Author: yasir
There are places in Pakistan where the landscape feels endless, where survival depends on resilience, and where stories go back in time just as the sands that make up the place. In these parts of the country, the desert does not simply shape the land, it shapes the people who learn to live within it. The second episode of The Great Pakistan Adventure – Desert Atlas, powered by BYD, journeys deep into the heart of Cholistan, uncovering a side of Pakistan rarely explored with such depth and emotion. Towering dunes. Endless golden horizons. Roads that disappear beneath shifting sand. Bastions…
Empowering Exporters with The Agentic Business Team for SMEs Alibaba.com, a leading global B2B e-commerce platform, today announced the launch of Accio Work in Pakistan, positioned as the Agentic Business Team for SMEs. This launch marks a significant shift in digital trade, providing small and medium-sized exporters with an autonomous, plug-and-play workforce capable of executing end-to-end business operations. As Pakistan’s export landscape continues to evolve, the integration of advanced artificial intelligence has become a prerequisite for local businesses to remain competitive on the global stage. Accio Work arrives as a timely solution, specifically engineered to tackle the critical hurdles faced…
In a major move set to redefine Pakistan’s retail and financial technology landscape, ABHI Microfinance Bank Ltd. (ABHI MFB) has entered into a landmark strategic partnership with CBA, a powerhouse venture of EPL (PVT) Limited. This mega-collaboration is uniquely positioned to drastically expand nationwide financial accessibility, accelerate digital innovation, and empower millions of retail merchants across the country. The dual agreements were officially formalized at a signing ceremony held at the ABHI Microfinance Bank Head Office. The MOU was signed by Mariam Pervaiz, Chief Commercial Officer – ABHI Microfinance Bank, and Ghazanfar Ali Khan, Chief Executive Officer, in the presence…
The Association for Smoking Alternatives in Pakistan (ASAP) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting smoking cessation efforts in Pakistan through awareness, education and advocacy for evidence-based approaches aimed at reducing the harm caused by combustible cigarettes. Highlighting the growing health burden of smoking in Pakistan, ASAP stressed that cigarette consumption continues to contribute to serious illnesses, including heart disease, respiratory complications and cancer, while placing increasing pressure on the country’s healthcare system. The association noted that several developed countries have adopted research-backed and public health-driven frameworks to reduce smoking rates, resulting in measurable public health improvements. ASAP emphasized that Pakistan…
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye has announced the official theme for Turkish Cuisine Week 2026 as “The Heritage Table” celebrating the cultural stories, traditions, and shared memories preserved through Turkish cuisine. Turkish Cuisine Week will take place from 21 to 27 May 2026 across Türkiye and at Turkish diplomatic missions and cultural centres worldwide under the auspices of First Lady H.E. Emine Erdoğan. The annual celebration highlights Türkiye’s rich culinary heritage and its role in bringing people and cultures together. This year’s theme presents Turkish cuisine not only as a collection of dishes, but…
Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDC), Pakistan’s largest exploration and production company, has secured eight offshore exploration blocks under the Offshore Bid Round 2025, marking a major expansion of its exploration portfolio. The Government of Pakistan has reopened its offshore exploration frontier after nearly two decades through the signing of Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs) and Exploration Licences (ELs) under the Offshore Bid Round 2025. The signing ceremony was held at the Ministry of Petroleum in Islamabad and was witnessed by Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik. The Minister termed the development a defining milestone in efforts to revitalise…
Pakistan Single Window (PSW) and Export-Import Bank of Pakistan (Pak EXIM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance data-driven trade finance and support export growth. Under the agreement, Pak EXIM will leverage PSW’s national digital trade infrastructure as a source of verified trade data to support underwriting and risk assessment for its export credit insurance products, export finance schemes administered on behalf of the Government, and other financial services. The integration of real-time trade information with official credit mechanisms is expected to improve risk evaluation, streamline processing, and facilitate greater access to finance for exporters. The collaboration aims…
Pakistan Stock Exchange Limited (PSX) successfully raised Rs76.286 billion for the Ministry of Finance through the 6th Auction of Government of Pakistan Hybrid Sukuk (GHS) held on May 20, 2026, reflecting continued investor appetite for Shariah-compliant government securities. Meezan Bank played a leading role in the transaction as Joint Financial Advisor, contributing towards the structuring, development, and successful execution of the Sukuk programme, further reinforcing its position as a key player in Pakistan’s Islamic capital markets landscape. The auction attracted strong participation, with total bids received amounting to Rs262.197 billion in face value, while the total realized value of bids…
The Department of Health & Population, Government of Punjab, in collaboration with UNICEF Pakistan, convened a High-Level Joint Government-UNICEF Pakistan Policy Dialogue on Maternal Newborn Child Health and Nutrition in Punjab at Avari Hotel Lahore on Wednesday. The dialogue brought together senior government officials, development partners, academia, civil society representatives and health experts, including Punjab Minister for Health & Population Khawaja Imran Nazir, the Secretary Health & Population Department Ms. Nadia Saqib, and Ramiz Behbudov, Chief Field Office Punjab at UNICEF Pakistan to review the latest evidence on maternal and child health outcomes in Punjab and discuss coordinated policy actions…
The Chairman of the Consumers Association of Pakistan, Mr. Kaukab Iqbal, along with Vice Chairman CAP Muhammad Kamal Mughal, met with Mr. Muzamil Hussain, Director General of the Sindh Building Control Authority, at his office to discuss consumers’ grievances regarding builders and real estate projects in Karachi. During the meeting, Mr. Kaukab Iqbal highlighted the growing concerns of consumers regarding delayed housing projects, non-delivery of properties on time, and illegal booking practices by certain builders. He emphasized that in the history of Karachi, many projects remain incomplete, causing serious financial and mental distress to consumers. Mr. Kaukab Iqbal advised the…