Pakistan Cables recognized at the 3rd International Solar Technology Excellence Awards 2026
Pakistan Cables Ltd. has been recognized as the exclusive category winner for Solar DC Cables at the 3rd International Solar Technology Excellence Awards 2026, organized by Energy Updates, held recently in Lahore. The award was presented by Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar, Provincial Minister for Energy Punjab to Mr. Qasim uz Zaman Bajwa, Senior Manager Project Sales, who received the award on behalf of Pakistan Cables. This is the second consecutive win for the Company. The recognition acknowledges the Company’s contribution to Pakistan’s growing solar energy sector through its Solar DC Cables. Pakistan Cables is also the first in Pakistan to achieve TÜV Rheinland certification for locally manufactured Halogen Free Low Smoke Solar DC Cables, in accordance with EN 50618 / IEC 62930 testing and certification requirements. Earlier this year, Pakistan Cables also became the first company in Pakistan to successfully have its 35 kV medium voltage cables type tested successfully by KEMA Labs, Netherland.
Syngenta Pakistan Calls for Climate-Resilient Agriculture to Protect Farmers and Food Supplies
Increasing climate stress is becoming an economic as well as an agricultural challenge for Pakistan, threatening crop productivity, farmer incomes and future food security as the sector confronts water scarcity, deteriorating soil health and increasingly unpredictable production conditions.
Speaking at the Pakistan Agriculture Coalition’s Agri-Connections 2026 conference in Lahore, Zeeshan Baig, Country General Manager, Syngenta Pakistan, said Pakistan needed to build a more resilient agricultural system as farmers increasingly faced pressures that directly affected their ability to produce food consistently and profitably.
The challenge assumes wider economic significance because agriculture accounts for 23.44 percent of Pakistan’s GDP. Although the sector grew by 2.89 percent during FY2025-26, important crops recorded growth of only 0.65 percent, with increases in sugarcane, wheat and rice offset by declines in cotton and maize, according to the Pakistan Economic Survey 2025-26.
Baig said climate-related disruptions were compounding existing pressures on agriculture, particularly declining water availability, weakening soil health and changing pest and disease patterns.
“We don’t just need more food, we need more sustainable and resilient food,” he said, arguing that Pakistan could no longer look at agricultural productivity independently of the environmental and resource constraints affecting farmers.
Water represents one of the most significant vulnerabilities. Pakistan’s agricultural system remains heavily dependent on irrigation, making farm productivity increasingly exposed to declining water availability and changing climatic conditions.
Zeeshan said that as resources become more constrained, the challenge would be to enable agriculture to produce more while improving the efficiency with which water, land and other inputs were used.
The implications extend beyond individual farms. Punjab alone accounts for around 73 percent of Pakistan’s total food production, making the resilience of agriculture in the province particularly important for national food supplies as well as the livelihoods and economic activity supported by the rural economy.
The World Bank has similarly identified improving agricultural water productivity, climate resilience and farmer incomes in Punjab as important to strengthening the country’s agricultural system.
The pressure is expected to intensify as Pakistan’s population continues to grow while agricultural resources remain constrained. “By the next 30 years, our population is expected to increase by almost 50 percent. Today, we are already at a weak deficit or marginally meeting the food demand of the local economy,” said Zeeshan. He further said, the combination of rising food demand and increasing climate pressure meant Pakistan would need to protect agricultural productivity against both sudden shocks and longer-term stresses.
Climate resilience, he added, therefore needed to become part of everyday agricultural decision-making, including how farmers use water, manage soil health, protect crops against emerging pests and diseases, and respond to changing weather conditions.
Baig pointed to laser land levelling as one example of a practical intervention that could improve resilience by helping farmers use scarce resources more efficiently. Figures presented during his address showed that the technology could reduce water use by around 20 to 30 percent while increasing yields by approximately 10 percent.
He said such interventions demonstrated that building agricultural resilience did not necessarily depend on complex technologies alone. Greater impact could also come from combining improved agronomic practices, digital advisory, crop diagnostics, weather information, crop protection and biological solutions around the specific challenges farmers faced.
“Until we empower farmers to make the right decisions, we will never be able to solve food security in Pakistan,” Baig said.
He stressed that climate resilience would ultimately require coordinated action from government, academia, researchers and the private sector to improve farmers’ access to knowledge, technology and practical solutions that could protect productivity under increasingly difficult conditions.
The economic case for such investment is also becoming stronger. A recent World Bank assessment for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan region estimates that an additional $12 billion annually in water-efficient irrigation and agricultural innovation, together with policy reforms, could substantially increase domestic food production and raise cereal yields by 72 percent by 2050.
For Pakistan, Baig said, strengthening agriculture against climate stress was therefore not simply an environmental priority. It was increasingly linked to protecting crop output, farmer livelihoods, national food supplies and the wider economy dependent on agriculture.
Fatima Fertilizer Secures Top Position at UN GCNP Sustainability Awards 2026
Company recognised for its people-centred sustainability journey and contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals
Fatima Fertilizer Company Limited has secured 1st Position in the Human Rights category at the United Nations Global Compact Network Pakistan (GCNP) Sustainability Awards 2026, recognising the Company’s commitment to responsible business practices, inclusion and creating positive impact for its employees, farmers and communities.
The award marks another milestone in Fatima Fertilizer’s evolving sustainability journey, which was formally anchored in November 2024 when the Company became the first private-sector organisation in Pakistan to formally adopt the UNDP SDG Impact Framework. Through the framework, Fatima Fertilizer has mapped its activities against 15 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 49 targets across eight priority impact areas.
The Company’s sustainability approach integrates responsible business practices with its core role in supporting Pakistan’s agriculture sector and contributing to the wellbeing of the communities it serves. Its initiatives span farmer livelihoods and food security, employee wellbeing, women’s empowerment, education and skills development, environmental stewardship, climate action, resource efficiency, digital inclusion and responsible agricultural practices.
“Being recognised in the Human Rights category is a meaningful affirmation of our people-centred approach to sustainability. At Fatima Fertilizer, we remain committed to creating lasting value for our employees, farmers and communities while advancing responsible business practices and contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals,” said Rabel Sadozai, Director Marketing and Sales, Fatima Fertilizer.
The recognition also reflects Fatima Fertilizer’s efforts to advance a number of SDGs, including SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
The UN GCNP Sustainability Awards 2026 recognition adds to Fatima Fertilizer’s growing portfolio of national and international sustainability and impact recognitions and reflects the Company’s continued ambition to integrate sustainability into its business strategy, operations and long-term value creation.
Another landmark surgical procedure at SIUT transplanting deceased corneas to two visually impaired persons
The family of 21-year-old Abdul Samad, a dialysis patient at SIUT (Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation), has donated his corneas to two other people to regain their sight.
A press release of SIUT today, while giving the details, said that Samad, a resident of Purana Golimar, was a dialysis patient at SIUT since April last year. He developed kidney failure due to a genetically inherited family kidney ailment. His medical history and family history medically never permitted him to undergo kidney transplant surgery.
Elder brother of Samad had also been a dialysis patient at SIUT since 2016. The two brothers used to come to the hospital together for their dialysis sessions. Nephrologists who attended the two brothers said, “They supported each other during the treatment.”
Organ donation was also part of Samad’s family history, as his maternal uncle earlier received a kidney transplant at SIUT in 1986, with his mother donating her kidney to him. Samad’s mother, Pervin, is an employee at SIUT and works as a technologist in the Pathology Department. Samad had studied up to class five and helped his father at his shop.
These personal losses inspired the family to do something meaningful to help others. They decided to donate Samad’s corneas for transplantation, giving two other people an opportunity to regain their sight and improve their lives.
SIUT has greatly appreciated the human gesture of courage of the family but also stressed the need for greater awareness about deceased organ donation.
Trade Deficit Widens in First Quarter: September Gap Reaches $3.55 Billion. Effective Measures Needed For Export Growth: Mian Zahid Hussain
President of the Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF) and All Karachi Industrial Alliance, Chairman of the National Business Group Pakistan, Chairman of the FPCCI Policy Advisory Board, and former Provincial IT Minister, Mian Zahid Hussain, said that the 10.84 percent increase in exports during the first quarter of FY2026-27 was encouraging. However, imports grew by 13.21 percent, causing the trade deficit to widen by 15.13 percent to USD 10.79 billion, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics’ report for September 2026. While commenting on the July-September trade figures, he said exports reached USD 8.42 billion, compared with approximately USD 7.60 billion in the same period last year. Imports rose to USD 19.21 billion from USD 16.97 billion. As imports grew faster than exports, the quarterly trade deficit increased from USD 9.37 billion to USD 10.79 billion. He said the export growth was welcome, but the widening deficit remained a serious policy challenge for the country’s external trade balance.
Mian Zahid Hussain said exports in September 2026 stood at USD 2.93 billion, compared with USD 2.50 billion in September 2025. Imports rose to USD 6.49 billion from approximately USD 5.85 billion, while the monthly trade deficit widened to USD 3.55 billion from USD 3.35 billion a year earlier. He said the rise in the import bill could not be dismissed as a one-month development. Its causes, composition and effects on domestic production needed to be examined. The US-Iran war has sharply raised petroleum prices, contributing to pressure on Pakistan’s import bill, he said. Some imports, including machinery and raw materials, are essential for production; blanket restrictions could therefore harm industry, employment and export capacity.
Mian Zahid Hussain said that if the quarterly trade deficit remained close to USD 10.79 billion in each of the remaining three quarters, the full-year deficit could reach approximately USD 43.16 billion, or about USD 43.2 billion. Pakistan received USD 41.6 billion in remittances during FY2025-26, while the State Bank of Pakistan projects inflows of USD 44 billion in FY2026-27. Remittances are expected to provide an important cushion to the external account, but they cannot be treated as a direct offset to the merchandise trade deficit. The figures underline the narrow margin available to absorb external pressures. A further rise in imports or a shortfall in remittances could increase pressure on foreign exchange availability and the current account. Sustainable export growth and well-planned import substitution are therefore essential.
Mian Zahid Hussain said the rise in exports was encouraging, but sustaining that progress would require Pakistan to broaden the range of products it exports and the markets it serves. The country should focus on goods that can secure a stronger position in international markets through value addition, improved quality and competitive pricing. Alongside better performance in traditional export sectors, access to new products and markets should be expanded to reduce reliance on a limited number of products or destinations.
Mian Zahid Hussain urged the government to ensure reliable energy supplies to export industries at competitive rates and to clear tax refunds without delay. Simplifying port procedures, customs clearance and trade documentation is also necessary to reduce business costs and production lead times. Frequent or unpredictable changes to tax and sales tax refund rules, customs duties on raw materials and machinery, and industrial electricity and gas tariffs create uncertainty for investors and exporters. Decisions on taxation, tariffs and energy should be clear, consistent and predictable, he said.
Mian Zahid Hussain added that domestic alternatives should be developed to help ease import pressures, while avoiding protection that makes locally produced goods more expensive or lowers their quality. Where local production is viable, industries should have access to appropriate energy, technology and financing, along with support to improve standards. A balanced approach is needed: discourage non-essential imports while facilitating imports required for industrial production. He said reducing the trade deficit would require export growth to outpace import growth. Effective coordination among the government, industry, FPCCI and exporters, supported by timely decisions and measurable targets, could place external trade on a more stable footing. Export competitiveness, productive capacity and a business-friendly policy environment should remain central to the country’s economic priorities.
National SDGs Investment Fair connects Pakistan’s development priorities with investors
The National Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Investment Fair concluded today in Karachi, bringing together federal and provincial governments, domestic and international investors, financial institutions, and development partners to explore investment opportunities that can advance Pakistan’s SDG agenda.
Convened by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Pakistan under the SDGs Plus Programme, the two-day Fair showcased 35 SDG-aligned public-private partnership projects worth approximately US$26 billion to potential investors and culminated in the signing of a Letter of Intent between a government private-sector partner and an investor for a $40 million project in the tourism sector.
The Fair began on 6 October with the launch of the SDG Investment Pipeline Compendium and project pitchbooks. Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, joined virtually as Chief Guest. “Every country needs a policy framework and a financing equation. But the most important piece is capacity building, which is where we need to talk about investable, bankable projects that we can structure, report on and monitor in line with international standards,” said Senator Aurangzeb. The session also featured remarks by Ms. Sherry Rehman, Chair, Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change, and Mr. Najam Shah, Chairman, Planning and Development Department, Government of Sindh.
Ms. Van Nguyen, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP Pakistan, underscored the importance of sustained investment in promising initiatives. “Over the next two days, I hope these conversations translate into partnerships that outlast this Fair. Its success should not be measured only by the number of projects showcased or commitments announced, but by whether these projects move forward: into financing, implementation and real improvements in people’s lives,” she said in her remarks.
Over the two days, project representatives from federal and provincial agencies presented investment cases in transport, climate, agriculture, water and sanitation, tourism, industry, trade, and technology. Participating institutions included the Sindh Public Private Partnership Unit, the Punjab Public Private Partnership Authority, the Ravi Urban Development Authority, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Board of Investment and Trade, and the Balochistan Public Private Partnership Authority.
In his keynote address at the opening session of day two, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, reflected on the importance of mobilizing investment to advance Pakistan’s development priorities. “The Fair translates URAAN’s pillars into investable opportunities, bringing government and investors together to accelerate sustainable development through investment across Pakistan,” said Prof. Ahsan Iqbal.
The event also included a high-level panel that explored the role of Pakistan’s capital markets and private sector in mobilizing sustainable investment, moderated by Ms. Van Nguyen. The conversation focused on investment opportunities and private-sector financing, bringing together Mr. Umar Ahsan Khan, President of OICCI and CEO of Dawlance; Ms. Zehra Aneek, Director for Sustainability and Climate Change at EY MENA; Mr. Farid Alam, CEO of AKD Securities; and Mr. Amir Masood, Chief Investment Officer, InfraZamin.
A panel discussion moderated by Ms. Naghma-e-Tehniat Jerral explored moving from development planning to investment. It featured insights from Mr. Najam Shah, Chairman, Planning & Development Board, Government of Sindh; Dr. Zeeshan Hanif, CEO, Punjab Public Private Partnership Authority; Mr. Faayaz Ali, Additional Secretary Finance, Balochistan; Mr. Iqbal Sarwar, Director for Business Facilitation and Administration; and Dr. Fareena Mazhar, Former Secretary, Board of Investment.
The Fair was formally closed by Mr. Jam Khan Shoro, Minister of Planning and Development Department, Government of Sindh, who underscored the value of stronger collaboration between government and the private sector in ensuring development. “Sustainable investment is key to unlocking Sindh’s and Pakistan’s development potential, connecting our projects with the capital and partnerships needed to deliver results in health, WASH, and agriculture,” he added.
Dr. Samuel Rizk, Resident Representative, UNDP Pakistan, reflected on the importance of sustained engagement to take projects forward. “This Fair is a platform that demonstrates how well-designed investment opportunities can successfully attract financing and also ensure development impact.”
Pedalling for a Cause: Faysal Bank and Patients’ Aid Foundation Unite Against Breast Cancer
Faysal Bank Limited (FBL), for the third consecutive year, joined hands with Patients’ Aid Foundation (JPMC) as Title Sponsor of “Bike A Cause 3 – Pedal Together to Defeat Breast Cancer” bringing together the Karachi cycling community, healthcare professionals and supporters to raise awareness and support for free breast-cancer care at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC).
The initiative seeks to help make quality breast-cancer screening and treatment accessible to patients who cannot afford it, particularly those from underserved communities across Karachi, Sindh, Balochistan and other parts of Pakistan. Proceeds from the initiative will support Patients’ Aid Foundation’s efforts to provide free healthcare to patients in need.
Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Yousaf Hussain, President and CEO of Faysal Bank, said, “Care is one of Faysal Bank’s core Islamic values, and we believe its true meaning lies in turning compassion into meaningful action. We are proud to continue our association with Patients’ Aid Foundation for the third consecutive year and to support its efforts to make quality healthcare accessible to those who need it most. This year’s focus on breast cancer makes the cause particularly meaningful, and we are honoured to contribute to a movement that brings the community together for a vital cause.”
Mr. Mushtaq K. Chhapra, Chairman of Patients’ Aid Foundation, said, “Bike A Cause is a powerful expression of what can be achieved when a community comes together for a shared purpose. We are grateful to Faysal Bank for standing with us once again and helping raise awareness and support for free breast-cancer care at JPMC.”
For more than three decades, Patients’ Aid Foundation has worked in partnership with JPMC to strengthen healthcare infrastructure, technology and patient care, enabling access to advanced medical treatment free of charge for those in need.
SIUT to Reach One Million Women with Breast Cancer Awareness Message
The Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) and Santex Products (Pvt.) Limited have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch a three-month breast cancer awareness campaign, with an ambition to reach one million women with the message of breast cancer awareness and early detection.
The MoU was signed by Dr. Lamiya Rizvi, Trustee, SIUT Trust, and Mr. Feroz Mujtaba Rahman, Director, Operations, Santex Products, Pvt. Ltd.
The campaign, running from October to December 2026, will focus on increasing breast cancer awareness, promoting timely breast self-examination, and providing women with credible and accessible health information.
As part of the initiative, breast cancer awareness inserts featuring a QR code that connects women to an educational breast self-check video developed by SIUT will be included in Santex’s sanitary napkin packs. The initiative encourages women to make breast self-examination part of their monthly routine, particularly 3-4 days after their menstrual cycle ends.
The collaboration brings together SIUT’s medical expertise and quest to provide free quality healthcare with dignity to all and Santex’s reach to take this important health message directly to women in their everyday lives.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Lamiya Rizvi, Trustee, SIUT Trust, said, “Our ambition to reach one million women reflects our commitment to taking credible health information beyond healthcare settings and into communities. Awareness and timely attention can play an important role in encouraging women to seek medical advice when needed.”
UBL Rural Bank and Universal Agri Tractor Company Sign Strategic Alliance to Expand Tractor Financing for Farmers
United Bank Limited (UBL) Rural Bank and Universal Agri Tractor Company (UATC), part of the G.M. Group, have entered into a strategic alliance aimed at accelerating farm mechanization, expanding access to agricultural financing and empowering Pakistan’s farming community.
The agreement was formally signed at Governor House Sindh on October 5, 2026, in the presence of Syed Muhammad Nehal Hashmi, Governor of Sindh, alongside senior government officials, business leaders, senior executives and industry stakeholders.
Representing UBL Rural Bank at the ceremony was Mr. Abdul Sattar Narejo, Head Rural Bank, while Mr. Zain Wahab, Managing Partner of UATC, and Mr. Wahab GM, Owner of UATC, represented Universal Agri Tractor Company.
Addressing the gathering, Governor Sindh Syed Muhammad Nehal Hashmi emphasized the importance of initiatives that support the growth and development of the agricultural sector. He highlighted that efforts focused on improving access to agricultural financing and modern machinery are aligned with the broader government initiatives aimed at promoting agriculture, strengthening rural communities and supporting the country’s farming sector.
Under the partnership, UBL Rural Bank will provide collateral-backed tractor financing to eligible farmers, agricultural entrepreneurs and rural customers. As part of the alliance, UATC will provide an upfront markup subsidy of PKR 100,000 on each financed tractor, directly reducing the financing burden on customers and supporting affordable and sustainable repayment.
During the ceremony, senior representatives highlighted that the partnership brings together UBL Rural Bank’s expertise in agricultural financing with UATC’s capabilities in tractor manufacturing, creating a strong platform to support Pakistan’s farmers and strengthen the country’s agricultural value chain.
Given the vital role of agriculture as a cornerstone of Pakistan’s economy, initiatives that broaden access to modern agricultural machinery and responsible financing can play an important role in enhancing farm productivity, sustaining rural livelihoods and contributing to national food security.