Pakistan Viral Series

The Punjab Government’s Nigehban Ramadan Package 2026 offers Rs10,000 one-time cash relief to low-income families during the holy month, helping cover essentials like flour, sugar, ghee, pulses, and rice amid inflation. Launched to ease financial burdens for deserving households, it prioritizes widows, orphans, disabled persons, daily wagers, and BISP-registered families. With transparent digital verification via NADRA, the program aims for wider reach this year, distributing aid before Ramadan’s first week. If you’re in Punjab and meet criteria, apply early to secure support it’s a dignified way to manage expenses without loans. Eligibility and Required Documents To qualify, you must be a Punjab resident with a valid CNIC, from a low-income household (below poverty threshold), not a high-grade government employee (Grade 17+), and without large assets like properties or vehicles. BISP enrollees get priority. Gather your original CNIC, registered mobile number, income proof if needed...

Today marked the first solar eclipse of 2026 an annular one creating a stunning “ring of fire” as the Moon partially obscured the Sun, leaving a bright ring of sunlight visible around its silhouette. The event started in a remote part of Antarctica, where few people but plenty of penguins could witness the full annular phase. Partial views were available across southern Africa, the southern tip of South America, and vast ocean areas in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. Maximum coverage hit around 96% in the path, with annularity lasting about 2 minutes 20 seconds at peak. Unfortunately for observers in Pakistan, including Karachi, the eclipse was not visible at all  local skies remained unaffected, as confirmed by the Pakistan Meteorological Department. Key Timings and Phenomenon Explained The partial eclipse began around 09:56 UTC (2:56 PM PKT), with the annular phase peaking at 12:12 UTC (5:12 PM PKT) and ending by 14:28 UTC. Unlike total eclipses, annular ones occur w...

  The government has raised petrol prices by Rs5 per litre to Rs258.17 and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs7.32 to Rs275.70 per litre for the fortnight ending February 28, 2026. Announced late on Sunday from Islamabad, the revision stems from rising international crude rates and input from the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra). This comes as a fresh blow to households already grappling with inflation, especially with diesel fueling much of the transport and agriculture sector.  How the Hike Hits Everyday Life Diesel’s jump now at Rs275.70 will ripple through trucking, buses, tractors, and even trains, pushing up costs for vegetables, grains, and daily essentials. Petrol at Rs258.17 affects bikes, rickshaws, and cars, squeezing middle-class budgets in cities like Karachi and Lahore. The Petroleum Division’s notification highlights these as key revenue drivers, with monthly sales hitting 700,000-800,000 tonnes. Levies and Government Revenue Angle Even with zero GST on fu...

Chery Pakistan has unveiled the Tiggo 9 PHEV as its premium flagship, setting an introductory ex-factory price of Rs13,694,000 with bookings open at Rs3,000,000. This 7-seater AWD SUV builds on the brand’s electrification push, first teased at the 2025 PAPS Auto Show alongside Tiggo 7 and 8 PHEVs. Following the Tiggo 8 PHEV’s January launch (now Rs11.2 million after a Rs300,000 hike), the Tiggo 9 targets the booming hybrid segment. For full pricing and booking details, check the ProPakistani announcement . The Tiggo 7 PHEV is slated for later 2026. Powertrain and Performance Specs Revealed Measuring 4,810mm long, 1,925mm wide, and 1,741mm tall with a 2,800mm wheelbase, the Tiggo 9 PHEV packs a 1.5L turbo engine plus triple motors and a 34.46kWh battery for 610hp and 920Nm torque. It offers 145km EV range (WLTP) and up to 1,190km total, blending efficiency with power. Inside, enjoy a 15.6-inch touchscreen, Sony 14-speaker audio, panoramic sunroof, and 20-inch alloys. Seats feature el...

The inaugural player auction for PSL 11 wrapped up in Lahore, marking a bold move from drafts to auctions as announced by the PCB last month . Fast bowler Naseem Shah fetched the highest price, joining Team Rawalpindi for Rs86.5m after intense bidding. Other stars like Fakhar Zaman (Lahore Qalandars, Rs79.5m) and David Warner (Karachi Kings, Rs79m) drew big money, while the league expands to eight teams with newcomers Hyderabad and Sialkot. The tournament runs March 26 to May 3 – expect fireworks! For complete coverage, check Dawn’s full report . 2 “LARGE” Top Bids and Surprise Deals Naseem Shah (Rawalpindi) : Rs86.5m – Auction’s crown jewel, outbidding Karachi and Islamabad. Fakhar Zaman (Lahore Qalandars) : Rs79.5m – Retained star after Peshawar push. David Warner (Karachi Kings) : Rs79m – Aussie firepower amid Zalmi rivalry. Faheem Ashraf (Islamabad United) : Rs85m All-rounder steal from base Rs42m. Haris Rauf (Lahore Qalandars) : Rs76m Pace ace reclaimed over Rawalpindi. ...

NEPRA has introduced the (Prosumer) Regulations 2026, effectively ending the one-to-one net metering system established in 2015. Under the new “net billing” framework, utilities like Discos will buy excess solar power from households and businesses at the national average energy purchase price potentially as low as Rs11 per unit while charging full consumer tariffs up to Rs50 per unit for supplied electricity. This shift could burden solar adopters with higher net payments, as the buyback rate drops from the current Rs25.9. Existing contracts remain intact until expiry, but renewals must comply with the new rules, including a reduced five-year term from seven.  Key Restrictions and Application Process System sizes are capped at 1MW and tied to sanctioned load, with no new setups if transformer generation hits 80% capacity. Larger systems (250kW+) require load flow studies, and all interconnection costs fall on prosumers, plus a Rs1,000/kW fee. Applications must be processed quic...