Pakistan

A recent Cloudflare outage that disrupted digital services nationwide has once again underscored Pakistan’s deep dependence on foreign internet infrastructure and highlighted the need for a comprehensive national resilience strategy. Officials from the Federal Ministry of IT and Telecommunication (ITT) told The Express Tribune that Pakistan maintains a 24/7 vigilance system through the National Cyber Emergency Response Team (NCERT). While the system continuously monitors cyber risks, authorities offered limited clarity on the country’s preparedness for failures originating in global networks. With ITT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja abroad, further comment could not be obtained. Cloudflare—a major U.S.-based provider of cybersecurity and content delivery services—faced a technical fault that rendered numerous essential websites inaccessible, including the Pakistan Stock Exchange, Sindh High Court, X, and OpenAI. The incident slowed browsing speeds and interrupted routine online transactions for millions of users. Industry specialists noted that although the glitch did not originate in Pakistan, its impact was felt almost instantly, exposing how vulnerable the country remains to disruptions outside its control. IT experts argue that Pakistan must urgently invest in indigenous infrastructure—local data centres, Internet Exchange Points (IXPs), and content-caching systems—to keep critical digital traffic within national borders. Noman Ahmed Said, CEO of Sai Global, described the outage as evidence of a structural imbalance: Pakistan’s rapid digital expansion has outpaced the infrastructure required to sustain it. Past disruptions—subsea cable faults, regional routing issues, and political shutdowns—have already caused substantial economic losses. In 2024 alone, internet restrictions cost Pakistan an estimated $1.6 billion. In contrast, P@SHA Chairman Sajjad Syed downplayed the incident, likening it to routine global outages experienced by major platforms like Google, Facebook, and Microsoft. He stressed that Pakistan was not at fault and that Cloudflare-dependent websites were temporarily affected like elsewhere in the world. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), however, faced criticism for its muted response. While Cloudflare issued detailed updates and apologies, the PTA released only a brief statement acknowledging a “global outage,” offering little guidance to affected users. Experts now call for a more strategic approach—treating internet access as essential national infrastructure, enforcing stronger redundancy standards, building domestic capacity, and developing a unified cyber-resilience framework. Without such measures, they warn, Pakistan will continue to experience nationwide disruption from even minor international technical failures.

After powering one of the biggest online shopping moments of the year with 11.11, Daraz Pakistan is extending the celebration with its Big Friday Sale, live on the Daraz app and website from 21 November (8 PM onwards) until 30 November. The extension gives customers across Pakistan more time to enjoy major savings, explore new brands and take advantage of high-value deals during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year. This year’s 11.11 delivered discounts of up to 90%, savings worth more than PKR 1 billion, free delivery on eligible orders and one of the largest assortments ever offered on the platform. The event brought together top national and international brands across fashion, electronics, home appliances, beauty, lifestyle and groceries, making it the biggest sale of 2024 for Pakistani shoppers. With demand peaking, Daraz is extending the experience through Big Friday to keep offers accessible for customers who want to complete their November and wedding season shopping. Big Friday carries forward the most loved mechanics of 11.11 while adding fresh surprises throughout the campaign. Customers can continue playing the 1 Rupee Game, unlock Rs. 11 deals at 3 PM and enjoy themed days for Electronics, Beauty, Fashion, Grocery and Lifestyle. These curated days bring focused assortments, new product drops and additional vouchers that can be stacked on top of existing discounts. Surprises such as Shop & Win prizes, app-only flash vouchers and short window Rush Hour deals keep the campaign dynamic throughout the week. The sale also features strong value through partner bank and wallet promotions. During 11.11, customers enjoyed grand savings through partner banks for digital payments. These incentives remain central to Big Friday, with multiple partners continuing to unlock additional savings at checkout. For customers who want to shop with the confidence of verified products, DarazMall continues to offer an authenticity guarantee backed by up to 3X moneyback if an item is proven to be counterfeit. More than 200 new brands joined DarazMall during 11.11, giving customers a wider assortment of official stores to choose from. The 14-day return policy on eligible products remains active during Big Friday, making it easier for shoppers to upgrade electronics, appliances or fashion items with peace of mind. “11.11 has become a national shopping moment in Pakistan and customers turned it into a celebration this year,” said Ehsan Saya, Managing Director, Daraz Pakistan. “Big Friday allows that excitement to continue. We want people to enjoy more days, more deals and more chances to save, whether they are restocking essentials or buying something special for themselves or their families.” The Daraz Big Friday Sale runs from 21 November (8 PM onwards) to 30 November, exclusively on the Daraz app and website.

ISLAMABAD: As winter sets in, dry fruit prices have skyrocketed in Pakistan including Rawalpindi and Islamabad amid tensions with Afghanistan, leaving consumers frustrated over unchecked profiteering and weak enforcement by district price control authorities. Residents report that shopkeepers are arbitrarily inflating rates, exploiting the seasonal surge in demand, particularly in colder and hilly regions. Common complaints highlight the absence of official price lists at most outlets, allowing traders to charge whatever they deem fit. Current market rates show peanuts at Rs450-650 per kg, pine nuts Rs7,000-14,000, almonds and cashews Rs3,000-4,000 each, walnuts Rs800-2,000, pistachios Rs3,000-4,000, raisins Rs700-1,000, and sesame sweets Rs600-800 per kg. Citizens allege many items are smuggled from Afghanistan and Iran, bypassing quality checks and enabling sale of substandard stock at premium prices. Major markets in Rawalpindi (Narnkari Bazaar, Canning Road, Bank Road) and Islamabad (Aabpara, Jinnah Super, F-10, Bara Kahu) remain hotspots for overpricing. Consumers Shakil Sheikh, Zahid Khan, and Rizwan Abbasi urged immediate activation of price control committees to curb exploitation. Despite earning $100 million annually by exporting just 10,000 tons against global demand of 1.05 million tons, domestic consumers continue to bear the brunt of unregulated pricing and poor oversight this winter.

ISLAMABAD: With devastating monsoon floods now an annual reality, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed federal and provincial authorities to immediately begin preparations for the 2026 monsoon season, approving the Ministry of Climate Change’s short-term resilience plan for instant rollout.Chairing a high-level review meeting as winter grips the country, the premier warned that Pakistan cannot endure another cycle of avoidable catastrophe. He ordered seamless integration of planning, data-sharing, and response systems across all institutions and stressed coordinated efforts between the Ministry of Climate Change, Ministry of Planning, NDMA, and provincial governments.PM Shehbaz also instructed preparations for an early meeting of the National Water Council to formulate comprehensive national water management strategies.Highlighting the economic toll, he lamented that Pakistan, despite contributing less than 1% to global emissions, is forced to divert significant GDP portions toward climate damage control instead of development. “We face severe consequences of climate change we did not create,” he said.Ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Ahad Khan Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Musadik Malik, Attaullah Tarar, and senior officials were briefed on global weather forecasts and short-, medium-, and long-term preparedness measures. The prime minister demanded visible progress before the next monsoon to protect lives and infrastructure nationwide.

Islamabad – November 19, 2025: Corporate giving in Pakistan reached a record PKR 25.44 billion in 2023, according to the latest Corporate Philanthropy Report released by the Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy (PCP). The findings were unveiled at the Corporate Philanthropy Awards 2025, held at Serena Hotel, Islamabad, where Federal Minister for Finance & Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb was the Chief Guest. Addressing the ceremony, the Muhammad Aurangzeb, Federal Minister for Finance & Revenue, praised the corporate sector for sustaining its social contributions despite economic instability, saying business leaders continue to play a “progressive and vital role” in national development. He noted, “Corporate philanthropy is no longer a peripheral activity; it has become a meaningful pillar of Pakistan’s development agenda. This generosity forms part of the moral economy of our country. Even in periods of fiscal pressure and shifting economic cycles, corporate giving has remained on an upward path, showing how responsibly the business community continues to support national progress. The award winners today are leading the way, and their contributions reflect a culture that values human development, social protection, and wider opportunity.” The minister further acknowledged the integrity of the Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy and its role in promoting a structured culture of giving nationwide. He encouraged organisations that donate quietly to share their contributions more openly, noting that visibility builds confidence across the ecosystem and reduces the need for directive measures when the corporate sector chooses to lead voluntarily. PCP shared that Public Listed Companies led donations with PKR 18.23bn, followed by Public Unlisted Companies (PKR 3.28bn) and Private Limited Companies (PKR 3.93bn). Companies listed on the KSE-100 index donated PKR 15.24bn, while KSE-30 firms gave PKR 8.80bn, reflecting strong alignment with national priorities. The Glass & Ceramics sector recorded the highest giving ratio, contributing 7.80% of total profits. A total of 18 leading companies were honored for high-volume donations and strong giving relative to profits. Award recipients included OGDCL, Mari Energies, Bank Alfalah, Yunus Textile Mills, Novatex, Fast Cables, Barrett Hodgson, U.S. Denim Mills, KSB Pumps, Unity Foods, Searle, Y.B. Pakistan, Ghani Ceramics, among others. The event also featured a panel discussion titled “Philanthropy Ecosystem in Pakistan: Opportunities and Challenges,” chaired by Badaruddin F. Vellani, with participation from Mehnaz Akbar Aziz, Ahmer Bilal Soofi, Asif Rasool, Dr. Faisal Sultan, and Zia Akhter Abbas. The panel examined policy gaps, taxation issues, and the need for stronger regulatory support to expand organized giving. Concluding the event, PCP Chairman Zaffar A. Khan reaffirmed the importance of corporate philanthropy in complementing public-sector development efforts, noting that the 20th edition of the survey reflects the private sector’s sustained commitment to social progress.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is all set to unveil its inaugural National Women Entrepreneurship Policy (WEP), a landmark framework designed to accelerate women’s economic empowerment through targeted financing, enhanced export opportunities, and expanded business support services.Announced by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan during Women’s Entrepreneurship Day celebrations organised by SMEDA and FPCCI, the policy places women at the heart of national economic development, as directed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.The policy sets ambitious targets: raising women’s employment in enterprises from 2% to 5%, increasing registered women exporters from 2,500 to achieve 50% representation, allocating 15% of the SME Fund and 5% of the Export Development Fund exclusively for women, expanding co-working spaces by 20%, and providing 100,000 women entrepreneurs with critical business information. It also aims to support 20% of BISP beneficiaries in disaster-prone areas.A flagship component is the AI-powered Women Entrepreneurship Portal, developed with UK’s FCDO, which will connect women to mentors, regulators, and support organisations. Backed by a $2.2 million ADB programme, initiatives include digital training via basic phones, multilingual content, and dedicated efforts to formalise informal women-led businesses.The policy further introduces green financing, export-readiness programmes, and a design cell at SMEDA in collaboration with top textile universities.

ISLAMABAD: Large-scale manufacturing (LSM) in Pakistan grew by a modest 4.1% during the first quarter (July-September) of FY2025-26, down from an initial 4.5% pace in the first two months, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). Despite crossing the 4% mark, the LSM index stood at just 114.7 in September, still below the three-year-high of 132.5.An internal assessment by the Ministry of Industries has revealed that several key sectors face severe cost disadvantages ranging from 22% to 67% due to skewed economic policies, high energy prices, taxation, and regulatory burdens. The ceramic tiles and glass sectors suffer the highest handicap of over two-thirds, followed by steel (one-third) and paper & board (one-fourth). These distortions have caused the manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP to shrink from 26% to 18% over the past three decades.The ministry has urged immediate policy corrections, including abolition of the super tax, gradual reduction of corporate tax from 29% to 26%, a 5% cut in interest rates, and market-driven exchange rate adjustments. It warned that without addressing structural high costs, tariff liberalization alone will deplete foreign exchange reserves and fail to boost competitiveness.Growth was mainly driven by food, tobacco, textile, and paper sectors, while overall industrial activity remains constrained by political uncertainty and anti-export biases.

Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Musadik Malik, highlighted Pakistan’s progress in forest revival and ecosystem restoration during a COP30 side event dedicated to the Upscaling Green Pakistan Programme (UGPP). Speaking through a recorded message, the minister noted that global climate conversations continue to focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and expanding natural systems that can effectively absorb carbon. He stressed that forests play a central role in both climate mitigation and adaptation, calling nature-based solutions essential to long-term global resilience. “Carbon sequestration requires factories that absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen — and that factory is a tree,” he stated, underscoring the value of forest ecosystems in lowering carbon loads and strengthening environmental stability. The session, hosted by the Ministry of Climate Change, showcased Pakistan’s achievements in rehabilitating degraded landscapes, restoring ecological balance, and actively involving local communities in conservation initiatives. The UGPP has facilitated extensive plantation drives in previously barren areas while promoting stronger grassroots participation in protecting natural resources. Dr. Malik added that the programme has significantly improved climate awareness at the community level, encouraging citizens to safeguard forests and adopt more sustainable practices. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s dedication to global forest protection, saying the country stands committed to preserving its own forests as well as supporting global restoration efforts. A documentary produced by the ministry was also screened, featuring on-ground success stories and visible improvements in local ecosystems. The event concluded with a panel discussion attended by climate experts, international partners, development organisations, and civil society members working to advance forest restoration and climate resilience.

The Collectorate of Customs Enforcement Peshawar has confiscated smuggled goods worth over Rs. 51 million after intercepting a truck in Dera Ismail Khan. The operation was carried out on Wednesday by the Quick Response Force, which stopped the vehicle near Waziristan Chowk. Officials reported that the truck, registered as P 4234, was en route from Quetta to Rawalpindi when it was flagged down for inspection. A detailed search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of a substantial consignment of foreign-made cigarettes, rolls of polyester fabric, and betel nuts. The truck was taken into custody, and a case has been initiated under the Pakistan Customs Act, 1969. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) commended the enforcement team for its timely action, noting that it reflects the department’s continued commitment to combating illegal trade and protecting national revenue. Authorities stated that increased surveillance on key transit corridors is proving effective, particularly as smuggling groups attempt to alter their routes and strategies to evade detection. Customs officials added that enforcement activities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are being further strengthened. The goal is to disrupt the inflow of non-duty-paid goods that commonly enter Pakistan through its western borders and to ensure stronger control over illicit supply chains.