Islamabad | ReNews Pakistan


Pakistan's National Cyber Emergency Response Team (National CERT) has issued an urgent cybersecurity advisory warning government departments, financial institutions and organisations operating critical online services about two serious vulnerabilities in PHP based systems that could expose websites and applications to cyberattacks.
The advisory, circulated to federal ministries, government departments, regulatory authorities, public-sector companies, financial institutions and information technology service providers, calls for immediate protective measures to safeguard digital infrastructure, online services and sensitive information.
According to National CERT, two critical vulnerabilities, identified as CVE 2026 109618 and CVE-2026 109619, have been discovered in PHP systems widely used to operate websites, online portals and business applications.
Both vulnerabilities carry severity scores of 9.2 out of 10 under the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, indicating a substantial cybersecurity risk to affected systems.
Successful exploitation could potentially enable unauthorised attackers to execute malicious code remotely, gain access to sensitive information or interfere with normal server operations without requiring prior authentication.
National CERT has directed relevant organisations to identify vulnerable PHP installations, prioritise security updates and strengthen protection for internet-facing applications.
The advisory also emphasises the use of web application firewalls (WAFs) as an additional protective measure against potentially malicious requests and attempts to exploit vulnerable web services.
IT departments and cybersecurity teams have been advised to maintain close monitoring of system logs, identify unusual activity and investigate potential indicators of compromise.
Organisations have also been instructed to report suspected system intrusions, unauthorised access and web shell activity promptly to National CERT Pakistan.
The warning is particularly relevant to organisations operating online financial platforms, government information systems and business applications that depend on affected PHP technologies.
It may also have implications for digital systems used in the property and construction sectors, including online land record services, property transfer portals, housing development platforms, building approval systems and electronic payment services, where those platforms rely on vulnerable PHP installations.
However, the advisory does not establish that any specific Pakistani land records platform, development authority or property portal has been compromised.
The actual exposure of individual services depends on their software versions, hosting environments, security configurations and the measures already implemented by their operators.
International cybersecurity authorities have issued similar warnings following the disclosure of the vulnerabilities.
The PHP development team released emergency security fixes on October 21, 2026, while cybersecurity agencies across several countries urged website administrators and service providers to apply the updates immediately.
Security specialists have emphasised that web application firewalls should supplement, rather than replace, software patching and continuous system monitoring.

Islamabad | ReNews Pakistan


Pakistan is intensifying efforts to attract international investment into its mineral sector as growing global demand for copper, lithium, gold and other critical minerals increases the strategic and economic importance of the country's natural resources.
Pakistan's mineral wealth has been estimated at approximately $8 trillion, with 92 minerals identified across the country and 52 being commercially extracted.
However, the $8 trillion figure represents a broad estimate of mineral potential rather than a verified valuation of economically recoverable reserves.
The government is seeking to translate this resource potential into investment, industrial development and long-term economic activity through greater international engagement and improved infrastructure.
A major initiative in this regard is the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026, scheduled to take place on November 12 and 13 at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad.
The forum is expected to bring together international investors, mining executives, policymakers, financial institutions and technical experts to explore opportunities in mineral exploration, extraction, processing and associated infrastructure development.
Discussions will also address investment regulations, financing requirements, sustainable mining practices and the infrastructure needed to support commercially viable mineral projects.
Global demand for critical minerals has increased alongside the expansion of electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, battery storage technologies and advanced industrial applications.
Copper and lithium, in particular, have gained strategic importance because of their extensive use in electrical infrastructure, batteries and technologies supporting the transition towards cleaner energy.
Pakistan's geological position provides significant opportunities for mineral exploration.
Parts of the country lie within the Tethyan Metallogenic Belt, a major mineral-bearing geological zone extending from southeastern Europe through Türkiye and the Middle East towards the Himalayan region.
The belt is particularly associated with copper and gold mineralisation, providing a geological foundation for large-scale mining developments.
Major mineral projects, including Reko Diq in Balochistan, highlight Pakistan's potential to attract international investment in mineral extraction and supporting infrastructure.
Pakistan's critical minerals prospects received further attention in July 2026 when Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) confirmed the presence of lithium in underground formation water obtained from a high-temperature geothermal well in Sindh.
The discovery was made at the Wahid Bakhsh well in Khairpur district through advanced geochemical analysis of geothermal brine.
According to the company, the lithium concentrations were comparable to those found in certain internationally recognised lithium-bearing geothermal brine resources.
However, the discovery does not establish that large-scale commercial extraction is already feasible.
Further technical studies are required to determine the extent of the resource, suitable extraction technologies, production costs and overall commercial viability.
OGDCL has also initiated cooperation with the Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology to explore technologies for lithium extraction and assess the potential for commercial development.

Karachi | ReNews Pakistan


Pakistan Railways has initiated fresh measures to lease valuable commercial properties across Karachi, Hyderabad and Rawalpindi divisions as part of efforts to generate revenue from its land holdings and attract private investment in commercial real estate development.
According to auction notices issued by the railway authorities, properties comprising warehouses, existing and newly constructed shops, parking areas, marriage halls, marquees and other commercial facilities in Karachi Division are being offered for leasing through open public auctions.
The properties reportedly include warehouses at prime business locations in Karachi, particularly around I.I. Chundrigar Road, along with railway assets in Hyderabad and Tando Jam.
Under the proposed arrangements, certain properties are intended to be offered on 10-year leases.
Pakistan Railways published an official notice for the open auction of properties in Karachi Division on October 15, 2026, listing November 7, 2026, as the relevant closing date.
In a separate initiative, Pakistan Railways has proposed leasing 12 sites in Rawalpindi Division to private-sector investors and developers for the establishment of commercial projects.
The arrangements are being pursued through the Railway Estate Development and Marketing Company (REDAMCO), a subsidiary associated with the commercial management and development of railway properties.
According to the available advertisement, the Rawalpindi properties are being offered under a public-private partnership model for an initial lease period of 21 years, extendable by another 21 years, potentially bringing the total tenure to 42 years.
The proposed developments may include shopping plazas, commercial markets, corporate offices, retail outlets and factory outlets, depending on the approved land use and individual development arrangements.
The advertised conditions also provide for an annual rental escalation of eight percent on a compound basis and a 24-month mobilisation period following possession.
Construction activities would be required to comply with applicable local building regulations and other relevant approvals.
The leasing initiative forms part of Pakistan Railways' broader efforts to improve the commercial utilisation of its land assets and develop recurring revenue streams.
For private developers, construction companies and commercial investors, the proposed arrangements could provide opportunities to establish retail, office and mixed-use projects on strategically located railway land.
However, the publication of auction notices does not constitute the final award of leases. Successful bidders, contractual obligations, lease values and project implementation schedules will become clear after the relevant procurement and approval processes have been completed.
The latest measures follow an earlier successful auction of 125 commercial warehouses at Badami Bagh in Lahore.
According to an official government announcement issued on October 1, the annual lease revenue from those warehouses increased from Rs 72.2 million to Rs 331.08 million following the auction.
The department is also expected to receive an upfront security deposit of Rs 277.72 million under the revised arrangements.
The new leasing initiatives in Karachi, Hyderabad and Rawalpindi indicate a continued emphasis on commercial property development, asset monetisation and private-sector participation in the utilisation of Pakistan Railways' land holdings.
The eventual economic benefits will depend on competitive bidding, transparent agreements, investment commitments and the timely execution of approved commercial projects.

New Delhi | ReNews Pakistan


Indian real estate developer Godrej Properties has reported a sharp decline in quarterly profit as rising construction and raw material costs weighed on its financial performance.
According to Reuters, the company's results, reported on October 23, highlight the increasing pressure that project development expenses are placing on property developers despite continued demand for residential housing.
Higher input costs affected profitability, demonstrating that strong housing demand does not necessarily translate into improved earnings when construction expenses rise at a faster pace.
The results underline the importance of construction budgets, material procurement and project pricing in determining financial returns for residential developers.
For India's property sector, managing input costs while maintaining competitive selling prices remains a significant commercial consideration.
The company's performance also illustrates why developers and investors must assess profitability alongside housing sales, project bookings and broader market demand.
Continued increases in construction expenses could prompt developers to review project pricing, procurement strategies and cost management practices to protect investment returns.

London | ReNews Pakistan


British Land has paused the second phase of its Canada Water regeneration project in south London, citing slow apartment sales, rising construction expenses and challenging property market conditions.
The developer completed the first phase earlier this year but has decided to defer further construction until market conditions improve.
The Canada Water regeneration scheme covers approximately 53 acres and had planning approval for more than 4,000 homes alongside commercial and community facilities.
The company may reconsider the project's development mix, potentially reducing the number of residential apartments while increasing commercial space.
The decision comes amid broader pressure on London's housing development sector, where labour shortages, higher material costs, regulatory requirements and weak sales have affected project viability.
Other major developers have also delayed, reduced or abandoned residential developments as they reassess investment returns.
Land Securities recently abandoned a redevelopment proposal for Lewisham shopping centre valued at approximately £1.5 billion, citing difficulties in achieving a viable development.
London continues to face a substantial housing supply challenge. Industry figures indicate that construction began on only 2,876 homes during the second quarter of 2026, against a government target of 88,000 additional homes annually.
The latest development highlights the growing gap between London's housing requirements and the commercial conditions needed to deliver new residential projects.
For developers and investors, construction costs, sales absorption and financing viability remain critical factors influencing decisions on major urban regeneration schemes.