Govt begins 5g spectrum auction
Pakistan has formally launched the auction of the 5G spectrum on Tuesday, with federal ministers and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) marking the start of the process at a ceremony in Islamabad.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima, and Federal Minister for Information Atta Tarar, along with PTA Chairman Major General (retd) Hafeezur Rehman, inaugurated the auction.
The first round of the 5G spectrum auction will run for 60 minutes. Three eligible telecom companies are participating in the bidding process.
Oil industry: war risk insurance allowance
The oil industry has approached the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) requesting for temporary approval of imports on a cost, insurance and freight (CIF) basis along with a war risk premium allowance.
In a letter to the SBP governor, the Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC) said that due to the rapidly evolving geopolitical situation in the Middle East, the international oil and shipping markets have become extremely volatile and freight rates, insurance costs and the availability of vessels have been severely impacted.
It is also learnt that marine insurers have either withdrawn or sharply increased war risk coverage for ships operating in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz due to the ongoing Iran-Israel-US conflict. Freight rates have reportedly been increased by almost four times, while war risk insurance premiums have surged dramatically, making tanker chartering extremely difficult and expensive.
Meeting on demand and supply situation of urea and dap
Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain chaired a high-level meeting of the Fertiliser Review Committee on Monday to assess the demand and supply situation of urea and DAP in a regionally challenging environment.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, the meeting was attended by key stakeholders from fertiliser manufacturing companies and senior officials from relevant departments. The discussion focused on reviewing the current market situation and ensuring the continued availability of fertilisers for farmers. During the meeting, it was highlighted that all fertiliser plants are currently operating, with uninterrupted gas supply supporting continuous production. The DAP plant is also fully functional.
Gulf war risks worldwide economic shock
The Middle East once again stands on the verge of a dangerous escalation. What began as a confrontation between Iran and Israel risks evolving into a broader regional conflict involving the Gulf states and major global powers. Such a development would carry profound implications for global energy security and economic stability.
The big war clouds gathering over the Gulf are not merely a regional security concern. They represent a geopolitical confrontation with the potential to reshape global energy markets, international trade and economic stability. If the current escalation expands into a wider Gulf conflict, the shockwaves will be felt far beyond the Middle East.
The rapidly intensifying tensions in the region risk transforming what began as limited strikes and retaliatory attacks between Iran and Israel, backed by the United States and its allies, into a broader regional confrontation. Increasing missile and drone exchanges have heightened fears that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states may become directly involved. Should this happen, the Middle East could once again become the epicentre of a conflict with global consequences.
Private sector main to defence export target
In January 2026, the Senate Standing Committee on Defence Production, during its visit to Pakistan Ordnance Factories, asked the Ministry of Defence Production to ensure greater private-sector participation in the defence sector through adequate policy measures. This statement comes at a time when Pakistan’s defence deals crossed the $10 billion mark in 2025 and are expected to reach the $15 billion target in 2026.
However, the committee rightly noted that Pakistan’s private sector still enjoys a very small share in defence export figures. At the third World Defence Show organised in Riyadh from February 8-12, only 17 Pakistani companies (including state-owned enterprises such as National Radio Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) and Pakistan Ordnance Factory (POF)) were listed as exhibitors, whereas 25 companies were registered from India.
Indian companies also included private-sector giant Adani Defence & Aerospace, which has poured billions into guided weapons research programmes. Recently, Adani Defence created a new entity, Adani Atomic, to set up privately owned nuclear power plants and applied for regulatory approvals under the SHANTI Act, 2025.
With China, Pakistan seeks deeper AI cooperation
Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi has said that Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies, available at scale and competitive prices, could bring broad benefits to developing countries and open new avenues for cooperation between Islamabad and Beijing.
Speaking in an interview with China Economic Net (CEN) on the sidelines of China’s ongoing “Two Sessions”, Hashmi said China’s progress in AI is rooted in indigenous innovation and technological creativity.
He noted that China has emerged as a major global force in the field of artificial intelligence. According to the World Intellectual Property Organisation, China was the world’s largest source of patent filings in 2024. Data from Stanford HAI’s 2025 AI Index also shows that China accounted for 69.7 percent of global AI patent grants in 2023.
Hashmi said the ongoing global competition among Chinese, American and other AI models should be viewed as a positive development. He said such competition has the potential to improve the quality of research standards, strengthen human resource capabilities and contribute to economic growth across countries.