LONDON – Arshad Khan, the Pakistani tea seller who rose to fame after his photograph went viral in 2016, has expanded his café business in Britain with a third outlet in New Malden, south London.

The new branch of Café Chaiwala Arshad Khan is being launched by British-Pakistani businessman Asif Khaliq, the brand’s UK master franchise holder. He opened the first outlet in Tooting in January 2025, followed by a second in Sutton.

Mr Khaliq said two more branches were planned within the next month as part of efforts to expand the business across Britain.

Speaking at the New Malden opening, he said demand for Pakistani tea and street food was growing among British Pakistanis, other South Asian communities and the wider public.

“We are doing our best to promote Pakistani culture through food and hospitality,” he said.

The café’s menu includes halwa puri, Lahori chanay, parathas, desi omelettes, samosa chaat and kebab rolls, alongside karak chai, doodh patti and Kashmiri chai.

Mr Khaliq said the response to the Tooting and Sutton outlets had encouraged further expansion. The aim, he added, was to introduce Pakistani flavours to customers from different communities.

Khan welcomed the brand’s progress under Mr Khaliq, crediting him with helping expand its presence in Britain.

From roadside stall to café business

Khan became an internet sensation in 2016 after photographer Javeria Ali photographed him serving tea at a roadside stall in Islamabad. The image drew international attention and led to modelling, advertising and business opportunities.

He established his café business in Pakistan in 2020 before pursuing overseas expansion through franchise arrangements. While his cafés in Pakistan have since closed, the overseas business has continued to grow.

Dispute with former franchise partners

The expansion follows a dispute involving an earlier UK franchise arrangement, which began with an outlet in Ilford, east London, in June 2023.

Khan and his business partner, Syed Kazim Hasan, became involved in a disagreement with former franchise partners Nadir Durrani and Yawar Akbar Durrani over contractual obligations, royalty payments, trademark registration and the commercial use of Khan’s name and image.

Khan and Hasan initiated proceedings at the UK Intellectual Property Office to challenge a figurative trademark registered by a former business partner.

In their legal case, they alleged that the registration used Khan’s likeness without continuing authorisation after the franchise relationship ended. According to their filing, the arrangement was terminated in April 2025, while the disputed trademark application was submitted in August that year.

The material provided did not include a response from the former franchise partners or an outcome of the proceedings.

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ISLAMABAD – Pakistanis face another increase in fuel costs after the federal government raised petrol by Rs1.54 per litre and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs2.16 per litre for Tuesday.

OGRA linked the adjustment to developments in international markets, including changes in Platts benchmark rates, premiums and incidental costs.

Diesel users have now faced two successive increases. On Friday, the government raised HSD by Rs1.91 per litre while leaving petrol unchanged. Together, the two revisions have added Rs4.07 per litre to diesel prices.

The domestic increase comes as global crude markets pulled back on Monday, with hopes of easing hostilities between the United States and Iran reducing some supply concerns. However, persistent attacks on Saudi Arabia kept investors cautious and oil prices near six-month highs.

Brent crude futures fell $2.03, or 1.7%, to $114.70 per barrel at 10:37am ET, equivalent to 1437 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude dropped $2.60, or 2.5%, to $100.71 per barrel.

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ISLAMABAD – Clips doing rounds online as evidence of fierce clashes in Azad Jammu and Kashmir turned out to be manipulated, as artificial gunfire was added to create the impression of an armed confrontation.

The posts being pushed in bulk by Indian accounts claimed that widespread fighting had erupted in Chitra Topi, South Bagh and other locations, leaving parts of the region facing warlike conditions.

FAKE NEWS

Clashes Reported in Chitral, Topi, South Bagh and POK

The situation reportedly resembles a war zone, with security forces conducting operations across the areas. The scale of the activity has raised concerns among local residents. https://t.co/mRi407QZeE

— SILENT BRIEF (@SilentBriefHQ1) October 26, 2026

Footage presented as proof of intense clashes had been edited through the addition of gunfire sounds. It said the editing gave viewers a misleading impression of the events shown. Several other clips show large-scale military operations in Chitral, Topi, South Bagh and Azad Kashmir and these are AI-generated or fabricated.

Indian-linked digital networks of repurposing unrelated footage and adding artificial audio to promote claims of unrest and action by state institutions. Establishing who created the videos, or whether their circulation was coordinated, would require further evidence.

Pakistanis are urged to check the original upload, location, recording date and credible local reporting before sharing footage presented as evidence of a security incident.

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LAHORE — A meeting of Board of Directors of The Bank of Punjab (BOP) was held on October 26, 2026, wherein the Bank’s unaudited financial results for the nine months ended September 30, 2026, were reviewed and approved.

Building on its strong performance during the first half of the year, the Bank maintained its steady growth momentum, delivering sustained business expansion, robust core earnings, and consistent operational performance. The results reflect BOP’s strengthening financial fundamentals, effective strategic execution, and growing competitive position within Pakistan’s banking industry, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable growth and long-term value creation for stakeholders.

Financial Highlights at a Glance

Sustained Earnings Momentum Reinforces BOP’s Financial Strength

The Bank of Punjab continued its upward earnings trajectory during the nine months ended September 30, 2026, demonstrating the strength of its core banking franchise and the effectiveness of its business strategy. Operating Profit (before provisions and gains) climbed to Rs. 34.42 billion, marking an impressive 34% year-on-year increase. The Bank’s revenue performance remained equally encouraging, with Net Interest Income reaching Rs. 69.40 billion, up 19%, while Non-Markup Income (excluding gains) advanced to Rs. 18.04 billion, recording 47% growth. These results highlight the Bank’s ability to generate sustainable earnings through strategic balance sheet management, strengthening non-funded income streams, and a diversified revenue base.

The sustained strength in core earnings, complemented by disciplined expense management, continued to support the Bank’s overall profitability. Profit Before Tax rose to Rs. 30.46 billion, representing 15% year-on-year growth, while Profit After Tax increased to Rs. 14.53 billion, reflecting a 22% improvement over the corresponding period last year. The Bank’s continued focus on productivity, cost optimization, and operational discipline contributed to improved efficiency, with the Cost-to-Income Ratio (excluding gains) improving by 3.03%. This combination of revenue growth, profitability, and enhanced operating efficiency reflects BOP’s progress towards building a stronger, more competitive, and financially resilient banking institution.

Robust Advances Growth & Improved Deposit Mix

The Bank also demonstrated sustained business momentum during the nine months ended September 30, 2026, with gross advances registering an impressive 28% year-on-year growth, reflecting the Bank’s expanding lending footprint and continued support for economic activity. Despite a broadly stable overall balance sheet, the Bank made significant strides in strengthening its core deposit franchise, with current deposits growing by 16% year-on-year, while average current deposits recorded a remarkable 25% increase over the corresponding period last year. This strong growth in low-cost deposits underscores the Bank’s continued focus on improving its funding mix, enhancing funding efficiency, and building a more sustainable foundation for long-term profitability. Total assets and deposits stood at Rs. 2,456 billion and Rs. 1,928 billion, respectively, while gross advances reached Rs. 1,073 billion, highlighting the Bank’s continued emphasis on productive asset deployment and strengthening its core banking business.

Strengthened Capital Base & Regulatory Compliance

The Bank further reinforced its capital position, supported by strong financial performance and continued equity support from the Government of Punjab. During the period, the Bank received Rs. 15.6 billion from the Government of Punjab under the equity injection arrangements, representing a significant step towards strengthening its capital base. As of September 30, 2026, the Bank’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) stood at 13.94%, while its Leverage Ratio reached 4.07%, both comfortably above the regulatory requirements prescribed by the State Bank of Pakistan. The Bank also maintained full compliance with applicable IFRS 9 provisioning requirements, reaffirming its commitment to prudent financial management, regulatory discipline, and long-term financial resilience.

Strategic Milestones & Growing Institutional Recognition

The year 2026 marked significant strategic achievements for The Bank of Punjab, further strengthening its institutional standing and growth prospects. The Bank’s long-term credit rating was upgraded by PACRA to the highest AAA category with a Stable Outlook, reflecting its strengthened financial profile and institutional resilience. Expanding its international footprint, BOP also secured in-principle approval from the State Bank of Pakistan to establish an Overseas Wholesale Banking Unit in the Kingdom of Bahrain, opening new avenues for cross-border business and regional connectivity. Complementing these milestones, the Bank continued to earn prestigious national recognition, securing three accolades at the Pakistan Banking Awards 2026 for Agriculture Inclusion, SME Banking, and Women’s Inclusion. These achievements extend BOP’s remarkable track record of consecutive awards across key banking segments, reinforcing its growing market standing, commitment to financial inclusion, and pursuit of sustainable long-term growth.

Building a Future-Ready Bank | Strategic Outlook

The Bank of Punjab continues to strengthen its position as a dynamic and increasingly competitive financial institution, combining its established public-sector relationships with a growing commercial banking franchise. Beyond its traditional role as a key financial partner to the Government of Punjab, BOP is progressively broadening its business horizons through deeper customer engagement, diversification of banking services, and a sharper focus on sustainable, relationship-driven growth.

Bank remains committed to leveraging technology, digital innovation, and operational excellence to enhance customer experience, improve service delivery, and build a more efficient and agile banking model. With a clear emphasis on strengthening core banking capabilities, maintaining prudent risk management, and capitalizing on emerging domestic and international opportunities, BOP aims to translate its institutional progress into enduring financial performance. Looking ahead, the Bank’s strategic direction remains firmly anchored in profitable growth, customer-centric innovation, financial inclusion, and sustainable stakeholder value, while continuing to play a meaningful role in Pakistan’s economic development.

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NEW YORK – US President Donald Trump took his Michigan campaign rally into viral moment as he made wild comment about Nicki Minaj’s A**, asked her to stand and then told the cheering crowd he hoped she was not offended.

“By the way, I looked at one hell of a beautiful A** before, Nicki Minaj. That’s hard to miss,” Trump said in Port Huron event. The rapper stood and waved as supporters cheered. Trump followed with: “I hope Nicki wasn’t insulted, but we love Nicki. She’s been with us for a long time.” The exchange came as Trump campaigned for Republicans ahead of November’s midterm elections, with Minaj joining him after travelling to Michigan aboard Air Force One.

SNEAKO’s FACE when Trump says Nicki Minaj has “one hell of an ass” and then STARES at it

BRO WAS NOT READY FOR THAT https://t.co/6ZCnjqZ4Yz

— sneakoko (@sneakoko) October 26, 2026

His remark followed detailed explanation of his earlier comments about Ohio Republican Senator Jon Husted’s physique. Trump insisted those observations concerned Husted’s football background and had been made “in fun”, arguing that reports had missed the context.

“I’ve never done that with a man before. Off the record, women? Yes. Men? No,” he said, before switching his attention to Minaj.

Nicki Minaj used her appearance to rally support for Republican candidates. Slaying in gold Gucci suit, the 43-year-old rapper led chants of Trump’s name and described the election as a major turning point for the United States. As she left the stage, Trump offered more praise: “She never looked more beautiful. She gets it. She’s smart.”

Her trip also sparked talk of a possible White House role after communications director Steven Cheung shared a video of her discussing the administration’s economic and foreign policies aboard Air Force One. “Ladies and gentlemen, I think we may have found the new White House Press Secretary!” Cheung wrote on X.

Controversy grows over hidden Epstein files involving allegations that Trump sexually abused a minor

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TEHRAN – Senior officials from Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Turkey concluded high-level meeting in Tehran aimed at preventing further escalation and opening a path towards an agreement amid regional tensions.

The meeting was held at Iranian capital’s Saadabad complex, and talks brought together leading political, defence and intelligence figures from the four countries. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian urged the participants to put shared interests at the centre of regional diplomacy, saying differences could be addressed more effectively through constructive engagement.

Moments from Major General Rezaei’s meeting with senior Turkish, Saudi, and Pakistani officials. https://t.co/V3OD1WZr3U

— IRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting) (@iribnews_irib) October 26, 2026

He said regional problems would become easier to resolve if countries managed their disagreements wisely and concentrated on common ground instead of issues that deepen divisions.

Pakistan was represented by its Chief of Defence Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin also attended. Joining Pezeshkian on the Iranian side were Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Saudi Arabia termed discussions positive efforts to prevent tensions from escalating further and create conditions for an agreement. The supplied account did not detail any final agreement or joint declaration following the meeting.

The meeting comes after Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed a defence and security agreement on August 7 this year, known as the Makkah Pact.

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RIYADH – Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed fresh attacks on Riyadh airport and pumping stations serving Saudi Arabia’s strategic East–West oil pipeline, a major route for transporting crude without passing through Hormuz.

Saudi authorities have yet to respond to the claims, leaving the reported strikes, their impact and any disruption to operations unconfirmed. The claims come amid an escalation in Houthi attacks on Saudi airports, ports and oil installations over the past month. The pipeline and its pumping stations have also been targeted previously.

Operated by Saudi Aramco, the 1,200-kilometre pipeline carries oil from the kingdom’s eastern region across the Arabian Peninsula to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. Its route gives Saudi Arabia an important alternative to shipping crude through the Strait of Hormuz.

The latest claims followed an announcement by the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Iran-backed Houthis that it had struck two ballistic missile launch sites in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa.

According to the coalition, one of those sites had been used to fire a missile towards Riyadh. Saudi air defences intercepted and destroyed the projectile in mid-air, the coalition said.

The competing statements underscore the widening threat to Saudi transport and energy infrastructure, although no Saudi confirmation of the latest claimed attacks was available in the supplied account.

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KARACHI – SITE Association of Industry (SAI) President Abdul Hadi warned that the State Bank of Pakistan’s decision to raise its policy rate to 12% will deepen financial distress among struggling manufacturers, discourage investment and undermine prospects for industrial recovery.

Reacting strongly to 50-BPS increase, Hadi called the decision extremely difficult for the business community to absorb, particularly when factories are already battling high operating costs and weak capacity utilisation.

He said manufacturers were contending with expensive electricity and gas, elevated production expenses and rapid shifts in the global economic environment. Many industrial units, he added, were running far below their installed capacity and barely managing to remain operational.

Hadi warned another increase in borrowing costs would place businesses under further pressure and make recovery more difficult. SAI president criticised the Monetary Policy Committee for overlooking repeated demands from industrialists to bring the policy rate into single digits. He said the decision raised concerns that the sector’s financial and operational challenges were not receiving serious attention.

Hadi cautioned that the impact would extend beyond businesses seeking fresh loans. Alongside making new financing more expensive and difficult to obtain, the increase would raise the interest burden on existing borrowing, further straining companies’ finances.

That additional pressure, Hadi warned, could weaken industrial growth and discourage entrepreneurs from committing fresh investment at a time when manufacturers were already struggling to sustain production.

Calling for an urgent rethink, Hadi urged Sharif-led government and the central bank to prioritise the concerns of the industrial sector and take concrete steps towards a single-digit policy rate.

State Bank raises Policy Rate to 12pc as Inflation risks Mount in Pakistan

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Internet use in Pakistan has grown rapidly over the past several years, and the country’s young population spends a significant portion of its daily screen time on social media platforms. Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook are among the most visited platforms, with users between the ages of 18 and 35 making up the largest share of active accounts. But alongside this growth in consumption, a distinct behaviour has emerged: rather than saving content within the apps themselves, a growing number of Pakistani users are choosing to download videos directly to their devices.

This is not a casual or occasional habit. It reflects a practical response to specific conditions that define how digital access works in Pakistan, and it is becoming more widespread as users grow more familiar with the limitations of platform-native save features.

What Instagram’s Save Feature Actually Does

Most users assume that saving a post on Instagram stores the video on their phone. In practice, the platform works differently. When you tap the bookmark icon on an Instagram post, the app saves a reference to that post within your account. The actual video file remains on Instagram’s servers, tied to the original uploader’s account. Nothing transfers to your device.

The consequence of this becomes clear when the original post is removed. If the creator deletes the video, if the platform removes it due to a music licensing dispute, or if the account is deactivated, the saved bookmark in your collection becomes an empty link. The video is gone, and you receive no notification. You only discover the loss when you go looking for the content and find it no longer exists.

Why Content Disappears from Instagram

Content removal on Instagram happens for several reasons. Creators frequently delete older posts when updating their profiles or stepping back from the platform. Music licensing is a particularly common cause: a reel or video set to a popular track may be taken down when the rights holder withdraws permissions for a specific region, which happens regularly and without advance notice to users who have saved the post.

Platform policy enforcement is another factor. Instagram routinely removes posts that are flagged for community guidelines, copyright claims, or other violations. In each of these cases, any user who had saved the post loses access to it immediately and permanently.

For Pakistani users who save educational content, cooking tutorials, fitness guides, or professional reference material from Instagram, the loss of a saved video can be genuinely disruptive. The content that disappears is often content they were planning to return to.

Pakistan’s Connectivity Context

Beyond the impermanence of saved bookmarks, the conditions of internet access in Pakistan add a second layer of motivation for downloading content locally. Mobile data coverage has improved substantially in major cities, but connectivity remains inconsistent in smaller cities, rural areas, and during peak hours even in urban centres. For a user who cannot rely on a stable connection at all times, platform-hosted content that requires streaming is not always accessible when needed.

Data costs are a further consideration. The majority of Pakistani smartphone users are on prepaid mobile plans with monthly data caps. Streaming the same video multiple times, whether rewatching a tutorial or revisiting a news clip, consumes data on each viewing. A video downloaded once and stored locally costs nothing to replay. Over weeks of regular use, this difference has a tangible impact on how far a monthly data allowance stretches.

Why Instagram Does Not Offer a Download Button

The absence of a native download feature on Instagram is a deliberate product decision, not an oversight. Instagram’s revenue model is built on advertising, which depends on users watching content within the app. Every view that occurs inside Instagram generates engagement data and advertising impressions that the platform monetises. A video played from a locally saved file generates none of this. From the platform’s commercial perspective, enabling downloads would reduce the time users spend inside the app and therefore reduce advertising revenue.

Platforms that have introduced offline downloads, such as YouTube Premium and Netflix, operate on subscription models where revenue does not depend on in-app view counts. For free, advertising-supported platforms like Instagram, the commercial logic points against enabling users to take content off the platform.

How Pakistani Users Are Solving the Problem

The most widely adopted solution among Pakistani Instagram users is browser-based download tools. These tools operate entirely within the phone’s existing browser and require no app installation, no account registration, and no ongoing permissions. A user finds the Instagram video they want to keep, copies its link from the app, opens their phone’s browser, and uses an Instagram video downloader to save the file directly to their device. The entire process takes under two minutes. Once saved, the video sits in the phone’s gallery like any other file, plays without an internet connection, and remains accessible regardless of what happens to the original post on the platform.

The appeal is practical and immediate. There is no new software to manage, no subscription to pay, and no account to create. The file is simply on the device, available whenever it is needed, with no dependency on Instagram remaining accessible or the original post continuing to exist.

Who Is Driving This Trend

The users most actively downloading Instagram content in Pakistan span several groups. Students save educational videos, subject explainers, and revision material so they can study without relying on a data connection. Homemakers download cooking recipes and household tutorials. Young professionals save content relevant to their work. Content creators use download tools to back up their own published videos, protecting their material against account issues or platform removals that could otherwise erase months of work.

Across all of these groups, the underlying motivation is the same: locally stored content is more reliable than platform-hosted content. A bookmark depends on the platform, the creator, and an internet connection all functioning correctly at the same time. A downloaded file depends on none of these things. As Pakistan’s digital population continues to grow and as users accumulate more experience with the limitations of platform save features, the shift toward local storage is likely to continue.

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ADELAIDE – Pakistan’s fast bowler Haris Rauf could be heading for major Big Bash League (BBL) switch, with reports suggesting Adelaide Strikers are closing in on a deal to bring the star pacer on board for the 2026–27 season.

The reported development sparked excitement among cricket fans, particularly after Rauf’s impressive performances for Melbourne Stars, where he established himself as one of the competition’s most dangerous fast bowlers.

Adelaide Strikers had been pursuing Rauf and were reportedly nearing an agreement. Several cricket outlets subsequently echoed the speculation, describing negotiations as ongoing or a deal as likely. However, an official confirmation from Adelaide Strikers or Cricket Australia has yet to be confirmed, meaning the reported signing should still be treated with caution.

Rauf’s Pakistan international spent five seasons with Melbourne Stars, taking approximately 56 wickets in 33 matches and building a reputation for his raw pace, aggressive approach and ability to deliver at the death.

His performances reached another level during BBL|15 in the 2025–26 season, when he claimed 20 wickets in 11 matches to finish among the tournament’s leading wicket-takers and earn selection in the Team of the Tournament. His campaign also featured a hat-trick.

Adelaide Strikers reportedly been looking to strengthen their squad after missing out on the finals in each of the previous two seasons. With England’s Ben Stokes and New Zealand’s Mark Chapman already signed, Rauf has emerged in reports as a potential target for the franchise’s remaining overseas recruitment plans.

Under coach Tim Paine, the Strikers could benefit from Rauf’s experience in Australian conditions, his ability to generate extra pace and his proven record in high-pressure overs. A move to Adelaide would also give the Pakistan speedster an opportunity to bring his experience and wicket-taking ability to a new BBL setup after years with the Stars.

2026–27 Big Bash League season is scheduled to begin on December 12, 2026, with the final scheduled for January 26, 2027. With the tournament approaching, franchises are continuing to shape their squads, and any confirmed agreement involving Rauf would add another major talking point for Pakistani cricket fans.

Pakistan players attracted considerable attention during the previous BBL season, with names such as Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi featuring in discussions around the league. Rauf’s potential involvement would further raise interest in Pakistan’s representation this season.

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