Nestlé Pakistan wins OICCI Climate Champion Award

Nestlé Pakistan’s efforts towards creating shared value for people, planet, and business were recognized due to its initiatives on Climate & Net Zero, regenerative agriculture, and circularity at the 4th Pakistan Climate Conference, as it won the top Climate Champion Award for the second time in a row.

The 2nd Climate Excellence Awards by Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce & Industry, a representative body of over 200 multinational companies from 30 countries and 14 sectors, hosted the 4th Pakistan Climate Conference and the second edition of Climate Excellence Awards that saw over 80 entries this year.

Addressing the conference, Federal Minister for Climate Change & Environmental Coordination Dr. Musadik Masood Malik stressed the need to mobilize investment and implement innovative solutions being driven by the upcoming generation to accelerate the country’s transition towards climate-resilient development.

Earlier, Federal Minister for Finance & Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, in his address, said, “OICCI’s 4th Pakistan Climate Conference has underscored the urgency of climate action and the pivotal role the private sector plays in driving sustainable solutions.”

Jason Avanceña, Chief Executive Officer, Nestlé Pakistan, said, “Through the Pakistan Climate Conference, OICCI has pushed for actionable recommendations that support Pakistan’s shift towards a more climate-resilient economy. Earlier at Davos, Nestlé also announced an additional USD 60 million investment in Pakistan to support sustainability and green projects, agricultural services transformation, automation, and digitalization. This builds on USD 40 million invested between 2023 and 2025, bringing total planned investment to USD 100 million over six years, and is a testament to Nestlé’s commitment to Pakistan,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Sheikh Waqar Ahmad, Head of Corporate Affairs & Sustainability, Nestlé Pakistan, said, “We are committed to being a force for good, with sustainability at the heart of our business. Our efforts underscore our commitment to creating shared value, as we take significant strides towards a cleaner environment and a more sustainable future.”

Ustad Salamat Ali captivates NAPA audience

Ustad Salamat Ali captivates NAPA audience
The National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) held an evening of classical and ghazal singing with Ustad Salamat Ali at NAPA’s Zia Mohyeddin Theatre in the second week of February.
Ustad Salamat Ali presented some of his famous renderings, such as Dr Tariq Mirza’s ghazal Zamana chahiye thaa, Hasrat Mohani’s Dekhna bhi to unhe door se dekha karna, Amjad Islam Amjad’s Kahan aa ke rukne the raste kahan mor tha use bhul ja, and Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s Tum aae ho na shab-e intizãr guzr˜i hai. He also presented a couple of bandishes that he had composed when he was a faculty member at NAPA.
The evening culminated with Chairman NAPA Syed Jawaid Iqbal presenting Ustad Salamat Ali with the NAPA memento to honour his services to the Academy and the music industry at large.
A large number of music lovers enjoyed themselves with the melody-filled evening.

Visa and HBL announce ‘She’s Next’ Winners

Visa, a global leader in digital payments, together with HBL, Pakistan’s premier private sector bank, announced the five winners of the 2026 edition of the She’s Next program in Pakistan, including an award for most sustainable business. These winners included Aiman Shafique - EV Square, Anusha Fatima – Trashit (Sustainability award winner), Fizza Hussain - Khaas Foodz Kitchen, Maira Siddiqui - Chiragh Education Technologies, and Meesha Baig - Goud.

Handpicked from a pool of almost 3,500 applicants in Pakistan, the five winning woman-owned enterprises received a USD10,000 grant each, tailored guidance, and expert mentorship to take flight with their entrepreneurial ambitions. Winners will also receive access to resources, including a workshop library and a community of entrepreneurs to help turn their business dreams into thriving realities, and will join the She’s Next Club.
Aamir Kureshi, Head Products & Payments, HBL, said: “HBL congratulates the winners of this year’s She’s Next program for the clarity, ambition, and resilience reflected in their entrepreneurial journeys. In collaboration with Visa, the Bank continues to support initiatives that expand women’s participation in Pakistan’s economy and strengthen a vital driver of sustainable growth.”

A jury evaluated entries based on the following criteria: the progression of applicants’ entrepreneurial journeys; the robustness of their business metrics; their digital presence; and their demonstrated ability to problem-solve confidently. The members of the jury included: Maya Inayat Ismail, Chairperson, HBL Microfinance Bank, HBL; Naz Khan, Principal Country Officer, IFC; Dan Baxter, Vice President, Corporate Communications & Events, CEMEA Visa; Mubariz Siddiqui, Founding Partner of Carbon Law; and Ali Ladhubhai, Co-Founder, Abhi Microfinance Bank.

LBF Appoints Nav Haq as Curator for Lahore Biennale 04

The Lahore Biennale Foundation (LBF) has announced the appointment of Nav Haq as Curator for the fourth edition of the Lahore Biennale (LB04), scheduled to open in Lahore in Spring 2027.

The announcement was made at a ceremony held in Lahore, attended by leading figures from the cultural, academic, and public sectors. The event was graced by Zafar Masud, President & CEO of the Bank of Punjab, who attended as Chief Guest, reflecting the Bank of Punjab’s continued support for arts, culture, and public cultural institutions.

LB04 will present newly commissioned artworks, large-scale installations, and public programmes across a range of historical, civic, and public spaces in Lahore, continuing the Biennale’s tradition of engaging the city and its communities through contemporary art.

Nav Haq is a curator and writer based in Antwerp, Belgium. He currently serves as Associate Director at M HKA – Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp, where he leads the artistic programme, and is an editor at Afterall journal. He has previously held curatorial positions at Arnolfini, Bristol, and Gasworks, London, and has organised numerous major exhibitions internationally. Most recently, he was part of the curatorial team for the Kyiv Biennial 2025, presented at the Museum of Modern Art Warsaw and M HKA.

17 deaths reported during Basant in Lahore: Punjab Home Department

The Punjab home department submitted a report to the Lahore High Court (LHC) stating that 17 people died during the recent Basant festival in Lahore.

The three-day Basant festival was held in Lahore from February 6-8, following the Punjab government’s decision to lift a ban on the historic event after 18 years, with strict regulations.

However, despite the government’s emphasis on safety measures, over 100 accidents were reported in connection with the festival. The petition, heard by Justice Owais Khalid, sought the details of deaths and injuries during Basant.

According to the report, three people died of electrocution during the festival, and two died after falling from trees. In addition, 12 people lost their lives falling from roofs, the report added.

The LHC also sought details of people injured by kite strings during Basant. According to the petitioner’s lawyer, Advocate Azhar Siddique, the data was not provided.

Earlier in February, the court summoned a police report on the deaths and injuries reported during the Basant festival while hearing petitions filed by the Judicial Activism Panel and others challenging the Punjab Regulation of Kite Flying Ordinance 2025.

Judicial Commission rejects MQM-P plea to join Gul Plaza probe

While turning down an application of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) seeking to become a party in the proceedings, the Gul Plaza Judicial Commission recorded the testimonies of the municipal commissioner and various other officials in the Gul Plaza inferno probe.

As per the terms of reference (ToR), the single-member commission headed by Justice Agha Faisal of the Sindh High Court noted that the party could not become an intervener in these proceedings.

However, it advised the lawyer for the MQM-P to submit the information through email after the counsel asserted that the party knows some crucial facts and circumstances about the devastating fire incident.

7 killed in air ambulance crash in India’s Jharkhand state

All seven people on board a Beechcraft air ambulance that crashed in the Indian state of Jharkhand were killed, including two crew members, the patient, and his relatives.

The Beechcraft C90 plane, operated by Redbird Airways, took off from the state capital, Ranchi, but requested a change to its flight path due to weather. The aircraft subsequently lost communication and radar contact. Rescue and medical teams rushed to the site of the crash, which local media said was deep inside a difficult-to-access forest.

“The team of doctors found them, and declared them dead,” local administrative official Keerthishree G told reporters, adding that two of the seven people killed were crew members. “We have pulled out the bodies and sent them for post-mortem and further investigation,” the official said. Keerthishree G is the deputy commissioner of Chatra district, where the crash occurred during a thunderstorm. A team from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has been dispatched to investigate the cause, the regulator said.

Most air crashes are due to a combination of factors and can take at least a year to investigate, according to industry experts. Relatives of the patient, Sanjay Kumar, told reporters he was injured in a fire and was initially undergoing treatment in Ranchi. “His condition had become worse, so we were taking him to Delhi by air ambulance,” said Vijay Sau, his older brother. Last month, a Learjet 45 charter aircraft crashed, killing all five people on board, including the deputy chief minister of India’s wealthiest state of Maharashtra and two members of his staff.

Trade gap widens 42pc with nine countries to $9bn

Pakistan’s trade deficit with nine regional countries swelled by 41.37 per cent to $9.001 billion in the first seven months (July-January) of FY26, up from $6.367bn in the corresponding period last year.

The widening gap reflects a fall in Pakistan’s exports to regional markets, driven largely by reduced shipments to China, followed by Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Trade with Afghanistan, including exports, has remained suspended since October 10, 2025.

Exports to India posted a slight increase in percentage terms, though the rise was minimal in dollar value. Meanwhile, shipments to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka declined during the period under review, according to the latest figures released by the State Bank of Pakistan.

The trade deficit with the nine countries widened by 29.42pc to $12.297bn in FY25 compared to $9.502bn in the preceding year.

The value of Pakistan’s exports to the nine countries — Afghanistan, China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, Iran, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives — declined by 16.86pc to $2.307bn in 7MFY26 compared to $2.775bn a year ago.

In FY25, exports to these nine countries recorded a modest increase of 1.49 per cent, rising to $4.401 billion in July to June, up from $4.336 billion in the corresponding period a year earlier.

Contrary to this, imports surged 23.69pc to $11.31bn in 7MFY26 from $9.14bn. Imports surged 20.66pc to $16.698bn in FY25 from $13.838bn over the same period of the previous fiscal year.

Further analysis showed that imports from China grew by 24.58pc to $11.097bn in 7MFY26 from $8.907bn over the same period last year. In FY25, imports from China stood at $16.312bn, up by 20.79pc from $13.504bn a year ago. The bulk of imports in the region is sourced from China, followed partially by India and Bangladesh.

Pakistan’s exports to China fell by 1.02pc to $1.467bn in 7MFY26 from $1.482bn in the preceding year.

Imports from India dipped by 9.44pc to $122.56m in 7MFY26 from $135.35m. In FY25, imports from New Delhi increased to $220.58m from $206.89m in the preceding year. Meanwhile, exports remained at $2.926m, slightly increased from $0.404m.

Exports to Afghanistan dipped 59.07pc to $228.96m in 7MFY26 from $559.52m last year. Imports stood at $6.36m in 7MFY26 against $15.21m in FY25, a plunge of 58.18pc.

Pakistan’s exports to Bangladesh declined by 10.48pc to $417.62m in 7MFY26 from $466.55m over the last year. In FY25, exports to Dhaka increased by 19.08pc to $787.35m from $661.19m. Imports grew 14.02pc to $42.17m in 7MFY26 from $49.05m over the last year.

Exports to Sri Lanka dipped by 28.89pc to $184.48m in 7MFY26 from $259.43m over the last year. The imports from Sri Lanka rose by 11.63pc $38.57m in 7MFY26 from $34.55m over the last year.

Israel committed two-thirds of record press killings in 2025: CPJ

A record 129 journalists and media workers were killed worldwide in 2025, the Committee to Protect Journalists said, blaming Israel for two-thirds of the deaths.

It was the second consecutive annual record for press deaths and the deadliest year since the CPJ began collecting data more than three decades ago.
“Journalists are being killed in record numbers at a time when access to information is more important than ever,” CEO Jodie Ginsberg said in a statement.

“We are all at risk when journalists are killed for reporting the news.” Over three-quarters of all the fatalities in 2025 were in conflict settings, the CPJ said in its report.

More than 60 per cent of the 86 members of the press killed by Israeli fire in 2025 were Palestinians reporting from Gaza, it added.

The Israeli military claims that it never “deliberately targets” journalists.

The number of journalists killed in Ukraine and Sudan also increased in 2025 compared to the year before.

NADRA highlights the future of digital identity services

Officials of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) highlighted the growing role of digital identity services in modern governance during a seminar at the Riphah Institute of Media Sciences (RIMS), emphasising the authority’s flagship Pak-ID Mobile App as a key tool in transforming citizen services.

The seminar, held at Room C-105, brought together students and faculty to discuss the modernisation of civil registration systems in Pakistan and the transition from conventional paperwork to digital platforms under the broader “Digital Pakistan” initiative. The session was hosted by Esha Rehman and featured a keynote address by Ali Butt, Deputy Director, NADRA.

In his address, Mr Butt traced NADRA’s evolution since its establishment in 2000, noting that the authority was mandated to create a secure, centralised identity management system to prevent document fraud and ensure reliable citizen data. Focusing on the Pak-ID Mobile App, he reiterated the organisation’s slogan: “Na Qataar, Na Intezaar — Tamam Sahuliyat Aap Ke Phone Par” (No queues, no waiting — all facilities on your phone).

The seminar provided a walkthrough of the app’s interface and functionality, outlining how users can apply for the renewal, modification, or reprint of Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) and Smart Cards. The NADRA platform also facilitates the issuance of Child Registration Certificates (CRC) and Family Registration Certificates (FRC), in addition to offering biometric attestation services for legal inheritance matters and proof-of-life verification. Other features include access to digital arms licences and vaccination certificates, including those related to polio and Covid-19.

Israeli settlers attack mosque in West Bank

Israeli settlers attempted to set fire to a mosque in the occupied West Bank village of Tell, the Palestinian Authority’s ministry of religious affairs said.

“The Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs condemned the attempt by a group of settlers to set fire to a part of the Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Mosque in the village of Tell, near Nablus, and the writing of racist slogans on its walls”, the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry noted an increase in attacks on mosques in the West Bank, totalling 45 in 2025.

“The burning of part of the mosque clearly demonstrates the barbarity reached by the Israeli racist incitement machine toward Islamic and Chris¬tian holy sites in Pales¬tine,” the ministry said.

Tax on health services will contribute to brain drain: PMA

The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) wrote a letter to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) claiming that tax on health services will further increase the burden on patients, expose their confidentiality, and contribute to the brain drain.

It demanded the immediate exclusion of all medical service providers, including doctors, dentists, physiotherapists, laboratories, diagnostic centres, private hospitals, and medical care centres, from the scope of POS (point of sale)/electronic integration.

Moreover, the association suggested meaningful consultation with stakeholders before the enforcement of any regulatory framework impacting essential health services.

The letter by PMA Secretary General Dr. Abdul Ghafoor Shoro to the chairman of FBR states that the inclusion of medical service providers within the ambit of mandatory POS/electronic invoicing integration, as notified on Feb 18, 2026, is against the Constitution.

Medical consultation, hospitalisation, and diagnostic services are not subject to sales tax under prevailing fiscal laws. “POS integration is fundamentally a sales tax enforcement and monitoring mechanism designed for taxable supplies. Extending this mechanism to non-taxable essential services is legally incongruent and without rational nexus”, he added.