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KARACHI: Pakistan’s consumer price inflation accelerated to 6.2 percent year-on-year in October, the highest reading in 12 months, data showed on Monday, as food prices rose following floods and temporary border disruptions strained supply chains.

On a month-on-month basis, prices were up 1.8 percent, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics said. The data came a week after the State Bank of Pakistan kept its key policy rate unchanged at 11 percent for a fourth straight meeting, saying inflation was expected to stay above its 5 percent to 7 percent target range for a few months before easing next fiscal year.

Inflation has moderated from nearly 30 percent a year ago to below 6 percent in mid-2025 before edging up again, as the fading base effect and temporary supply shocks began to lift prices.

Last week the government forecast inflation in the 5 percent to 6 percent range for October, noting that flood-related supply pressures and border closures with Afghanistan had pushed up prices of some essential goods. Floods in August swamped farmland and industrial hubs in Punjab, killing more than 1,000 people, displacing 2.5 million and damaging crops and factories, tightening food supplies across the country.

The pressure was compounded by border clashes with Afghanistan that shut major crossings used for food and fuel trade. The two countries later agreed to extend a ceasefire, but crossings remained restricted after October 11, disrupting commerce and deepening shortages in Pakistan’s northwestern regions.

The central bank said the overall economic outlook had improved, with better-than-expected crop yields, stronger industrial activity and a rebound in high-frequency indicators, though risks from global commodity volatility and domestic energy prices remain.

A private survey, meanwhile, showed manufacturing activity contracted for a second straight month in October, though the pace of decline slowed.

The HBL Pakistan Manufacturing PMI rose to 49.6 from 48.0 in September, with firms citing weak demand, higher taxes and power outages as key drags, even as business confidence remained cautiously optimistic. A reading below 50 indicates a contraction.

ISLAMABAD: ����ֱ��’s low-cost airline flyadeal has launched scheduled flights to Lahore, its fifth destination in Pakistan this year, as part of a rapid regional expansion plan aligned with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy to boost connectivity and tourism.

A subsidiary of the national carrier Saudia, flyadeal has become one of the Middle East’s fastest-growing airlines since its launch in 2017. The Lahore route adds to services to Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar and Sialkot, all introduced since February 2025, bringing the total number of weekly flights between the two countries to 18.

Flight F3 655 from Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport landed at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport last week where it was greeted with a water-cannon salute and a ceremony attended by airport and airline officials.

“It’s been an incredible achievement to build a countrywide operation from one to five cities across Pakistan in just eight months,” said Steven Greenway, flyadeal’s Chief Executive Officer.

“Entering any market is always a baby-step process. But our operational and commercial teams have done an impressive job to plan, launch, expand and set up the necessary infrastructure so quickly to sell, market and promote our flights in a short space of time.”

Tickets for flyadeal’s Pakistan services are available via the airline’s website, mobile app and partner travel agencies, the company said.

Farooq Ahmad, flyadeal’s Head of Sales, said:

“Pakistan has proved to be one of flyadeal’s success stories. We’ve matured very quickly in a country building confidence within the travel agency community to sell, and among consumers to fly with us especially being a relatively new entrant to a dynamic market that Pakistan is.”

The twice-weekly Lahore flights will serve both inbound business travelers and outbound Pakistani expatriates working in the Kingdom. All Pakistan routes are operated with Airbus A320 aircraft configured with 186 Economy Class seats.

flyadeal currently flies 42 A320s from bases in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam to more than 30 destinations across the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and South Asia.

Under Saudi Vision 2030, the airline plans to triple its network to over 100 destinations with a fleet exceeding 100 aircraft by 2030.