Author: Our Correspondent

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Japanese businessman Malik Saleem has said he is ready to establish a full-scale electric bike and bus manufacturing factory in Pakistan, provided the government gives clear commitments and a buy-back guarantee. Saleem highlighted his decade-long experience producing electric vehicles, buses, cars, and other heavy vehicles in China, which are now successfully sold in several Latin American countries, including Chile and Peru. He suggested that if the government guarantees the initial purchase of 1,000 electric buses or provides a buy-back arrangement, he could relocate his existing factory to Pakistan. “The country needs a real manufacturing industry, particularly…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development, Reforms and Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, observed that provinces in Pakistan have failed to transfer power to districts, undermining the objectives of devolution. Speaking on the second day of an international conference organized by the Applied Economics Research Centre (AERC) of the University of Karachi, he said the decentralization initiative, intended to strengthen districts and union councils, had not achieved its goals. Addressing the conference, titled “Sustainable and Stable Pakistan in a Changing Global Order,” at the Rangoonwala Conference Hall, Professor Iqbal emphasized that research should extend beyond impact-factor journals…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed interest on Tuesday in learning from Indonesia’s experience with the Sovereign Wealth Fund model. He made the remarks while meeting a five-member Indonesian delegation led by Minister for Investment and Downstream Industry, Rosan Roeslani, in Islamabad. Both countries agreed to accelerate efforts to upgrade their preferential trade agreement into a comprehensive economic partnership agreement by 2027. The Prime Minister said Pakistan was keen to deepen economic ties with Indonesia, highlighting decades of fraternal relations that continue to strengthen. He also conveyed his best wishes to President Prabowo Subianto, noting that the…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Tuesday highlighted the government’s push to harness artificial intelligence to improve efficiency, transparency, and revenue administration, while supporting evidence-based policymaking. He spoke at a panel discussion titled “AI for Public Service Transformation and SDG Acceleration” during the National Artificial Intelligence Workshop in Islamabad. The minister stressed that Pakistan’s focus should be on practical AI solutions that deliver measurable gains, rather than technology for its own sake. He said AI-enabled systems are increasingly shaping compliance, enforcement, and decision-making. Muhammad Aurangzeb outlined the government’s ongoing tax transformation, which integrates AI-led customer relationship management…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: An Islamabad court on Monday issued non-bailable warrants for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi in a case linked to the defamation of state institutions. The order was issued by a district and sessions court after Afridi failed to appear despite repeated notices. The case was registered by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca). The agency accused the chief minister of making misleading allegations and harming the reputation of state institutions. Senior Civil Judge Abbas Shah presided over the hearing and directed authorities to arrest and produce…

New initiative streamlines property transactions for overseas Pakistanis, cutting reliance on middlemen and tackling long-standing fraud in the real estate sector By our correspondent KARACHI: The Sindh cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, approved a series of far-reaching administrative, legal, and development measures on Tuesday, signaling the provincial government’s renewed focus on digitization, environmental protection, and judicial reform. The meeting brought together provincial ministers, advisers, special assistants, the chief secretary, and senior officials from relevant departments, who collectively endorsed decisions expected to have long-term implications for governance and public services across the province. Among the most notable…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Power and Energy Owais Laghari on Tuesday raised concerns over Pakistan’s current net metering rate of Rs27 per unit, questioning whether it is fair to ordinary electricity consumers. Speaking during a Senate session, he highlighted that solar-generated electricity costs just Rs5–6 per unit, pointing to a significant gap between production costs and the rate paid under net metering. The minister noted that Pakistan’s national grid serves 33.5 million electricity consumers, of whom around 466,000 are on net metering arrangements. He clarified that regulators had upheld all contract terms with net metering users, which…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar convened a high-level meeting in Islamabad on Thursday to discuss strategies aimed at boosting Pakistan’s economic growth and expanding trade and investment opportunities. Officials and business representatives gathered to explore ways to strengthen the country’s economic framework and promote the interests of domestic industries and exporters. During the session, Dar emphasized the importance of collaboration with chambers of commerce and industry associations to identify new avenues for trade and enhance the competitiveness of Pakistani businesses in international markets. Ishaq Dar underlined that supporting exporters and fostering a favorable…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has finalized a comprehensive roadmap for the revival of its long-struggling national steel producer, Pakistan Steel Mills, officials announced on Thursday. Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar Khan said the plan aims to restore the mill as a viable and productive asset, reflecting the government’s broader vision of revitalizing key industrial sectors. Speaking to Pakistan’s Ambassador to Russia in Islamabad, Akhtar Khan highlighted that detailed discussions had been held on strengthening Pakistan-Russia cooperation, with a particular focus on the modernization and operational revival of the steel complex. He said the government was actively exploring partnerships…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Pakistan announced plans to strengthen its indigenous vaccine production capacity by 2030, aiming to reduce reliance on imported doses and collaborate closely with other member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The announcement came during the inauguration of the fourth meeting of the OIC Vaccine Manufacturers Group in Islamabad, where health officials and international representatives discussed strategies to enhance vaccine availability and resilience across the Islamic world. Addressing the gathering, Minister for National Health Services Syed Mustafa Kamal said Pakistan currently relies on thirteen imported vaccines, highlighting the urgent need to develop domestic capabilities.…