Author: Zuha Malik
Pakistan’s central bank is striking an optimistic tone as the country’s economic recovery gains momentum. On February 11, the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) shared a bullish growth outlook, projecting that the economy would expand between 3.75% and 4.75% in fiscal year 2026 — a forecast that notably surpasses projections recently put forward by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). A Vote of Confidence from the Top Speaking at a press briefing following the Monetary Policy Committee’s latest decision, the SBP Governor expressed confidence that Pakistan’s economic fundamentals are strengthening. The projected growth range of 3.75% to 4.75%…
Islamabad, February 16, 2026 — Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) was conferred with the prestigious “Round O’Clock CSR Award” at the 18th Annual CSR Summit organized by the National Forum for Environment and Health (NFEH). The ceremony, held on February 12, 2026, recognized PPL’s significant social responsibility footprint, underscored by a substantial contribution of Rs. 4.7 billion during the 2024-25 period. The award was presented by the Honourable Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mr. Faisal Karim Kundi, alongside the Federal Minister for the Board of Investment, Mr. Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh. Receiving the accolade on behalf of the company was PPL’s Manager of…
NEWS / PRESS RELEASE FOR MoU PDA-UNU 13 FEBRUARY 2026 The Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA) and the United Nations University (UNU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Indus AI Week 2026 to accelerate Project GovAI, a Digital Micro-Learning & Upskilling Program for Civil/Public Servants. Coordinated by UNU-EGOV, the collaboration will draw on experts across the UNU system, including UNU-IAS (Tokyo, Japan), UNU-MERIT (Maastricht, the Netherlands) and the UNU Institute in Macao, among others. GovAI is designed to help enable the AI upskilling of 1+ million Pakistani civil servants by 2028. This supports PDA’s leadership role in Pakistan’s five-year Digital Master Plan by focusing on…
Agreement establishes Pakistan Subnet of Internet Computer Platform (ICP), supports tamperproof digital infrastructure, enables local AInative software development and pilots national messenger app Islamabad, Pakistan & Zurich, Switzerland — The Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA) and the DFINITY Foundation today signed an MoU to advance sovereign AInative digital infrastructure in Pakistan, ensuring sensitive data remains incountry while enabling secure, modern software systems built for the AI era. As part of the partnership, DFINITY will support the creation of a dedicated Pakistan Subnet on its Internet Computer Platform (ICP), a sovereign cloud designed to host tamperresistant software, nationalscale applications, and AIpowered systems…
Pakistan secured a landmark $2 billion investment agreement with Azerbaijan, marking a transformative moment in bilateral economic relations between the two nations. In a significant development for Pakistan’s economic landscape, the country finalized a comprehensive $2 billion investment partnership with Azerbaijan during Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to the Central Asian nation. The agreement, signed during the 17th Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) Summit in Shusha, represents one of the most substantial foreign investment commitments Pakistan has received in recent years. Historic Signing Ceremony The agreement was formally signed by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar and…
ALULA, Saudi Arabia – February 9, 2026 – The World Bank has reaffirmed its historic commitment to Pakistan’s decade-long development program, pledging $20 billion in support from 2026 to 2035 under the Country Partnership Framework (CPF). The commitment was reaffirmed during high-level discussions at the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies in Saudi Arabia, where Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb met with World Bank Managing Director Anna Bjerde. A Landmark Partnership Framework Originally announced in January 2025 and formally approved by the World Bank Group’s Board of Executive Directors, the CPF represents an unprecedented long-term investment in Pakistan’s economic transformation and…
LAHORE — In an extraordinary display of athletic prowess and unwavering determination, Pakistani martial artist Muhammad Rashid Naseem has cemented his place in history by becoming the first Pakistani to set over 150 Guinness World Records, with his tally now standing at an impressive 154 individual records. The accomplished athlete has dominated multiple categories, particularly in martial arts disciplines including punching, nunchaku strikes, elbow strikes, and an array of breaking techniques that have captured international attention. Breaking Records, Breaking Barriers Rashid Naseem’s most recent achievement came when he set a new world record for the fastest boxing punches in one minute.…
Pakistan’s most-streamed rapper announces engagement to London-based medical aesthetician in a private family celebration Karachi, Pakistan – In a development that has sent shockwaves through Pakistani social media, celebrated rapper Talha Anjum of the hip-hop duo Young Stunners has gotten engaged to Zoeia Karim, a London-based medical aesthetician and digital content creator. The intimate engagement ceremony took place on Sunday, February 8, 2026, in Karachi, attended exclusively by close family members and friends. The announcement came as a surprise to millions of fans when videos and photographs from the private celebration began circulating on social media platforms. Within minutes of the…
Veteran tennis star proves age is just a number with remarkable Davis Cup victory against Senegal In the world of professional tennis, where careers often peak in the late twenties and fade by the mid-thirties, Aqeel Khan stands as a remarkable exception. The Pakistani tennis legend has once again defied conventional wisdom, becoming the eighth-oldest player in Davis Cup history to win a singles match after defeating Senegal’s Seydina Andre in a thrilling comeback victory this week. At 46 years old, Khan demonstrated the heart of a champion when he rallied from match point down to secure a dramatic 6-7(3),…
Lahore — After a nine-year pause, the Punjab University Department of Student Affairs successfully organized the “All Pakistan Bilingual Declamation Contest,” marking a significant milestone in promoting oratory excellence, critical thinking, and student engagement in public discourse across Pakistan’s higher education institutions. The two-day competition, organized by the Pioneers’ Debating Society under the Department of Student Affairs, brought together the brightest minds from across the nation. The event witnessed participation from 25 teams comprising 65 speakers who represented some of Pakistan’s most prestigious educational institutions, demonstrating the contest’s appeal and importance in the academic calendar. Among the participating institutions were…