Author name: Web Desk

Islamabad: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan, held a meeting with the Head of the Italian Trade Agency (ITA), Mr. Salvatore Praano, to discuss bilateral cooperation aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s marble sector. Federal Secretary for Industries and Production, Saif Anjum, and CEO P also attended the meeting. During the discussion, both sides reviewed opportunities to improve Pakistan’s marble industry through enhanced skills development, value addition, and the adoption of advanced technologies. Haroon Akhtar Khan said that a team of experts from Italy will be invited to assess Pakistan’s marble industry and provide actionable recommendations. He added that the government aims to strengthen the national marble sector through consultation with international experts and local stakeholders. He further stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the formulation of a comprehensive Marble Industry Policy to promote the sector’s sustainable growth. “Pakistan has immense marble potential, and value addition supported by new technology is the need of the hour,” he noted. The Italian Trade Agency emphasized the importance of improving product quality and integrating modern techniques in marble processing. Haroon Akhtar Khan reaffirmed the government’s commitment to long-term cooperation for the development of the marble industry. He directed PASDEC to prepare a detailed plan in collaboration with the ITA and relevant experts and submit a comprehensive report.

KARACHI: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan, chaired an important meeting with the Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA) to review the recent fire incident at the Landhi Export Processing Zone in Karachi. Haroon Akhtar expressed serious concern over the repeated fire incidents in export zones, stating that such occurrences were alarming and must not be allowed to happen again. He directed EPZA to ensure strict implementation of safety protocols and preventive measures across all export processing zones. He emphasized that fire safety measures must be mandatory for all factories, and no negligence or delay in compliance would be tolerated. “Human lives are precious, and any form of carelessness is unacceptable,” he said. Haroon Akhtar made it clear that EPZA must take full responsibility for preventing future incidents. “There should not be any other accident. The responsibility lies with EPZA, and strict action will be taken if safety standards are ignored,” he added. He further instructed EPZA to hire qualified safety experts and ensure that every factory fully complies with national and international safety rules and regulations. He reiterated a zero-tolerance policy for negligence and incompetence, stressing that the protection of workers’ lives is the top priority. Haroon Akhtar directed EPZA to upgrade all processes and safety systems in line with international standards, highlighting that tangible results are now essential. To ensure continuous oversight, he announced that weekly review meetings will be held, during which EPZA will present progress reports and compliance updates.

Karachi: The Dairy & Cattle Farmers Association of Pakistan (DCFA) has issued an urgent appeal to the Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah, and the Commissioner Karachi, Syed Hassan Naqvi, highlighting a rapidly escalating crisis affecting the province’s dairy, livestock, and food security landscape. In a formal letter, DCFA President Shakir Umer Gujjar warned that the growing practice of cement factories and large industries burning wheat straw (toori/bhoosa) as fuel has triggered a severe shortage of livestock fodder, a development he says is pushing dairy farmers toward bankruptcy and driving up the cost of essential food commodities. Industrial Use of Wheat Straw Sparks Fodder Shortage: According to Gujjar, wheat straw is the primary and most affordable feed for livestock across Sindh, particularly for dairy and meat-producing farmers in Karachi. However, to cut energy expenses, various industrial units have begun purchasing massive quantities of this straw to burn in their boilers. This industrial diversion is generating severe consequences, including: However, a recent price notification (27 November) set the official farm-gate price at only Rs. 200 per liter.This Rs. 70 per liter loss is making dairy operations financially unsustainable. Many farmers, he warns, are already collapsing under the ppressure DCFA’s Urgent Demands to Sindh Government: On behalf of Pakistan’s dairy farmers, Shakir Umer Gujjar has requested immediate intervention from provincial authorities, including: Gujjar emphasized that the issue is not merely economic, it is a matter of human and livestock survival. Without immediate government action, he warned, Sindh’s dairy sector could face total collapse, triggering widespread inflation, food scarcity, and long-term damage to Pakistan’s livestock economy. DCFA has requested an urgent meeting with the Chief Minister and Commissioner Karachi to discuss emergency measures.

KARACHI/ABU DHABI: UAE-based logistics company, AD Ports Group, on Friday announced that its subsidiary Karachi Gateway Terminal Multipurpose Limited (KGTML), under Noatum Ports, has signed a long-term agreement with Louis Dreyfus Company Pakistan (Private) Limited (LDC) to develop and operate a modern, food-grade clean bulk handling and storage facility for agricultural commodities at Karachi Port.Under the pact, KGTML will fully fund the design, construction, conveyor systems and supporting infrastructure, while LDC guarantees inbound volumes of dry agricultural bulk cargo. The investment is in addition to the earlier $75 million committed by AD Ports Group for phase one of the KGTML project.The Strategic Investment and Infrastructure Utilisation Agreement was signed in Abu Dhabi by Mohammed Al Tamimi, CEO of Noatum Ports, and Rubens Marques, Head of South & Southeast Asia for LDC.The new facility will significantly enhance efficiency, reduce handling times and align Pakistan’s agri-logistics with global food safety standards, strengthening the national supply chain and reinforcing Karachi Port’s role as a regional trade gateway.“This partnership reflects shared commitment by two ADQ portfolio companies to upgrade Pakistan’s port and agricultural logistics ecosystem,” stated AD Ports Group. The project further deepens UAE-Pakistan economic ties and supports growing bilateral trade.

KARACHI: Service Industries Limited (PSX: SRVI) on Friday informed the Pakistan Stock Exchange that its subsidiary, Service Long March Tyres (Private) Limited (SLM), has decided to raise fresh capital through an Initial Public Offering (IPO) and subsequently list on the PSX.“We are pleased to convey that Service Long March Tyres (Private) Limited (SLM)… has decided to raise capital through IPO and, accordingly, to seek listing on the Pakistan Stock Exchange Limited,” the company stated in its notice.SLM, Pakistan’s leading all-steel radial truck-and-bus (TBR) tyre manufacturer, is a joint venture between Servis Group and China’s Chaoyang Long March Tyre Co. Service Industries and its subsidiary Service Global Footwear currently hold 32.09% and 18.91% stakes in SLM, respectively.The company had earlier announced plans to invest an additional Rs60 billion in Pakistan, including a new export-oriented project targeting specialised tyres for the EU and US markets.The move follows recent IPO announcements in the corporate sector, including Ghani Dairies Limited’s planned Rs2.5 billion offering.