Author: Faiza Liaquat
Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan have reaffirmed their commitment to raise bilateral trade to USD 100 million, aiming to reverse the steep decline from USD 11.2M in 2022–23 to just USD 5.18M in 2024–25. Power Minister Awais Leghari stressed deeper cooperation in trade, energy, mining, tourism, education, and digital connectivity during the 5th session of the Inter-Governmental Commission. Both sides discussed key MoUs in halal trade, higher medical education, agriculture, and IT. Access to Kyrgyzstan’s At-Bashi Logistics Centre, interest in Pakistan’s mining sector, and a data-sharing agreement between customs were highlighted as major steps. Future projects include joint vaccine production, enhanced transport…
The National College of Arts (NCA) has officially opened admissions for its 2025 academic session, inviting applications across both its Lahore and Rawalpindi campuses. The last date to apply is August 12, 2025. Students can apply under several categories, including open merit, self-finance, self-support, and reserved quotas, including the foreign quota. The Lahore campus is offering undergraduate programs in Architecture, Fine Arts, and a variety of Design disciplines such as Visual Communication, Textile, Fashion, Product, and Ceramic Design. It is also accepting applications for Musicology, Film & Television, Multimedia Art, and Cultural Studies. Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi campus is offering degree…
Pakistan’s AI frontier is rapidly advancing — and leading the charge is the National Centre of Artificial Intelligence (NCAI) at UET Peshawar. Since its establishment in 2018 under the Higher Education Commission and Planning Commission, NCAI has become a national hub for AI-driven innovation, now focused on early disaster warning systems and urban security tools. Predictive AI for Disaster Response NCAI has built AI-powered early warning systems that forecast floods, earthquakes, and landslides by analyzing environmental patterns. These predictive models, built in collaboration with the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, are currently being integrated for full deployment.…
In a progressive move toward sustainable public transport, the Punjab government is set to launch an electric green bus service in the Sargodha division on August 14. The initiative is part of broader efforts to introduce eco-friendly and inclusive urban mobility solutions across the province. According to Khalid Mahmood, Secretary of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA), a total of 48 electric buses will begin operating in the first phase. The distribution includes 12 buses for Khushab, and 6 each for Mianwali and Bhakkar. The service comes with a major inclusion feature: free travel will be offered to senior citizens, students,…
Karachi is taking a major step toward improving urban mobility with the approval of a Rs. 1.4 billion flyover project on Azeempura Road, aimed at alleviating traffic congestion and creating smoother connectivity across the city. The project, approved by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) during a meeting chaired by Mayor Murtaza Wahab, will connect two of the city’s busiest arteries: Shahrah-i-Bhutto and Sharae Faisal. The 500-metre-long structure is designed to serve as a signal-free corridor, significantly easing the travel experience — especially for those commuting toward Jinnah International Airport. In addition to providing an alternate route during ongoing development along…
Pakistan is on the verge of a major leap in space and Earth observation capabilities as SUPARCO (Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission) prepares to launch its newest Remote Sensing Satellite on 31 July 2025 from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC) in China. This satellite represents a crucial advancement in Pakistan’s space infrastructure. Designed to enhance Earth observation, it will play a transformative role across sectors such as: With this addition, Pakistan strengthens its space fleet, which already includes PRSS-1 (2018) and EO-1 (2025), aligning with the National Space Policy and SUPARCO’s Vision 2047. The goal is clear: establish…
In a stunning display of grit, talent, and pure synergy, 4Thrives Esports made headlines by dominating the PUBG Mobile Super League (PMSL) Central & South Asia (CSA) Spring 2025 group stage. The newly-formed Pakistani squad, founded in late 2024, amassed a tournament-best 111 points, including an extraordinary 46 placement points, in just 12 matches — earning them a whopping $77,000 and a direct ticket to the Grand Finals. Held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, from June 12 to 18, the PMSL CSA featured 20 top-tier teams battling through intense rounds of calibration and survival. But it was 4Thrives who consistently outplayed the…
Honda Atlas Cars (Pakistan) Limited (HCAR) has delivered a remarkable financial performance in the first quarter of fiscal year 2026 (1QMY26), posting a profit after tax (PAT) of Rs. 828 million—an impressive 310 percent year-on-year increase compared to Rs. 202.6 million in the same period last year. The company reported earnings per share (EPS) of Rs. 5.80. Net sales climbed to Rs. 26.46 billion from Rs. 15.97 billion in 1QMY25, marking a 66 percent year-on-year jump, driven by a fivefold increase in unit sales. Honda sold 5,682 units this quarter, including 5,154 units of Civic and City models and 366…
The Punjab Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP), in its 10th meeting for the fiscal year 2025–26, approved seven forward-looking development schemes and one position paper, allocating a total budget of Rs16.8 billion. Chaired by Dr. Naeem Rauf, Chairman of the Planning & Development Board Punjab, the meeting focused on projects that address sustainable agriculture, afforestation, cultural preservation, public service modernization, and innovation. The largest allocation, Rs7.82 billion, has been set aside for the Chief Minister’s Program for Water Efficient Agriculture—aimed at promoting smart irrigation techniques to address water scarcity in the province. A major afforestation initiative worth Rs2.84 billion will…
In a major step toward aligning Pakistan’s corporate ecosystem with global sustainability standards, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) have launched the ESG Pakistan Project—a transformative three-year initiative. Officially inaugurated through an awareness workshop in Islamabad, the project brought together stakeholders from capital markets, the corporate sector, and professional institutions. SECP Chairperson Akif Saeed underscored the pressing relevance of sustainability for the financial sector, highlighting the need for ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) integration, especially for a climate-vulnerable country like Pakistan. Saeed emphasized that the global shift toward sustainable finance is irreversible…