Lifestyle

The Pakistan real estate sector is moving towards greater professionalism. Eighteen, a luxury project, is leading this charge under new CEO Dr. Mohamed Mansour. Dr. Mansour's core mandate is to deliver the project with speed, precision, and quality, making construction excellence the absolute priority to reinforce customer trust. Key developments include a vital, dedicated slip road from the Srinagar Highway nearing approval. The project reflects strong investor confidence in Pakistan's growth, supported by the SIFC, and is exploring joint ventures with DHA. The mission: deliver faster and better to establish Eighteen as Pakistan's premier, reliable luxury community.

PM Shehbaz Sharif approved the AI-powered Womenpreneurship Platform to boost women in the SME sector and reviewed SMEDA's reforms.SMEDA has opened new regional offices and formed a new board of experts. The PM ordered a clear timeline for the reforms. Finally, SMEDA/TDAP will represent Pakistan at BIOPROM-2025 in Russia.

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has mandated that all digital bank accounts and mobile wallets in the country must have biometric verification completed by the deadline.Millions of account holders who failed to meet the deadline face immediate service suspension, losing the ability to send or receive funds. This new rule is part of a strict SBP policy shift to strengthen Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorism Financing (CFT) controls.Customers must complete biometric verification as soon as possible to reactivate their accounts.

The Punjab government has disbursed PKR 113 billion in home loans to 95,600 low-income families through the ‘Apni Chhat Apna Ghar’ Programme. The initiative, championed by CM Maryam Nawaz, aims to help 500,000 families over five years. Currently, 82,931 houses are under construction, with 20,940 already completed. The scheme emphasizes transparency and strict eligibility checks, benefiting both urban and rural areas.

The Punjab government is moving forward with an initial plan for Lahore's second airport to reduce pressure on the existing system and support urban growth. The Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA) has identified a potential site near Ravi City, close to the M-3 Motorway, about 30 km from Allama Iqbal International Airport. The project is currently in the consultation stage to determine its cost and financing. While no timeline is set, the new facility is expected to boost employment and investment, strengthening Lahore's role as a major commercial hub.

The Ufone-Telenor merger has transformed Pakistan's telecom sector into a three-player market, creating a near two-horse race. The new entity, MergeCo (≈32.8% share), is now a powerful rival to the market leader, Jazz (≈43%). This consolidation is expected to spark intense competition, forcing both giants to invest heavily in 4G and 5G networks. Customers are set to benefit from better network quality and more competitive pricing, while Zong (≈24.1%) adapts as the third major competitor.

The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) has approved $475 million in financing for Pakistan's 306 km M-6 Sukkur-Hyderabad motorway, a crucial north-south corridor project. The $1.7 billion, six-lane motorway is part of CPEC's Eastern Alignment. While construction is planned for April 2026, the project faces delays and cost increases. The government is seeking further funding from institutions like the Saudi Fund for Development and the Asian Development Bank to cover the remaining costs.

The federal government has launched a massive, zero-markup scheme to finance 116,000 e-bikes and 3,170 e-rickshaws for FY26. The plan offers substantial capital subsidies (up to Rs. 50,000 for bikes and Rs. 200,000 for rickshaws) and waives all markup costs, with 25% of bikes specifically allocated to women.

The government has launched ‘Mera Ghar – Mera Ashiana,’ a new housing scheme offering 20-year home loans with heavily subsidized, fixed rates. Loans up to Rs2 million are available at just 5% for the first 10 years, and loans up to Rs3.5 million at 8%. The program is open to all non-homeowners and covers houses up to five marla.