Karachi Division

Karachi: [ReNews Pakistan]
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Karachi has carried out a major action against international money laundering by freezing foreign bank accounts worth $4.5 million in Mauritius linked to a private housing society. The value of these accounts is said to be more than Rs1.26 billion in Pakistani currency.
According to NAB, the action was taken under the Anti Money Laundering Act 2010 after formal approval from an accountability court in Karachi. Officials said two foreign bank accounts linked to the owners of Bahria Town and held in Mauritius’ Silver Bank had been frozen as part of legal proceedings for asset recovery.
During the investigation, it emerged that funds linked to the private housing society were allegedly transferred abroad from Pakistan through an illegal hawala and hundi network. According to NAB, the funds were first sent to the United Arab Emirates and later transferred to Mauritius, where they were kept in joint bank accounts.
NAB officials said the frozen accounts hold a total of $4.5 million, and legal proceedings for the confiscation and repatriation of the money to Pakistan have been initiated through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Officials said the process has now entered its final stages.
NAB said efforts would continue through international cooperation to identify, seize and repatriate illegal assets held abroad. The bureau said the action is part of its ongoing campaign against money laundering and the illegal transfer of capital outside Pakistan.

Karachi | ReNews Pakistan
Quantum Global Data Centre, a venture of the Gul Ahmed Energy Group, has announced plans to develop Pakistan’s largest Tier III data centre with an initial investment of $230 million, marking a major step toward strengthening the country’s digital infrastructure.
The company said commercial operations of the facility are expected to begin in 2027. According to QGDC, the project has the potential to attract total investment of up to $600 million over the next three to four years as the company expands its infrastructure to meet rising demand for digital services, cloud computing and artificial intelligence applications across Pakistan.
The announcement was made at the Q Summit, where QGDC also signed a strategic partnership agreement with Huawei Pakistan. Under the partnership, both sides will work on the development of the data centre as well as the establishment of a science and technology park aimed at supporting Pakistan’s broader digital transformation agenda.
QGDC Chairman Danish Iqbal said Pakistan is still in the early stages of artificial intelligence adoption, but the country is already spending between $700 million and $800 million annually on related technologies and services. He said demand for computing power is expected to grow rapidly as businesses, institutions and digital platforms increase their reliance on advanced technology.
Danish Iqbal warned that Pakistan could become increasingly dependent on imported computing capacity and foreign data services if local infrastructure is not developed at a faster pace. He said large scale investment in data centres is essential to support economic growth and ensure that the country is prepared for future demand in artificial intelligence, cloud services and advanced computing.
According to the company, demand for local data centre capacity is already significant and is expected to rise further as businesses, hospitals, educational institutions, financial institutions and digital platforms continue shifting their operations to cloud based systems.
The project is expected to help reduce reliance on overseas data infrastructure, improve local digital capacity and support the growth of emerging technologies across multiple sectors of the economy. Industry observers believe the development could become an important milestone for Pakistan’s technology ecosystem at a time when digital transformation is becoming central to economic competitiveness.

Karachi: [ReNews Pakistan]
The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation has finalized preparations to introduce a new tax on hotels, guest houses, marriage halls, Airbnb properties and other hospitality-related businesses across the city.
Under the proposed measure, KMC plans to impose a 1 percent tax on bills generated by hotels, guest houses, lodges, marriage halls, marquees, marriage lawns, banquet halls and Airbnb accommodations. The levy has been proposed under a new category titled “Entertainment Tax – City Tourism and Hospitality.”
According to KMC officials, the proposed tax is aimed at strengthening the financial position of the city’s tourism department and improving tourism and hospitality-related services in Karachi. The civic body maintains that revenue collected through the levy will help support municipal efforts linked to city tourism, hospitality management and related public services.
Municipal Commissioner Abrar Ahmed Jaffar has invited public objections and recommendations on the proposal. A hearing has been scheduled for June 10 at the KMC head office, where citizens, business representatives and other stakeholders will be able to submit their views on the proposed tax.
Officials said the new levy and its related bylaws are expected to be included in the upcoming municipal budget for approval. The proposal has been moved under the powers available to local governments through the Sindh Local Government Act 2013, which allows municipal bodies to impose taxes, fees, rates and tolls within their jurisdiction.
The proposed tax is likely to increase the cost of hotel stays, wedding events, banquet bookings and short-term rental accommodations in Karachi, as businesses may pass the additional charge on to customers through final bills.
The proposal has already attracted political attention within the City Council. Sources said opposition parties, including Jamaat e Islami, PTI-backed members and other council representatives, have started consultations on the issue and are expected to announce their formal position in the coming days.
Business circles connected with hotels, wedding halls and hospitality services are also expected to review the financial impact of the proposed levy before the public hearing. The final decision will depend on the approval process in the municipal budget and the response received from stakeholders during the consultation phase.