g
CANTT RAILWAY STATION
g VOWS TO MODERNIZE KARACHI CIRCULAR RAILWAY, UPGRADE ALL RAILWAY STATIONS ACROSS SINDH
g SAYS PAKISTAN RAILWAYS WOULD BE TRANSFORMED A
TFPCCI questions CPPA- G’s 2026 power price forec asts, warns of
The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has raised concerns over the five Power Purchase Price (PPP) scenarios prepared by the Central Power Purchasing Agency-Guaranteed (CPPA-G) for 2026 warning that the projections do not reflect current market conditions and could worsen the affordability crisis for consumers In a letter to the NEPRA Registrar, the FPCCI said CPPA-G’s assumption of rising electricity demand contradicts prevailing economic trends It noted that consumption has declined due to high tariffs reduced industrial output, factory shutdowns, and a growing shift toward rooftop solar and captive power solutions
The chamber stated that projecting demand growth in a contracting market leads to unstable tariff struc-
tures and inaccurate quarterly adjustments The FPCCI argued that previous PPP calculations did not accurately factor in solar displacement or real consumption behaviour resulting in sharp quarterly adjustment swings from Rs -1 80 per unit to Rs +0 50 per unit It said that inflated demand estimates increase per-unit capacity costs because fixed charges are recovered from fewer units and warned that ignoring rapid solar adoption will create further unexpected surcharges The chamber also criticised temporary base tariff reductions, stating that short-term relief without structural reforms shifts the burden into future quarterly adjustments It said this pattern has been repeated for years without addressing fundamental cost drivers Commenting on the incremental package priced at Rs 22 98 per unit, the FPCCI said the scheme has been widely rejected as it does not align with actual usage patterns It said the
package creates inconsistencies for captive and non-captive consumers, load-enhancement cases and category-change applicants If incremental units fail to materialise because benchmarks are unrealistic it warned, PPP and quarterly adjustments will rise further The chamber maintained that load factors outlined in the Consumer Service Manual have become outdated due to the economic slowdown and increasing solar adoption It proposed applying a 40% load factor across industry to produce realistic demand projections To revive demand, the FPCCI recommended revising the incremental package and adjusting PPP so that the scheme s intended purpose encouraging additional consumption can be achieved The chamber said industry is prepared to increase usage if rational adjustments are made, helping fixed costs spread over a larger number of units and lowering PPP
plants Site Gas Turbine Power Station (SGTPS) and Korangi Gas Turbine Power Station (KTGTPS) In its application, KE maintained that retiring the plants ahead of schedule will not undermine its ability to meet electricity demand or affect the quality of service to consumers The company assured the regulator that the proposed modification will not adversely affect KE s demand–supply obligations,” as detailed in its submission According to KE, both SGTPS and KTGTPS along with ICGTPS were added to the utility s generation portfolio in 2009 following the privatization of K-Electric in 2005
Under the Implementation Agreement with the Government of Pakistan, the plants comprising 32 engines of 3 041 MW each were to receive dedicated local gas supply from SSGC Although gas supply remained adequate until 2018 dwindling natural gas reserves disrupted consistent and sufficient pressure required for optimal operations To bridge this gap the Cabinet Committee on Energy in April 2018 directed KE to shift these power plants to RLNG supply Despite the transition, KE said the plants continued to face supply and pressure constraints particularly over the past two years Meanwhile KE has significantly expanded its generation and supply capacity The company commissioned the 900 MW BQPSIII power plant and upgraded interconnection infrastructure, enhancing its capability to draw over 2 000 MW from the National Grid KE has
term agreements with CPPA-G and the National Grid Company to ensure secure off-take from the national system KE emphasized that retiring SGTPS and KTGTPS will not burden consumers with additional costs Instead the move will eliminate capacity payments associated with inefficient plants, which will not be passed onto
Guarded Peace
Tensure that the promise of a two-state solution so often deferred, so often betrayed is no longer postponed
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
A Niazi
THEY called it a breakthrough for climate justice, but three years later it feels more like a broken promise written on glossy paper and now with COP30 convening in Belém this month the urgency is clearer than ever The grand declarations made at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh about helping the world s most climate-vulnerable nations now echo hollow in the corridors of power The much-touted Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage was hailed as a moral milestone a recognition that those least responsible for the crisis deserve real help Yet what has followed since then is mostly performance: big words, little money, and even less action The fund was meant to deliver hope to nations reeling from climate-driven devastation from vanishing coastlines to floods, droughts, and crop failures Instead it has become a textbook case of how political theatre can replace tangible responsibility At COP27 world leaders applauded themselves for agreeing to new funding arrangements Civil society celebrated what seemed to be a historic moment Developing countries dared to believe that justice, long delayed, might finally be served But as the dust settled the glow of triumph faded into the old familiar shadow of bureaucracy and indifference So far the record is dismal Out of the trillions
needed each year to cover loss and damage, barely a few hundred million dollars have been pledged and even less disbursed Many commitments were one-off gestures some repackaged from old promises others never formalized beyond press statements The supposed fund has remained a fragile concept: present on PowerPoint slides but absent where it matters most on the the ground, in disaster-hit communities still waiting for relief It is not exaggeration but fact that the global North after centuries of carbon indulgence now appears content to pay pennies for the catastrophe it helped create Procedural confusion has only deepened the frustration Who qualifies as vulnerable ? Which losses count? Who will administer these funds, and how fast will they reach the affected nations? Every question seems to have spawned another committee rather than delivering answers The decision to temporarily place the fund under the the World Bank has raised further concerns especially from developing countries wary of fees, conditionalities, and slow-moving bureaucracy A mechanism born of moral urgency risks being strangled by procedural lethargy For Pakistan, the disappointment runs especially deep in light of recent disasters that sharpen the stakes In mid-2025 torrential monsoon rains triggered flash floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa s mountainous regions causing deadly landslides and inundations in districts like Swat, Buner and others, damaging thousands of houses, roads and isolating communities Millions were impacted by floods across multiple provinces Meanwhile in Punjab flooding along the Ravi Sutlej and Chenab rivers exacerbated by heavy rainfall and upstream water releases from dams inundated
r e c a n r e p l a c e t a n g i b l e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y A t C O P 2 7 , w o r l d l e a d e r s a p p l a u d e d t h e m s e l v e s f o r a g r e e i n g t o “ n e w f u n d i n g a r r a n g e m e n t s . ” C i v i l s o c i e t
Extor tion returns
the hostages and Israel has released the prisoners and pulled back to the yellow line Now its time to execute the second phase which seems to be more crucial and its success hinges on the shoulders of all the stakeholders to uphold the terms of peace plan and move forward in a constructive way The US has dispatched its top officials in mid-
a very strong signal
the
US administration
with its
move
and is admitted to bring peace and stability in the
According to the New York Time, US has drafted a resolution in quest for a two years mandate from the UNSC to deploy an international stabilization force in Gaza This will provide the legitimacy to the cause of ISF and will operate under the ambit of UN The ISF will work in close collaboration with Egypt to demilitarizing Gaza train and support Palestinian police personnel to secure humanitarian corridors and border security Malysia and Türkiye have already offered their forces participation in ISF for Gaza The Rakyat Post (TRP) online newspaper of Malaysia reported that Malaysia’s armed forces are ready to contribute in any potential deployment to Gaza if requested Al Jazeera reported that Israeli PM and Foreign Minister have shown their concerns over the participation of Turkish forces that their country won’t accept a Turkish presence in Gaza
A nuclear war would not mark the extinction of one nation or race, it would signify the obliteration of humanity itself The true spirit of science and knowledge can only survive when it safeguards life rather than annihilates it Otherwise, history will once again whisper its tragic verdict: “Man split the atom but never his own hatred”
Pakistan was part of original eight-nations peace initiative that laid foundation for current US-brokered Gaza peace plan As per Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, Pakistan has yet not decided to send its troops to participate in ISF Pakistan army has a long-standing history of participating in UN missions as peace keepers around the world It will be blessing in disguise for both i e Pakistani people and Palestinians if Pakistani government allow its troops to participate in ISF History revealed that Pakistani troops during their UN peace keeping mission in Bosnia not only maintained peace but also helped local Muslim community by providing humanitarian assistance This include establishing free medical camps distribution of free food, cloths and sports gears for kids etc Pakistan has never been a player in geo-politics of Middle East and as a neutral player, contributing troops only for humanitarian purposes will provide this opportunity As ISF will establish control and stability Israeli forces will withdraw and hand over Gaza territory to ISF to
them Due to natural affection, brotherhood and commitment to Palestinian cause, Pakistan Army will go all out to ensure that no harm comes to Palestinians Pakistan army’s vast experience in counterterrorism and internal security operations enables effective management of volatile environments like Gaza Participation will serve collective interests of Muslim world, showcasing Pakistan s leadership and solidarity in advancing regional stability and justice Praying for Gaza while opposing those ready to protect it is sheer hypocrisy If Pakistani people and its government stay silent today history will question its morality along with rest of the Muslim world The writer is a freelance columnist
Triennale oversight
A Blueprint for Centralized Power?
i o n a g r e a t d e a l m o r e p o w e r T h i s i m p l i e s a d i r e c t e r o s i o n o f j u d i c i a l i n d e p e n d e n c e O n e e ff e c t i v e t e c h n i q u e o f c o n t r o l i s t h e f e a r o f a n u n w e l c o m e t r
evidence of Israel’s
c ampaign against Palestinians ignored
servist soldiers who were accused of involvement in the gang rape dubbed Israel’s right to rape protests These demonstrators and rioters who even broke into a military base,
Newly acquired testimonies reveal harrowing evidence of rape and sexual violence committed by Israel against Palestinian detainees from the Gaza Strip The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) recently released harrowing evidence of rape and sexual violence committed against Palestinian detainees from the Gaza Strip If such a press release about Israelis suffering
the same abuses was published by a rights group, it would be headline news around the world Instead, it has been completely ignored In a story that the corporate media in the West dares not touch due to their blatant and racist double standards demonstrating their lack of value for Palestinian life new testimonies recorded by PCHR workers reveal horrifying, detailed accounts of rape Those interviewed were Palestinians from Gaza, who were kidnapped without justification and held hostage under military detention The testimonies revealed a range of rape and sexual torture including gang-rape rape using dogs, in addition to rape with bottles and sticks A 42-year-old Palestinian woman, who is also a mother, testified to being brutally raped by Israeli forces four times Below is that testimony that Western media have not dared to report: At dawn I heard the soldiers shouting saying that morning prayers were forbidden and I think it was the fourth day after my arrest from Gaza The soldiers moved me to a place I didn t know because my eyes were blindfolded, and they ordered me to take off my clothes I did so They put me on a metal table
pressed my chest and head against it, cuffed my hands to the end of the bed, and pulled my legs apart forcefully I felt a penis penetrating my anus and a man raping me I started screaming and they beat me on my back and head while I was blindfolded I felt the man who was raping me ejaculate inside my anus I kept screaming and being beaten and I could hear a camera – so I believe they were filming me The rape lasted about 10 minutes After that, they left me for an hour in the same position with my hands cuffed to the bed with metal handcuffs my face on the bed my feet on the floor and I was completely naked Again, after an hour, I was raped fully in the same position, with penetration into my v*****, and I was beaten while I screamed There were several soldiers; I heard them laughing and the camera clicking as it took pictures This rape was very quick and there was no ejaculation During the rape they beat me with their hands on my head and back I cannot describe what I felt; I wished for death every moment After they raped me I was left alone in the same room hands still cuffed to the bed and without clothes for
many hours I could hear the soldiers outside speaking Hebrew and laughing Later I was raped again v******** I screamed but they beat me whenever I tried to resist After more than an hour, I m not sure about the time, a masked soldier entered, removed my blindfold, lifted his face covering; he had white skin and was tall He asked if I spoke English; I said no He said he was Russian and ordered me to masturbate his p**** I refused and he hit me in the face after raping me That day, I was raped twice I was left naked the whole day in the room, where I spent three days On the first day I was raped twice; on the second day I was raped twice; on the third day I remained without clothes while they looked at me through the door slit and filmed me One soldier said they would post my photos on social media While I was in the room, my period started; then they told me to put on clothes and transferred me to another room ” This series of newly recorded testimonies comes amidst Israel s investigation into the leaking of a video from the infamous Sde Teiman torture facility which has been compared to Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay The Israeli military s top lawyer, Major-General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, resigned from her position and confessed to leaking the footage of a brutal gang rape incident Notably Tomer-Yerushalmi was jailed and had even allegedly attempted suicide over the probe into her actions The incident triggered an international outcry, as thousands of Israelis protested in favor of ten re-
rd s p e o p l e' s a cco m p l i s h m e nt s ; t h e f ro nt p a g e h a s n o t h i n g b u t m a n ' s f a i l u re s "
A s u r ve y o f s p o r t s b e t to r s f o u n d t h at o n e i n f o u r s ay t h e y ' ve m i s s e d a b i l l p ay m e nt
Abdul RAhmAn mAlik
MBS VISITS WHITE HOUSE TO BOOST OIL , SECURIT Y AND HIGH-TECH COOPERATION
Karamay draws global exper ts for dialogue on energy, tourism, and AI-era media integrit y
KARAMAY n e w s d e s k
Over 40 international experts scholars diplomats and journalists attended the four-day cultural communication event Gathering in the Oil City Enjoying City Tours and Admiring the City s Charm in Karamay, celebrating 70 years of oil exploration Organised under China s cultural exchange initiative, the programme featured thematic discussions and immersive city tours The event was inaugurated by Ma Xueliang Secretary of the CPC Karamay Municipal Committee Chen Xueliang Deputy Head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Committee of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, also addressed the gathering, saying that Karamay s development offers a vivid window into Xinjiang’s transformation, innovation, and commitment to open exchange Mr Li Wuzhou Deputy Head of the CICG Centre for Europe and Africa presided over the event while Du Chao Head of Artificial Intelligence Lab of the CICG Centre for Europe and Africa designed and administered the entire event As part of the extensive field visits, participants toured the world-famous Devil’s City also known as the Ghost Town of Wuerhe one of Xinjiang’s most striking natural wonders Delegates walked through the vast landscape of wind-eroded rock formations which stretch for miles across the Gobi Desert Many noted that the eerie shapes, sculpted by centuries of fierce winds, gave the area a cinematic charm, explaining why the site has become a favourite destination for filmmakers, explorers, and tourists from around the world The visit offered guests not only a view into the region s unique geography but also insight into how Karamay is promoting eco-tourism without compromising environmental conservation
Another highlight of the programme was the tour of the Karamay Museum, which chronicles the city’s extraordinary 70-year journey from a remote frontier to one of China’s most productive oil hubs Delegates viewed rare archival photographs geological specimens interactive displays
China urges Japan to stop overstepping the line, retract its erroneous words and deeds and honor its commitment to China with concrete actions Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday It was reported that recently, some Japanese politicians claimed that China had “overreacted” to the wrong remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi about Taiwan
In response Mao Ning told a regular news briefing that China has repeatedly stated its solemn position on the wrong remarks made by Takaishi regarding Taiwan, saying that the relevant remarks seriously violate the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan and fundamentally undermine the political foundation of ChinaJapan relations
During discussions on resuming China-Japan diplomatic relations, China clearly outlined three principles: the Government of the People s Republic of China (PRC) is the only legitimate government representing the Chinese people; Taiwan Province is an inseparable part of PRC territory; and the so-called “Taiwan-Japan Treaty” is illegal and invalid and should be abolished Mao stated
In 1972 the two countries signed the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement and officially established diplomatic relations, she said, noting that three sections of the statement relate to the Taiwan question First in the opening paragraphs it is written that the Japanese side reaffirms its position that it intends to realize the normalization of relations between the two countries from the stand of fully understanding ‘the three principles for resuming diplomatic relations’ put forward by the Government of the PRC
Then Article 2 says that the Government of Japan recognizes the Government of the PRC as the sole legal Government of China ” And Article 3 says that “the Government of the PRC reiterates that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the PRC The Government of Japan fully understands and respects this stand of the Government of the PRC, and it firmly maintains its stand under Article 8 of the Potsdam Proclamation ”
In 1978 the two countries signed the Treaty of Peace and Friendship Between China and Japan, which explicitly stated that the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement “constitutes the basis for relations of peace and friendship between the two countries and that the principles set out in that statement should be strictly observed she noted adding that the treaty affirmed the principles and contents of the joint statement in legal terms and set out the legal parameters for China-Japan relations
In 1998 the two sides released the China-Japan Joint Declaration on Building a Partnership of Friendship and Cooperation for Peace and Development, in which Japan undertook to “continue to maintain its stand on the Taiwan question which
was outlined in the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement and reiterated its understanding that there is one China ” It’s stated in the document that Japan will continue only to maintain its exchanges of private and regional nature with Taiwan which ruled out the legal possibility of Japan developing official relations with Taiwan, Mao said In 2008, the China-Japan Joint Statement on the All-round Promotion of Strategic Relationship of Mutual Benefit clearly stated in Article 5 that The Japanese side reiterated that it will continue to abide by its position on the Taiwan question stated in the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement,” she noted
The above is what is laid out in the four political documents between China and Japan regarding the Taiwan question Mao said stressing that it constitutes a solemn commitment by the Japanese government and has legal effect under international law
“There is no room whatsoever for ambiguity or misinterpretation she said adding that whichever political party or person is in power in Japan, they must always abide by the commitment of the Japanese government on the Taiwan question
78-year-old fled to India after her ouster in a mass uprising in August 2024, fraying relations between the two neighbours She has been in hiding ever since On Monday a court in Dhaka sentenced Hasina as well as former interior minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death in absentia, after being found guilty of crimes against humanity over a deadly crackdown against last year ’s student-led uprising
The former minister’s whereabouts are not known but Bangladesh says he is also in India
We urge the government of India to immediately extradite the two convicts to the Bangladeshi authorities, Dhaka s foreign ministry said in a statement, saying it was “an obligatory responsibility for India” Bangladesh warned that “granting asylum to these convicts would be extremely unfriendly and an affront to justice India s foreign ministry said that it had noted the verdict of Hasina India remains committed to the best in-
terests of the people of Bangladesh including in peace democracy inclusion and stability, the ministry said in a statement that does not directly address the issue of potential extradition Hasina’s 15-year tenure saw widespread human rights abuses including the mass detention and extrajudicial killings of her political opponents
Bangladesh last year said it would request an Interpol red notice for Hasina, but there was no record on the global police body alert law enforcement list
Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus welcomed the verdict
The awarding of death sentences to Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal in the crimes against humanity case is a historic verdict, the Nobel Peace Prize winner said in a statement
He called for calm and warned against any “attempt to violate public order” urging “everyone to refrain from any indisciplined acts
Hasina s son and adviser Sajeeb Wazed told Reuters on the eve of the verdict that they would not appeal unless a democratically elected government took office with the Awami League’s participation During the trial prosecutors told the court that they had uncovered evidence of her direct command to use lethal force to
suppress a student-led uprising in July and August 2024
According to a United Nations report, up to 1,400 people may have been killed during the protests between July 15 and August 5, 2024, with thousands more
CORPORATE CORNER
ABHI, UAE-based Numou sign agreement to power SME procurement financing
Abhi has partnered with Numou, ADGM’s SME growth platform, for providing embedded finance and working capital solutions to enhance access to finance for small and medium enterprises across the region Through this collaboration SMEs on Numou will gain faster
CDA Chairman briefed on extension of Margalla Avenue
at the
was
velopment
by
abad,
on
(CDA) Headquarters,
CDA and
The meeting was attended by CDA
Nafasat Raza
Highway
relevant
and
senior officers from the
(NHA) consultants and
The meeting reviewed the progress made so far on the significant projects of the Federal Capital, Islamabad The meeting featured a detailed briefing on the extension of Margalla Avenue (from N-5 to M-1) and the project to construct an interchange at 17th Avenue H-16 In this regard the designs of these projects and various technical aspects were discussed During the briefing on the design and construction plan of the 17th Avenue Interchange project, it was informed that the feasibility study for this project has been completed and the preliminary design has also been prepared with the assistance of consultants The meeting was informed that work on the preparation of the PC-I for this project is also ongoing It was decided in the meeting that the design would be presented again, incorporating suggestions from the CDA s Engineering and Planning wings
Engro Fer tilizers and Agriculture Depar tment Punjab Co-Organized Kissan Convention at Bahawalpur to suppor t Wheat cultivation campaign in the province of Punjab
Engro Fertilizers Limited, in collaboration with the Agriculture Department, organized a Kissan Convention in Bahawalpur as part of the Government of Punjab’s Wheat cultivation campaign The event brought together over 600 farmers from across the region and served as a platform to promote innovative and
South Punjab Muhammad Kamran Khan, DIG Motorway Central-2 Zone Dar Ali Khan Khattak City Police Officer Multan Sadiq Ali Dogar
IMC Champions Localization and Sustainable Growth as Diamond Sponsor at Pakistan Auto Show 2025
s ta f f r e p o r t Indus Motor Company (IMC) participated as a Diamond Sponsor at the Pakistan Auto Show (PAPS) 2025, held at the Expo Center Karachi from November 14 to 16 The event brought together original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), policymakers, government stakeholders, and the public to showcase advancements in Pakistan’s automotive industry At the IMC pavilion visitors were drawn to the expended displays of the Toyota Yaris and Corolla Cross highlighting the extensive localization achieved in these models The exhibit reflected IMC s enduring commitment to its Make in Pakistan” philosophy, promoting local manufacturing innovation and industrial self-reliance Over the past 35 years IMC has consistently invested in localization human skills development enabling high-quality vehicle production job creation and economic growth through its strong vendor network and technical collaborations The company continues to lead efforts for sustainability, innovation, and industrial advancement within Pakistan’s automotive ecosystem
KARACHI
S 2 8 T H
M E N D M E N T T O B E TA B L E D S O O N
Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Monday said that the 28th Constitutional Amendment would be introduced soon, expressing confidence that it would also be passed by the parliament Speaking to journalists in Chiniot, Sanaullah said the proposed amendment would relate to local bodies the National Finance Commission (NFC) and health matters noting that discussions on these subjects were already underway He added that if consensus is achieved, the government can move forward with formally presenting the 28th Amendment in parliament His remarks came days after the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led ruling
Ishaq Dar
to visit Russia for SCO meeting
ISLAMABAD N e w s D e s k Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar will lead Pakistan delegation to the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting being held on 17-18 November in Moscow, Russia According to a statement released by the Foreign Office in Islamabad on Monday the CHG will be attended by the Heads of Government of Belarus China Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Russia Tajikistan and Uzbekistan Vice President of Iran and Foreign Ministers of Pakistan and India In addition to SCO member States, the Heads of Government of Mongolia, Bahrain, Egypt, Qatar, Kuwait, Turkmenistan and heads of international / regional organizations including Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Euro Asian Economic Union (EAEU) Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) will also be attending the meeting In his address to the SCO CHG, the Deputy Prime Minister will share Pakistan s perspective on important regional and global issues as well as ways to strengthen the Organization for the benefit of the SCO region The CHG is the second highest decision-making institution in the SCO It provides guidance in the areas of economy finance trade connectivity commerce socio-economic cooperation including the budgetary matters of the Organization The SCO CHG adopts Joint Communiqué, statements and important decisions The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan will also hold bilateral meetings with the leaders of other SCO countries on the sidelines of the CHG
m i n i s t e r s c o n d e m n a t i o n b u t i n s i s t e d s h e w o u l d n o t f i l e a c o m p l a i n t u n d e r P E C A t h r o u g h t h e N a t i o n a l C o u n t e r C y b e rc r i m e I n v e s t i g a t i o n A g e n c y ( N C C I A ) S h e s a i d d o i n g s o w o u l d l e g i t i m i s e a n i n s t i t u t i o n f r e q u e n t l y u s e d t o h a r a s s j o u r n a l i s t s s t i f l e c i t i z e n s a n
ta f f
p o r t
Business confidence in Pakistan weakened in the fourth quarter of 2025 with all three components of Gallup Pakistan s Business Confidence Index (BCI) showing a decline from the second quarter the research body said on Monday The sixteenth wave of the BCI is based on responses from 571 randomly selected businesses nationwide for the October to December period The index tracks current business performance expectations for the next quarter and perceptions of the country s overall direction
Gallup Pakistan reported that views on present business conditions dropped to +8 percent from +20 percent in Q2, indicating fewer firms rate their situation as good or very good Expectations for the next quarter also softened, falling to +12 percent from +22 percent Perceptions of the country’s direction slipped further down to minus 8 percent from minus 2 percent Despite the quarter-to-quarter decline Gallup noted that all three indicators remain stronger than in Q4 2024 and better than most readings
recorded in 2022 and 2023
Inflation remains the top concern for businesses Thirty three percent want the government to prioritise price stability, pointing to renewed upward movement in food and energy prices after several months of easing Power shortages also continue to disrupt operations Forty two percent of firms reported load-shedding on the day they were surveyed roughly the same level as last year despite major investments in electricity infrastructure
On governance, forty six percent of respondents said the current PML N government is performing better than the previous PTI administration The number is unchanged from Q2 and five points higher than the same period last year Gallup Pakistan Executive Director Bilal Gilani said business sentiment has slided minorly adding that economic stabilisation alone will not deliver a sustained improvement in confidence He said stronger growth is now essential, and noted that the
