Business

Swyft Logistics becomes the first Pakistani company to introduce paid period leaves calling it Monthlies

Published

5 years ago

November 20, 2021

Swyft Logistics becomes the first Pakistani company to introduce paid period leaves calling it Monthlies

Fostering a culture of trust, truth, and acceptance Swyft Logistics becomes the first company in Pakistan to introduce a Period Policy. Starting today, all women at Swyft can avail up to 12 days of period leaves in a year.

Swyft logistics, a two-year-old tech-based logistics startup with a 30% female workforce has created a “period policy” calling it “Monthlies” to allow employees to take time off during their periods without having to pretend they’re “sick” or face the stigma that lingers around menstruation

Muhammad Uns, CEO of Swyft, said that the policy was specifically designed to combat that stigma:

“I have managed many female members of staff over the years and I have seen women at work who are bent over double because of the pain caused by their periods. Despite this, they feel they cannot go home because they do not class themselves as unwell.“And this is unfair. At Swyft Logistics we are very understanding. If someone is in pain – no matter what kind – they are encouraged to go home. But, for us, we wanted a policy in place which recognises and allows women to take time for their body’s natural cycle without putting this under the label of illness.”

More than just another leave policy, Swyft’s period policy encourages women to take time off as needed and discourages reluctance to speak openly about their bodies. It’s specifically designed to reshape the workplace conversation about bodies; to force us to acknowledge that we aren’t just thinking machines, we’re biological machines with complex processes and cycles. Part of the logic of Swyft’s policy is that productivity is affected by everything going on in your body, not just how many superfoods you had for breakfast or how many hours of sleep you got last night. Research shows that womens’ productivity ebbs and flows in relation to their menstrual cycle – so workplaces should work with that natural flow, rather than against it.

In addition to creating a workplace that’s more understanding of the body’s natural cycles, Swyft wants to reduce stigma and end the perception of menstruation as an illness. Sure you could use your sick leave to take a day off as needed, but should you have to take a sick day when you’re not sick? Menstruation isn’t a state of illness or aberrance – it’s an ordinary biological process.

Swyft is the first and only company in Pakistan to provide a flex-time or leave program specifically designed with menstruation in mind i.e., pre-approved 12 annual leaves calling it “MONTHLIES”.

Business

Oil industry alleges OGRA miscalculated latest petroleum prices

Published

14 hours ago

June 26, 2026

Haris Sarfraz Ali

ISLAMABAD: A dispute has emerged between the petroleum industry and the government after oil marketing companies (OMCs) and refineries, alleged that the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) made errors in calculating the latest reduction in petroleum prices.

According to industry representatives, OGRA did not accurately account for international fuel premiums and Platts benchmark averages during the latest fortnightly price review. They claim the alleged miscalculation resulted in a reduction of nearly Rs45 per litre in the price of high-speed diesel and around Rs11 per litre in petrol beyond what they consider justified.

The OMCs and refineries contend that the regulator failed to fully incorporate prevailing import premiums and benchmark prices used to determine the cost of imported petroleum products, imposing financial losses on the downstream oil sector.

The allegations have intensified tensions between the petroleum industry and the regulator, with industry stakeholders calling for a review of the pricing calculations.

OGRA had not publicly responded to the allegations at the time of filing, and the claims made by OMCs and refineries could not be independently verified.

Meanwhile, reports suggest consumers may receive another reduction in petroleum prices in the next fortnight. According to official sources, OGRA has forwarded a summary to the prime minister proposing a cut of between Rs20 and Rs50 per litre in line with declining international crude oil prices.

The proposed reduction follows last week’s sharp decrease in fuel prices, when the government lowered the prices of petroleum products by as much as Rs74 per litre amid continued weakness in global oil markets.

Business

GTA 6 reportedly tops 50 million pre-orders ahead of launch

Published

15 hours ago

June 26, 2026

Staff Reporter

ISLAMABAD – Unverified claims circulating on social media suggest that Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6) has surpassed 50 million pre-orders and generated more than $4 billion in revenue ahead of its planned release in 2026.

The figures have been shared by several gaming-focused accounts on X but have not been confirmed by Rockstar Games or its parent company, Take-Two Interactive.

If verified, the reported milestone would rank GTA 6 among the largest entertainment launches in history even before its release, underscoring the strong anticipation surrounding Rockstar’s next instalment in the long-running franchise.

Separately, a user on social media claimed to have pre-ordered the game for less than $3 by combining previously earned Best Buy cashback reward certificates with a 10 per cent discount coupon.

According to the user, the cashback rewards had been accumulated during an earlier purchase of a PS5 Pro, reducing the final cost of the GTA 6 pre-order to under $3.

Rockstar Games has yet to announce official pre-order numbers or revenue figures for GTA 6.

Business

Pakistan imports record $262m worth of buses and trucks

Published

19 hours ago

June 26, 2026

News Desk

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s imports of heavy commercial vehicles reached a record high during the first 11 months of fiscal year 2025-26, reflecting stronger demand from the transport and logistics sectors amid improving economic activity and lower borrowing costs.

According to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), imports of buses and trucks stood at $262.4 million during July-May FY26, compared with $57.8m in the corresponding period last year, marking an increase of more than 350 per cent.

The latest figures represent the highest value of heavy commercial vehicle imports recorded in the country’s history.

SBP data showed that most of the imported vehicles entered Pakistan as completely built units (CBUs), indicating that transport operators and corporate buyers preferred fully assembled buses and trucks to expand and modernise their fleets.

The increase comes as declining interest rates have reduced financing costs, encouraging transport and logistics companies to invest in new commercial vehicles.

The recovery in business activity, along with government support for the transport and logistics sector, has also contributed to higher demand, according to the data.

The rise in industrial output, construction activity, freight movement and inter-provincial trade has further increased the need for heavy-duty transport, prompting many operators to replace ageing fleets with newly imported vehicles.