As Punjab prepares for the upcoming wheat sowing season, the administration of Faisalabad Division has unveiled an extensive cultivation plan aimed at achieving self-sufficiency and maximizing productivity. A comprehensive target of cultivating 1.834 million acres of land has been finalized for this year, which includes 57,318 acres of government-owned land exclusively earmarked for wheat production. This large-scale initiative, part of Punjab’s broader agricultural reform strategy, seeks to ensure food security and economic stability through enhanced support for farmers and improved resource management. The final decision came during a high-level meeting chaired by Commissioner Raja Jehangir Anwar, bringing together representatives from…
Author: Baseerat Talib
For nearly a decade, K-Electric, Pakistan’s largest power distribution company, stood at the center of a long and complex ownership dispute that entangled some of the most influential investors from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. After years of uncertainty, courtroom battles, and diplomatic negotiation, the standoff has finally come to an end, marking the beginning of what officials describe as a “new era of stability” for Karachi’s electricity backbone. The agreement between the stakeholders was formally announced this week after months of confidential talks that involved senior Pakistani officials, representatives from Aljomaih Holding Group of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait’s National Industries Group,…
India’s recent diplomatic step to reopen its embassy in Kabul marks a striking new turn in South Asia’s evolving political landscape. After a long gap of four years since the fall of Afghanistan’s Western-backed government, New Delhi has decided to revive its direct diplomatic presence in the country. The announcement came during a meeting between Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in New Delhi — a meeting that held not only symbolic but also strategic importance for both nations. For the first time since the Taliban took control in 2021, a high-ranking Afghan representative…
When Arshiya Akhtar first stepped onto a karting track in Riyadh as a young girl, she had no idea that the sound of small engines and the smell of burning rubber would someday lead her to a global motorsport stage. What began as a casual weekend activity gradually turned into a lifelong passion, pushing her into a field few Pakistani women have ever entered. Years later, her name is now etched in the records as the first Pakistani woman to receive an official professional racing license from the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, the international authority that governs world motorsport. Arshiya…
Pakistan has taken a significant step toward aligning its fisheries with global sustainability expectations by launching a Rs 90 million (approximately USD 320,000) program aimed at preventing the accidental capture of endangered sea turtles in shrimp trawling nets. The initiative, led by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and announced by Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, seeks to balance two often conflicting goals: protecting marine biodiversity and restoring access to lucrative international seafood markets. At the heart of the scheme lies the deployment of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) — specialized grid-type panels installed inside shrimp trawl nets. These grids allow larger…
Pakistan has taken a major step toward reshaping its financial system to meet international sustainability standards through the launch of the Paris-Aligned Finance Fellowship, a new initiative set to begin in mid-October. The program represents a coordinated effort to prepare the country’s financial institutions for the challenges and opportunities presented by climate change and the global transition toward a low-carbon economy. Managed jointly by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and GIZ Pakistan, and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), this fellowship aims to strengthen institutional capacity, foster collaboration, and promote green investment practices…
A prominent Saudi business delegation, headed by Prince Mansour bin Mohammed bin Saad Al Saud, is in Karachi for a mission focused on deepening economic cooperation with Pakistan. Their visit comes against the backdrop of strengthened strategic ties between the two countries, particularly after Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a defense agreement that declares an attack on one to be considered an attack on both. During meetings in Karachi, the delegation emphasized interest in investing across multiple sectors including food security, energy, mining, tourism, infrastructure, and privatization. The aim is to forge partnerships that deliver mutual benefits and align with…
The World Championship in Fire and Rescue Sport, scheduled to be held in Riyadh from October 26 to November 1, 2025, is emerging as one of the most remarkable and symbolically significant global sporting gatherings of the year. What distinguishes this championship from other athletic events is its unique fusion of physical strength, professional precision, and humanitarian spirit. The competition embodies a tribute to the courage and endurance of firefighters and rescuers who risk their lives daily to protect others, transforming their demanding work into a disciplined and noble sport. The event, jointly organized by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s…
On October 8, 2025, Diriyah Company confirmed that it has executed a major joint-venture agreement valued at around USD 244 million (SAR 917 million) for the second-phase construction of the Grand Mosque in Diriyah. The contract partners are AlMajal AlArabi Group and MAN Enterprise AlSaudia LLC, who will work together to bring the design by acclaimed X Architects to life. Once completed, the mosque will be able to host 11,400 worshippers in total—5,240 inside the main prayer halls and 6,160 in exterior spaces—accommodated within a built-up footprint of 12,320 square meters. Diriyah Company describes the Grand Mosque as more than…
Saudi Arabia is rapidly shaping a new economic identity, steering its development path away from oil dependency and toward a diversified, sustainable, and innovation-driven model. Over the coming decade, the Kingdom is expected to maintain non-oil growth between 4.5 and 5.5 percent annually — a sign that its Vision 2030 reforms are progressing in full force and beginning to reshape the economic landscape across every sector. Analysts believe that this steady growth reflects Saudi Arabia’s growing ability to attract foreign investment, promote industrial modernization, and strengthen partnerships between public and private sectors. This transformation marks one of the most significant…