Islamabad Capital Territory

Islamabad | ReNews Pakistan

Pakistan has invited American companies to explore investment opportunities in Balochistan’s minerals and mining sector. Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan highlighted prospects across the province’s mineral, agricultural and industrial sectors during a meeting with US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie A. Baker.

The meeting, held in Islamabad on October 20, covered bilateral trade, investment and technical cooperation. The US delegation expressed interest in expanding investment and collaboration in Pakistan’s minerals sector.

The discussions also noted progress on bilateral trade matters, although some technical issues remained unresolved. Both sides reviewed opportunities to strengthen economic ties and investment cooperation.

Khan highlighted potential American investment in agriculture and industry, identifying modern farming, food processing and cold-chain infrastructure as important areas for collaboration.

The commerce minister presented Hub in Balochistan as a potential location for manufacturing, industrial investment and special economic zones. He outlined opportunities to support industrial activity in the province.

The two sides also discussed value-added agricultural products from Balochistan, particularly dates and olive oil. Investment opportunities in processing and storage facilities formed part of the discussions.

Developing processing facilities, cold-chain infrastructure and storage capacity was identified as a way to help local producers reach international markets. The discussions considered how investment in these areas could benefit growers and businesses associated with Balochistan’s agricultural production.

Islamabad | ReNews Pakistan

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has established a Security Operations Centre (SOC) to protect its information systems, detect digital threats and strengthen its ability to respond to potential cyberattacks.

National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) Chairman Lieutenant General Muhammad Munir Afsar inaugurated the centre on October 20. SECP Chairman Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu, commissioners Imtiaz Haider, Muzaffar Ahmed Mirza and Zeeshan Khattak, and other senior officials attended the ceremony.

According to the SECP, the facility will provide round-the-clock monitoring of the commission’s networks, servers and cloud systems. It is designed to identify cybersecurity threats promptly and support timely responses.

The project was completed with support from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The commission said the centre was developed in line with international standards in collaboration with Karandaaz Pakistan, Inara Technologies and REWTERZ.

In a separate meeting, SECP Chairman Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu briefed the NADRA chairman on the commission’s information technology reforms. The discussion also covered plans to modernise its IT infrastructure.

The briefing highlighted the use of artificial intelligence to improve the ease of doing business. These initiatives form part of the commission’s wider programme of technology reforms and digital infrastructure modernisation.

The SECP also plans to bring capital market institutions into a shared cybersecurity framework. The initiative is intended to improve coordination among institutions and strengthen the sector’s collective ability to respond to digital threats.

Islamabad | ReNews Pakistan

A meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan has agreed to advance four National Highway Authority (NHA) infrastructure projects under the public private partnership (PPP) model.

Held in Islamabad, the meeting considered preliminary preparations and the business aspects of the proposed projects. Khan directed NHA officials to prepare business plans to take the proposals forward.

The projects under consideration include a 169 kilometre section of the M 10 Motorway. Participants discussed pursuing the proposed section through a partnership between the public and private sectors.

The proposals also include a route linking Mansehra, Naran, Jalkhad and Chilas with the Chinese border. The Guru Nanak Expressway, intended for Sikh pilgrims, was another project considered at the meeting.

Participants also discussed extending the Murree Expressway to Kashmir. Alongside preparations for the proposed projects, Khan stressed the importance of strengthening the NHA’s financial independence.

Muhammad Ali, the prime minister’s adviser on privatisation, assured the meeting of his cooperation. Officials agreed to complete preliminary work on the proposals within one week.

A follow up meeting will review progress once the initial work is completed. The supplied details did not announce final project costs, private sector partners or dates for the start of construction.