Lifestyle

SECP and Mobilink Bank have signed an MoU to simplify corporate account openings for SECP-registered companies. The collaboration will roll out in two phases, including data verification through SECP’s FI Portal and later, full digital integration via secure APIs. The initiative aims to boost transparency, improve regulatory compliance, and enhance ease of doing business while promoting financial inclusion for SMEs and MSMEs across Pakistan.

BYD has sold over 2,000 cars in Pakistan within six months, with strong demand for its Shark model. Hubco is setting up a $150 million CKD assembly plant in Gharo, aiming to start production in 24 months. The company also plans to roll out EV charging stations along the Karachi-Peshawar motorway, while Sazgar Engineering prepares to introduce new hybrid models by 2026.

On Tuesday, gold prices in Pakistan held steady at a record Rs. 370,700 per tola following Monday’s unprecedented Rs. 3,300 jump. The 10-gram rate remained unchanged at Rs. 317,815, mirroring the international price of $3,480 per ounce (plus a $20 premium), while silver also stayed firm at Rs. 4,303 per tola.

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.

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.

A recent audit by the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has revealed that telecom giant Jazz overcharged its customers by Rs6.58 billion during the 2023-24 fiscal year. The report blames both Jazz for its illegal billing practices and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for its “poor regulatory oversight,” which failed to prevent the unauthorized price hikes. This incident raises serious concerns about consumer protection in a market where a single player, like Jazz, holds a dominant position.

A Lahore court has granted a four-day extension to the physical remand of popular YouTuber Ducky Bhai, real name Saadur Rehman, who was arrested for allegedly promoting online gambling applications. The case, filed by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), accuses him of being part of an international gambling network that defrauded the public by encouraging them to invest in betting apps, resulting in significant financial losses. The charges include electronic fraud, forgery, and cheating under both the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC)