Author: yasir

The Sustainable Tourism Forum & Expo (STF) 2026, organized by the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development (ICCD), concluded successfully in Karachi after a high-level dialogue aimed at strengthening multilateral tourism cooperation among OIC member states. Under the theme “Transforming Tourism for Community Development”, the forum brought together ministers from Islamic countries, senior policymakers, investors, tourism leaders, and industry experts from across the OIC region and beyond to explore sustainable tourism development, investment opportunities, and community-driven growth. The forum was organized under the patronage of the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) and the Board of Investment (BOI), Government of Pakistan, in…

United Bank Limited (UBL) has successfully executed a PKR 75 billion Interest Rate Swap (IRS) with Jazz, Pakistan’s leading digital operator, marking the largest interest rate swap ever concluded in the country. The transaction enables Jazz to hedge interest rate risk on its long-term local currency debt, enhancing cash-flow predictability and strengthening its financial risk management framework. The deal further reinforces UBL’s pioneering role in developing Pakistan’s derivatives and hedging markets, setting benchmarks for scale, structure and execution, while supporting the evolution of sophisticated risk-management practices among corporates. UBL acted as the sole counterparty and structuring bank for the transaction,…

TCL, Pakistan’s No. 1 LED TV brand, has announced an exciting New Year Sale in collaboration with Alfamall by Bank Alfalah, offering consumers an opportunity to upgrade their home entertainment experience with exclusive discounts and flexible payment options. Running from 1st January to 27th January, the New Year Sale allows customers to shop directly from the TCL Flagship Store on Alfamall and enjoy up to 10% OFF on a wide range of TCL and iFFALCON products, including the latest QD Mini LED, QLED, and UHD televisions. As part of the campaign, customers can benefit from a 0% markup installment plan…

Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDC), the operator of the Nashpa Exploration License, on Tuesday announced another major oil and gas discovery at its exploratory well Baragzai X-01 (Slant), located in Kohat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The discovery has been made over the Samana Suk and Shinawari formations. The well tested positive during Cased Hole Drill Stem Test (CHDST-03) in the Samana Suk and Shinawari formations, flowing 3,100 barrels of oil per day (BOPD) and 8.15 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) of gas through a 32/64-inch choke at a wellhead flowing pressure of 3,010 pounds per square…

Pak-Qatar General Takaful Limited (PQGTL), IPO’s registration is in full swing which started on 16th January and will continue till 22nd January. Being the first-ever General Takaful company to be listed at PSX, Pak-Qatar Group Company is set to raise up to Rs. 420 million on January 21–22, during its book building process. Following the IPO, PQGTL will become the first dedicated general (non-life) takaful operator to be listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). The listing forms part of PQGTL’s strategy to enhance its paid-up capital base, enabling the company to meet applicable regulatory capital requirements for non-life insurers…

Ajoka Institute marked the successful completion of its Art of Writing course with An Evening of Dramatic Readings at the Punjab Institute of Language, Art & Culture (PILAC), held in collaboration with PILAC. The event brought together writers, theatre practitioners, and literature enthusiasts to celebrate new voices in contemporary dramatic writing. A certificate distribution ceremony was also held during the event. Eminent writer Faryal Ali Gauhar distributed certificates to successful Art of Writing students Humera Bano, Nazish Zafar, Wardah Ali, Nusrat Hassan, Asif Jahania, Hassan Tirmazi, and Iman Ali. Students who supported the programme as readers included Ahmad Raza, Bareeze,…

The Little Art successfully concluded the 18th ArtBeat National Child Art Exhibition and Prize Distribution Ceremony at Islamabad Art Gallery on 17 January 2026. The exhibition marked another significant milestone for ArtBeat, Pakistan’s largest and longest running visual arts initiative for children and young people. ArtBeat 18 invited children from across Pakistan to respond creatively to three themes: Images of Nature, Spring in Pakistan, and Beyond the Stars. This year, thousands of artworks were received from over 500 schools across more than 100 cities, including submissions from public schools and children with special needs, reflecting the project’s strong commitment to…

Ajoka Theatre’s acclaimed cultural play Lo Phir Basant Aee received an enthusiastic and heartfelt response from audiences at Chandigarh’s prestigious Tagore Hall on Monday, 19 January. Written by eminent playwright and Ajoka Theatre’s Executive Director Shahid Nadeem, and directed in its Indian production by noted theatre director Karan Gulzar, the play presents the poignant story of a Lahore-based kite-maker who clings to the hope that colourful kites will once again fill the skies of Lahore. Blending emotional depth with gentle humour, the production reflects on cultural memory, resilience, and the enduring human longing for joy. In his message to Ajoka…

The Pakistan International Business Forum (PIBF) Lahore has announced the launch of the “Mayaishat Ko Istehkam Do” (strengthen the economy) movement in response to worsening economic conditions, sluggish business activity, and what it described as excessive interference by government institutions. Think Tank of the PIBF on Economy has appointed Hafiz Mahmood Malik as Convener of the movement, while Tahir Raza has been named as Co-Convener for an effective campaign. The Think Tank has outlined a five-point agenda focusing on key structural challenges faced by the economy. These include persistently high interest rates, excessive taxation, elevated electricity tariffs, a shortage of…

Lucky Investments Limited today announced the launch of Lucky Funds, its mobile investment application designed to provide investors with secure, convenient, and transparent access to Shariah-compliant investing. Available on both Apple App Store (iOS) and Google Play Store (Android), the Lucky Funds app enables investors to invest, convert, and redeem across all Lucky Investments’ mutual and pension funds, while offering real-time portfolio visibility and comprehensive fund information. Built to make investing effortless, the application allows users to explore funds, complete digital account onboarding, track performance, and stay in control of their investments anytime, anywhere. It also supports investor education by…