Investing

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 Capital Development Authority (CDA) has raised Rs16.44 billion in the first two days of its commercial plot auction in Islamabad, highlighting strong investor confidence in the city's real estate market. The proceeds will be used to fund infrastructure development, civic improvements, and major public projects across the federal capital.

The federal government will construct two new underpasses and establish four Emergency 1122 service centres in Islamabad to improve traffic flow, emergency response, and public infrastructure. The projects form part of the CDA's broader plan to modernize the capital and enhance urban development.

Pakistan has approved the long-awaited Brownfield Refining Policy, unlocking nearly $6 billion in investments to modernize existing oil refineries. The policy will boost Euro-V fuel production, increase petrol and diesel output, reduce furnace oil production, and strengthen Pakistan's energy security through major refinery upgrades and investment incentives.

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.

The World Bank has approved a $70 million loan for the Connected Punjab Programme (CPP) to boost the province’s digital infrastructure, public services, and cashless payment adoption. The initiative aims to reduce regulatory barriers to broadband investment, with goals to expand fixed broadband coverage to 9.9 million people and improve access to digital government services for 28.9 million citizens by June 2031. Additionally, the program focuses on financial inclusion, targeting 350,000 active cashless payment users and increasing women's participation in digital services to 30% by 2031.

OGDCL has begun gas production from the Sahito-1 well in Sindh’s Khairpur district, currently yielding 6.0 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD). The gas is processed at the Sinjhoro Plant and integrated into the Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) network. OGDCL, which holds a 75% interest in the Khewari Exploration Licence, plans to gradually increase production as surface facilities expand to support the monetization of indigenous hydrocarbon resources.

The government is restructuring the Peshawar-Torkham Motorway project after costs ballooned from an initial PKR 41.44 billion to nearly PKR 130 billion. Despite a USD 460 million World Bank loan secured in 2019, construction has been stalled for over five years, largely due to outdated cost estimates and failed bidding rounds. Under the revised plan, the 55-kilometre Southern Link Road has been removed from the scope, and the main expressway will now be split into three construction packages. Authorities are currently negotiating a loan extension with the World Bank to proceed with the revised project based on updated 2025 construction rates.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has launched Pakistan’s first Environment Protection Agency (EPA)-certified "Liquid Tree," a bio-artificial system designed to combat smog and improve urban air quality. Developed through seven months of research, the system utilizes an AI-monitored, algae-based bioreactor—using a highly effective species identified in Sukkur—to absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. This initiative will initially be deployed in major shopping malls as a space-efficient alternative to traditional afforestation in congested urban areas, forming a key part of the government's broader strategy against climate change and environmental degradation.