Interest in raw, uncut diamonds is growing as global crises drive more people to seek something authentic and unique, according to the jewelry brand Roughdiamonds.dk, which has tripled its revenue from customers in the United Kingdom and the United States over the past four years. In a jewelry market defined by perfection and synthetic diamonds, the Danish brand Roughdiamonds.dk is …

Spending patterns shifted during Ramadan and peaked around Eid Al-Fitr, with total spending up 10% during the Eid period By Rafiq Vayani KARACHI: Visa, a global leader in digital payments, today released its latest consumer spending insights for the Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr period in Pakistan, based on the Visa Consulting & Analytics Retail Spend Monitor. During this period, spending …

By Javed Iqbal KARACHI: The Consulate of Sri Lanka organized a colorful and lively celebration of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year (Surya Udanaya) at the lush lawns of Iqra University Defence Campus. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from the Sri Lankan community residing in Karachi, as well as Sri Lankan students studying at various educational institutions. The ceremony featured …

News Desk RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has reaffirmed that the strict enforcement of the “No Hajj Without a Permit” policy is rooted in its commitment to protecting the rights of authorized pilgrims. This mandate ensures that all guests of the Holy Sites receive the high-quality services they deserve. The Ministry explained that unauthorized individuals create overcrowding …

News Desk DUBAI: RAKBANK today reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to the UAE’s SME sector, announcing a series of measures aimed at strengthening business resilience, maintaining credit flow and enabling growth during a period of heightened global uncertainty. For over five decades, supporting small and medium enterprises has been at the core of RAKBANK’s strategy. Having served more than 250,000 SMEs …

By Rafiq Vayani KARACHI: Mr. Zahid Hameed, Senior Vice President, Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) and Mr. Muhammad Ikram Rajput, President, KATI held an important meeting with Syed Nehal Hashmi, Governor Sindh to discuss matters related to the business community and industrial development. During the meeting, various issues concerning the Korangi Industrial Area were discussed in detail, with …

By Rafiq Vayani DUBAI/KARACHI: A new chapter begins as Saving Home Empire 4 proudly announces its upcoming project in the heart of the city, developed in collaboration with Saving Home Builders & Ali Empire Builders. Mr. Iqbal Advani, CEO of Saving Home, highlighted the vision behind the project, emphasizing a commitment to trust, innovation, and excellence in every development. With …

News Desk PARIS: Paris has been named Official Host Destination for the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards 2026, with the Gala Ceremony to take place in the French capital on 9 December 2026 as the culmination of the two-day World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance Summit. The announcement marks a significant strengthening of the strategic partnership between the Awards and the Alliance, bringing together …

By Rafiq Vayani DUBAI: Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) successfully hosted its 2nd Panel Discussion of 2026, titled “Decarbonising Packaging: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Carbon Footprint, Innovation and Climate-Neutral Strategies.” The session convened policymakers, industry leaders, sustainability experts, academicians and youth to examine pathways for reducing packaging-related emissions and advancing climate-aligned, circular packaging systems. As global climate commitments intensify, the discussion …

By Rafiq Vayani KARACHI: Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan Limited (SCBPL) delivered a resilient financial performance with a Profit before tax of PKR 11.7 bn in Q1 2026 compared to PKR 17.0 bn last period. Revenue was lower year on year primarily due to sharp reduction in interest rates. The impact of margin compression on revenue was partially offset by a …