Lifestyle

Lahore is preparing to celebrate Basant 2026 from February 6 to 8, with major venues including Greater Iqbal Park, Jallo Park, and Model Town Park. Authorities have finalized safety and administrative plans, banning metallic and chemical-coated kite strings and offering Rs. 5,000 rewards for reporting violations. Special monitoring teams will ensure public safety, and citizens are urged to follow regulations for a safe and joyful celebration.

TikTok has launched a new self-serve advertising platform in Pakistan to help small and medium-sized businesses create and manage their own ad campaigns more easily and affordably. The TikTok For Business Ads Manager gives local entrepreneurs flexible tools, creative resources and performance targeting to reach new audiences without needing specialist expertise. The company says Pakistani SMBs can now better tap into TikTok’s highly engaged user base, building brand visibility at home and abroad while using flexible budgets and intelligent targeting to improve campaign results.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti has launched the province’s first women-only Pink Bus Service in Quetta to provide safer and more dignified public transport for women, building on initiatives like the Pink Scooties scheme and scholarship programs that support women’s empowerment. The chief minister praised women deputy commissioners for their effective leadership, vowed to counter “extremist elements” he says mislead Baloch women, and announced plans to extend the Green Bus Service to Pishin, Mastung, and Turbat while working on introducing electric buses to improve public transport and reduce pollution.

MCB Bank is offering the iPhone 17 lineup on a 0% markup installment plan for credit card customers, with tenures of up to 36 months and no processing fee. The iPhone 17 Pro is available in Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue, and Silver, and eligible purchases come with Shield+ perks, including a one-year extended warranty plus one-time front screen and back-glass replacement. The offer runs until December 31, 2025, and includes a limited complimentary gift while stocks last.

NayaPay has launched global QR payments via partnership with Alipay+, enabling Pakistani users to scan and pay at merchants in 50+ countries.Millions of NayaPay customers gain seamless access to retail, dining, transport, healthcare, and entertainment abroad, with lower costs and faster checkouts compared to traditional methods.Building on 2024's China rollout, this expands NayaPay's services like Visa cards and remittances. CEO Danish Lakhani calls it a step toward global payment freedom for Pakistanis traveling or shopping internationally.

Yango Delivery has quickly become Pakistan's leading express service, surpassing rivals like Bykea in 18 months with fast, cheap deliveries via red-helmeted bikes in major cities.Dubai-based Yango entered in 2023 with ride-hailing post-Uber and Careem exits, pivoting to parcels under exec Mohammad Ahsan Akbar, who scaled Foodpanda's logistics. Features like real-time tracking, free insurance, multi-stops, and diverse vehicles (bikes to trucks) drive dominance, plus grocery/cargo expansions. Navigating inflation and fuel woes with tech efficiency and bonuses, Yango aims for a "super app" unifying Pakistan's fragmented logistics for urban consumers and SMBs.

Pakistan is launching a state-of-the-art weather alert system on the Islamabad–Lahore Motorway through the "Weather on the Way" project. It provides real-time, local weather updates on hazards like fog and rain via mobile apps and toll displays to improve road safety. The system also supports agriculture, environmental monitoring, and public safety agencies across the country. This initiative marks a significant step in enhancing Pakistan's climate intelligence and early-warning capabilities.

Digital safety is now recognized as a fundamental part of women’s rights in Pakistan. Experts highlight the need for laws, reporting systems, and digital literacy to protect women from online violence. Government and civil society leaders emphasize stronger legal frameworks and community engagement to ensure safe online spaces, helping women participate fully and securely in society. This effort is part of the UN’s 16 Days of Activism campaign to combat gender-based violence nationwide.

The Punjab government has banned the production of petrol-powered motorcycle rickshaws to combat severe air pollution. This move is part of a larger strategy that includes promoting electric and hybrid vehicles for all government departments, banning home vehicle washing, and enforcing penalties for environmentally harmful practices like burning plastic. The province has also expanded air quality monitoring and introduced digital tools for pollution tracking. These measures aim to improve public health by reducing smog and enhancing environmental standards throughout Punjab.