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Facing a fresh setback, the PTCL-Telenor Pakistan merger has been stalled after the Competition Commission of Pakistan raised red flags over PTCL’s transparency, funding sources, and business ethics. Regulators have demanded detailed post-merger investment plans, clear equity injections from parent Etisalat, and precise data on international direct-dialling revenues. With both PTCL and Ufone reporting heavy losses, the CCP remains unconvinced about the deal’s viability and its impact on market competition.

Pakistan’s cabinet approved a government-to-government agreement with the UAE to transfer Islamabad International Airport’s operations. A committee led by the prime minister’s adviser on privatization will finalize the handover. As part of Pakistan’s USD 7 billion IMF-backed privatization drive, this partnership aims to boost efficiency and passenger services through UAE expertise.

Evacuated overnight, Din Muhammad now perches on his charpai beside the M2, watching Ravi’s floodwaters swallow his village—and even the gilded streetlamps of the half-built “New Metro City Lahore.” His wife mourns their best buffalo, once the family’s top milk producer, now likely lost in the rising tide.

Pakistan's Senate IT Committee is taking a firm stand against the FBR, decrying what it calls "crippling" taxes on e-commerce that stifle digital growth. The panel, led by Senator Palwasha Khan, is pushing for tax relief and improved telecom services, while also tackling issues from inadequate cellular coverage in rural areas to decades-old spectrum disputes.

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has suspended the controversial QR code login requirement for its “IRIS” tax system. The decision, which resolves a taxpayer’s complaint filed with the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO), simplifies the login process and marks a responsive step by the FBR to address user-specific issues with its digital platform.

A new wave of research and real-world success stories from Pakistan reveals that video games are not just a pastime but a powerful training ground for the modern workforce. Gamers, who routinely collaborate across time zones and make high-stakes decisions under pressure, are developing skills like real-time problem-solving, strategic adaptability, and effective remote communication. For Pakistan's youth, gaming champions like Arslan Ash and Star Anonymous prove that a career in e-sports offers a viable pathway to global income, showcasing a new model for skill-based work that bypasses traditional job markets.

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal has launched "Pakistan One," a nationwide business plan competition designed to transform youth creativity into globally competitive ventures. The initiative, part of the new URAAN five-year plan, aims to engage over 10,000 young entrepreneurs and will award a record-breaking $5 million Grand Prize to promising ventures. The program seeks to shift Pakistan from a job-seeking to a job-creating economy by focusing on high-growth sectors like IT, agri-tech, and sustainable manufacturing to boost the country's stagnant export figures.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Pakistan has developed a new AI-powered application to fight human smuggling and simplify the immigration process. The app, which is set to be piloted at Islamabad airport, was praised by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi as a "need of the hour" initiative that will help stop human trafficking and reduce long wait times for travelers. The minister also announced plans to modernize the FIA's IT infrastructure and headquarters and greenlit immediate recruitment to address staff shortages.

A new Economic Census from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) shows that micro and small enterprises, those with fewer than 10 employees, make up a staggering 95% of all businesses in Pakistan. The census, which was integrated into the country's first-ever digital population census, highlights the pivotal role of these small-scale businesses and the informal sector in driving the nation's economy, creating jobs, and empowering women. The data provides a crucial new foundation for policymakers to develop targeted strategies for inclusive growth.