Atif Ikram Sheikh, President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), has expressed grave concern over the proposed legislation seeking amendments to the Trade Organization Rules, stating that the move has sent shockwaves across the country’s business community.
In a statement, the FPCCI chief said the business community holds serious reservations regarding the Trade Organization Rules 2013 Amendment Bill. He noted that the prevailing business environment is already under strain due to both internal and external trade barriers and mounting economic pressures.
“The business environment is already shaky. Chambers of Commerce serve as the last resort for the business community to raise its voice. The proposed legislation will eliminate district-level chambers, dismantle institutional structures, and severely impact district economies,” he warned.
Sheikh emphasized that district chambers play a pivotal role in shaping local economies and supporting national economic growth. According to him, any restrictions on trade organizations could potentially deprive export-oriented businesses of proper representation.
“The amendment will demoralize the business community and discourage small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as women-led businesses,” he added.
The FPCCI president urged Parliament to reject the bill and allow district chambers to continue functioning. “This move could have far-reaching consequences for the economy and the broader business community. We request the authorities to reconsider the proposed legislation and ensure that district chambers are allowed to operate effectively,” he concluded. – ER News Desk
A high-level consultation between Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi and the Ambassador of Kazakhstan was held at the Ministry of Railways, focusing on strengthening regional connectivity and enhancing bilateral cooperation in the railway sector. The meeting reviewed progress on proposed rail links connecting Pakistan with Central Asia and examined their potential economic and trade benefits for the wider region.
Progress on Pakistan–Kazakhstan Rail Connectivity Significant progress has been made on the Pakistan–Kazakhstan rail connectivity project. The network linking Karachi Port to Kazakhstan has been prepared, which will strengthen trade ties in the region and provide Pakistan with a direct rail connection to Central Asia. The network will also extend through Chaman, connecting Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan comprehensively.
Project Cost and Timeline The Pakistan–Kazakhstan Rail Connectivity Project is a $7 billion initiative and is expected to be completed within a record period of three years. The project is anticipated to be a game-changer for the region and a milestone for Pakistan’s economic growth.
MoU Signing and Kazakhstan President’s Visit The President of Kazakhstan is scheduled to visit Pakistan on 3rd February 2026. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be formally signed during the visit, further strengthening railway cooperation between the two countries.
The Minister of Railways emphasized that this project is not only pivotal for Pakistan’s railway sector but also plays a key role in enhancing trade relations across the region and creating new avenues for economic development. – ER News Desk
Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, on Tuesday announced the launch of Indus AI Week 2026, a flagship national initiative on artificial intelligence, scheduled to be held from February 9 to 15, 2026.
Indus AI Week 2026 aims to position Pakistan as a country committed to advancing artificial intelligence at scale by fostering collaboration among government, industry, academia, startups, and the broader technology ecosystem. The initiative seeks to build awareness, strengthen national capacity, promote responsible AI adoption, and encourage practical, sector-wide engagement.
Organised by the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication through a public-private partnership, Indus AI Week has been conceived as an open and inclusive, week-long national platform for AI learning, exploration, and participation. The programme will bring together policymakers, technology leaders, enterprises, universities, startups, students, and the general public in Islamabad and across the country.
Key features of the week include a national technology showcase, startup and innovation spotlights linking founders with investors, skills training and certification opportunities for students and professionals, a gaming and experiential AI arena, and interactive public engagement activities. These components are designed to demystify artificial intelligence and translate policy dialogue into hands-on learning and real-world adoption.
Announcing the initiative, Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja said that following the introduction of Pakistan’s National AI Policy last year, Indus AI Week represents a shift from discussion to implementation. She said the initiative would help connect policy, industry, and talent while positioning Pakistan as a credible participant in the global AI ecosystem.
Indus AI Week will open with the Indus AI Summit at the Jinnah Convention Center, Islamabad, on February 9, followed by Innovation, Learning, and Engagement activities at the Islamabad Sports Complex on February 9–10. Co-branded AI events will continue nationwide through February 15, marking a significant step toward Pakistan’s digital future. – ER News Desk
Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal on Tuesday inaugurated the third Digitalized Healthcare/Telemedicine Center at Bhambar Tarar, on the outskirts of Islamabad, underscoring the government’s push to modernize healthcare delivery and expand access in underserved areas.
Mustafa Kamal
Speaking at the ceremony, the minister said the government was taking concrete steps to fulfill its commitments by strengthening primary healthcare through technology-driven solutions. He highlighted a recent agreement with Sehat Kahani under which 5,000 doctors will provide online consultations nationwide. Doctors based abroad, including in Qatar, are already offering remote consultations, while qualified female doctors are delivering services from home through telemedicine platforms.
Syed Mustafa Kamal said telemedicine has been made a permanent part of the national healthcare system, calling it an effective solution for remote and hard-to-reach communities. He recalled his pledge to establish 10 telemedicine centers across the country, noting that the first center was inaugurated in Gokina on January 6, followed by one in Karachi, and now Bhambar Tarar.
He said nearly 70 percent of patients could be treated at the primary level, but due to limited facilities, they often overcrowd tertiary hospitals. The new center will provide local residents with timely medical care, while serious cases will continue to be referred to major hospitals.
The minister said telemedicine would help ease pressure on tertiary hospitals and bring quality healthcare closer to people’s homes. – ER News Desk
The Institution of Engineers Pakistan (IEP) President and his team have designed an action plan under which the institution will organize international conferences at regional centers across Pakistan.
Newly elected President Engr. Sohail Bashir informed Engineering Review that the institution plans to hold the IEP International Convention in November this year. He added that the institution is also resuming publication of the IEP Engineering Journal, which had remained in cold storage for some time.
Engr. Sohail Bashir also spoke about other initiatives. Here is his video.
It has taken one year—consuming nearly 6,000 hours—to develop the GET Placement Program, which is now fully automated. This journey has reached its culmination. It is one of the most comprehensive programs ever, as it has brought PEC, clients, and industry onto a common platform.
Here in Karachi, we have partnered with 15 clients, including some of the country’s largest national organizations and industries, many of which engaged with PEC for the first time. These organizations provided assurances to onboard trainee engineers and demonstrated their commitment during the dialogue. This was possible due to extensive groundwork carried out by the Council, which helped stakeholders realize that this responsibility also rests with them.
I am confident that this program will be remembered in the years to come. It is set to become a mandatory program within the next five years. Please keep this on record.
The Board of Directors of JS Investments Limited has approved key leadership appointments and the company’s budget for the year ending December 31, 2026, according to a notice issued to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX).
In a meeting held on January 9, 2026, the board appointed Mr. Suleman Lalani as Chairman of the Board of Directors. The board also approved the appointment of Ms. Iffat Zehra Mankani as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company for a period of three years, subject to the approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP).
Additionally, the board approved the budget for FY 2026, marking an important step in the company’s strategic and operational planning for the coming year. – ER News Desk
Zuma Resources Limited (formerly Bilal Fibres Limited) has approved its quarterly financial statements for the period ended September 30, 2025, and announced a series of key changes in its top management and board, following a meeting of the company held on Wednesday.
According to a formal disclosure, the board reviewed and approved the unaudited quarterly accounts for the first quarter of the current financial year, reflecting the company’s ongoing operational and strategic transition.
The board accepted the resignation of Mr. Naeem Omer from the position of Chief Executive Officer. In his place, Mr. Muhammad Usman Saber has been appointed as the new CEO, with effect from January 1, 2026.
In another significant development, Mr. Syed Tahir Nawazish has been appointed as Chairman of the Board, replacing Mr. Muhammad Aslam Bhatti, also with effect from January 1, 2026.
The meeting further approved changes in the company’s secretarial leadership. The resignation of Mr. Muhammad Ijaz Shahid as Company Secretary was accepted, and Mr. Muhammad Saeed has been appointed as the new Company Secretary, effective January 1, 2026.
The board expressed its appreciation for the outgoing executives for their services and welcomed the newly appointed leadership, reaffirming its commitment to strong corporate governance and the company’s evolving strategic direction.
Zuma Resources Limited, recently rebranded from Bilal Fibres Limited, is undergoing a transformation aimed at diversifying its business focus while strengthening its management structure to support future growth. – ER Web Desk
A new chapter is opening for Pakistan’s designers, drafters and engineers as Cadomation, a certified solution partner of BricsCAD, expands the reach of the global CAD platform across the country. From infrastructure and process plants to architecture and manufacturing, local organizations now have direct access to a modern DWG-based design environment backed by on-ground support, training and implementation services.
For years, many Pakistani firms have relied on a single dominant CAD brand for 2D drafting and 3D modelling. BricsCAD enters this landscape not just as an alternative, but as a full ecosystem that covers classic drafting, mechanical design, BIM and civil workflows within one family of products. Because BricsCAD is built on the industry-standard DWG format and supports familiar commands, toolbars and customization options, most users can move into the environment with minimal disruption to their existing workflows.
Cadomation’s team believes this combination of familiarity and innovation is exactly what the market needs. A spokesperson for the company explains that many organizations are looking for ways to modernize their design tools without sacrificing the thousands of drawings, LISP routines and standards they have built over decades. BricsCAD addresses this by offering advanced 2D/3D functionality while remaining natively compatible with existing DWG data and automation scripts.
Some of Pakistan’s most respected names in engineering and industry have already embraced this direction. Companies such as Engro, Fatima Fertilizers, Attock Refineries, Pakistan Engineering Services, Noor ul Haq Brothers, Pakistan Petroleum Limited and NESPAK are among the organizations that have turned to Cadomation to deploy BricsCAD in production environments. Their projects span heavy industry, energy, infrastructure and consulting—sectors where accuracy, reliability and productivity are non-negotiable.
From a technical perspective, BricsCAD offers a broad toolset that supports the full lifecycle of a project. Designers can start with conceptual 2D layouts, move to 3D models, add mechanical components or BIM data, and prepare construction documents, all within a consistent user interface. Intelligent features such as AI-assisted drawing optimization, parametric design tools and flexible model navigation help engineering teams work faster while maintaining standards and quality.
For Pakistani organizations, however, software capability is only one part of the story. Local support, training and implementation guidance are equally critical. Cadomation positions itself as a long-term technology partner, not just a software reseller. The company provides onboarding workshops, migration assistance, customization services and technical support tailored to the needs of engineering offices, design departments and project teams across the country. This local presence helps reduce the learning curve and ensures that BricsCAD deployments align with each client’s standards and quality procedures.
Another factor driving interest is the growing demand for interoperability. Many projects today involve joint ventures, international consultants and multiple software platforms. Because BricsCAD reads and writes standard DWG files and integrates with common third-party tools, it fits naturally into multi-platform environments. This allows Pakistani firms to collaborate more easily with international partners while keeping control of their own data and processes.
Looking ahead, Cadomation sees BricsCAD as a strategic technology that can strengthen Pakistan’s digital engineering ecosystem. By combining a powerful, modern CAD platform with localized services and a growing base of high-profile users, the company aims to give engineering teams more choice in how they design, document and deliver their projects.
Engineering Review Magazine readers who are exploring options for upgrading their CAD environment can now consider BricsCAD as a serious, future-ready platform—one that is already proving its value in the hands of leading Pakistani companies, and is fully supported by a dedicated local partner in Cadomation.
Lucky Cement Limited has informed the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) that its Board of Directors has approved the company’s participation, as part of a consortium, in the ongoing privatization process of Pakistan International Airlines Corporation Limited (PIACL).
In a notice to the Exchange, Lucky Cement said the decision was taken at a Board meeting held on December 18, 2025, following the satisfactory completion of detailed due diligence by the consortium. The Board has authorized the company, subject to finalization of transaction documents to its satisfaction, to proceed with the submission of a financial bid, including the payment of the requisite earnest money, and to comply with all other formalities as stipulated by the Privatization Commission.
The company further noted that the privatization of PIACL is being carried out through a competitive bidding process in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, with bidding scheduled for December 23, 2025. The transaction remains subject to the consortium emerging as the successful bidder, fulfillment of all conditions outlined in the transaction documents, and receipt of approvals from relevant regulatory authorities.
Separately, Kohat Cement Company Limited has also notified the PSX that it is participating in the same consortium, which comprises Kohat Cement, Lucky Cement Limited, Hub Power Holdings Limited, and Metro Ventures (Pvt.) Limited. Kohat Cement confirmed that the consortium has initiated the bid submission process, including the payment of the required earnest money, in line with the bidding requirements issued by the Privatization Commission.
Kohat Cement reiterated that the PIACL privatization is being conducted through a competitive and transparent process, with the outcome subject to the consortium’s success in the bidding and the subsequent completion of all regulatory and contractual requirements. – ER News Desk
