BoP Swings to $4.39 Billion Deficit in September
Pakistan’s overall balance of payments (BoP) swung to a deficit of $4.39 billion in September, compared with a deficit of $118 million in August, according to State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) data. The current account deficit also widened to $356 million from $73 million a month earlier. Background The balance of payments records all money […]
Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields Festival Faces Vendor Claims Over Fees, Planning and Pay
Two food vendors at Olivia Rodrigo’s inaugural Daisy Chain Fields vendor claimshave alleged financial losses, poor planning and difficult working conditions. Both later said they had been paid in full after festival executives contacted them, according to CBC News. Background Daisy Chain Fields was a one-day festival founded by Rodrigo and held on August 29, […]
Chinese Investors See Opportunity, but Local Businesses Struggle
Chinese companies are planning new investments in Punjab, particularly in electric vehicles (EVs), information technology and tourism. The plans come at a time when many Pakistani businesses report weak sales, high costs and an uncertain outlook. Background On October 16, a 20-member delegation from the Pakistan-China Business Forum met Punjab’s Minister for Industries and Commerce, […]
Pakistan Whip China 8-3 in Sultan of Johor Cup Opener
Pakistan’s junior hockey team began their Sultan of Johor Cup 2026 campaign with an emphatic 8-3 win over China on Saturday. The side came back from 3-1 down, scoring seven unanswered goals at Taman Daya Hockey Stadium in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Background The Sultan of Johor Cup is an annual international under-21 men’s tournament held […]
Lahore Fort and Shalimar Gardens to Stay Open Late for Night Tourism
The Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) has decided to keep Lahore Fort and Shalimar Gardens open to visitors at night, from 7pm to 11pm, under a new night tourism initiative. Night tickets for Lahore Fort cost Rs1,000 for local adults, Rs500 for children and Rs2,000 for foreign tourists. Background Lahore Fort and Shalimar Gardens […]
Reckitt Launches AI-Powered Animation to Promote Handwashing
Reckitt Pakistan marked Global Handwashing Day on October 15 by launching its first AI-powered, long-format animation for the Dettol Hygiene Education Program. According to the company, the film was created in Pakistan and is designed to teach children why washing hands with soap matters. Background The animation is part of Saaf Sehatmand Pakistan, which Reckitt […]
Hockey Goalkeeping Camp Launched in Islamabad Under Dutch Coach
The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) launched a seven-day goalkeeping training camp on Friday for 15 junior and senior goalies in Islamabad. The camp is being run under Dutch coach Bob Veldhof and aims to raise goalkeeping standards in the country. Background Pakistan’s hockey teams have struggled defensively in recent years, and the PHF says a […]
Agriculture Exhibition Opens in Gilgit as Harvest Expo 2026 Begins
A two-day agriculture exhibition, the Gilgit-Baltistan Harvest Expo 2026, opened in Gilgit on Friday, on the eve of World Food Day. Speaking at the event, Chief Minister Amjad Hussain pledged to modernise agriculture, livestock and fisheries to strengthen the regional economy. Background Gilgit-Baltistan has limited farmland because of its mountainous terrain, and farming and livestock […]
Pakistani Saraiki Folk Song Goes Viral in India Through Social Media
A traditional Saraiki folk song from Pakistan, ‘Chalre Chalre Waal,’ is gaining a wide audience in India through Instagram and YouTube. An acoustic version by Pakistani singers Shanzy Sial and Mohsin Lashari has drawn millions of views, particularly in Indian Punjab. Background ‘Chalre Chalre Waal,’ also known in some versions as ‘Tediyan Reesan Kon Kare,’ […]
FinMin Seeks BB Rating Path, $1.5 Billion Financing at Bangkok Meetings
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has asked Fitch Ratings what Pakistan needs to do to move towards the BB sovereign rating category. At the same time, the government is exploring a financing structure that combines a World Bank guarantee with MIGA coverage to raise around $1.5 billion at competitive rates. Background Aurangzeb is in Bangkok for […]