National Real Estate News

Pakistan has earmarked 1,000 acres at Karachi Industrial Park for Turkish enterprises, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan said on Wednesday, as the government seeks to attract investment and deepen industrial cooperation with Türkiye.

Speaking during a bilateral meeting with Türkiye’s Trade Minister, Prof. Ömer Bolat, on the sidelines of the 42nd session of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC) in Istanbul, Jam Kamal invited Turkish companies to use the land for industrial units and expand their manufacturing and investment footprint in Pakistan.
The two ministers discussed issues of mutual economic and commercial interest and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening trade relations. The land allocation was presented as an opportunity for Turkish businesses to establish a presence in Pakistan and contribute to closer industrial ties between the countries.

Jam Kamal also appreciated Türkiye’s support for Pakistan’s claims concerning basmati rice and called for continued cooperation to protect and promote Pakistani agricultural products in international markets. He sought Türkiye’s support in improving market access for Pakistani mangoes. Bolat stressed the importance of marketing and branding Pakistani basmati rice in Türkiye to strengthen its market presence and consumer recognition. He also assured support for increasing imports of Pakistani mangoes. Bolat agreed to send a delegation of Turkish officials to Pakistan to review existing trade mechanisms and consider practical steps to improve bilateral trade. Both sides stressed the need for continued institutional engagement, closer business cooperation and coordination to turn investment and trade opportunities into concrete outcomes.

Separately, Jam Kamal met Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk, Director General of the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC). Selçuk briefed him on the centre’s research, reports and statistical work related to trade among members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The minister said accurate and reliable data was essential for economic research and policy decisions. He added that stronger trade analysis could help OIC members identify opportunities, understand market trends, address barriers and develop strategies to increase trade and economic integration.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has approved inviting fresh applications for the Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar housing programme, as a review meeting reported progress on loan disbursements, house construction and repayments. More than 1.7 million people have registered on the programme’s online portal, the meeting was told. The scheme has disbursed over 225,000 loans, while 128,718 houses have been completed. A further 62,600 homes are nearing completion.

The briefing also reported that 171,597 beneficiaries had received the second instalment of their loans. The programme’s loan recovery rate was recorded at 97.6%, with Rs 22.29 billion recovered in instalments. The chief minister directed officials to meet the scheme’s completion targets and ensure timely progress. The programme has also received recognition from international institutions, according to the briefing.

Separately, the application process for the Apni Chhat, Mehfooz Chhat initiative has been completed. Under that programme, 3,055 applicants received loans totalling Rs 1.216 billion, and construction or expansion work on 532 houses has been completed.

Pakistan’s cement exports declined 9.51% during the first four months of FY27, even as domestic sales increased, according to data released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA).
Total cement dispatches rose 2.93% to 17.953 million tons from 17.442 million tons in July–October of the previous fiscal year. Domestic dispatches increased 5.93% to 14.889 million tons, while exports fell to 3.064 million tons from 3.385 million tons.
In October, total dispatches edged up 0.37% year on year to 4.810 million tons.

Domestic dispatches grew 1.17% to 4.041 million tons, compared with 3.994 million tons in October 2025. Exports, however, declined 3.67% to 768,754 tons from 798,019 tons.
The regional figures showed different trends. North-based mills dispatched 3.397 million tons in October, down 3.13% from 3.507 million tons a year earlier. Their domestic dispatches were nearly unchanged, rising 0.13% to 3.397 million tons, while exports fell to zero from 114,082 tons.
South-based mills dispatched approximately 1.41 million tons in October, up 9.90% from 1.29 million tons in the same month last year. Domestic dispatches rose 7.05% to 643,816 tons, while exports increased 12.40% to 768,754 tons from 683,937 tons.

For July to October, north-based mills’ domestic dispatches grew 4.87% to 12.344 million tons. With no exports recorded during the period, their total dispatches fell 1.61% to 12.344 million tons from 12.546 million tons a year earlier. South-based mills recorded a stronger overall performance. Their domestic dispatches rose 11.36% to 2.545 million tons, and exports increased 17.38% to 3.064 million tons. Total dispatches from the southern mills grew 14.57% to 5.610 million tons, compared with 4.896 million tons in the corresponding period last fiscal year.

The opening of Rawalpindi Ring Road to traffic has been delayed by at least another month as construction continues on toll plazas and weighing stations, according to a senior district administration official.

The official said the provincial government would announce an inauguration date after the remaining facilities were completed. The work could take a month or longer, as construction and installation are still under way and procurement of weighing equipment has not been completed.

Authorities plan to establish eight weighing stations to measure heavy vehicles and calculate their toll charges. Construction is expected to take two to three weeks, after which teams will install the weighing machines. The Punjab Ring Road Authority will then need about two weeks to install the Intelligent Transportation System and Electronic Toll Collection system. Sensors will weigh trucks and determine the toll payable.

Toll plaza booths are also being built at Baanth and Thalian. The official said the road would open to both heavy and light traffic once the facilities became operational. Offices for the Punjab Ring Road Authority and residential accommodation for its officials are also being established.
Work on the Thalian interchange is expected to start after the road opens, with completion targeted for December, the official said.

The Ring Road has a design speed of 120 kilometres per hour, six lanes, controlled access, five interchanges and a 90-metre right of way. Its infrastructure includes bridges over the Soan and Sill rivers, 12 bridges across nullahs and roads, a railway bridge near Baanth and 11 overpasses.
The project’s original plan, developed during the PTI government, envisaged a 68-kilometre route. Work was halted following a financial scandal, after which authorities approved a revised 38.3-kilometre alignment from Baanth to Thalian.
Then-prime minister Imran Khan laid the project’s foundation stone in March 2022. The Pakistan Democratic Movement government later suspended the project temporarily, then authorized work after a third-party validation of the revised route.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif laid the foundation stone at Rawat on August 8, 2023.