Comment by Riaz Haq on June 30, 2026 at 7:11pm

How Pakistan is Reshaping Eurasian Trade Corridors - Caspianpost.com

https://caspianpost.com/regions/how-pakistan-is-reshaping-eurasian-...

Pakistan has approved and operationalized new land routes to connect Central Asian markets to Pakistani ports and beyond, utilizing strategic corridors through Iran and China to bypass Afghanistan entirely. 

This shift was solidified in April 2026 when Pakistan Customs launched the first export consignment from the Karachi Export Processing Zone to Kyrgyzstan via the Sost Dry Port in China under the TIR (Transports Internationaux Routiers) regime, The Caspian Post reports via Eurasianet.

Pakistan’s decision to diversify transit away from Afghanistan follows the indefinite closure of the Torkham and Chaman border crossings in October 2025 due to unmanageable security risks and cross-border militancy. By activating the Pakistan-Iran Transit Corridor and the Sost-Kyrgyzstan-China Corridor, Islamabad is dismantling Afghanistan’s traditional transit monopoly. Amidst the ongoing Strait of Hormuz crisis, these land routes, coupled with the rising prominence of Gwadar Port, position Pakistan as a critical, multi-modal bridge between the landlocked Eurasian heartland and global warm-water ports. These new land routes circumvent both maritime chokepoints and regional instability and provide Central Asian nations with secure and diversified avenues for trade and logistics.

For decades, Pakistan’s overland access to the Central Asian countries was almost exclusively dependent on the Chaman and Torkham gateways through Afghanistan. From Pakistan’s perspective, this geographical bottleneck granted Kabul significant leverage, which was frequently used as a political tool during bilateral friction. However, since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, this lifeline for both Central Asian states and Pakistan has transformed into a strategic liability.

Central Asian leadership has grown increasingly frustrated with the instability of the Afghan route. For instance, recurrent border closures, unpredictable transit fees, and the persistent threat posed by militant groups have undermined the region’s trade ambitions. This collective annoyance reached a decisive moment in October 2025, when in response to persistent cross-border militant attacks from Afghanistan, Pakistan decided to completely shut down the Afghan-Pakistani trade routes connecting Central Asia.

Seeking to bypass traditional transit hurdles, Pakistan recently proposed new trade corridors for Central Asian countries. In April 2026, senior representatives from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan gathered in Karachi for a coordination ceremony, where Pakistan offered a permanent alternative to the Afghan route for global connectivity.

The ceremony marked the official activation of the Iran-based land route, with the first convoy of refrigerated trucks carrying frozen meat and assorted exports destined for Tashkent and Bishkek. The development signaled a regional consensus whereby Central Asia is no longer willing to wait for Afghan stability and seem poised to work with Pakistan to operate these new routes. Early data reflects this momentum, with over 14,000 metric tons of cargo successfully processed across both corridors.

Comment by Riaz Haq on July 26, 2026 at 1:49pm

Pakistan Sees Sudden 6x Jump in Credit Card ATM Transactions
By Business Desk | Published Jul 26, 2026 | 8:06 pm

https://propakistani.pk/2026/07/26/pakistan-sees-sudden-6x-jump-in-...

Pakistan’s credit card market recorded its largest-ever quarterly growth, with the number of cards in circulation jumping by 900,000 in just three months, according to Gallup Pakistan’s Digital Analytics Dashboard based on data from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

The total number of credit cards increased from 2.2 million in FY25 to 3.1 million in Q1 FY26 (July-September 2025), up by 44 percent.

The addition exceeds the total net growth recorded over the previous six years, during which the credit card base rose from 1.6 million to 2.2 million.

The surge coincided with a sharp rise in credit card usage. SBP data shows the value of credit card transactions at ATMs increased nearly sixfold during the same quarter.

Despite the unprecedented jump, no major bank, fintech, or financial institution publicly announced a large-scale credit card issuance campaign during the period.

The increase could be linked to a major card issuance, a regulatory reclassification of certain card products, or the launch of new credit-based payment products. SBP hasn’t revealed anything on this so far.

Debit cards continue to dominate Pakistan’s payment landscape, accounting for around 90% of the country’s 61.3 million payment cards, while credit cards represent about 4 percent.

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Credit card growth in Pakistan is experiencing a sudden shift, jumping from a stagnant base of 2.2 million to 3.1 million cards in late 2025, driven by rising fintech adoption and digital banking integrations. Despite this growth, total penetration remains exceptionally low relative to the country's population. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Market Statistics and Recent Surge
Base Expansion: Stagnated around 1.6 million to 2.2 million cards between FY20 and FY25, before a single-quarter jump to 3.1 million in Q1 FY26 (July–September 2025). [1]
Transaction Activity: ATM credit card transaction values spiked nearly 6x during the Q1 FY26 surge, confirming active utilization rather than passive issuance. [1]
Overall Market Share: Debit cards still heavily dominate, making up roughly 90% of Pakistan’s 61.3 million total payment cards. [1]

Comment by Riaz Haq on August 7, 2026 at 4:00pm

Pakistan Rolls Out 1,136 5G Sites Across 23 Cities.
Pakistan has deployed 1,136 5G sites across 23 cities, with Jazz leading the rollout at 689 sites. Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and Faisalabad currently have the highest number of deployments.

https://www.techjuice.pk/pakistan-rolls-out-1136-5g-sites-across-23...

Pakistan has deployed 1,136 5G sites across 23 cities as of August 4, 2026, according to the latest PTA update.

The PTA data shows that Jazz has deployed 689 5G sites, followed by Zong with 338 sites and Ufone with 109 sites. Jazz alone accounts for 60.7% of the deployed 5G sites, while Zong has a 29.8% share and Ufone 9.6%.

The largest 5G deployment has been recorded in Karachi with 257 sites, followed by Islamabad with 192 sites, Lahore with 241 sites and Faisalabad with 131 sites.

The PTA said it is closely monitoring cellular mobile operators to ensure the timely rollout of 5G services across the country and will submit periodic updates to the relevant committee.

Comment by Riaz Haq 10 hours ago

Data shows Jazz invested $59.67 million in 5G rollout up to June 2026, while Zong invested $98.9 million and Ufone an estimated $20 million


https://www.brecorder.com/news/40435965/pakistans-5g-rollout-attrac...





ISLAMABAD: Telecom operators have invested around $178.6 million in rolling out 5G services in Pakistan, with 1,136 sites upgraded to 5G across the country, according to data shared by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication.

The data shows that Jazz invested $59.67 million in 5G rollout up to June 2026, while Zong invested $98.9 million and Ufone an estimated $20 million.

The ministry said the government’s Policy Directive dated January 6, 2026 for the spectrum auction did not set any specific target for telecom companies to bring in foreign direct investment for 5G rollout.


According to investment projections provided by mobile operators, Jazz is expected to invest a further $30.33 million in 5G rollout during fiscal year 2027, while Zong has forecast an investment of $39.9 million during the year.

The ministry said Ufone’s fiscal year 2027 investment data would be shared after completion of merger-related activities.

Meanwhile, mobile operators have upgraded a total of 1,136 sites to 5G across Pakistan.

The development indicates that operators are making substantial investments in expanding next-generation mobile connectivity despite the absence of a specific government-mandated FDI target linked to 5G deployment.

The government had conducted the 5G spectrum auction in March 2026, paving the way for commercial rollout of next-generation mobile services in the country.

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