Lifestyle

Punjab government to launch Punjab Airlines in April with domestic flights on seven aircraft, connecting major cities. Led by CM Maryam Nawaz, it starts domestic-only for two years before expanding. Fleet doubles as commercial service (full fares paid for official use) to ensure financial viability and efficiency no burden on treasury. Part of broader transport modernization.

Apple to start iPhone manufacturing in Pakistan via new framework, beginning with refurbishing older models for $100M first-year exports. Includes 8% incentives, discounted land; mirrors India/Indonesia model. Boosts local parts to 35-50%, attracts $557M Chinese investment, plus 6% export levy funding localization.

The gold and silver markets recently underwent a historic correction, headlined by gold’s sharpest one-day decline since 1983 and a staggering 27% plunge in silver prices. This "perfect storm" was ignited by Donald Trump’s nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve Chair, which signaled a shift toward a stronger US dollar and more disciplined inflation control, undermining the appeal of metals as a safe-haven hedge. The sell-off was further accelerated by the CME Group raising margin requirements—the cash needed to maintain trading positions forcing heavily leveraged investors to liquidate their holdings in a massive wave of forced selling. While the drop erased billions in market value, many experts view the crash as a necessary "healthy reset" that has purged speculative excess and brought prices back to more sustainable levels.

This agreement marks a critical milestone for Pakistan's automotive industry. By securing a reliable and scalable energy source, BYD and MMC are laying the groundwork for the country's first large-scale NEV manufacturing ecosystem, signaling a shift toward sustainable mobility and high-tech industrial growth.

Saudi and Kuwaiti investors with a 30.7% stake in K-Electric filed a $2 billion arbitration case against Pakistan on January 16, 2026, alleging regulatory blocks on a $1.77B sale to Shanghai Electric, unpaid subsidies, tariff meddling, and fund diversions. The dispute, ongoing since 2016, claims breaches of OIC and bilateral treaties, risking Pakistan's investor trust.

Punjab orders strict enforcement of 2022 Building Safety Regulations province-wide, with legal action for violations. Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique chaired a Lahore meeting revealing surveys of 2,214 high-rises, Rs 2B fire service expansion, and Rescue 1122's feats (280K+ fires handled, Rs 768B saved). Upgrades align with CM Maryam Nawaz's vision; businesses urged to comply.

Pakistan plans a 2026 return to global bond markets with its first panda bond, Eurobonds, or sukuks after four years away. Finance Minister Aurangzeb, speaking at Davos, cited stabilized inflation, rates, fiscal health, and IMF-backed reforms like PIA privatization.

Pakistan signed $603M agreements with IsDB for M-6 Motorway ($475M), Poverty Graduation project ($118.4M, aiding 160K flood-hit households), and Azad Kashmir education initiative ($10M, for 60K kids). Deals inked in Islamabad signal boosted infrastructure, poverty relief, and schooling.

The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has proposed a PKR 17 billion expansion of Murree Road, specifically targeting the congested stretch between Liaquat Bagh and Chandni Chowk. The project aims to widen the road to 20 feet on both sides and introduce dedicated service lanes and parking plazas to streamline traffic. A key feature of the plan is the creation of a signal-free corridor from Marrir Chowk to Faizabad, which is expected to drastically reduce travel time. While land surveys are already underway, the project currently awaits final approval and funding from the Punjab government to begin construction.