News

Reluctant austerity

THE time for tokenism has long gone. Unless the current government gets serious about introducing and implementing a long-term sustainability plan, the financial pain the nation is being made to suffer now will yield few positive outcomes for the future. Under pressure to curtail its expenditures, the government is reportedly mulling various measures to ‘right-size’ its footprint. The proposals

Applications of AI in the renewable power sector

Artificial intelligence (AI) has a significant role in the renewable energy industry, and it can involve various power transformation stages, starting from renewable energy forecasting, monitoring and controlling of smart grids, and up to the security of nuclear power stations. AI has advanced features that can monitor the sustainable operation of the renewable sector and guide it toward a safe

CORPORATE WINDOW; Piggybacking Bangladesh’s textile void

With Bangladesh suppliers struggling to meet delivery deadlines amid prolonged turmoil, Pakistan textile exports could see a significant boost as Western brands begin sourcing from alternative destinations. Factory shutdowns, port closures, and a business class in disarray — caught in a highly polarised environment and grappling with the fallout of some leaders’ close ties to the ousted Sheikh

Efforts for improving ease of doing business

Fresh efforts for the long-awaited and elusive reforms to ease the cost of doing business and making investments were recently mounted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. “Acknowledging that simplifying and rationalising regulations to reduce bureaucratic red tape and compliance costs is a substantial challenge,” former president of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation explained.

A steady road to expansion

There are few businesses in Pakistan that are holding their own — without subsidies and despite tough economic conditions. Even fewer would see and bet on future growth opportunities in this economy unless the government promised to hold hands to ensure guaranteed profits. Pakistan’s largest power-cable manufacturer, Fast Cables, is one of those businesses. The company owes its spectacular succ