ISLAMABAD – Gold prices in Pakistan continues to move downward on October 22, as another major reduction brought some relief to jewellery buyers amid falling international bullion rates.
The domestic gold market recorded a fresh decline of Rs3,000 per tola, pushing the price of 24-karat gold down to Rs431,536, according to the latest figures issued by the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA).
Gold Rates in Pakistan Today
Gold Category
Latest Price
Change
24K Gold (1 Tola)
Rs431,536
↓ Rs3,000
24K Gold (10 Grams)
Rs369,972
↓ Rs2,572
International Gold (1 Ounce)
$4,090
↓ $30
Silver (1 Tola)
Rs6,086
↓ Rs121
Pakistan’s bullion market has witnessed consecutive price cuts this week, with gold becoming noticeably cheaper within 48 hours. On Wednesday, October 21, the price of one tola of gold stood at Rs434,536 after a reduction of Rs900.
The downward trend intensified on Thursday as another Rs3,000 was wiped off the per-tola price, bringing the rate to Rs431,536.
Date
Gold Price Per Tola
Daily Decline
October 21, 2026
Rs434,536
Rs900
October 22, 2026
Rs431,536
Rs3,000
Total Two-Day Decline
—
Rs3,900
International Gold Prices
The decline in Pakistan’s gold market coincided with a fresh correction in global bullion prices. International gold prices dropped by $30 per ounce, settling at $4,090 compared with the previous level of $4,120.
Changes in international bullion prices are an important factor influencing domestic gold rates, alongside movements in the rupee-dollar exchange rate.
The downward pressure was not limited to gold, as silver also registered a significant price reduction. According to APGJSA figures, silver became cheaper by Rs121 per tola, with the latest rate reaching Rs6,086. Before the reduction, silver was priced at Rs6,207 per tola.
ISLAMABAD – Imagine earning three times as much as today in next two decades. What sounds like distant dream could be reality by 2050, according to the World Bank, but the country must undertake sweeping economic reforms and accelerate growth to nearly 7% annually, or risk missing a historic opportunity for prosperity.
In fresh assessment, the global lender offered ambitious vision for Pakistan’s economic future, suggesting that the country could reach income levels comparable to those currently enjoyed by Vietnam within the next 24 years. However, behind the optimistic projections lies a serious warning: despite improvements in Pakistan’s financial position, the average citizen’s real income is growing by just 1.6% annually, raising questions about how quickly the country’s economic recovery is benefiting ordinary households.
The report suggests Pakistan could achieve sustained annual GDP growth of between 6.2% and 6.9% if it undertakes ambitious reforms to modernise its institutions, improve economic governance and remove obstacles to private investment. Under this scenario, Pakistan could potentially triple its per capita income by 2050, bringing living standards closer to those currently found in more successful developing economies.
The World Bank specifically identified Vietnam as a benchmark, suggesting Pakistan could reach its present income level if the proposed reforms are implemented consistently. The lender also outlined a pathway towards income levels associated with countries currently entering the upper-middle-income category.
But these projections come with a major condition: economic reforms must continue over the long term rather than being abandoned after short periods of financial improvement.
Are Pakistanis Getting Richer?
Pakistan’s economic indicators shown considerable improvement, according to the report, despite financial pressures and disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict.
Real GDP growth accelerated to 3.7% in FY26, compared with 3.2% in FY25. Stronger revenue collection and government spending restraint also helped Pakistan achieve a primary fiscal surplus equivalent to 2.9% of GDP during FY26.
Overseas Pakistanis continued to play a crucial role in supporting the economy, with remittance inflows helping rebuild foreign exchange reserves. The improvement in economic fundamentals also attracted international recognition. Two leading credit rating agencies, S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s, upgraded Pakistan’s sovereign ratings, while the country returned to international debt markets through a $3 billion Eurobond issuance.
These developments signalled renewed investor confidence in Pakistan’s financial outlook. However, the World Bank cautioned that restoring economic stability is only the beginning of a much larger challenge.
While Pakistan’s overall economy has expanded, the report revealed that real per capita income growth remains stuck at approximately 1.6%. This means that the pace at which the average Pakistani’s inflation-adjusted income is increasing remains significantly below the level needed for rapid improvements in living standards.
World Bank Country Director for Pakistan Bolormaa Amgaabazar acknowledged that the country had made meaningful progress in restoring economic stability and rebuilding market confidence. However, she stressed that Pakistan now urgently needs reforms capable of producing stronger and more sustained economic growth.
Pakistan’s return to international debt markets emerged as another major highlight of the World Bank assessment. The issuance of a $3 billion Eurobond demonstrated the country’s renewed ability to access international financing following improvements in macroeconomic management.
The report also highlighted credit rating upgrades from Moody’s and S&P, reflecting stronger confidence in Pakistan’s economic stabilisation efforts. The recovery has been supported by fiscal discipline, improved revenue performance and foreign exchange inflows. World Bank warned that Pakistan still faces significant constraints in government finances and foreign currency availability.
The report identified private-sector expansion as one of the most important drivers of Pakistan’s future prosperity. WB lead author stressed that the country must now focus on structural reforms that create opportunities for businesses to invest, expand and generate employment.
With fiscal resources limited and foreign exchange pressures continuing, the World Bank believes private-sector-led growth offers Pakistan a more sustainable route towards higher incomes. However, achieving this transformation would require effective coordination between government institutions, a clearly defined economic strategy and sustained implementation of reforms.
Without these changes, the report suggests Pakistan could struggle to maintain the pace of growth required to achieve its long-term income targets.
The World Bank’s latest findings present both an opportunity and a warning for Pakistan’s policymakers.
The country of nearly 250 million made measurable progress in restoring financial stability, rebuilding reserves, improving fiscal management and regaining international market confidence. On the other, the benefits of that recovery have yet to translate into sufficiently rapid income growth for the average Pakistani.
The contrast between the country’s current 1.6% real per capita income growth and its potential to sustain GDP growth of nearly 7% highlights the scale of the transformation required.
LAHORE: A special committee of the Punjab Assembly, chaired by MPA Samiullah Khan, came down hard on decades of government oversight failures after Lahore Gymkhana Club Chairman Salman Siddique conceded that the annual rent of Rs5,000 paid for over 100 acres of prime state land in the provincial capital was wholly inadequate.
Appearing before the committee alongside members of the club’s management, Mr Siddique expressed surprise at the nominal rate given the vast acreage involved and the club’s vastly improved financial footing. Contrasting the institution’s current financial standing with its constraints during the 1990s, he admitted that the club should be paying at least Rs10 million annually, while expressing willingness to cooperate with the ongoing inquiry and share records.
Committee members noted that this admission from the club’s own top leadership underscored the urgency of determining why successive state authorities allowed such a massive concession to persist without meaningful scrutiny. They stressed that the onus rested squarely on public institutions mandated to protect state land, enforce lease terms, and ensure transparent usage.
During the session, the member colonies of the board of revenue revealed that then chief minister Sardar Muhammad Arif Nakai, who was also a member of the club, had verbally directed the fixation of a token Rs5,000 annual rent for the lease extension in 1996, bypassing proper land valuation and relevant legal principles. Perturbed by how a mere verbal instruction could underpin such a major agreement, lawmakers demanded the complete documentary record detailing the legal authority and approval process behind the 1996 lease deed.
PA body constitutes fact-finding committee to frame specific queries, verify records, and present comprehensive report within 10 days
Emphasising that the land ultimately belongs to the people of Punjab, the committee was presented with estimates valuing the prime property between Rs76 billion and Rs218 billion. Members questioned the state’s failure to secure a fair public return on an asset of this scale and firmly rejected any notion that the club’s internal corporate governance shielded it from state oversight, maintaining that institutional autonomy cannot supersede accountability for public property.
Touching upon structural approvals, Mr Siddique affirmed that while the club fulfills its corporate and tax obligations under the Companies Act 2017, he has struggled to locate internal records regarding official building sanctions.
In response, lawmakers called for strict verification of sanctioned building plans, statutory permissions, and compliance with lease terms, raising safety concerns over structures lacking documented approvals.
On the issue of an independent state audit, Mr Siddique noted that the matter remains pending before the Supreme Court and assured adherence to its eventual verdict, a position echoed by management committee member Tasneem Noorani.
The panel also explored proposals aimed at broader public utility, such as opening the club’s cricket ground to the general public or relocating the facility near the Ring Road, while questioning why public funds were ever spent on an exclusive recreational club occupying state land.
To take the probe forward, the committee directed the Lahore Development Authority, Parks and Horticulture Authority, Federal Board of Revenue, and other relevant bodies to submit detailed jurisdictional reports.
Furthermore, a fact-finding committee headed by the Advocate General Punjab, comprising officials from the Board of Revenue, Metropolitan Corporation Lahore, Law department, Agriculture department, and the deputy commissioner, had been assigned to frame specific queries, verify records, and present a comprehensive report within ten days.
Concluding the session, the chairperson directed that legal questions stemming from the proceedings be forwarded to the high-powered Law Reforms Committee, headed by Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, for joint deliberations aimed at fixing responsibility for oversight lapses and ensuring the lawful use of public land.
ISLAMABAD: Failure to address the underlying disputes that engender crises between Pakistan and India could lead to more dangerous confrontations in the future, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee warned on Wednesday.
“Terminating a crisis without addressing its root causes only sets the stage for the next, more dangerous conflict,” retired Gen Zubair Mahmood Hayat said at the concluding session of the second Islamabad Non-Proliferation Conference, organised by the Strategic Vision Institute (SVI).
Ex-CJCSC warns against ignoring Kashmir dispute, Indus treaty suspension
He said that in the subcontinent, the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir could not be wished away or reduced to an administrative matter. “Similarly, water cannot be converted from a shared necessity into an instrument of power and pressure,” he said while stressing the need for resolution of the Kashmir dispute and restoration of the Indus Waters Treaty.
Gen Hayat warned that repeated crises between the nuclear-armed neighbours could become increasingly dangerous if unresolved disputes, diminishing restraint and the absence of sustained political dialogue continued to undermine regional security.
Referring to the May 2025 conflict, he said Pakistan had demonstrated its military capabilities and political control through a calibrated response that denied India a unilateral fait accompli without pursuing an unlimited war.
“The larger lesson is not that conflict between two nuclear-armed neighbours can be made routine; it is that there is no tested and certified safe space for war,” he said, warning that future crises would involve different leaders, emerging technologies and shorter decision-making timelines, heightening the risk of miscalculation.
He said South Asia lacked an inclusive regional security framework, effective crisis-management mechanisms and sustained political dialogue. “The region lives between deterrence that prevents the worst and disputes that repeatedly regenerate danger,” he said.
Gen Hayat warned unverified allegations could trigger conflict before the facts were established, with a future confrontation potentially arising from an accident rather than a deliberate state decision. He cited the continuing Operation Sindoor in this context.
• Demands reversal of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa emergency measures, release of political prisoners and Imran’s access to his personal physicians
• Claims party’s ‘popularity’ still intact despite ‘coercion’
ISLAMABAD: The PTI on Wednesday called on the government to take confidence-building measures (CBMs) to pave the way for meaningful dialogue, demanding the reversal of what it described as “unlawful” measures, restoration of its provincial government’s mandate in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and release of political prisoners.
In a statement, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said meaningful negotiations required concrete action rather than political statements. “If the government was genuinely serious about dialogue, it should take steps to build trust,” he added.
Mr Akram demanded the reversal of measures the party considered unlawful, restoration of its provincial government’s mandate and release of political prisoners whose continued detention, he said, could not be legally justified.
He also called for the protection of PTI founder Imran Khan’s constitutional and fundamental rights, including lawful meetings with his lawyers and family, fair and timely proceedings in his and his wife’s cases, and medical treatment under the supervision of his personal physicians in accordance with applicable court orders.
Mr Akram condemned raids on homes, detentions and pressure on elected representatives and party workers in Punjab and KP, alleging that these actions were intended to intimidate political opponents.
PTI’s ‘popularity’
Rejecting Information Minister Attaullah Tarar’s remarks about the party’s political standing, Mr Akram challenged all ruling coalition parties to contest elections against the PTI under a single banner. He said they would suffer a “crushing defeat in a free and fair contest, even today”.
On Tuesday, Mr Tarar had said a formal ban on the PTI was no longer needed after the imposition of governor’s rule and an emergency in KP, arguing that the party had “lost power” in the province because of security and counterterrorism failures.
Mr Akram said the government’s use of “coercive measures and political pressure” had failed to diminish the PTI’s public support. He described the party as Pakistan’s “leading federal political force” and its founder, Imran Khan, as the “only leader enjoying widespread public support across the country”.
Rejecting governor’s rule and the emergency in KP, he described the measures as an “attempt to undermine the province’s electoral mandate”. He said the party’s strength stemmed from its connection with the people rather than its control of government offices.
He added that no “handpicked administration should be allowed to dictate” the political future of around 50 million residents without respecting their democratic choices and constitutional rights.
Mr Akram insisted that decisions concerning the province’s governance, resources, and future must involve its elected representatives and local population.
LAHORE – Punjab government made changes to leadership of food and cane administration, appointing Captain (Retd) Muhammad Waseem in place of Amjad Hafeez with immediate effect.
Muhammad Waseem, a BS-19 officer, moves from the post of Director General Wildlife and Parks to become Director General Food and Cane Commissioner. Hafeez, also in BS-19, has been directed to report to the Services and General Administration Department for further orders.
The incoming DG brings previous experience in sugar price enforcement and agricultural market negotiations to the assignment. During his tenure as Deputy Commissioner Sargodha, Waseem notified district sugar prices in July 2025 and ordered price control magistrates to enforce the rates. Retailers were required to display official price lists, with action promised against violations.
In January 2026, the district administration helped broker an agreement between kinnow growers and factory owners, fixing a rate of Rs1,600 per maund for that week. Farmer representatives credited Waseem with helping resolve the dispute.
His administrative career includes a posting as Deputy Commissioner Bahawalnagar from October 2021 to February 2023. He took charge as Deputy Commissioner Sargodha in August 2024 and was given additional responsibility for Khushab district in December that year.
Waseem subsequently moved to the Wildlife and Parks organisation in late January 2026, replacing Mubeen Elahi. He now takes over Punjab’s food and cane portfolio following assignments spanning district governance, commodity price enforcement and departmental administration.
ISLAMABAD – Pakistanis will pay Rs379.31 per litre for petrol on Thursday, October 22, 2026, as the government announced a Rs2.71 cut, while high-speed diesel (HSD) will become slightly more expensive.
A day earlier, the government raised diesel by Rs0.31 per litre to Rs390.11, delivering a mixed fuel-price adjustment for consumers. The revised rates apply for October 22.
Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) revised ex-depot prices under the federal government’s petroleum pricing mechanism. The calculation reflected international developments, including changes in Platts quotations, premiums and incidental costs. Pakistan’s petrol relief comes as crude availability improves in the Middle East, although record shipping costs continue to weigh on the movement of oil from the region.
Fresh data shows that Oman crude’s premium over Dubai, a measure of Middle Eastern market strength, dropped to $4.22 per barrel this week, its lowest since late July. That represents a sharp retreat from approximately $30 per barrel in mid-September.
Regional producers have accelerated shuttle shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and ship-to-ship transfers in the Gulf of Oman. These operations have increased available supplies, particularly spot cargoes, helping drive the premium lower. Several tanker-tracking services indicate that Middle Eastern crude flows are recovering, with some estimating shipments have already exceeded pre-war levels.
ISLAMABAD – PIA is preparing a major expansion of its British network, increasing London Heathrow services to seven flights a week from October 27, 2026, before restoring its Islamabad–Birmingham connection on December 1.
The expansion promises more nonstop travel options for passengers visiting family, conducting business or travelling for tourism, while reducing dependence on connections through Middle Eastern hubs.
Under Heathrow plan, the national carrier will operate five weekly flights from Islamabad and two from Lahore, up from a combined four weekly services. The seven-flight schedule provides daily connectivity between Pakistan and London, although neither Pakistani city will have a daily service individually. Seats for the expanded London operation have already been offered for sale. The increase comes after PIA returned to Heathrow in late March 2026 with approximately four weekly flights, mainly from Islamabad alongside Lahore services.
Birmingham will follow on a separate timetable. Schedule information available in mid-to-late October shows three weekly Islamabad–Birmingham flights beginning December 1, restoring another destination historically served by PIA before its 2020 suspension.
The schedule places outbound flight PK791 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, departing Islamabad at 12:15 and reaching Birmingham at 16:00. Return flight PK792 is listed to leave Birmingham at 18:30 and arrive in Islamabad at 07:15 the following morning.
Aircraft deployment remains subject to change, with reports mentioning Boeing 777 aircraft or wet-leased capacity. An earlier catering tender had also indicated preparations for Birmingham operations.
The wider UK expansion is expected to receive a capacity boost through the wet lease of two Boeing 787-9 aircraft from Norse Atlantic. The ACMI arrangement covers aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance, with operations expected around early November. The Dreamliners appear in some Heathrow and Manchester schedules.
PIA UK Flights Schedule
Route
Weekly flights
Details
Islamabad–London Heathrow
5
Boeing 787-9 listed
Lahore–London Heathrow
2
Boeing 787-9 listed
Islamabad–Manchester
Around 4
Schedule subject to change
Lahore–Manchester
Around 1
Schedule subject to change
Islamabad–Birmingham
3
From December 1
This marks another stage in PIA’s return to Britain following years of restrictions. Its UK and European operations were suspended after the May 2020 Karachi A320 crash and concerns over pilot licensing.
UK removed Pakistan from its Air Safety List in July 2025. PIA subsequently resumed Manchester flights in October 2025, followed by London in March 2026.
For passengers planning winter journeys, the distinction between the launch dates is crucial: the combined daily Heathrow schedule begins on October 27, rather than November 1, while Birmingham services are scheduled to start on December 1.
LAHORE – Lahore High Court shared verdict on the imposition of 2% stamp duty on the partition of inherited property, ruling that the applicable duty is a fixed Rs500 under the Stamp Act, 1899.
Justice Tanveer Ahmed Sheikh of LHC issued the ruling while accepting a writ petition filed by Muhammad Sajjad, setting aside the 2025 decisions of a civil judge and an additional sessions judge.
In written judgment, the judge declared a judicial precedent, the court held that the lower courts had offered no legal justification for charging duty at 2%. The judgment also clarified that bringing other co-owners into the proceedings as parties does not alter the nature of the case.
The court ruled that a percentage-based financial burden cannot be imposed without lawful authority, affirming the fixed Rs500 stamp duty applicable to inherited property partition.
LAHORE – Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s cabinet gets another member, with Special Assistant Salma Butt appointed as a provincial minister.
Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan issued the notification, formalising Butt’s elevation from special assistant to a ministerial position.
The newly appointed minister will take her oath of office before the governor.
Before becoming a provincial minister, Salma Butt served as Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s special assistant on food safety and consumer protection, taking part in surprise inspections and crackdowns on adulteration and unhygienic food businesses across Punjab.
She conducted several raids under and sealed top eateries found violating food safety regulations. She also accompanied teams inspecting motorway food outlets. Alongside enforcement, Butt supported initiatives to improve street-food standards through vendor training, medical screening and better food-handling practices.
Pakistanis spend over $850 million on formula milk (annual basis)
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s infant formula advertisers could face mandatory health warnings, fines or a possible ban after a Senate committee directed media regulator to ensure their commercials clearly state that there is no substitute for breast milk.
Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services issued the directive during its meeting on Tuesday, warning that aggressive promotion of breast milk substitutes could undermine efforts to combat child malnutrition.
Committee Chairman Senator Aamir Waliuddin Chishti told the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) that implementation was essential, while leaving the choice of enforcement measures to the regulator. He said PEMRA could consider banning advertisements, imposing fines or taking other regulatory action to ensure compliance.
Senator Shahzeb Durrani proposed mandatory pictorial warnings on formula milk advertisements, drawing a comparison with warnings used for cigarettes. Durrani reminded the regulator that the committee had previously called for discouraging formula milk promotion, particularly where mothers are able to breastfeed but choose alternatives.
PEMRA Chairperson Ambreen Jan suggested banning formula milk advertisements. Committee members, however, said the authority to decide and enforce such regulatory measures rested with PEMRA. Jan also presented public awareness messages highlighting breastfeeding’s importance and the nutritional benefits of breast milk.
The committee’s intervention comes against a troubling backdrop of childhood malnutrition. UNICEF estimates cited in the report put the number of children affected by stunting in Pakistan at approximately 10 million, while only 38 per cent of infants are exclusively breastfed during their first six months.
The committee’s directive places pressure on PEMRA to act, although the discussion did not amount to an announcement of an advertising ban.
Pakistani families spend $880 million on formula milk annually, while inadequate breastfeeding contributes to an estimated 33,700 child deaths and $2.8 billion in economic losses, experts told the Pakistan Paediatric Association’s conference in Islamabad.
With exclusive breastfeeding at just 48.4%, specialists warned that babies under six months who receive no breast milk face a 15-fold higher risk of death, mainly from diarrhoea and pneumonia.
Experts also flagged drug-resistant typhoid, rising childhood HIV infections, newborn deaths and air pollution, urging tighter controls on formula marketing, stronger breastfeeding protections and better access to preventive care and treatment.
ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the National Command Authority retired Lt Gen Khalid Kidwai on Tuesday warned that Pakistan could review its deployment options to restore strategic balance in South Asia, saying India was moving towards a more prepared, potentially first-use capable nuclear posture.
“Pakistan never has and never will accept strategic imbalances to be induced in South Asia,” Mr Kidwai said at the second Islamabad Non-Proliferation Conference, hosted by the Strategic Vision Institute, an Islamabad based think tank specialising in strategic issues.
“Pakistan will review and reconsider all options for appropriate deployments in order to restore the strategic balance and strategic stability while retaining the policy of strategic ambiguity,” he added.
Mr Kidwai and retired Lt Gen Sarfraz Sattar, both former heads of the Strategic Plans Division and advisers to the NCA, said India’s reported deployment of nuclear weapons aboard a submarine, alongside missile modernisation and recent military confrontations, raised the risk of escalation between the two neighbouring arch rivals.
NCA adviser reminds India of Pakistan’s Full Spectrum Deterrence policy
Nuclear warheads
Citing the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s SIPRI Yearbook 2026 and other publicly available information, they pointed to reports that India had deployed around 12 nuclear warheads on a submarine for deterrence patrols. They also cited missile canisterisation and wider nuclear and conventional modernisation as developments that cast doubt on India’s declared No-First-Use policy.
Mr Kidwai said the reported deployment suggested India had mated nuclear warheads with submarine launched ballistic missiles and begun sea based deterrence patrols.
“I do not see any reason as to why an SIPRI report might be inaccurate or speculative,” he said.
“This irresponsible escalatory transition towards creating asymmetry in nuclear posture will have profound destabilising effects on South Asian strategic stability,” he added.
Mr Kidwai said India’s ability to maintain a continuous at sea deterrent further undermined the credibility of its No-First-Use policy and pointed to a more offensive nuclear posture.
“The operational reality that emerges is that India can undertake a first strike against Pakistan at zero notice,” he said.
Advance notification
He also questioned the absence of advance notification for Indian submarine launched ballistic missile tests, warning that such developments could heighten the risk of miscalculation during a crisis.
Referring to the February 2019 confrontation, he said India had reportedly deployed its Arihant nuclear submarine in the Indian Ocean after carrying out air strikes near Balakot in Pakistan, presumably with nuclear weapons aboard. He described the latest reported deployment as part of India’s wider effort to operationalise mated nuclear weapons on submarines.
“Pakistan reserves the right to undertake all appropriate measures to safeguard its national security and preserve strategic balance in the region under all circumstances,” Mr Kidwai said.
He urged India to understand the implications of Pakistan’s Full Spectrum Deterrence policy.
“India in fact will be well advised to read and re-read Pakistan’s policy of Full Spectrum Deterrence and seriously absorb its wide ranging implications for strategic deterrence, strategic stability, and for India’s security,” he said.
Mr Sattar said the May 2025 conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours showed how quickly conventional hostilities could escalate. The ceasefire came after both sides used cruise and ballistic missiles and India deployed strategic naval assets, he said.
He drew parallels with the 2019 confrontation, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to the deployment of nuclear submarines for deterrence patrols and the positioning of BrahMos missiles along Pakistan’s border.
The May 2025 fighting was more intense, involving kamikaze drones, supersonic BrahMos missiles capable of carrying conventional or nuclear warheads, and cyber and electronic warfare, he said.
“It is now clear that the 2025 conflict was much more lethal in comparison to the 2019 conflict,” Mr Sattar said, warning that the fighting risked spiralling towards nuclear escalation through accident or miscalculation.
He cited India’s canisterisation of land and sea based missiles, pursuit of multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) capabilities, short-range tactical missiles, ballistic missile defences, hypersonic weapons and autonomous platforms as further sources of concern.
Combined with India’s Cold Start doctrine, wider military modernisation and the absence of a bilateral arms control mechanism, these developments raised doubts about its No-First-Use declaration and traditionally recessed deterrence posture, he said.
“Rather, as I said, it signals a shift towards more first use capable posture,” Mr Sattar said.
“The future strategic stability in South Asia is placed on a perilous and worrisome course with heightened risk of misunderstanding and miscalculation, potentially leading to unintended or accidental escalation to the nuclear level,” he added.
KARACHI: Hub Power Company (Hubco) has said that BYD vehicle production will initially rely entirely on imported raw materials and components, with localisation increasing gradually over time.
The long-term objective is to localise up to 80 per cent of the vehicle, which should improve cost competitiveness and reduce reliance on imports, Hubco management said during a corporate briefing held on October 20, 2026.
Topline Securities said the BYD plant is expected to commence operations within the next 4-5 weeks, by mid-December.
The management is targeting an initial sales run rate of approximately 1,000-1,500 BYD vehicles per month as production ramps up.
BYD plans to introduce additional models through a phased approach, focusing on segments that can generate meaningful sales volumes, the brokerage house said.
According to Topline Securities, Lucky Cement told analysts on Tuesday that competition in the EV segment remains intense, particularly from Chinese completely built-up (CBU) vehicles.
The company aims to begin local production of EV models by the first quarter of calendar year 2027, with volumes and model offerings expected to increase gradually in subsequent quarters.
ISLAMABAD – Just a day after fuel price cut, petrol climbs to Rs382.02 per litre while diesel reaches Rs389.80 for October 21 Wednesday.
Petrol has become costlier by Rs0.88 per litre, taking its price to Rs382.02, while high-speed diesel has risen by Rs0.53 to Rs389.80 per litre. The revised rates will take effect on October 21, 2026.
The latest increase follows a significant price reduction announced on October 19 and effective October 20. At the time, petrol prices were cut by Rs5.16 per litre to Rs381.14, while high-speed diesel was reduced by Rs7.69 to Rs389.27.
The fresh adjustment has pushed petrol back above Rs382 per litre and diesel close to Rs390, trimming part of the relief consumers received from the previous reduction.
International oil prices also eased from a 5-month high during volatile trading on Tuesday as traders assessed growing security concerns in the Middle East.
Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure and reports of attacks on vessels in the Gulf added uncertainty to the regional energy outlook, keeping attention focused on potential risks to oil supplies.
ISLAMABAD – Sindh government expands competitive exam opportunities as age limit rises to 33 in relief for those looking to enter service after age of 30.
PPP led government announced major changes to Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) rules, offering fresh opportunities to aspiring candidates by raising the age limit, increasing the number of examination attempts and lowering the minimum passing threshold for the Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) 2026.
Sindh Cabinet approved the reforms during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah at the CM House, according to the provincial government spokesperson.
Under new decisions, the maximum age limit for candidates appearing in the CCE has been increased from 30 to 33 years, giving older candidates additional time to compete for government positions.
The cabinet also increased the number of permissible attempts from three to five, allowing candidates more opportunities to clear the competitive examination.
The minimum passing threshold for CCE 2026 has been reduced from 40% to 33%. The decision lowers the required passing score by seven percentage points for the upcoming examination. The provincial government has also approved the introduction of computerised testing for examinations consisting of a single paper, marking a shift towards technology-based assessments under the SPSC system.
The reforms are expected to provide greater flexibility to candidates preparing for provincial competitive examinations, particularly those who previously faced age restrictions or had exhausted their permitted attempts.
Meanwhile, the standard age limit for Punjab PMS and federal CSS examinations is 21 to 30 years, with eligible candidates receiving relaxation up to 32 years. Punjab PMS candidates can benefit from a special relaxation for 2026 and 2027, while federal CSS candidates must meet specified eligibility criteria for the two-year concession.
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s new auto policy could bring an additional financial burden for buyers of high-engine-capacity vehicles, with the government proposing a 10% Automotive Development Levy on cars above 2,000cc and a 2% charge on vehicles over 1,000cc.
The draft policy, approved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, proposes introducing the levy on imported as well as locally assembled or manufactured vehicles, according to sources cited by ProPakistani.
Under proposed framework, the levy rate would vary according to engine capacity and vehicle category, with larger passenger cars facing the highest proposed charge. However, smaller cars and several other vehicle categories would remain exempt. Cars with engine capacities below 1,000cc would attract no levy, while two-wheelers, three-wheelers and agricultural tractors would also fall under the zero-rate category.
The draft sets 2% levy on passenger vehicles classified under PCT 87.03 with engine capacities between 1,001cc and 2,000cc. For cars exceeding 2,000cc, the proposed rate rises to 10%. The policy would also extend the proposed 2% charge to several commercial vehicle categories, including prime movers, except those used for agricultural purposes, trucks, light commercial vehicles (LCVs), buses and vans.
Could Car Prices Rise Under the New Policy?
The proposed levy could affect the cost of vehicles covered by the new framework, although its actual impact on buyers will depend on how the charge is calculated and implemented.
The draft does not mention final calculation method or effective date. These details will be crucial in determining how the levy translates into costs for imported vehicles and cars assembled or manufactured in Pakistan.
For now, the proposed rates remain part of the draft auto policy. The final implementation framework will determine when the levy takes effect and how it applies to the specified vehicle categories.
TEHRAN – Pakistan Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran, holding high-level discussions alongside Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, according to Iranian media.
The meeting brings together senior leadership from Pakistan’s military and interior security establishment with Iran’s president at a time when bilateral engagement and regional security remain important to both neighbouring countries.
مسعود پزشکیان، رئیسجمهور ایران، با عاصم منیر، فرمانده ارتش پاکستان، و محسن نقوی، وزیر کشور این کشور، در تهران دیدار و گفتوگو کرد.-رسانههای ایران https://t.co/jic8FbpNOL
Pezeshkian held talks with Munir and Naqvi in the Iranian capital. However, details of the discussions, including the specific issues raised and any decisions reached, were not immediately available in the reported account.
Asim Munir’s reported fifth visit to Iran also puts the spotlight on continued high-level engagement between Islamabad and Tehran. His interactions with Iranian leadership are significant given the two countries’ shared border, security concerns and longstanding interest in maintaining regional stability.
Pakistan and Iran have repeatedly emphasised the importance of cooperation on border security, counterterrorism and bilateral relations. The latest meeting could provide another opportunity to discuss these priorities, although its specific agenda and outcomes have yet to be confirmed.
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