Author: yasir

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…

Hutchison Ports Pakistan has reinforced its operational excellence by successfully processing a complex multi-vessel operation, handling four mainline vessels and one feeder vessel simultaneously. This milestone demonstrates the terminal’s enhanced berth capacity, advanced planning, and high efficiency during peak operational demands. A total of 10,301 TEUs were efficiently handled during the operation, minimizing vessel turnaround times and maintaining strict service reliability. The vessels have since moved across critical trade lanes, with next destinations extending to Sohar (Middle East), Colombo (South Asia), and Singapore and Malaysia (Southeast Asia), further integrating Pakistan into global maritime trade routes. Commenting on the achievement, CS…

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 should…

BingX, a leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3-AI company, today marked its 8th anniversary with the unveiling of its “Infinite Vision”, a long-term strategy that reflects the company’s evolution from a crypto exchange into an AI-native, multi-asset trading platform. It also embodies BingX’s ambition to go beyond crypto and build a more connected trading experience across digital assets, traditional financial markets, and emerging opportunities. The strategy is centered on four pillars: expanding multi-asset access, advancing AI-native trading, strengthening derivatives leadership, and accelerating localization. Multi-Asset, Multi-Market As trading increasingly extends beyond cryptocurrencies, BingX has placed a deep focus on broadening its product…