ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s main telecommunications provider said on Saturday that cuts to submarine internet cables in Saudi waters could disrupt services in the country during peak hours, the latest in a series of undersea faults to hit the nation’s connectivity.
Technology
SBP signals green light to legalise digital currencies, regulatory framework pending
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s central bank has signalled its intention to legalise digital currencies, marking a reversal of its previous ban as the government advances plans to regulate the sector through the Virtual Assets Bill, 2025.
CCP pushes for ban on Chinese e-commerce giant Temu over unregulated operations
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s antitrust authority has called on the country’s telecommunications regulator to ban the Chinese e-commerce platform Temu, warning that its unregulated operations could harm local businesses.
Auto giants threaten shutdown if used car imports policy proceeds
ISLAMABAD: The auto manufacturers, long accused of operating a cartel that has entrenched a monopoly in the market with powerful backing from politicians and lawmakers, have threatened to halt local production and switch to importing and selling used vehicles if the government proceeds with plans to allow such imports at a 40 percent tariff from July 2026 — a policy they claim could lead to the same fate as major auto giants that shut down operations in Australia and New Zealand.
Pakistan pushes for blockchain revolution as banking complexity spurs digital shift
ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb called for a decisive pivot toward blockchain technology and digital assets, acknowledging the intricate nature of the country’s banking system and the urgent need to modernize its financial infrastructure.
Pakistan sets up digital authority to lead nationwide tech transformation
ISLAMABAD: The government has officially established the Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA), a body tasked with overseeing the country’s ambitious digital transformation agenda.
Pakistan teams up with Japanese firm for digital currency pilot
By Staff Reporter KARACHI: Pakistan has enlisted Japanese blockchain developer Soramitsu to launch a pilot for a central bank digital currency (CBDC), a move to
Pakistan auto sales surge 28 percent in July, led by electric vehicles
KARACHI: Pakistan’s automotive sector kicked off the new fiscal year (FY26) with a robust 28 percent year-on-year (YoY) increase in sales of cars, light commercial vehicles (LCVs), pickups, and jeeps, reaching 11,034 units in July, according to data released by the Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA).
Pakistan launches five-year plan to privatise 24 state-owned enterprises
ISLAMABAD: The government has launched an ambitious five-year plan to privatise 24 state-owned enterprises (SOEs), aiming to boost efficiency and ease the financial strain of loss-making public companies, a minister said on Thursday.
Pakistan launches Rs100bn subsidy scheme to boost electric vehicle adoption
ISLAMABAD: The government has approved a sweeping five-year subsidy scheme for electric bikes and rickshaws, a Rs100 billion initiative aimed at accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles, curbing oil imports, and advancing environmental sustainability.