Author: Faiza Liaquat
In a decisive move toward equitable employment, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has ruled that married women in government jobs can legally adopt their spouse’s domicile—without compromising their promotion eligibility or placement within provincial quotas. The judgment was passed in response to a case filed by Dr. Shumaila Naeem, a medical officer who had switched her domicile to her husband’s province, Balochistan. After objections from the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC), she took her case to the apex court, which upheld her rights and ordered reconsideration for her promotion. This verdict sets a vital precedent for gender equity in public…
In a year where many sectors struggled with internal slowdowns, Pakistan’s cement industry stood tall on the global stage. According to industry reports, cement exports jumped 29.5% year-on-year, reaching over 9.2 million tonnes and helping the sector surpass the 46 million tonne mark for total shipments. The southern region’s performance was especially remarkable, posting a 33% surge in exports. Meanwhile, June 2025 exports alone grew by a staggering 81.7%, signaling increasing global interest in Pakistani materials. This marks a pivotal shift toward export-led resilience. By leaning into global markets, the industry not only sustained output but also brought valuable foreign…
In a potentially game-changing shift, the United States has signaled its intention to invest between $500 million to $1 billion in Pakistan’s mineral sector. The move is part of a broader economic dialogue aimed at deepening bilateral trade, strengthening industrial links, and reducing trade barriers. Pakistan’s delegation, led by Secretary of Commerce Jawad Paul, is currently in Washington fine-tuning a long-term agreement that may also include U.S. imports of Pakistani textiles and a reciprocal plan to buy American oil. The urgency is growing as both sides seek to: Officials are hopeful that by next week, negotiations will culminate in a…
Pakistan’s young netball sensations are making history in South Korea. With a flawless performance against Japan, winning 64-39 in the semifinal, the girls in green have secured their place in the final of the Asian Youth Girls Netball Championship 2025. From the opening whistle, the team showed poise, power, and precision. A 21-7 lead in the first quarter set the tone for the match, and despite Japan’s efforts to fight back, Pakistan maintained complete control. With standout performances from players like Leya Raza Shah, Alisha Naveed, and Haleema, the squad showcased impressive chemistry and tactical depth. This latest win follows…
In May 2025, Zong 4G launched Z SAIS Cloud — Pakistan’s first AI-powered, locally hosted cloud platform. Backed by advanced data centers in Islamabad and Lahore, it’s designed for government, startups, SMEs, and large enterprises, offering fast, secure, and sovereign cloud services. Z SAIS tackles the common challenges of foreign cloud providers—like currency volatility and compliance issues—by keeping data within Pakistan and billing in PKR. The platform includes AI-ready tools, GPU-powered VMs, data backups, secure firewalls, and easy-to-use dashboards, all with under 50 ms latency. Built with local needs in mind, it comes with Urdu/English support, flexible pricing, and prebuilt sector templates—making adoption…
Pakistan’s headline inflation slowed to 3.2% year-on-year in June 2025, down from 3.5% in May — marking the lowest level in nearly four years, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. On a monthly basis, inflation rose slightly by 0.2%, compared to a 0.5% gain in May. The average Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Fiscal Year 2024–25 settled at 4.49%, a dramatic decline from the 23.41% average recorded in FY24. This also marks the lowest annual inflation average since FY2016, when it stood at 2.9%. Urban inflation was reported at 3.0% in June, while rural inflation registered at 3.6% —…
In a forward-thinking step toward digital finance, The Bank of Punjab (BOP) has signed an MoU with Singapore-based fintech Surfin Meta Digital Technologies. The agreement, signed in Islamabad by BOP’s Chief Digital Officer Nofel Daud and Surfin Meta’s Li Jin, was backed by BOP CEO Zafar Masud. What’s the Goal? The partnership will explore: The aim is to improve access to finance for SMEs, startups, and youth entrepreneurs, offering quicker, fairer, and tech-powered solutions. Why It Matters Many small business owners struggle with traditional banking hurdles. This collaboration intends to simplify the process and expand financial access across Punjab and…
The 10th edition of the Pakistan Super League wasn’t just about nail-biting cricket it was a digital revolution in motion. According to data shared by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) during post-season franchise meetings, PSL X delivered historic numbers that shattered previous records and redefined sports viewership in Pakistan. This season witnessed an explosive 647% increase in live streaming viewership compared to last year’s edition. Fans consumed a staggering 48.5 billion minutes of PSL action online, a testament to how Pakistanis are rapidly shifting toward digital platforms to follow their favorite teams and players. What’s even more remarkable is the…
In a huge relief for thousands of educators, the Punjab government is all set to regularize more than 14,000 contract teachers, including around 3,000 Assistant Education Officers. The process will not require Public Service Commission exams, making it easier and faster for teachers already serving in government schools to become permanent. This decision was made during a recent meeting of the School Education Department. A summary will be sent to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for approval very soon. Teachers across Punjab are welcoming this long-awaited move. Punjab Teachers Union General Secretary Rana Liaqat Ali called it a historic step that…
In yet another extraordinary achievement, Pakistan’s Rashid Naseem has shattered global expectations by becoming the world’s fastest boxing puncher, delivering a mind-blowing 386 full-contact punches in one minute. This historic moment dethrones the previous record of 374 held by the UK’s Josh Llewellyn-Jones. Guinness World Records officially recognized Rashid’s 154th record, cementing his status as a global icon in endurance and strength-based sports. But Rashid’s feats don’t stop there. He holds numerous other world records including over 32,000 punches in one hour, 675 punches in one minute while carrying 1kg weights, and even 207 one-handed punches while holding an egg…