Pakistan’s gas consumers could end up footing a Rs. 46 billion bill to fund a new security force protecting pipelines and exploration sites in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, as the government weighs a proposal to head off repeated sabotage attacks that have already cost the sector billions in lost gas. What’s Being Proposed The plan involves raising 14 dedicated security wings modeled on the framework used to protect China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) infrastructure. Of these, four wings would cover existing pipeline protection, while ten new wings would be dedicated specifically to exploration and production activity — seismic data acquisition, drilling,…
Author: M Awais
Chunky soles, split toes, foam clogs, and wooden mules — 2026’s fashion conversation keeps circling back to the same divisive question: are “ugly shoes” genuinely cool, or have we all just agreed to pretend they are? The honest answer, according to stylists and trend forecasters right now, is: it depends which “ugly shoe” you’re talking about. What Counts as an “Ugly Shoe” in 2026 The category is broader than it sounds, covering several distinct trends that all share one trait — they prioritize an unconventional, deliberately unpolished look over classic prettiness: Chunky/dad sneakers — oversized, exaggerated midsoles, popularized by Balenciaga’s…
China has pushed back sharply against US allegations that Chinese AI companies are systematically extracting proprietary capabilities from American AI models, calling the claims “unfounded” just weeks before planned high-level talks between the two countries on AI governance. What the US Alleged The dispute began after the US Cyber Defense Agency issued an advisory saying China-based AI companies are conducting industrial-scale “knowledge distillation” — a technique where one AI model is trained using outputs from another, more advanced model — describing it as a core part of these companies’ development strategy rather than a minor supplement. The agency specifically named…
President Donald Trump has promised a $5,000 “dividend” to every adult American citizen if Republicans hold onto control of both chambers of Congress in November’s midterm elections — a pledge he unveiled during a high-profile speech that immediately drew questions about its legality and funding. What Trump Said Speaking at the Republican Party’s midterm convention in Dallas, Trump laid out the offer directly: if Republicans win both the House of Representatives and the Senate, he said he would issue a $5,000 dividend to every adult citizen, comparing it to a successful company distributing cash to its shareholders. He dubbed it…
Apple used its September 9 “Surprise and Shine” keynote to unveil its first-ever foldable iPhone alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max — and with prices already climbing globally, Pakistani buyers are looking at some of the steepest iPhone costs yet once PTA registration is factored in. What Apple Announced This was Apple’s first major keynote under new CEO John Ternus, who took over from Tim Cook on September 1. Rather than a full lineup refresh, Apple split its release this year: only the Pro-tier phones and the foldable arrived this fall, while the standard iPhone 18, iPhone 18e,…
The government has formally approved the import of 750,000 metric tonnes of wheat, with the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) issuing an international tender to secure the shipment — the first phase of a larger plan to import up to one million tonnes as the country works through a widening gap between wheat production and consumption. Why Pakistan Is Importing Wheat Pakistan’s annual wheat consumption is estimated at around 31.3 million tonnes for the 2026-27 market year, while domestic production is forecast at roughly 29.6 million tonnes — leaving a shortfall of close to 1.7 million tonnes. The Economic Survey…
Overseas Pakistanis sent home $3.66 billion in August 2026, according to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) — a 17% jump from the same month last year and the second straight month remittances have topped $3.6 billion. The Headline Numbers Period Remittances YoY Change August 2026 $3.66 billion +17% July 2026 $3.63 billion +13% August 2025 $3.14 billion — July–August FY27 (cumulative) $7.29 billion +15% Remittances also edged up 1% compared to July, marking back-to-back months above the $3.6 billion mark — a level Pakistan has only recently begun sustaining consistently. Where the Money Is Coming From Country/Region August 2026…
Oil is closing in on $100 a barrel for the first time since July, as a fresh wave of attacks across the Middle East stokes fears that the region’s energy supplies could face serious disruption. The Numbers Benchmark Price Move Brent Crude ~$99.33/barrel +1.4% US WTI Crude ~$94.34/barrel +1.4% This marks oil’s fourth straight session of gains, and prices are now up roughly 25% since early August alone — a sharp climb driven by fading hopes that the six-month-old regional conflict would reach a lasting resolution, and by fresh fighting flaring up instead. What’s Driving the Latest Spike The immediate…
Israel has ordered Britain’s consulate in East Jerusalem to close within 30 days, escalating a diplomatic rupture that began after the UK announced sweeping sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. What Israel Announced Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said the British consulate — located in Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah area and accredited to deal with Palestinian affairs — must shut down, with diplomats there losing their accreditation once the 30-day window lapses. British representatives at the US-led Civil-Military Coordination Center in southern Israel, along with UK diplomats based in Ramallah, were given just seven days to leave. Sa’ar…
The government has approved another 200,000 metric tonnes of sugar exports — its second such decision in just three weeks — despite a documented history of similar moves driving domestic sugar prices sharply higher, and despite an IMF report that has directly criticized how Pakistan’s sugar sector is regulated. What Was Just Approved Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar chaired a steering committee meeting on sugar policy and approved the proposal to export 200,000 more tonnes, though the decision still requires final sign-off from the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC). Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain confirmed the move,…