Government and economic policy updates.
NEW YORK / ISLAMABAD — In a major step toward modernizing Pakistan’s agricultural landscape, the Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, held a high-level meeting at Cornell University’s Integrated School of Plant Sciences.
KARACHI: In a major milestone for the country’s financial ecosystem, Pakistan’s digital banking user base has soared to 135 million, comfortably exceeding the initial target of 120 million.
This landmark achievement was highlighted during the Pakistan Banking Summit 2026 (PBS’26), the premier annual flagship event hosted by the Pakistan Banks Association (PBA) in Karachi.
KARACHI: The Pakistan Banks’ Association (PBA) has extended its warmest congratulations to Mr. Adil Salahuddin on his recent appointment as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Head of Coverage at Standard Chartered Bank (Pakistan) Limited.
ISLAMABAD: Under the proactive facilitation of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), Pakistan is rapidly expanding its national motorway network, marking a major milestone in communication and transport infrastructure.
LAHORE: The Parliamentary Secretary for the Women Development Department (WDD) Punjab, Ms. Saadia Temur, chaired a high-level Annual Development Programme (ADP) review meeting to evaluate and accelerate key schemes designed to drive socio-economic empowerment for women across the province.
ISLAMABAD: Energy experts, policymakers, and international development partners gathered at a policy dialogue hosted by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) to chart Pakistan’s pathway beyond fossil fuels. The second half of the dialogue, titled “Beyond Fossil Fuels: Pathways for a Clean Energy Transition in Pakistan,” turned a critical spotlight on clean cooking solutions as an essential pillar for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), bolstering national energy security, and improving public health.
SUKKUR: The Begum Nusrat Bhutto Women University (BNBWU), Sukkur—one of the premier public-sector women’s universities in Sindh—successfully hosted the International Conference on Women in Policy Development (ICWPD-2026).
Under the overarching theme “Empowering Youth & Advancing Gender Equity in Economic Policy,” the high-profile academic event brought together a distinguished lineup of national and international scholars, policymakers, and practitioners. The platform was designed to foster rich intellectual exchange, advance policy-driven research, and outline inclusive solutions to bridge global gender gaps.
UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK: Addressing the Ministerial Segment of the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) 2026 on Sustainable Development, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, delivered a strong call for global solidarity, warning that the world stands at a critical juncture with just five years remaining to achieve the 2030 Agenda.
UNITED NATIONS: On the sidelines of the United Nations high-level forum, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, met with his Egyptian counterpart, Mr. Ahmed Rostom. The high-profile meeting served to reaffirm the long-standing, historic friendship between Pakistan and Egypt while exploring fresh avenues for bilateral and economic cooperation.
ISLAMABAD — In a major push to boost domestic manufacturing and bring advanced biotech to the country, Islamabad is set to host the high-profile Pakistan–China Pharmaceutical & Healthcare B2B Investment Conference 2026 from July 17–18, 2026.