Uncategorized

Invest2Innovate (i2i) hosted the inaugural Build Up 2025, a one-day founder conference aimed at addressing the operational, financial, and mental challenges faced by entrepreneurs in Pakistan. The event gathered founders, investors, operators, and ecosystem experts to provide actionable insights for navigating the country’s complex business environment. Pakistan’s startup ecosystem operates under significant economic uncertainty, limited access to capital, and operational constraints. Entrepreneurs frequently face financial pressure, bottlenecks in scaling operations, and personal burnout, highlighting the need for practical guidance beyond conventional networking events. Build Up 2025 sought to address these gaps through focused sessions on capital raising, operational systems, and founder mental wellbeing. Financial sessions explored fundraising strategies, alternative funding options, and investor readiness. Operational workshops covered process optimization, leadership development, team alignment, and automation. Mental wellness sessions emphasized resilience, stress management, and techniques for maintaining focus in high-pressure environments. Notable discussions included a fireside chat with Asif Makhani, Co-Founder of Infino AI, and Sarah Munir, CEO of i2i, who shared insights on scaling businesses in challenging markets. The financial panel, The Art of Selling, offered strategies for pitching to customers, partners, and investors. Investors from Fatima Gobi Ventures, i2i Ventures, YouPitchLive, Sturgeon Capital, Endeavor Pakistan, and several angel investors conducted office hours, providing targeted advice to founders. Over 25 speakers contributed to the program, sharing real-world strategies for sustaining and growing startups. Participants highlighted the value of structured guidance on financial planning, operational efficiency, and mental health, areas often overlooked in traditional startup events. Following positive feedback, i2i announced plans to expand Build Up into an annual conference across multiple cities, with the objective of creating safe and structured learning spaces for founders nationwide.

PARIS – Airbus has successfully mitigated a potential crisis by rapidly implementing software updates across approximately 6,000 A320-family aircraft, following the discovery of a vulnerability to solar flares. The issue came to light after a mid-air incident involving a JetBlue A320, prompting an urgent recall and regulatory mandate for the retrofit. Airlines worldwide, from Asia to the United States, reported completing the snap software changes over the weekend, with operations resuming toward normal on Monday. Initial fears of widespread disruptions proved unfounded, as the fixes were rolled out faster than anticipated, minimizing downtime for carriers and passengers alike. The vulnerability, linked to space weather phenomena like solar flares, could potentially interfere with onboard computer systems. Airbus’s proactive response highlights a significant shift in crisis management, drawing lessons from the Boeing 737 MAX saga. Industry experts praise the European planemaker for transparent communication and swift action, which helped contain reputational damage. However, the incident impacted markets: Airbus shares (AIR.PA) fell 2.9% in early trading, while supplier Thales dipped 2%. Analysts view this as a short-term setback, emphasizing Airbus’s robust safety protocols. Regulators continue monitoring compliance, underscoring the aviation sector’s growing focus on emerging risks from environmental factors.

Pakistan’s inflation is expected to rise slightly to 6.3% in November 2025, up from 6.2% recorded in October.According to a latest report by JS Global Capital, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for November 2025 is projected to stand at 6.3% year-on-year, with average inflation for the first five months of FY26 (July–Nov) likely to remain comfortable at around 5.0%, significantly lower than 7.9% during the same period last year.The modest uptick is largely driven by a 7.2% YoY increase in food inflation, fuelled by higher prices of chicken, eggs, and onions, contributing to a 1.3% month-on-month rise in food prices. However, a recent sharp decline in tomato prices provided some relief. Core inflation (excluding food and energy) is expected to remain steady at around 6.0% YoY.Meanwhile, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) kept the policy rate unchanged at 11% in its last Monetary Policy Committee meeting, citing risks from flood-related supply shocks in agriculture. Analysts believe the central bank will maintain the current rate at least until the next meeting in December, with most expecting no easing for the rest of FY26.

Los Angeles: Netflix experienced a widespread outage across the United States on Wednesday evening, leaving millions of subscribers unable to stream just as the highly anticipated fifth and final season of Stranger Things launched globally at 3:00 AM ET (12:00 AM PT).The disruption, which lasted approximately one hour from 3:15 AM to 4:20 AM ET, affected users on smart TVs, mobile devices, gaming consoles, and web browsers. Thousands reported errors including “Netflix is not available” and endless buffering on DownDetector and social media.“Worst timing imaginable,” one user posted on X. “The Upside Down opened and took Netflix with it.”Netflix acknowledged the issue on its official status page, citing “a technical issue during a high-traffic event.” Service was fully restored by 4:25 AM ET. The platform has not confirmed if the surge in concurrent viewers attempting to watch Stranger Things triggered the crash. No data breach was reported.

Governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Jameel Ahmad has emphasized the urgent need for Pakistan to transition from short-lived stabilization efforts to a durable, sustainable, and outward-looking growth model. Speaking at the opening session of the Pakistan Business Council’s (PBC) ‘Dialogue on the Economy,’ Jameel Ahmad highlighted that while Pakistan has repeatedly cycled through phases of growth followed by painful stabilization, this moment presents a genuine opportunity for long-term transformation, provided policy continuity and private sector adaptability remain at the forefront.Ahmad outlined why the current stabilization phase stands apart from previous cycles. He noted that macroeconomic discipline is now underpinned by well-coordinated and forward-looking monetary and fiscal policies, avoiding the premature easing that historically undermined stability. The central bank’s enhanced forecasting capacity, he added, has allowed policymakers to anchor decisions in eight-quarter projections rather than short-term indicators. ’Inflation has not only fallen in line with our forecast but is expected to remain within the 5–7 percent target band over the medium term,’ he affirmed.A major pillar of improved stability, Ahmad stressed, is the qualitative strengthening of external buffers. Unlike past reliance on debt-driven inflows, recent reserve accumulation reflects strategic FX purchases and reduced forward liabilities. Public sector external debt has remained broadly stable since 2022, while the external debt-to-GDP ratio has declined from 31 percent to 26 percent. During the same period, SBP’s FX reserves have risen from a critically low USD2.9 billion to roughly USD 14.5 billion, a nearly fivefold increase. He shared that there is a growing recognition that sustainable growth will remain elusive until policymaking is reoriented towards a long-term vision of achieving socioeconomic prosperity for our people instead of looking for short-term consumption led growth spurts of the past. He added that this shift is reflected in the long-term reforms initiated by the government and the SBP under our homegrown policy framework. On the fiscal side, the Governor noted that the government’s consistent achievement of primary surpluses over the last three years has helped put public debt indicators on a sustainable path—an outcome rarely seen in the past. He added that the government is implementing long-term structural reforms, including increasing tax to GDP ratio through documentation and widening of the tax base, and energy sector reforms to lower the cost of energy. The Governor added that these reforms are complemented by the SBP continued efforts to address gaps in financial intermediation and increasing financial inclusion across the country.Looking ahead, Ahmad underscored that Pakistan’s economic model must evolve to prevent yet another boom-bust cycle. He added that historical growth averages—hovering around 3–4 percent—can no longer support a nation of over 250 million people. ‘Pakistan stands at an inflection point,’ he said, calling on the private sector to embrace global competitiveness rather than depend on subsidies or domestic market protection.Governor urged businesses to integrate into global value chains, modernize production, leverage emerging opportunities from partners such as the US, China, and Middle Eastern economies, and invest in innovation. ‘Rapid digitalization, the green transition, and global supply-chain realignments offer windows of opportunity—if our firms are willing to adapt,’ he noted. He encouraged businesses to diversify funding sources by tapping domestic and international capital markets and adopting advanced digital tools in financial operations. He placed special emphasis on documenting supply chains—an essential step for improving productivity, access to finance, and supply-chain resilience.Concluding his remarks Mr. Jameel Ahmad said: ‘We cannot expect different results by doing more of the same. The stability we have achieved must now serve as the foundation for long-term prosperity. Only by moving together—government, SBP, and the private sector—we can secure a future of sustained and inclusive growth.’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iran on Tuesday set an ambitious $10 billion bilateral trade target, pledging to fast-track economic ties and resolve long-stalled energy projects during a high-level meeting at Aiwan-e-Sadr.Iran’s Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Dr Ali Ardeshir Larijani, who called on President Asif Ali Zardari, conveyed warm greetings from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian. He thanked Pakistan for its “unwavering diplomatic and moral support” during Iran’s recent 12-day conflict, declaring that “Pakistan’s victory is our victory.”President Zardari reciprocated Iran’s solidarity after Pakistan’s floods and its consistent backing on Kashmir and Palestine, while praising Tehran’s resilience against “Israeli aggression.”Both sides agreed to grant Pakistani goods preferential market access in Iran and prioritise rail connectivity to boost trade and facilitate Zaireen pilgrimage. Reviving the delayed Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline featured prominently, with Zardari stressing a “mutually workable solution” amid Pakistan’s acute energy crunch. Recent technical talks in Islamabad were welcomed, with follow-up discussions slated for Tehran.The leaders described frequent high-level exchanges as evidence of deepening fraternal ties rooted in shared history, faith and culture, vowing enhanced cooperation in security, counter-terrorism and regional stability.

Pakistan is undergoing a rapid solar energy transformation, and it could lead to a surreal milestone as early as next year. According to government officials, rooftop solar power in industrial hubs like Lahore, Faisalabad, and Sialkot may drive daytime electricity production so high that it actually exceeds what the national grid demands. Aisha Moriani, the Secretary of the Ministry of Climate Change and Pakistan’s lead at COP30, explained that in some daylight hours, solar output from homes and businesses could fully offset, or even go beyond, the grid’s need for electricity. She described this phenomenon as “negative grid-linked demand,” a scenario rarely seen in developing markets but more common in parts of Europe and Australia. This surge comes against a backdrop of mounting interest in solar energy, fueled by persistent power cuts and rising electricity tariffs. More and more Pakistanis are turning to solar panels for reliability and savings, and in doing so, the country has become one of the top global importers of solar equipment. In fact, its solar generation has surpassed neighboring China in some respects. But this boom isn’t without its challenges. The growing oversupply of solar power is creating financial stress for Pakistan’s utilities, many of which are already grappling with debt. As the grid demand drops during sunny hours, revenue declines, prompting concern about grid maintenance and sustainability. To address this, the government is proposing new policies. Solar users — especially large-scale adopters — could face revised tariffs to ensure everyone contributes fairly to grid upkeep. At the same time, Pakistan is rethinking its energy import strategy. Officials report they’re negotiating more flexible LNG contracts, aiming for pricing and terms that better suit the shifting demand dynamics. Their goal? To balance affordability, stability, and evolving energy needs — and try to recalibrate Pakistan’s energy future around the solar revolution that’s already under way.

The multibillion-dollar Reko Diq copper and gold project has advanced significantly toward execution, with the Petroleum Division informing the Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum that financing arrangements are close to completion and physical progress has reached 20 percent. Officials reiterated that Phase 1 of the project remains firmly on schedule for late 2028. The first phase requires an investment of $7.7 billion, of which $2.5 billion has already been secured. Committee members were also invited to visit the project site for a detailed on-ground review.Despite the encouraging progress, several senators raised concerns over the absence of representatives from Barrick Gold, the project’s operating partner. They emphasized that a member of the operational team must attend future committee sessions to ensure transparency, accountability, and consistent oversight.According to the briefing, Reko Diq is expected to yield substantial long-term economic gains over its projected 37-year lifespan. The mine is estimated to generate $26 billion in benefits for Balochistan, $11 billion for the federal government, and nearly $15 billion for Pakistani partner companies, positioning it among the country’s most strategic mineral ventures.The meeting took a tense turn when the Petroleum Division was unable to present basic production figures for the Sui gas fields. Senators Quratulain Marri and Bilal Ahmed repeatedly sought current data, but even the DG Petroleum Concessions admitted he lacked the information, citing his recent appointment. Lawmakers warned that the matter may be escalated to the president and prime minister.Officials also briefed the committee on declining LNG demand, reduced imports, and current gas production levels. Senators stressed that Balochistan must receive priority under Article 158 before gas is supplied elsewhere.