Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the Belt and Road Initiative while addressing the 11th Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong. He invited BRI partner countries and international investors to explore emerging opportunities under the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. CPEC Phase II is expected to strengthen industrial cooperation, trade, investment and regional connectivity while supporting Pakistan’s economic development. The minister’s remarks highlighted Pakistan’s intention to deepen collaboration with BRI partners and attract investment into priority sectors.

The government has reduced regulatory duty (RD) and additional customs duty (ACD) on imported mobile phones for FY2026-27. According to a commerce ministry brief, RD on phones valued up to $30 has fallen from Rs300 to Rs240. For the $30-$100 category, it declined from Rs3,000 to Rs2,400; $100-$200 from Rs7,500 to Rs6,000; $200-$350 from Rs11,000 to Rs8,800; and $350-$500 from Rs15,000 to Rs12,000. Premium smartphones priced above $500 will attract Rs17,600 per unit instead of Rs22,000. For smartphones and cellular phones imported in CKD/SKD condition, RD has been reduced from 5% to 4%, while ACD has been cut from 6% to 4%.

Google will invest at least €13 billion in AI and digital infrastructure across Finland during 2027 and 2028—its largest single investment in Europe. The expansion will support data centres and rising demand for AI-powered services. Google has also signed a 22-year power purchase agreement with Finnish utility Fortum to secure up to 50% of the Loviisa nuclear plant’s output from 2030 to 2049. The agreement strengthens Google’s access to stable, low-carbon electricity for energy-intensive AI operations.