16 May, 2024

Uprise Group Bids for PIA Privatization

The Uprise Group has thrown its hat into the ring for the privatization bid for the national flag career, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), spearheaded by Pakistani seasoned entrepreneur Tabassum Pardesi. Pardesi, renowned for her pioneering role in the aviation industry, now leads the Uprise Group. This conglomerate encompasses Uprise Markets, Uprise Africa, and Uprise Aviation. […]

CCP approves Unity Foods acquisition by Singaporean firm

The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has granted approval to the share acquisition in Unity Foods company of Pakistan by four acquirers, including a Singapore-based investment holding company. The approved transaction involves the acquisition of a 23.20% shareholding in M/s. Unity Foods Limited by the four acquirers. One of the acquirers is M/s. Wilmar Pakistan […]

Pakistan Postpones Refinery Upgrade Agreement by 6 Months Amid Private Sector Disagreements

Pakistan has postponed the signing of the Implementation Agreement (IA) with local crude oil refineries for a further six months, citing disagreements with private refiners as a significant hurdle. The delay, primarily attributed to the country’s largest refinery, Pak-Arab Refinery Company (Parco), has exacerbated the situation. The decision to extend the signing deadline reflects ongoing […]

Military Courts Granted Conditional Authority to Deliver Reserved Judgments

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has conditionally allowed military courts to deliver their reserved judgments, subject to specific conditions. Chaired by Justice Aminuddin Khan, a six-member bench presided over a hearing on intra-court appeals regarding civilian trials in military courts. Justices Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Shahid Waheed, Musarrat Hilali, and Irfan Saadat Khan […]

IMF Cyber Incident: 11 Email Accounts Compromised, Investigation Ongoing

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) revealed today that it fell victim to a cyber incident, which was detected on February 16, 2024. Following the discovery of the breach, an investigation was promptly initiated, with the collaboration of independent cybersecurity experts, to assess the extent and nature of the breach. Subsequently, remedial measures were swiftly implemented. […]

Government to Directly Assist Farmers with Fertilizer Subsidies

The government has unveiled a major policy shift to directly aid farmers by offering fertilizer subsidies, bypassing traditional channels that often favor manufacturers over recipients. Federal Energy Minister Musadak Malik announced the decision Thursday, citing concerns that much of the support meant for farmers ends up with factory owners rather than those working the land. […]

SECP Introduces Amendments to Companies (Further Issue of Shares) Regulations 2020

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has announced a series of amendments to the Companies (Further Issue of Shares) Regulations, 2020, after extensive consultations with stakeholders and the public. The SECP revealed Thursday the adoption of revised regulations aimed at simplifying the process of right issuance, bolstering disclosures in offer documents, and adjusting […]

Federal Minister Khan Urges Urgent Privatization of 15 to 20 Public Entities

Federal Minister for Privatization & Board of Investment Abdul Aleem Khan emphasized the urgent need for privatizing 15 to 20 institutions amid the current economic challenges, labeling loss-making entities as detrimental to the national economy. Khan, speaking outside Parliament on Thursday following his Senate vote, underscored that the persisting deficit of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) […]

Maldives Signs Defense Pact with China, Indian Troops to Depart

The Maldives has entered into a defense pact with China, officials revealed on Tuesday, as the directive for Indian troops stationed in the strategically situated archipelago to depart looms. President Mohammed Muizzu, who took office last year with an anti-Indian stance, ordered the exit of Indian military personnel by May 10, 2024. In a diplomatic […]

Pakistan Ministry Warns of $60B Petroleum Import Bill by 2044, Advances Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline Despite US Concerns

Pakistan’s Ministry of Energy has warned that without substantial investments in indigenous energy resources and energy efficiency measures, the nation could face a staggering annual expenditure of $60 billion on petroleum imports by 2044, a significant leap from the current $17.5 billion in FY2022-23. Pakistan has recently approved work on work on an 80-kilometer portion […]

Competition Commission of Pakistan Approves Three KSA-Based Steel Sector Mergers

The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has given the green light to three mergers involving M/s Saudi Iron and Steel Company (Hadeed), which holds a stake in Pakistan’s steel market. The approval for mergers encompasses the restructuring of two entities across three stages of transactions. Hadeed, headquartered in Saudi Arabia, is a prominent producer of […]

Miracle Saltworks USA to Invest $200M in Himalayan Salt Venture in Pakistan

Miracle Saltworks Collective Inc. USA, a company specializing in the mining and crafting of Himalayan Salt, has announced to investment of $200 million in a collaboration with the Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC) to capitalize on the rich mineral resources of the region. The announcement was made during a gathering where the Chairman Senate emphasized […]

PSO, ISGS, FWO Consortium Signs MoU for White Oil Pipeline

Pakistan State Oil (PSO), Inter State Gas Systems Pvt. Ltd (ISGS) and the military-owned Frontier Works Organization on Wednesday formed a consortium and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Machike-Thallian-Tarujabba White Oil Pipeline Project.     The signing ceremony took place at the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) Secretariat, PM Office. Present at the event […]

Woman’s daring rescue of ‘Fluffy’ highlights invasive turtle encounter

A woman’s daring rescue of ‘Fluffy’, an invasive alligator snapping turtle, from a local lake in Cumbria, northwest United Kingdom, has garnered attention for the unusual encounter. The alligator snapping turtle, reminiscent of a dinosaur, is native to Florida but found its way into the small English lake, as reported by The New York Post. […]

Latest Houthi Attack: Star Bulk’s Star Iris Panamax Vessel Targeted in Red Sea

A 20-year-old Panamax bulk carrier, Star Bulk’s Star Iris, became the latest target of Houthi militants on Monday. The carrier, owned by NASDAQ-listed Star Bulk, was fired upon twice within a span of 20 minutes by missiles while passing through the Bab al Mandab strait in a southeast direction. AIS data obtained from MarineTraffic indicates […]

Pakistan Faces Amnesty International Backlash as Baloch Long March Ends Amid Harassment Allegations

The Government of Pakistan must guarantee the right to peaceful protest across the country, Amnesty International said Wednesday as the Baloch Long March protesters were forced to end their month-long sit-in protest in Islamabad following repeated harassment by the authorities. Hundreds of women in the Baloch Long March journeyed about a thousand miles from Turbat […]

Microsoft, PNNL Unveil AI-Discovered Substance Reducing Lithium Use in Batteries

In a groundbreaking discovery, Microsoft, in collaboration with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), has identified a novel substance using AI and supercomputing, poised to revolutionize lithium usage in batteries. Researchers assert that this innovative material can slash lithium consumption by up to 70 percent. Following its identification, the substance has already been employed to […]