Lifestyle

The cost of the Rawalpindi Ring Road has increased from Rs33 billion to Rs50 billion after revising the project design, mainly to expand the crucial Thallian Interchange that links the road to the motorway. As a result, the completion deadline has been pushed from December 2025 to March 2026, even though officials say around 70% of work on the 38.3km route is already finished and still expected to transform regional traffic flow and future economic development along the corridor.

Meezan Bank, positioning itself as "the Premier Islamic Bank," has achieved a meteoric rise in Pakistan's financial sector. Conceptualized in the mid-1990s by its Founding CEO, Irfan Siddiqui, the bank faced an uphill battle introducing and developing Shariah-compliant Islamic banking in a conventional market. Through strategic execution and unwavering commitment to its $Riba$-free model, Meezan successfully built a powerful reputation and vast scale. Today, it stands among the top five banks in Pakistan, representing a significant paradigm shift and a definitive corporate success story.

MedIQ is making Pakistan's largest private AI investment in healthcare, moving from telemedicine to a data-driven system by developing a local AI infrastructure. This AI automates the entire clinical workflow (triage, note-taking, patient management), significantly increasing hospital throughput and reducing the burden of documentation for overworked clinicians.

Despite persistent user complaints about poor experience, the adoption of digital financial services in Pakistan is experiencing an unassailable boom. As of FY25, digital platforms have over 123 million registered users. Mobile banking is driving high-value transactions, surging 80% to Rs 83.2 trillion and processing more volume than all other digital channels combined. The biggest breakthrough is in throughput digitization, where the digital share of scheduled bank retail transaction value reached a record 21.7%. The primary challenge now is capitalizing on this momentum to digitize the complex business-to-business (B2B) payment universe.

The Islamabad Food Authority (IFA) has instructed all food outlets to complete their official registration by November 30. Starting December 1, the IFA will launch a strict enforcement campaign, conducting daily inspections. Any establishment found operating unregistered after the deadline will be sealed and heavily fined, according to Deputy Director Dr. Tahira Siddique. Business owners are urged to register immediately to prevent closure.

Federal government ministers are openly opposing the "excessive" mobile phone tax imposed by the PTA. The opposition includes a claim that even the PTA leadership is against the high tax burden. Critics warn the tax is restricting digital access for millions and slowing the country's technological progress. The Standing Committee on Finance has been urged to review the tax regime.

The CDA has started a Rs240 million project to transform an 800-meter section of the Blue Area along Jinnah Avenue into a car-free pedestrian zone. This pilot initiative will feature food outlets and walking streets, providing a safe recreational space. Parking for 1,100 vehicles will be available nearby, and the project is scheduled for completion within 45 days.

Federal Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja announced that Google has commenced manufacturing Chromebooks in Haripur, marking a major boost for Pakistan's IT sector. The public-private project, a collaboration with the Ministry of Defence Production and NRTC, aims for an annual production of 600,000 units to provide affordable devices for students. Khawaja noted this reflects growing international confidence, promoting technology transfer and creating new jobs, with current employment at the facility standing around 600 people and future plans for export expansion.

CDA Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa ordered the immediate issuance of plot possession in newly developed sectors to end allottee delays. Following a progress review, the CDA confirmed that road surfacing in I-12 will finish this month, while C-15 roads are due by March next year. To guarantee timely and quality work, the Chairman mandated field presence for officers and approved working groups to both accelerate development and upgrade older areas.