Lifestyle

Nvidia has partnered with six major financial institutions to mobilize more than $500 billion in capital for AI infrastructure, with CEO Jensen Huang saying the company could backstop up to $125 billion of potential deals.

Meezan Bank has surpassed Rs 3.05 billion in housing finance disbursements under the GHTA Programme, approving over 3,000 applications with financing exceeding Rs 22.5 billion.

Pakistan Railways seeks LTE-R spectrum for the Karachi-Sukkur ML-1 project as the PTA advances plans to improve mobile coverage and modernize communication infrastructure across major railway and transport corridors.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye have signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, strengthening collective security, defence cooperation and regional stability. The pact treats an armed attack on any one country as an attack on all three.

The PTA has capped the initial eSIM issuance fee at Rs1,500 and introduced free transfers between compatible devices for up to 10 migrations under a revised policy taking effect in mid-August 2026. The regulator is also working on digital SIM verification using facial and iris recognition technologies.

Starting September 6, the Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will prohibit businesses from charging customers for plastic bags. This mandate aims to stop retailers from profiting off plastic, which has discouraged the use of eco-friendly alternatives. While plastic bags must now be provided for free, businesses are still permitted to charge for reusable or recyclable non-plastic options. Violators face fines up to Rs50,000, potential store closures, and legal action.

The Sindh government has distributed solar home system kits to 140 households in Tharparkar and Ghotki as part of the "Roshan Ghar – Roshan Sindh" initiative. Funded by the Sindh Energy Department and executed by the Sindh Rural Support Organization (SRSO), the project aims to bring clean, reliable, and affordable solar energy to 275,000 households across 30 districts. To ensure the sustainable and safe use of the systems, all recipients underwent training on equipment installation, operation, and maintenance.

SG Power Limited has officially transitioned from an independent power producer to the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector, following approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP). This strategic pivot enables the company to manufacture, trade, and maintain medical devices, hospital supplies, and pharmaceutical products. The company, which previously focused on electricity generation, plans to utilize approximately Rs535 million raised through a recent rights issue to support this business diversification and fuel future growth initiatives.

Gold prices in Pakistan declined on Monday, June 29, 2026, as domestic rates tracked a drop in international markets. The price of 24-karat gold fell by Rs2,300 to settle at Rs428,936 per tola, while 10-gram gold decreased by Rs1,972 to Rs367,743. Silver also saw a reduction, falling by Rs69 to Rs6,324 per tola