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Punjab has debuted Pakistan’s first electric taxi scheme, deploying 1,100 eco-friendly vehicles to slash emissions and create high-paying jobs. With a 30% quota for women and government-funded down payments of up to 60%, the program is designed to get more female drivers on the road safely. Each taxi features a PSCA-linked panic button and integrates with apps like In-Drive, offering drivers a chance to earn up to PKR 200,000 monthly through affordable five-year installment plans.

In a significant move to bridge Pakistan’s documentation gap, NADRA has waived the requirement for a computerized birth certificate for first-time CNIC applicants until December 31, 2026. This initiative specifically targets the 1.7% of the adult population that remains undocumented primarily women and residents of districts with low civil registration by replacing traditional paperwork with a robust biometric family-link system. Under these new rules, identity will be verified through the biometrics of registered parents, siblings, or husbands, and as an added incentive, non-smart CNICs applied for under the normal category will be issued free of cost. However, the authority has cautioned that any data recorded regarding parentage and date of birth under this facilitation will be permanent and non-changeable to maintain the integrity of the national database.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has implemented the Mobile Tariff Regulations 2025 to enhance consumer protection and stabilize the telecom market. Under this new framework, major operators (SMPs) are now prohibited from revising prices without prior regulatory approval, while all networks must obtain explicit user consent before activating any paid Value-Added Services to eliminate "silent" balance deductions. To address service quality concerns, the PTA also confirmed a spectrum auction for March 2026, which will mandate infrastructure upgrades for faster data speeds and better coverage, balancing Pakistan's status as a low-cost data market with the need for sustainable network growth.

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 Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has issued a Rs 406.23 million tax demand against Faisal Town Pvt. Ltd. for alleged failures in withholding tax compliance during Tax Year 2023. The Large Taxpayer Office (LTO) Islamabad claims the developer failed to properly deduct or deposit taxes on property transactions and broker payments, creating transparency gaps in the high-value real estate venture. In response, Faisal Town has formally appealed the order, labeling it unlawful and legally groundless. The company argues that the FBR failed to identify specific defaulted transactions or payees and denied them a fair hearing before finalizing the demand. The case is now pending before the Commissioner Inland Revenue (Appeals).

The federal government is set to unveil a major relief package for the construction and property sectors, featuring significant tax cuts aimed at revitalizing industrial activity. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb confirmed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will soon announce the measures, which prioritize lowering property tax rates to stimulate investment and support the dozens of allied industries linked to construction. This initiative is part of a broader economic pivot toward export-led growth, with a similar relief package for the textile industry expected within the next two weeks to bolster sustained industrialization and job creation.

Pakistan's banking sector voluntarily reduced the Export Refinance Facility (ERF) markup by 3%, lowering the end-user rate to 4.50% for exporters to boost foreign exchange earnings and economic recovery. This supports surging private sector credit (Rs 1.1T in FY25), SME/agriculture growth, and national efforts like circular debt reduction and PIA privatization. PBA Chairman Zafar Masud hailed it as backing exporters and the nation.

Pakistan's proposed power tariff reforms will stoke inflation by shifting IMF-mandated subsidy cuts to middle-class households, while cutting industrial prices 13-15% for export relief. Middle-class bills may rise 50%, with 100-300 unit users facing up to 76% hikes from new fixed charges; low-income households get PKR 400 fees. NEPRA's solar export rate cuts spark review to avert grid defection amid utility strains.