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Pakistan unveils new plan to boost social projects with public and private funding | The Express Tribune
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb speaks during a Reuters interview at the 2025 annual IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington, DC, US, April 25, 2025. Photo: Reuters/ File
KARACHI:
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, reflecting on prospects of improving philanthropy through policy and tax structure improvements, said that Pakistan’s emerging Social Impact Financing Framework, a new initiative under the Prime Minister’s Office, is aimed at mobilising public, private, and philanthropic capital for measurable social outcomes.
Speaking at the Corporate Philanthropy Awards 2025, hosted by the Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy (PCP), he said Pakistan’s corporate giving reached a record Rs25.44 billion in 2023 and could double if the government undertakes meaningful policy and tax reforms to encourage structured giving and simplify compliance. “Corporate giving worth Rs25 billion is an extraordinary milestone,” he said.
Aurangzeb said the government is modernising development financing through the new framework, which seeks to link social spending directly to measurable results. He said the initiative represents a shift from traditional, grant-based aid toward results-based and impact-linked financing to ensure every rupee achieves tangible outcomes.
“Rather than focusing on generalised spending, we are moving toward results-based and impact-linked financing,” he said. “This requires blending public, private, and philanthropic capital into cohesive, outcome-driven structures.”
He announced that one of the key projects under the framework will be Pakistan’s first Skills Impact Bond, developed with the British Asian Trust and the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC).
“The Skills Impact Bond is being launched to promote skills development and sustainable livelihoods,” he said. “It will move us away from relying solely on traditional bank funding and allow us to tap into capital markets to raise financing for social purposes.”
Aurangzeb added that the British Asian Trust’s partnership brings global expertise to the program, helping Pakistan pioneer market-based social investment models that align philanthropic giving with long-term economic outcomes.
PCP’s Corporate Philanthropy Report 2023 revealed that Pakistan’s corporate sector contribution was the highest in the two decades since PCP began tracking corporate giving. Public Listed Companies contributed Rs18.23 billion, followed by Public Unlisted Companies with Rs3.28 billion and Private Limited Companies with Rs3.93 billion.
Despite the record figure, Aurangzeb and several experts highlighted policy gaps, complex tax laws, and regulatory inefficiencies that continue to constrain Pakistan’s philanthropic ecosystem.
Pakistan’s tax code offers limited incentives for charitable giving, and the non-profit certification process remains slow and cumbersome. The minister said these issues must be addressed to enhance transparency and accountability.
“Efficiency is needed at all ends,” he said, referring to bureaucratic hurdles. “We must make it easier for both donors and non-profits to operate, while ensuring credibility and oversight.”
“Philanthropy is not just an act of charity, it’s an expression of our national identity,” he said. “You are helping build a more compassionate, inclusive Pakistan.”
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to partner with PCP and the private sector in promoting a structured culture of giving. “You are guiding, connecting, and recognising those who build with purpose and responsibility,” he said. “The government stands with you as a reliable partner – fully committed to supporting your efforts in shaping a transparent, impactful, and sustainable philanthropy ecosystem.” PCP Chairman Zaffar A Khan (SI) also addressed the gathering, emphasising that with proper facilitation, the corporate and non-profit sectors can significantly expand their contributions to Pakistan’s social development.
The government on Thursday kept petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) prices unchanged at Rs253.17 per litre and Rs257.08 per litre respectively, for the coming fortnight, starting from January 16.
This decision was notified in a press release issued by the Petroleum Division.
Earlier, it was expected that the prices of all petroleum products would go down by up to Rs4.50 per litre (over 1pc each) today in view of variation in the international market.
Petrol is primarily used in private transport, small vehicles, rickshaws, and two-wheelers, and directly impacts the budgets of the middle and lower-middle classes.
Meanwhile, most of the transport sector runs on HSD. Its price is considered inflationary, as it is mostly used in heavy transport vehicles, trains, and agricultural engines such as trucks, buses, tractors, tube wells, and threshers, and particularly adds to the prices of vegetables and other eatables.
The government is currently charging about Rs100 per litre on petrol and about Rs97 per litre on diesel.
One of Britain’s most prolific rail fare dodgers could face jail after admitting dozens of travel offences.
Charles Brohiri, 29, pleaded guilty to travelling without buying a ticket a total of 112 times over a two-year period, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard.
He could be ordered to pay more than £18,000 in unpaid fares and legal costs, the court was told.
He will be sentenced next month.
District Judge Nina Tempia warned Brohiri “could face a custodial sentence because of the number of offences he has committed”.
He pleaded guilty to 76 offences on Thursday.
It came after he was convicted in his absence of 36 charges at a previous hearing.
During Thursday’s hearing, Judge Tempia dismissed a bid by Brohiri’s lawyers to have the 36 convictions overturned.
They had argued the prosecutions were unlawful because they had not been brought by a qualified legal professional.
But Judge Tempia rejected the argument, saying there had been “no abuse of this court’s process”.
JSW Jetour T2 Launch: JSW Motors Limited, the passenger vehicle arm of the JSW Group, is reportedly preparing to enter the Indian car market this year. It has partnered with Jetour, a China-based automotive brand owned by Chery Automobile, and the Jetour T2 SUV could be the company’s first product, according to the reports.
Media reports suggest that the launch will happen independently and not under the JSW MG Motor India joint venture. The SUV will wear a JSW badge and name, instead of the Jetour branding. The upcoming SUV will be assembled at JSW’s upcoming greenfield manufacturing facility in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra.
According to the reports, the company plans to have the vehicle on sale by the third quarter of this year. With this move, JSW aims to establish itself as a standalone carmaker in India.
Expected Powertrain
The SUV is likely to arrive with a 1.5-litre plug-in hybrid setup. Internationally, this hybrid powertrain is offered with both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options. It is still unclear which version will be introduced in India.
Design
In terms of design, the T2 is a large and rugged-looking SUV. It has a boxy and upright stance, similar to vehicles like the Land Rover Defender. Despite its tough appearance, it uses a monocoque chassis instead of a ladder-frame construction.
Size
The SUV measures around 4.7 metres in length and nearly 2 metres in width. This makes it larger than the Tata Safari, even though it is a five-seater. A longer 7-seat version is also sold in some markets.
Price
Pricing details for India are yet to be announced. For reference, the front-wheel-drive five-seat T2 i-DM is priced at AED 1,44,000 (around Rs 35 lakh) in the UAE.
Jetour
Jetour is a brand owned by Chinese automaker Chery. Launched in 2018, it focuses mainly on SUVs and is present in markets across China, the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America.
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