Money Market Fund, shattering all previous subscription records. This landmark achievement marks an extraordinary milestone in Pakistan’s financial sector, where investors nationwide demonstrated overwhelming confidence in the company’s first Shariah-compliant offering. The record-breaking subscription underscores robust demand for Islamic financial products and firmly positions Lucky Investments’ place as a promising new player in Pakistan’s Asset Management Industry. Lucky Islamic Money…