Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry Mardan Division

24/08/2026

Pakistan is set to host the South Asian Games from April 3 to 11, 2027, marking the country’s return as host after 23 years.

The 14th South Asian Games will be staged across Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar, bringing together athletes from across the region for one of South Asia’s biggest multi-sport events.

According to the latest preparations reviewed by the South Asia Olympic Council, the Games will feature 28 sports and 346 medal events, with approximately 3,200 athletes expected to compete across the three host cities.

Pakistan last hosted the regional Games in Islamabad in 2004, making the 2027 edition an important return to the international sporting calendar. Preparations are reportedly progressing, with authorities reviewing venues, accommodation, transportation and other operational arrangements.

Representatives from several South Asian countries participated in the latest SAOC meeting, while India joined virtually. Its representative endorsed the proposed dates, although reports caution that India's participation in the Games itself has not yet been officially confirmed.

The event could provide Pakistan with a major opportunity to showcase its sporting infrastructure, hospitality and organizational capacity while giving local athletes the chance to compete on home soil.

It also comes at an important time for regional sports, offering an opportunity to strengthen sporting ties and provide a platform for emerging athletes across South Asia.

After years of postponements, Pakistan is now preparing to welcome the region for a major sporting spectacle in 2027.



Disclaimer: This content is shared strictly for educational, informational, awareness, and journalistic purposes, based on available reports. Connected Pakistan neither endorses nor takes responsibility for any claims, offers, or representations mentioned herein.

24/08/2026

Pakistan generated more than Rs1.83 billion from Markhor and Ibex trophy hunting between 2023 and 2025, according to data shared by the Ministry of Climate Change in the Senate.

Balochistan recorded the highest revenue at around Rs760 million, followed by Gilgit-Baltistan with more than Rs620 million and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Rs447.8 million. Sindh generated approximately Rs3.1 million during the period.

Under Pakistan’s current trophy hunting policy, 80% of hunting revenue is allocated to local communities, while the remaining 20% goes to provincial wildlife departments.

The revenue-sharing model is intended to give communities a financial incentive to participate in wildlife conservation and protect valuable species and their habitats.

However, the Ministry of Climate Change told the Senate that there is currently no central mechanism to independently audit how the community share of the funds is distributed.

The disclosure has raised questions about financial transparency, accountability and oversight in the management of trophy hunting revenues.



Disclaimer: This content is shared strictly for educational, informational, awareness, and journalistic purposes, based on available reports. Connected Pakistan neither endorses nor takes responsibility for any claims, offers, or representations mentioned herein.

24/08/2026

: Advisor to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production and Federal Minister Haroon Akhtar Khan on Monday said - Business-to-Business (B2B) cooperation was opening new avenues for investment, technology transfer, local manufacturing and export growth.

The minister made these remarks while chairing a meeting to review progress on Pakistan-China Business-to-Business (B2B) cooperation and the implementation of Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) signed between businesses of the two countries, said a news release.

Senior officials from all relevant ministries, departments, government institutions, and stakeholders attended the meeting.

Speaking on the occasion, Haroon said that the Prime Minister's visit to China and the Pakistan-China B2B conferences had opened new avenues for economic cooperation between Pakistan and China.

He noted that the B2B engagements had resulted in significant progress on multiple MoUs and joint ventures worth hundreds of millions of dollars across various sectors.

The advisor emphasized that the prime minister had given clear directions to translate Pakistan-China agreements and MoUs into concrete and actionable projects. "Signing MoUs alone is not enough; the real success lies in translating these agreements into practical initiatives and ensuring the commencement of investments and joint ventures," he said.

Readmore: https://www.msn.com/en-xl/asia/pakistan/pakistan-hopes-b2b-cooperation-with-china-will-drive-investment-export-growthpublished-on-august-18-2026-1038-am/ar-AA2am2LF?ocid=BingNewsSerp


All Pakistan Women Entrepreneurs Chambers Associtions Mardanمردان Women Empowerment Organization- Pakistan Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry Mardan Division

Pakistan, Aug. 18 -- Advisor to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production and Federal Minister Haroon Akhtar Khan on Monday said Pakistan-China Business-to-Business (B2B) cooperation was opening new avenues for investment, technology transfer, local manufacturing and export growth.

24/08/2026

The Tarbela 5th Extension Project has faced a massive cost escalation, with its revised price reaching Rs316 billion, compared with the original estimate of Rs82 billion.

The revised cost represents an increase of around 282%, raising fresh questions about project management, transparency, oversight and delays.

The escalation comes amid concerns following structural setbacks at the project site, adding to scrutiny over the implementation and financing of the major hydropower initiative.

Despite questions surrounding the reasons behind the sharp increase, as well as the project’s financing and repayment mechanism, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the revised cost.

The development highlights the challenges facing large-scale infrastructure projects in Pakistan, where delays, cost revisions and financing arrangements can significantly increase the financial burden on the public sector.



Disclaimer: This content is shared strictly for educational, informational, awareness, and journalistic purposes, based on available reports. Connected Pakistan neither endorses nor takes responsibility for any claims, offers, or representations mentioned herein.

24/08/2026

A team of all-girls students from Lahore Grammar School 55-Main has represented Pakistan at the Global Future Space Scholars’ Meet (GFSSM) Final Round in Beijing, delivering an outstanding performance on the international stage.

Competing against teams from nine countries, including China, Russia, Australia and nations from Africa, Europe and the Middle East, the Pakistani team emerged as the Champions of the Event.

The students also earned several individual and team distinctions:

🏆 Champions of the Event
🥇 Best Team in Systematic Design Qualifiers
🎤 Fatima Farukh — Best Speaker
🌟 Zahra Fatima Ahmed — Best Leadership

The achievement highlights the talent, creativity and leadership abilities of Pakistan’s young students while showcasing the growing interest of Pakistani youth in space science, innovation, engineering and future technologies.

The success in Beijing represents a proud moment for Pakistan and demonstrates the potential of the country’s young generation to compete and excel at international academic and technology platforms.



Disclaimer: This content is shared strictly for educational, informational, awareness, and journalistic purposes, based on available reports. Connected Pakistan neither endorses nor takes responsibility for any claims, offers, or representations mentioned herein.

23/08/2026

The federal government spent Rs21.8 billion on fuel for its official vehicle fleet during FY2024-25, marking a 39% increase, or Rs6.1 billion, compared with the previous fiscal year.

The spending was also Rs5.8 billion higher than the original budget allocation of Rs16 billion, highlighting a significant increase in fuel expenditure for government vehicles.

According to data presented by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb in the National Assembly, the federal government spent a total of Rs69 billion on fuel between FY2021 and FY2025.

The increase comes despite a transport monetisation policy introduced with the aim of reducing government expenditure on official vehicles used by senior bureaucrats.

The government has not yet disclosed comparable fuel expenditure figures for FY2025-26.

The rising fuel bill has renewed attention on government vehicle expenses, fiscal discipline and efforts to reduce operational costs across the public sector.



Disclaimer: This content is shared strictly for educational, informational, awareness, and journalistic purposes, based on available reports. Connected Pakistan neither endorses nor takes responsibility for any claims, offers, or representations mentioned herein.

22/08/2026

BIG UPDATE FOR PAKISTANI BUSINESSES

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Disclaimer: This content is Informational Purposes only, Startup Pakistan is not responsible for the eligibility criteria, registration process, availability, terms, or other claims mentioned in this post regarding Karobar Online AI. The “free registration” offer and its duration may be subject to terms and conditions. Businesses are advised to verify all details directly through the platform before registering or providing any business information.

22/08/2026

PCRWR has identified 29 bottled and mineral water brands as unsafe for human consumption following tests conducted between April and June 2026.

The Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources tested 230 water samples collected from 20 major cities and assessed them against PSQCA quality standards. The findings showed that nine brands contained sodium above the permissible limit, while four exceeded the allowed level of total dissolved solids (TDS).

As part of the government’s quarterly monitoring programme, PCRWR has advised consumers to review its water quality reports before purchasing bottled or mineral water.

22/08/2026

Pakistan’s central bank foreign exchange reserves increased by $25 million, reaching $17.08 billion, according to the latest data.

The increase brings Pakistan’s total liquid foreign exchange reserves to around $22.5 billion, including reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan and commercial banks.

Higher foreign exchange reserves strengthen a country’s ability to meet external payment obligations, support import financing and improve confidence in its overall external position.

The latest rise comes as Pakistan continues efforts to strengthen its foreign exchange position and maintain stability in the external sector.

Foreign exchange reserves remain closely watched as an important indicator of Pakistan’s capacity to manage international payments and support economic stability.



Disclaimer: This content is shared strictly for educational, informational, awareness, and journalistic purposes, based on available reports. Connected Pakistan neither endorses nor takes responsibility for any claims, offers, or representations mentioned herein.

22/08/2026

Pakistan’s Hajj 2027 preparations have received an encouraging response, with the newly launched Hajj Portal reportedly collecting more than Rs31 billion in payments within just 24 hours.

More than 50,000 applications were submitted on the first day, with pilgrims from across Pakistan, including Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and Islamabad, making digital payments through the portal. Applicants can use OneLink PSID, bank cards or manually generated bank challans.

With 107,526 seats reserved under the Government Hajj Scheme and applications being processed on a first-come, first-served basis, the strong initial response reflects the growing demand for a smooth and digitally managed Hajj process.

May Allah accept the intentions of every aspiring pilgrim and make their journey to the Holy Land easy and blessed. Ameen.

Disclaimer: This content is informational purposes only and based on available reports. Image is AI generated and just for reference.