Author: PakPositive Staff
Islamabad is set to introduce a state-of-the-art electric bus service with 30 buses arriving from China next month, forming part of the Capital Development Authority’s plan to import a total of 160 electric buses. The service, scheduled to launch soon, will operate on 13 routes, marking a significant step in enhancing the city’s public transportation infrastructure.
The 2025 Fulbright Scholarship Program welcomes Pakistani students for Masters and Ph.D. programs, providing substantial support. Interested candidates can apply until February 28, 2024, through USEFP’s website to seize this educational opportunity.
Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab inaugurated the city’s first zipline at Safari Park, aiming to offer residents a unique recreational experience. Despite financial challenges, the mayor is optimistic about enhancing the city’s leisure options, with plans for more attractions in the pipeline.
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar is slated to inaugurate the $6.7 billion ML-1 project in February before the upcoming general elections, connecting major cities with new railway tracks. The revised plan is set for approval in January.
Habib Bank Limited (HBL) has officially endorsed the United Nations Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs), a comprehensive framework developed by UN Women and the UN Global Compact comprising seven principles. Aligned with HBL’s diversity agenda and commitment to fostering a more inclusive workforce, this initiative guides businesses on advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment across the workplace, marketplace, and community.
HBL views diversity as a fundamental growth pillar and actively integrates women into its workforce. The WEPs serve as a crucial mechanism for corporations to address gender equality aspects of the 2030 agenda and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Muhammad Aurangzeb, President & CEO of HBL, emphasized the bank’s belief in the indispensability of gender equality for sustainable economic development. Aurangzeb expressed pride in HBL becoming a signatory to the WEPs, highlighting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as foundational to the bank’s growth and business outcomes. He underscored the value of DEI in cultivating a broader range of perspectives and experiences, contributing to better decision-making and an enhanced work environment.
Aurangzeb emphasized HBL’s commitment to DEI, noting the bank’s recognition as the “Most Inclusive Organization of 2022” and its multiple awards across 15 categories for Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Benchmarks (GDEIB). He expressed anticipation for collaboration with WEPs to make meaningful contributions to global gender equality advancement.
Russia and Pakistan are joining forces to reinstate direct flights, a move expected to fortify ties and enhance trade. Pakistani Ambassador to Russia, Muhammad Khalid Jamal, highlights the significance of this initiative in fostering closer people-to-people connections and improving economic interactions between the two nations.
Topline Securities foresees a notable decline in Pakistan’s inflation from January 2024, projecting an average Consumer Price Index (CPI) of 18.5% over the next year. The firm also predicts a significant 7% reduction in the State Bank of Pakistan’s key interest rate by December 2024, down from the current 22%.
Pakistan aims to become a global IT hub with its inaugural export strategy projecting a surge in annual IT revenues to $15 billion in 5 to 6 years. Focused on key segments like Software Development, the plan taps into the nation’s 1 million freelancers and a robust 316,000-strong IT workforce.
On Thursday, the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) achieved a new historic peak, surpassing the previous record of 58,198. The benchmark KSE-100 index exhibited a notable increase of 1.1 percent or 640 points by 10:34 AM, reaching a new high of 58,838. Later in the day at 2:28 PM, it further rose to 58,920, marking a 1.24 percent gain or 722 points. Ultimately, it concluded with a 701-point increase, closing at 58,899. The KMI 30 index also saw a substantial rise of 871 points, settling at 100,182, while the KSE All Share index experienced a surge of 398 points, closing at…
Islamabad police are introducing AI-equipped smart cars with facial recognition and ANPR, enabling rapid suspect identification and e-challan alerts. This technological advancement underscores their commitment to proactive law enforcement and swift responses to incidents like vehicle theft.