Sohail Ahmad

Pakistan to Launch First Electro-Optical Satellite on January 17

Pakistan’s very own Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) is all set to launch its first electro-optical satellite, EO-1, on January 17, 2025 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China. This is a historic moment in Pakistan’s space journey, showing the country’s growing expertise in space technology. A Step Towards Self-Reliance in Space…

Read More
PCB pays unauthorized payments

PCB’s Rs16.386 Million Unauthorized Payouts, Including to Chairman Sethi

Unauthorized Payments Made to Shakil Ahmad Sheikh, Muhammad Haroon Rashid Dar, Najam Sethi, and Aizad Sayid The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) paid Rs 16.386 million in unauthorized meeting and daily allowances to members of its Board of Governors (BOG) and Management Committee during the 2022-23 fiscal year, an audit revealed. The payments exceeded the entitlements…

Read More
Pakistan spends Lowest on Agriculture R7D in SAARC

Pakistan Allocates Lowest Percentage of Agricultural GDP to R&D in South Asia

Pakistan has the lowest allocation for agriculture Research and Development (R&D) among South Asian Nations, allocating just 0.12 percent of its Agricultural GDP. With the lowest spending among the SAARC countries, Islamabad also facing challenges in securing international grants for this sector, noted the Senate Standing Committee on Food Security and Research on Wednesday. The…

Read More
OGDCL Joins UN Global Compact for Sustainable Development

OGDCL Joins UN Global Compact to Promote Sustainable Development

Pakistan’s leading oil and gas exploration company, Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), announced Wednesday that it has officially joined the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, to promote sustainable development. By becoming a member of the UNGC, OGDCL aligns itself with a global network of more than 17,000…

Read More
Cyber Attack on CKD global

CDK Global Hack: Ransom Demand Disrupts Car Dealerships

A group claiming responsibility for hacking software company CDK Global is demanding tens of millions of dollars in ransom, according to Bloomberg. CDK, which provides critical software to car dealerships across North America, is reportedly considering paying the ransom, though discussions are ongoing. The cyber outage has now entered its third consecutive day, severely impacting…

Read More
Turkmenistan and Pakistan trade Talks, and Urea import

Government Orders Third-Party Audit of Fertilizer Companies, Eyes Turkmenistan Trade

The Ministry of Industries and Production on Thursday ordered a third-party audit of local fertilizer companies to determine production costs, aiming for transparency and fair pricing within the industry. Besides, Islamabad also eyes Turkmenistan trade including urea imports.   Federal Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain announced this initiative during a Fertilizer Review…

Read More
Pakistan Refinery expansion

Pakistan Refinery Advances Refinery Expansion with Strategic Talks in China

Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL) is taking a significant step to enhance its refining capabilities through its Refinery Expansion & Upgrade Project (REUP). Senior management from PRL recently visited China to engage with Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractors and financial institutions. On November 16 last year, Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL) signed an upgrade agreement with…

Read More
PIA privatization

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….

Read More
Pakistan postpones signing agreement with refineries for upgrade

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…

Read More
Military Courts Allowed to Announce their Reserved Decisions

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…

Read More
Cyber Attack on IMF

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….

Read More
A farmer putting fertilizer to plant

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….

Read More
SECP introduces amendments

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…

Read More
Minister chairing PIA privatization meeting

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)…

Read More
Pakistan petroleum imports to triple, gas pipeline approved

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…

Read More