Tue, 21-Oct-2025

Sawhney to India: your losses clear, world agrees with Pakistan

Sawhney to India: your losses clear, world agrees with Pakistan

Renowned Indian defense analyst Pravin Sawhney has made significant statements regarding the military strength of Pakistan and the recent interactions between the two nations. In an interview with Indian media, Sawhney not only validated Pakistan’s assertions about the damage inflicted on India but also questioned India’s strategic approach. Sawhney stated unequivocally that Pakistan’s military is … Read more

Gwadar Free Zones to Allow Custom-Free Vehicle Imports

Massive Increase Likely in Vehicle Registration Fees

Pakistan’s Government Allows Custom-Free Vehicle Import in Gwadar Free Zones. The move aims to boost investment in the Gwadar Free Zone. The revised regulations allow investors to import vehicles without paying customs duties. The government expressed its readiness to permit the import of custom-free vehicles in both Gwadar Free Zone North and Gwadar Free Zone … Read more

Pakistan to privatise 24 major institutions from 2024 to 2029

Pakistan

ISLAMABAD:  The Pakistan government’s five-year (2024-29) privatisation plan has been revealed, under which 24 institutions will be privatised in three phases.

A 5-year plan for the privatisation of public institutions has revealed from the federal government, which is for 2024 to 2029.

After the approval of the Federal Cabinet, a list of institutions has been prepared by the Ministry of Privatization according to which 24 institutions will be privatised in three phases, 10 institutions will be privatized in one year in the first phase while 13 institutions will be privatized in 1 to 3 years in the second phase. In the third and last phase, a plan has been made to privatize an institution in 3 to 5 years.

The privatisation plan states that Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Roosevelt Hotel New York will be privatized in the first phase, Agricultural Development Bank and First Women Bank will be privatized in the first phase, while the privatization process of House Building Finance Corporation will also be completed in the first phase.

Similarly, Pakistan Engineering Company and Sindh Engineering Company Limited will be privatized in the first phase, while the electricity companies of Islamabad, Faisalabad and Gujranwala will also be privatized in the first phase.

The document states that electricity distribution companies, Northern Power Generation, Lakhra Power Generation Company, Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO), Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO), Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) and Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO) while Peshawar and Hazara Electric Supply Companies will be privatised.

The privatization of Jamshoro Power Company and Central Power Generation Company will also take place in the second phase.

According to the document, in the second phase, Utility Stores Corporation, State Life Insurance and Pakistan Reinsurance Company will also be privatised.

[embedpost slug=”li-qiang-visit-pakistan-to-expand-bilateral-cooperation-china”]

Read more

Pakistan Government Warns Against Using Indian AI/ICT Products

Pakistan Government Warns Against Using Indian AI/ICT Products

Pakistan warns against Indian tech products due to security fears. Recent cyberattacks spur government caution. Ministries advised to consider local alternatives via P@SHA. In a recent cyber security advisory, the Pakistan government has warned all IT and financial institutions, including regulators, to avoid using “Indian origin” AI/ICT products due to the potential for concealed threats … Read more

Massive Rise in Salaries of Govt Employees

Govt Employees Salaries

Government employee salaries to increase from July 1, 2023. 35% salary increase for grades 1 to 16, 30% increase for grades 17 to 22. Pensions raised by 17.5%, minimum pension set at 12,000 rupees per month. The government has issued a notification to raise the salaries of government employees, effective from July 1, 2023. As … Read more

White on rice

rice

Karachi: Pakistan, a rice producing country, is under severe duress due to its plan to initiate barter trade of rice against the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) with Iran, which is facing several sanctions from the US and other international donors due to its stand on nuclear issue. The donor agencies are also putting pressure on … Read more

Pakistan keen to boost trade relations with Asean nations: foreign secretary

Pakistan keen to boost trade relations with Asean nations: foreign secretary

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan accorded high priority to its relations with the South East Asian nations and recognised the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) vast economic potential and its centrality in the regional architecture, a government official said on Friday. Addressing the Experts Dialogue on “Pakistan-Asean: Shared Future and the Way Forward”, co-organised by the Embassy … Read more

SBP announces scheme for affordable housing loans

State Bank of Pakistan

State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) announces the government of Pakistan markup subsidy for affordable housing loans on Monday. According to details, the government will provide markup grants (subsidies) to the public for the construction and purchase of affordable housing. Under this facility, all those who are building or buying their house for the first time … Read more

Pakistan demands extradition of Shahbaz Sharif’s son-in-law

Pakistan demands extradition of Shahbaz Sharif's son-in-law

The government demanded the extradition of Shahbaz Sharif’s son-in-law Ali Imran from Britain. According to details, the government has written an official letter to the Central Authority International Criminal Unit of the British Home Ministry regarding the extradition of Ali Imran, son-in-law of President PML-N Shahbaz Sharif. [embedpost id=”50366″ slug=”lhc-extends-shehbaz-sharifs-interim-bail-in-money-laundering-case-till-august-17″] The letter to the British … Read more

Government gives another six months to cash, convert Rs40,000 prize bonds

prize bond

The government has given the public another six months to either cash or convert their prize bonds of Rs40,000 denomination. In June 2019, the government discontinued the Rs40,000 standard prize bond on the grounds that it is one of the favourite tools for tax evaders to launder their dirty money. Usually, these bonds are traded … Read more

President Arif Alvi signs Zainab Alert Bill into law

Zainab Alert Bill

President Dr Arif Alvi on Thursday signed the Zainab Alert, Response and Recovery Bill, 2020 into law, providing for a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 million on the perpetrators of child abuse. The president said on Twitter after signing bill, “I have just signed the Zainab Alert Bill into … Read more

PTI govt. to introduce EOBI pension scheme for Pakistani expats

EOBI pension scheme

In order to facilitate Overseas Pakistanis, the government will be launching Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) pension scheme for the expatriates. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis Syed Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari informed about the EOBI pension scheme. Govt to introduce EOBI pension scheme for Pakistani expats “It is the first time in … Read more