Latest News

The federal government has approved a Rs13 billion expansion for the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC) and the National Institute of Heart Diseases (NIHD) in Rawalpindi. The project aims to alleviate severe overcrowding and treatment delays at the facility, which serves both military and civilian patients. To navigate fiscal constraints, the government will fund the expansion by diverting savings from slow-moving projects within the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) and securing Rs6 billion from foreign sources. This expansion was part of a larger Rs240 billion development package approved by ECNEC, which also includes the Karachi Yellow Line BRT and the Prime Minister’s Youth Skill Development Programme.

The FBR has officially increased property valuations in Islamabad by 15% to 75% via a new notification (SRO.163), though DHA areas remain notably excluded. The updated framework sets building values at Rs3,000 per sq. ft. for structures up to five years old and Rs1,500 for older ones. While rural areas will still follow DC rates, the FBR clarified that the higher value will always apply in case of a conflict. This revised policy follows a brief suspension of previous, more aggressive rates to accommodate feedback from real estate stakeholders.

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.

The Australian dollar hit a three-year high of $0.7050 on Thursday, driven by surging gold prices and bets on an RBA rate hike next week, while the NZ dollar reached a seven-month peak at $0.6070. Both eased slightly in Asian trade amid mixed US tech earnings. The US dollar stabilized after Fed comments and policy affirmations, but Antipodean currencies outperformed.

Uplift AI is more than just a software company; it is a digital inclusion project. By focusing on "voice-first" solutions built entirely in-house, the startup is empowering a massive, previously excluded segment of the population to participate in the digital economy.

In a record-breaking move for Pakistan’s financial landscape, United Bank Limited (UBL) and Meezan Bank have spearheaded a Rs133 billion syndicated Islamic financing facility, the largest of its kind in the country’s private sector. This landmark deal facilitated the Engro Group’s acquisition of Deodar (Private) Limited from Pakistan Mobile Communications Limited (Jazz), a strategic transition that consolidates over 10,617 cellular towers and establishes Deodar as Pakistan's premier independent tower company. By providing essential Shariah-compliant capital for both the acquisition and ongoing operational needs, this transaction underscores the banking sector's capacity to support massive infrastructure projects that serve as the backbone for Pakistan's long-term economic and digital growth.

Pakistan’s IT industry is experiencing a massive breakout, hitting a record-breaking $437 million in monthly exports in December 2025. This surge is driven by strategic government policies most notably the State Bank of Pakistan increasing foreign currency retention limits to 50% which allows firms and freelancers to reinvest their dollar earnings globally with ease. While industry giants like Systems Limited are spearheading international expansion, a thriving freelance community is expected to contribute nearly $1 billion this year alone. To achieve the government's ambitious $10 billion target by 2029, the sector must now pivot toward high-value technologies like AI and smart systems while tapping into under-explored markets in Europe and the Asia-Pacific.

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.