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ISLAMABAD: Saudi company Wafi Energy Pakistan Limited on Thursday inaugurated the country’s second retail station built with recycled plastic in Rawalpindi, highlighting its push for green solutions in Pakistan’s energy and retail sectors.

Wafi Energy, an affiliate of the Asyad Group, became the majority shareholder of Shell Pakistan Limited (SPL) in November last year and now holds approximately 87.78 percent of the total issued share capital of SPL.

The new station located in Police Lines Rawalpindi was built using 7,700kgs of plastic waste, equal to more than 5.8 million pieces of end-of-life plastics infused into construction materials, according to Wafi Energy.

“At Wafi Energy, sustainability is not just a commitment — it is a responsibility,” Wafi Energy quoted CEO Zubair Shaikh as saying.

“With the launch of Pakistan’s second retail site made with recycled plastic, we are demonstrating how innovation and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand,” it continued.

“By reusing over 5.8 million pieces of plastic waste, this site is more than just a fuel station — it is a symbol of our belief in a cleaner, greener future for Pakistan.”

Wafi Energy’s first station in Pakistan’s metropolitan Karachi city, built with alumni startup Concept Loop, used 6,500 kg of plastic waste to make pavers and concrete blocks.

The company has also built a 730-foot plastic road outside its Karachi head office using 2.5 tons of waste lubricant bottles, which has proven resilient against heat and rain.

The launch of the Rawalpindi site reflects Wafi Energy’s mission to develop solutions contributing toward Pakistan’s climate resilience, according to the company.

Officials from the ������Ƶn embassy and the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority also attended the inauguration ceremony.

SPL is one of the oldest multinationals in Pakistan, with a network of over 600 sites, countrywide storage facilities and a broad portfolio of global lubricant brands.

Shell has supported Pakistan’s development by providing energy for major projects like Mangla Dam and Kotri Barrage, powering the first flights of Pakistan International Airlines and expanding road infrastructure.

KARACHI: Pakistan and Bangladesh officials agreed on Thursday that direct flight and shipping services between Karachi and Dhaka were needed to boost trade and people-to-people contact, the Sindh government said, in a move reflecting warmer ties between the South Asian countries.

The development took place during a meeting between Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Bangladesh’s Home Secretary Naseem-ul-Ghani and High Commissioner Iqbal Hussain Khan to discuss areas of mutual trade and strengthen economic ties.

“The Bangladeshi Secretary recalled that a direct shipping service had recently been established by a private company but had since stopped and appealed to the Sindh CM to help resume it through federal channels,” said a statement issued by the provincial administration after the meeting.

The meeting came after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s discussions with Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Both top leaders focused on building constructive and forward-looking ties rooted in mutual respect and trust between the countries.

Pakistan and Bangladesh used to be one nation, but they split in 1971 as a result of a bloody civil war, which saw the part previously referred to as East Pakistan seceding to form the independent nation of Bangladesh.

Ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh have warmed since the fall of the administration of former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who was widely viewed as close to India and critical of Pakistan, following a student-led uprising in August 2024.

Islamabad has attempted to forge closer ties with Bangladesh in recent months as relations remain frosty between Dhaka and New Delhi over India’s decision to grant asylum to Hasina after she fled the country.