Islamabad Capital Territory

Islamabad | ReNews Pakistan
Pakistan and Russia have agreed to prioritize direct land connectivity in order to strengthen regional trade and economic relations, with a focus on expanding bilateral logistics and transport cooperation.
The understanding was reached during a detailed meeting held on the sidelines of the 2nd OIC Transport Ministers’ Conference in Istanbul between Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan and Deputy Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation Dmitry Stanislavovich Zverev.
Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan stated that Pakistan is keen to establish land corridors through China and other countries, enabling efficient and direct access to Russia via the Central Asian states. He further emphasized that cooperation with Russia in the development of road networks, logistics centers, and highways is a top priority for Pakistan.
Deputy Minister Dmitry Zverev expressed deep interest in enhancing highway and transport connectivity with Pakistan, highlighting the immense potential for broader partnership in this sector. He formally invited Abdul Aleem Khan to participate in the International Transport and Logistics Forum to be held in Saint Petersburg from 1 to 3 April 2026.
Both sides reaffirmed their firm commitment to resolving the visa and related issues faced by Pakistani freight truck drivers. They also agreed to expand banking channels, remove financial bottlenecks, and deepen mutual cooperation in the logistics domain.
Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan noted that platforms such as the OIC Transport Ministers’ Conference held in Türkiye provide valuable opportunities for regional countries to benefit from shared experiences and improve land connectivity.
Separately, Abdul Aleem Khan held a meeting with Iran’s Minister of Roads and Infrastructure Farzaneh Sadegh, during which detailed discussions took place on facilitating commercial transport movement across the Pakistan–Iran border. Both ministers agreed to increase daily border crossing capacity from 200 trucks to between 800 and 1,000 trailers, improve border parking facilities, streamline bilateral arrangements, and enhance coordination among relevant institutions—including the Federal Board of Revenue, Ministry of Commerce, and Customs Authorities.
Farzaneh Sadegh remarked that conditions at the Pakistan–Iran border have improved, though there is still scope for further progress. Abdul Aleem Khan reiterated his commitment to further strengthening the deep fraternal ties with Iran.
This development represents a significant step forward for Pakistan in opening new avenues of land-based trade with Central Asia, Russia, and Iran, thereby reinforcing regional economic integration and logistics development.

Islamabad | ReNews Pakistan
Pakistan has successfully launched the EO 2 Earth Observation Satellite, marking a significant advancement in the country’s ability to monitor land, urban growth and natural resources through high precision satellite data. The satellite was launched from the Yangjiang Sea Shore Centre in China, underscoring the depth of Pakistan China space cooperation.
According to SUPARCO, EO 2 will considerably enhance Pakistan’s geospatial intelligence and high resolution imaging capacity. For the real estate and urban development sector, this represents a structural shift towards evidence based land governance. The satellite will provide accurate and regularly updated imagery of land use patterns, urban sprawl, housing developments, agricultural zones and infrastructure corridors.
Officials emphasised that EO 2 will enable improved mapping of plot divisions, settlement trends, peri urban expansion and changes in land cover. Such data is expected to support regulatory authorities, development agencies and planning institutions in strengthening transparency in land records, zoning compliance and housing scheme monitoring.
For a rapidly urbanising country like Pakistan, where land value dynamics are closely linked to infrastructure expansion and resource allocation, reliable satellite based observation offers a powerful tool for informed decision making. The availability of objective spatial data can help detect encroachments, track unauthorised developments and assess land utilisation efficiency across both urban and rural landscapes.
In addition to its relevance for real estate and land administration, EO 2 will also assist in disaster risk assessment, particularly in floodplain mapping, drought monitoring and post disaster damage evaluation. Accurate terrain and land use data can significantly improve strategic development planning and long term infrastructure investment decisions.
President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq congratulated the nation on the successful launch, calling it a milestone in scientific progress and national capability building.
SUPARCO stated that EO 2 reflects Pakistan’s expanding technical expertise and positions the country to move towards globally aligned, data driven land management and urban planning frameworks. For policymakers, regulators and the real estate sector alike, the satellite’s data output is expected to become a foundational instrument in shaping sustainable and transparent development.

Islamabad | ReNews Pakistan
The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO), M Zafar Hijazi, has directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to ensure uniform tax treatment on electricity bills issued under the net metering system across the country.
The directive was issued in response to complaints highlighting discrepancies in the application of taxes on net metering bills in different regions. The Ombudsman emphasized that a consistent taxation framework must be implemented to ensure equal treatment of residential, commercial, and industrial property owners who have installed solar power systems.
In his decision, the FTO observed that the rapid increase in rooftop solar installations has made it essential to adopt a clear and transparent taxation mechanism. Variations in tax deductions and billing practices by different power distribution companies had created financial uncertainty for consumers feeding surplus electricity into the national grid.
The Ombudsman instructed the FBR to coordinate with the Power Division and relevant electricity distribution companies to establish a harmonised mechanism governing the taxation of electricity supplied to and drawn from the grid under net metering arrangements. The objective is to eliminate ambiguity and ensure compliance with applicable tax laws.
The order further noted that policy consistency in taxation is crucial to sustaining confidence among households and businesses investing in solar systems installed on their premises. A predictable framework is considered vital for maintaining financial stability in energy-related investments tied to buildings and facilities.
The FBR has been directed to submit a compliance report within the prescribed timeframe, confirming implementation of a uniform tax regime for net metering consumers nationwide.