Web Desk/AFP

Americas

Middle East

Says delaying Iran attack at the request of Gulf leaders as serious negotiations take place; Iran’s president vows not to bow down and never yield to any power; Pakistan condemns drone attacks carried out against Saudi Arabia in the strongest possible terms.



Middle East roundup: Trump says 'serious negotiations' underway with Iran

Shizza Jasmin

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s government has reduced the country&rsquo;s mounting power-sector circular debt by Rs800 billion, roughly $2.8 billion, over the past two years and aims to eliminate the remaining burden before the end of its term, Energy Minister Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari said in an interview with Pakistan TV Digital earlier this week. Circular debt, a chronic financial problem in Pakistan&rsquo;s energy sector caused by unpaid bills, subsidies and system losses, stood at about Rs2.4 trillion when the current government took office, Leghari said.&nbsp; He said the figure has now fallen to around Rs1.6 trillion. &ldquo;We plan to get this off our books in the next three to four years so circular debt should vanish by the end of this government&rsquo;s term,&rdquo; Leghari said. The minister presented the reduction as part of broader reforms aimed at stabilizing Pakistan&rsquo;s energy sector, lowering electricity prices and reducing dependence on imported fuel amid regional instability and volatile global energy markets. Leghari said recent disruptions tied to the conflict involving Iran exposed vulnerabilities in Pakistan&rsquo;s energy mix, particularly in liquefied natural gas supplies from the Middle East. &ldquo;The Iran war has been an eye-opener,&rdquo; he said. Pakistan currently depends on imported fuels for about 26% of its electricity generation, according to the minister.&nbsp; He said the government aims to reduce that reliance to just 3% to 4% within the next eight to 10 years. To achieve that target, Pakistan plans to expand domestic electricity generation through hydropower, nuclear energy and renewables. Leghari said the government expects to add 10,000 megawatts of hydropower capacity, 17,000 megawatts of renewable energy and another 1,500 megawatts of nuclear generation over the next decade. &ldquo;Pakistan has been through a solar revolution,&rdquo; he said, referring to rapid growth in privately financed rooftop and distributed solar systems across the country. The minister also defended the government&rsquo;s planned subsidy reforms, arguing that the current system unfairly burdens middle-income consumers. Pakistan currently provides electricity subsidies to more than 22 million consumers who use fewer than 200 units of electricity per month, compared with about 9 million consumers previously, Leghari said. The subsidies range from 65% to 85% and cost more than Rs500 billion annually, according to the minister. He said many recipients are not among the country&rsquo;s poorest households and that the government plans to link electricity meters with national identity cards and Benazir Income Support Programme records to better target low-income consumers. &ldquo;Only those in the lowest income levels will continue to get the subsidy,&rdquo; Leghari said. The savings, he added, would help reduce costs for middle-income consumers using between 200 and 700 units per month, who currently absorb much of the subsidy burden through cross-subsidization. Leghari also said electricity prices for industrial users have already fallen significantly after the government reduced cross-subsidy costs. Industrial tariffs dropped by about 16 rupees per unit, from roughly 17 to 18 cents per kilowatt-hour to around 12 cents, while household consumers saw average reductions of 8 to 9 rupees per unit, he said. According to the minister, lower electricity prices have already contributed to a 6% to 7% increase in demand. The government is also preparing optional time-of-use electricity pricing that would allow consumers to use cheaper power during peak solar-generation hours, pending approval from the International Monetary Fund, Leghari said. On power outages, the minister acknowledged that some parts of Pakistan experienced six to seven hours of load shedding in late April. He attributed the outages to reduced LNG supplies and a temporary drop in hydropower generation, which fell to nearly 1,000 megawatts before recovering above 6,500 megawatts. Leghari said 11,000 of Pakistan&rsquo;s 14,000 electricity feeders currently operate without load shedding. The remaining 3,000 feeders face what the government describes as &ldquo;economic load shedding&rdquo; because of high electricity theft and non-payment rates. &ldquo;We are moving toward technology at the transformer level so we can switch off only the specific communities involved in theft, rather than the whole feeder,&rdquo; he said. As Pakistan heads into peak summer demand, Leghari said the national grid is prepared to meet electricity consumption levels that typically reach around 29,000 megawatts. &ldquo;There will be no load shedding due to lack of demand or capacity,&rdquo; he said. The government is also working to modernize the national grid and encourage private-sector investment in large-scale battery storage systems to improve stability and integrate more renewable energy into the network, according to the minister.

Economy

Talking to Pakistan TV Digital, Energy Minister Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari says Pakistan is preparing to sharply reduce imported fuel dependence, reform electricity subsidies, expand renewable energy capacity and prevent summer power shortages nationwide.

Pakistan cuts circular debt by $2.87 billion, targets zero by term-end

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday reaffirmed its unwavering support for the Palestinian people as the country joined the international community in commemorating the 78th anniversary of the Nakba, describing the continued suffering of Palestinians as a grave challenge to justice, international law and human dignity. Observed annually on May 15, Nakba, Arabic for &ldquo;catastrophe,&rdquo; marks the mass displacement of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.&nbsp; More than 750,000 Palestinians were uprooted from their homes and villages, an event that remains central to the Palestinian national identity and refugee crisis.&nbsp; For Palestinians and many countries supporting their cause, the Nakba is not viewed solely as a historical event, but as an ongoing reality shaped by occupation, displacement, statelessness and denial of fundamental rights. In separate messages issued on International Nakba Day, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan&rsquo;s longstanding position in support of Palestinian self-determination and statehood, while calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and renewed international efforts toward a just and lasting resolution of the Palestine issue. President Zardari said the Nakba represented &ldquo;the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homes and lands, leading to their prolonged suffering.&rdquo; &ldquo;For the Palestinian people, the Nakba is not a closed chapter of history. It remains a continuing reality marked by occupation, displacement, dispossession and denial of rights,&rdquo; the president said. He emphasized that Pakistan had &ldquo;consistently stood by the Palestinian people&rdquo; and continued to advocate for their &ldquo;legitimate and inalienable rights&rdquo; at the United Nations and other international forums. Pakistan&rsquo;s support for Palestine has remained a central pillar of its foreign policy since independence, rooted in its support for anti-colonial struggles and the principle of self-determination. Islamabad has consistently backed resolutions supporting Palestinian rights at the United Nations, opposed Israeli occupation policies, and called for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. President Zardari urged the international community to ensure continued support for Palestinian refugees and uphold their Right of Return under United Nations Resolution 194. &ldquo;The Right of Return of Palestinian refugees, as affirmed in Resolution 194, remains unfulfilled and must be upheld,&rdquo; he said. The president also reiterated Pakistan&rsquo;s call for &ldquo;an immediate, unconditional and sustainable ceasefire in Gaza,&rdquo; unrestricted humanitarian access, and accountability for &ldquo;Israel&rsquo;s actions.&rdquo; &ldquo;The only viable path to a just and durable peace is the realization of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, through the establishment of an independent, sovereign, and contiguous Palestinian State on the basis of the pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital,&rdquo; he added. PM Sharif, in his message marking the occasion, said Pakistan stood in &ldquo;unwavering solidarity&rdquo; with Palestinians enduring decades of occupation and displacement. &ldquo;As our Palestinian brethren mark the 78th solemn anniversary of Nakba, we remember the enduring suffering and displacement of the Palestinians from their homeland since 1948,&rdquo; the prime minister said. &ldquo;Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering solidarity with our Palestinian brothers and sisters,&rdquo; he said. &quot;We demand an immediate end to the oppression, occupation, and violence being perpetrated by Israeli occupation authorities against Palestinians.&rdquo; At the United Nations, Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Representative Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said the Nakba continued to define Palestinian reality nearly eight decades later. &ldquo;Seventy-eight years ago, more than 750,000 Palestinians were forcibly displaced and uprooted from their homes. Entire cities that had flourished for centuries were emptied, occupied, and renamed. This tragedy came to be known as the Nakba &mdash; the catastrophe,&rdquo; he told a special meeting convened by the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP). &ldquo;Tragically, for the Palestinians, the Nakba is not a closed chapter of history. It is a continuing reality marked by occupation, displacement, dispossession and denial of rights,&rdquo; he added. Referring to the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Ambassador Ahmad said the territory had witnessed &ldquo;its most devastating contemporary manifestation&rdquo; of the Nakba. &ldquo;For two years, Gaza endured devastating Israeli attacks with over 70,000 Palestinians killed, majority of them women and children. The overwhelming majority of Gaza&rsquo;s population has been forcibly displaced multiple times, with nowhere safe to turn,&rdquo; he said. He also voiced concern over developments in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, citing &ldquo;illegal settlement expansion, settler violence, forced displacement, arbitrary restrictions and collective punishment.&rdquo; &ldquo;The condemnable storming of the Al Aqsa Mosque by Israeli extremists is the most recent manifestation of the policy, where illegality and nefarious objectives are evident to alter the demographic and geographic character of the occupied Palestinian territory,&rdquo; he said. Ahmad underscored the importance of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), calling it &ldquo;indispensable for millions of Palestinian refugees&rdquo; and urging sustained international political and financial support for the agency. &ldquo;On this solemn anniversary, remembrance alone is not enough. The Nakba must not be allowed to continue into another generation. It must end through justice, accountability, and vacation of occupation,&rdquo; he said. Reaffirming Pakistan&rsquo;s position, the ambassador said: &ldquo;Support for Palestine is etched in Pakistan&rsquo;s own independence struggle. Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering solidarity with the people of Palestine and their just struggle for self-determination, freedom, and dignity.&rdquo;

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan reaffirms support for Palestinians on Nakba anniversary, calls for Gaza ceasefire and independent state based on pre-1967 borders

On Nakba anniversary, Pakistan reaffirms unwavering support for Palestinians

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday spoke with his Uzbek counterpart Bakhtiyor Saidov to discuss bilateral and multilateral matters of mutual interest. According to the foreign office statement on X, the two diplomats discussed regional developments alongside Pak-Uzbek relations.&nbsp;&ldquo;FM Saidov also appreciated Pakistan&rsquo;s constructive role in mediation for regional peace &amp; security,&rdquo; said the statement. Pakistan and Uzbekistan have signed multiple MOUs earlier this year worth $3.4 billion to enhance and further trade between the two countries. Both countries vowed to increase bilateral trade to $2b within five years in February when the Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev paid a two-day visit to Pakistan at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Pakistan also continues to play an active role in mediating the conflict in the Middle East, which currently stands on a ceasefire brokered by Islamabad&#39;s leadership.

FM Dar discusses bilateral and multilateral matters of mutual interest with his Uzbek counterpart Bakhtiyor Saidov; the two diplomats discuss regional developments and Islamabad's role as a mediator.

Pakistan, Uzbekistan discuss regional stability

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Minister for Climate Change, Dr Musadik Malik, held a meeting with Tajikistan&rsquo;s Ambassador Yusuf Sharifzoda in Islamabad to strengthen regional cooperation on climate and environmental challenges, the minister&rsquo;s office said in a post on X on Friday. The discussions focused on formalizing joint climate and conservation protocols between the two countries, which share significant ecological similarities. Both Pakistan and Tajikistan are home to around 13,000 glaciers each, making them among the most glacier-rich regions in the world. Officials noted that both countries have lost nearly 1,000 glaciers due to rising global temperatures, highlighting the urgency of coordinated climate action. Talks also explored the idea of a regional climate and trade corridor aimed at improving environmental cooperation while boosting sustainable economic links.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2055180002506027367&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=45e0dc866212ecc67dc924808ba0686663c25a73&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Another key area of discussion was cross-border wildlife conservation, particularly efforts to protect the endangered snow leopard, which inhabits mountainous regions across both countries. The two sides also emphasized the importance of coordinated water management strategies, given their shared reliance on glacier-fed water systems. The meeting reflects growing recognition of the need for regional diplomacy to address climate change and biodiversity loss. Dr Malik is set to further advance this agenda at the 4th High-Level Conference on Water for Sustainable Development in Dushanbe. The conference will be held from May 25 to 28 and is expected to bring together global leaders and policymakers to discuss sustainable water management and climate resilience.

Climate & Environment

Pakistan and Tajikistan discussed joint climate action, glacier loss, water management and wildlife conservation, with plans to advance regional cooperation at an upcoming global conference in Dushanbe.

Pakistan, Tajikistan discuss joint climate and water initiatives

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, on Thursday discussed ongoing UN development system reforms and cooperation on Pakistan&rsquo;s sustainable development priorities during a meeting with&nbsp;United Nations Development Programme&nbsp;(UNDP) Resident Representative for Pakistan, Sam Rizk. In a post on X, the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN said the two sides exchanged views on priority issues related to UNDP&#39;s engagement in Pakistan. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2055101574100242836&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=ff8b4648ceee6919d087406d038750c403ea2c13&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 696px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div> During the courtesy call, discussions also focused on &quot;ongoing UN development system reforms, and avenues for continued cooperation in support of Pakistan&rsquo;s sustainable development priorities&quot;, the post said. Rizk was accompanied by Doina Munteanu, Advisor for Countries in Crisis and Complex Situations.

In a post on X, the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN says the two sides have exchanged views on priority issues related to UNDP's engagement in Pakistan, focusing on 'ongoing UN development system reforms, and avenues for continued cooperation in support of Pakistan’s sustainable development priorities.'

Pakistan ambassador, UNDP representative discuss development priorities, UN reform agenda

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: Social activist Muhammad Saeed Sheikh, who received Sitara-e-Khidmat from President Asif Ali Zardari, has emphasized the importance of strengthening economic ties between Pakistan and the United States, particularly through initiatives focused on trade enhancement and community-driven economic collaboration. Speaking on Pakistan TV&rsquo;s morning show &lsquo;World This Morning&rsquo;, Muhammad Saeed Sheikh said one of the key mechanisms supporting this goal is the Houston-Karachi Sister City Association (HKSCA), which was officially approved by the Houston city government. According to him, the sister city framework has provided a structured platform for not only cultural exchange but also meaningful economic engagement between the two cities. Sheikh shared that his journey in community service began in 1980, when he chose to dedicate himself to social work over political activity. Starting with the Junior Chamber (JCs) in Hyderabad, he later rose to become the national president of Pakistan JCs in 1992. After moving to the United States, he continued his work through the Pakistan Chamber of Commerce USA, eventually serving as its president in 2008, consistently focusing on building networks that support leadership, service, and economic connectivity. He described his key role in establishing the Houston-Karachi Sister City relationship in 2009 and developing a network of more than 40 community organizations engaged in humanitarian and civic initiatives. These networks have also played a role during major crises, including the 2011 Sindh floods, Hurricane Harvey in 2017, COVID-19, and winter emergencies in the United States, coordinating relief efforts across communities in both countries. Muhammad Saeed Sheikh reiterated that his guiding principle remains that &quot;service to humanity is the best work of life&quot;. He also highlighted large-scale community initiatives such as Houston&rsquo;s annual Iftar event, which has grown into a major gathering of over 2,000 participants from diverse faiths and backgrounds, reflecting his emphasis on inclusivity and social cohesion. He further said his contributions have been recognised in both Pakistan and the United States through various civil honors, expressing gratitude to the President of Pakistan, diplomatic institutions, and Overseas Pakistanis Foundation.&nbsp; He described these recognitions not as a final milestone but as a continuation of his broader mission to advance humanitarian service and strengthen Pakistan&rsquo;s economic development through deeper US-Pakistan community and trade collaboration.

Muhammad Saeed Sheikh speaking on Pakistan TV’s morning show ‘World This Morning’ (Photo: Pakistan TV Satellite)

Sitara-e-Khidmat recipient Muhammad Saeed Sheikh highlighted the need for stronger Pakistan-US economic ties, citing the Houston-Karachi Sister City Association and decades of community service aimed at promoting trade, humanitarian cooperation, and cross-cultural engagement between the two countries.

Saeed Sheikh's humanitarian work earns state recognition

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has received $1.3 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) programs, the State Bank of Pakistan confirmed on Wednesday. In a statement, the State Bank said that the transfer was approved by the IMF Executive Board during the third review of Pakistan&rsquo;s economic program on May 8. According to the central bank, the IMF Executive Board approved 760 million Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) for Pakistan, while a second tranche of 154 million SDRs was also approved under the RSF programme. The State Bank said it has received a total of 914 million SDRs. The central bank clarified that the amount would not be converted into Pakistani rupees and would instead be added to the country&rsquo;s foreign exchange reserves. Officials said the inflow would be reflected in the foreign exchange reserves for the week ending May 15, 2026. The latest disbursement is expected to provide support to Pakistan&rsquo;s external financing position and help strengthen foreign exchange reserves. Under the current IMF programme, Pakistan has so far received a total of $4.6 billion. Pakistan had entered into the 37-month EFF programme with the IMF in September 2024 as part of efforts to stabilise the economy and support reforms.

Pakistan receives $1.3 billion from the IMF under financial support programmes, providing relief to foreign exchange reserves and strengthening the country’s economic stability efforts.

Pakistan receives $1.3B from IMF under EFF and RSF programs

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Bangladesh on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation to combat drug smuggling, narcotics use, and illegal trafficking, as the two countries agreed to deepen collaboration on internal security, counterterrorism, and organized crime. The agreement was signed during a meeting in Dhaka between Pakistan&#39;s Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Salahuddin Ahmed, according to Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Interior. Under the MoU, both countries agreed to &quot;extend full cooperation to each other to prevent the illegal transportation and smuggling of narcotics&quot; while jointly working to curb the growing use of drugs and their impact on society, the ministry said in a post on X. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2052965761602449912&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=4b61def7fe1e0c4264d7987d79e119f4f5f05ec1&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 598px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The two sides also agreed to devise a &quot;joint strategy&quot; to break the illegal sale and supply chain of narcotics and improve coordination between relevant agencies. Enhancing bilateral cooperation&quot;The relevant agencies of both countries will exchange timely information about drug smugglers and networks,&quot; the ministry said, adding that &quot;training of personnel, use of modern technology, and best practices for drug prevention will be shared&quot;. &quot;The interior ministers also exchanged views on joint measures for counter-terrorism,&quot; the ministry said, adding that detailed discussions were held on enhancing bilateral cooperation regarding organized crime, internal security, and financial fraud. Both sides also agreed to expand cooperation in training programs for officers at police academies and civil armed forces institutions. Naqvi invited his Bangladeshi counterpart to visit Pakistan, while Salahuddin Ahmed thanked him for offering Pakistan&rsquo;s support for Bangladesh&rsquo;s Safe City Project, the ministry said. Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Saem, Cabinet Secretary Naseem Ghani, Interior Secretary Manzoor Chaudhry, and Pakistan&rsquo;s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider also attended the meeting.

Bangladesh Interior Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and visiting Pakistan Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi held a meeting at InterContinental Dhaka. (Photo: BSS)

Security

Both nations agree to extend full cooperation to prevent the illegal transportation and smuggling of narcotics, while also exchanging views on joint measures to enhance bilateral cooperation on organized crime, internal security, and financial fraud.

Pakistan, Bangladesh sign MoU to combat drug smuggling

Muhammad Ibrahim

ISLAMABAD: Pak Suzuki Motor Company has launched the Suzuki Fronx in Pakistan, entering the country&rsquo;s fast-evolving crossover segment with what the company says is Pakistan&rsquo;s first locally assembled XUV, as automakers respond to shifting consumer demand beyond hatchbacks and sedans. The Suzuki Fronx price in Pakistan starts at Rs5.999 million ($21,512), placing it in the premium compact crossover category, a segment gaining traction as Pakistani buyers increasingly seek SUV-inspired styling, higher seating positions, and added technology in urban vehicles. The launch is significant for Pakistan&rsquo;s automobile industry, where local assemblers are under pressure to diversify product lines amid changing consumer preferences, rising fuel costs and growing interest in hybrid and fuel-efficient mobility. The Fronx, powered by a 1.5-liter K-Series engine, comes in multiple transmission options, including manual and automatic variants, while offering features such as Apple CarPlay, cruise control, parking sensors, rear camera systems, and six airbags, features that signal rising competition in Pakistan&rsquo;s upper-tier passenger car market. At the launch event in Islamabad, early buyers pointed to both design and fuel efficiency as key buying factors. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a very good effort by Suzuki,&rdquo; Sheikh Mohammad Irfan, a businessman attending the launch, told Pakistan TV Digital.&nbsp; &ldquo;This car is better; it looks better than all of them,&rdquo; he said, comparing the Fronx to Suzuki&rsquo;s earlier models including the Alto, Cultus, Wagon R and Swift. But Irfan also highlighted a broader trend shaping Pakistan&rsquo;s car market: fuel economics. &ldquo;Nowadays, due to petrol prices, people are moving towards electric cars,&rdquo; he said. While calling Suzuki&rsquo;s mild-hybrid system a positive move, he added, &ldquo;If they had made it a full hybrid, this car would have been the best.&rdquo; That reflects a wider industry transition, as Pakistan&rsquo;s auto buyers increasingly weigh fuel economy alongside resale value and after-sales support. Pak Suzuki&rsquo;s dealership network also sees the Fronx as a shift in product strategy. &ldquo;This is the first time that we are launching an SUV,&rdquo; said Sania Zahra, a sales representative at Suzuki Islamabad Motors. &ldquo;Before, we used to do hatchback cars, but now we are launching an SUV.&rdquo; She said customer turnout and early booking interest at the launch had been strong, underlining market appetite for crossover vehicles. For Pakistan&rsquo;s auto industry, local assembly remains central to the business case. Domestic production helps sustain industrial activity, parts localization, and employment at a time when imports remain expensive and supply chains volatile. &ldquo;If we buy things made in Pakistan, it is a benefit for our country,&rdquo; Irfan said, linking local vehicle production directly to economic activity. For Pak Suzuki, long dominant in Pakistan&rsquo;s small-car market, the Fronx launch is more than a product expansion. It is an industry test of whether the country&rsquo;s car market is moving decisively toward crossovers. A category that has already reshaped consumer demand across global auto markets.

Pakistan's first-ever XUV, the Suzuki Fronx (Photo: Facebook/@SuzukiPakistan).

Pak Suzuki launches the Fronx in Pakistan at Rs5.999 million, entering the crossover segment with what it calls the country’s first locally assembled XUV amid shifting consumer demand toward premium compact vehicles.

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