New Delhi, May 8: The stock markets in Pakistan further tanked on Thursday, as trading was halted at the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) amid rising geopolitical tensions.

Karachi Stock Exchange fell more than 6 per cent on Thursday before the trading was halted. The stock exchange has been witnessing a continuous decline since the barbaric Pahalgam terror attack.

The main index, Karachi Stock Exchange 100 Index (KSE-100), has slipped by more than 13 per cent since April 22 when the terror attack happened, killing 26 people, most of them tourists.

On April 22, the KSE-100 index was at 1,18,430, which has now dropped to 1,03,060.

Apart from this, another Pakistani stock index, KSE-30, has also fallen more than 14 per cent since April 22.

Amid the grim state of the stock markets, Pakistan has only $15 billion of foreign exchange reserves left and is on the verge of economic collapse.

The country is seeking a fresh loan worth $1.3 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to run its economy.

Pakistan’s economy, in the initial years after independence, grew at the same pace as India’s, backed by US aid and donations from the oil-rich Islamic nations.

However, while democratic India kept its focus on economic development and lifting its masses out of poverty, Pakistan has been rocked by bloody coups and military dictatorships, with the army Generals still calling the shots and fuelling hostility against its more prosperous neighbour.

Pakistan was on the brink of sovereign default in 2023 and had to be bailed out by a $3 billion IMF loan.

The country is still critically dependent on this financial lifeline and is desperately trying to raise another $1.3 billion climate resilience loan.

Overall, the neighbouring nation now faces an economic freefall – crippled by political chaos and the long-term cost of harbouring terrorism.

New Delhi, May 8: After India successfully carried out Operation Sindoor, domestic carriers cancelled around 430 flights on Thursday, which is nearly three per cent of the total scheduled flights in the country, as 27 airports remain shut till May 10.

According to data from flight tracking platform Flightradar24, airspace over Pakistan and the western corridor of India was largely free of civilian aircraft.

“Airspace over Pakistan and the western shoulder of India between Jammu and Kashmir and Gujarat was free of civilian air traffic as airlines shunned the sensitive zone,” according to the portal, which shared live flight path data and cancellation figures.

The affected airports include Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Bathinda, Halwara, Pathankot, Bhuntar, Shimla, Gaggal, Dharamsala, Kishangarh, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Mundra, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Porbandar, Kandla, Keshod, Bhuj, Gwalior and Hindon.

On Wednesday, more than 300 flights were cancelled, and operations at 21 airports across northern and western India were suspended.

In a post on X, Air India said its contact centres are currently experiencing high call volumes.

“While all our representatives are actively assisting customers, in some cases it may take longer than expected to connect. Please rest assured, we are here to support you. For customers whose flights are impacted by the current disruptions, Air India is offering full refund for cancellations and a one-time waiver on rescheduling fee. This is valid for tickets booked on the impacted flights until 10th May, 2025,” said the carrier.

Air India also said that it is grateful for the selfless service and dedication of our military and defence personnel.

“In the prevailing situation, for those personnel holding defence fares who are booked on Air India and Air India Express flights till 31 May 2025, we are offering full refunds on cancellation and a one-time waiver on rescheduling flights up to 30 June 2025 to support their duty commitments,” said Air India.

IndiGo informed passengers that its services to and from Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Leh, Chandigarh, and Dharamsala were being affected due to changing airspace conditions.

“Continuing our efforts to provide support to our customers and accommodate their travel plan changes, we are extending full waiver of change and cancellation fees for travel to/from Srinagar until 22nd May 2025, for bookings made on or before 22nd April 2025,” IndiGo said in a post on X on Thursday.

SpiceJet noted that flights operating to and from Dharamsala, Leh, Jammu, Srinagar, and Amritsar were suspended until further notice. Akasa Air, while not listing affected routes individually, also issued a travel advisory in response to the situation.

Mumbai, May 7: GreenLine Mobility Solutions Ltd, an Essar venture and India’s only green logistics operator of LNG and electric-powered heavy commercial trucks, on Wednesday flagged off a new fleet of LNG-powered trucks at Chakan, Pune. The deployment is supported by Shriram Finance Limited, one of India’s largest NBFCs and the flagship company of the Shriram Group.

GreenLine continues to lead India’s low-carbon logistics transformation. Its current fleet of over 650 LNG trucks serves marquee companies across sectors such as FMCG and e-commerce, metals and mining, cement, oil and gas, and chemicals. The fleet has already covered more than 40 million km, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by over 10,000 tonnes.

The company plans to deploy over 10,000 LNG and EV trucks, supported by a nationwide network of 100 LNG refuelling stations, EV charging stations, and battery swapping facilities. This comprehensive initiative aims to reduce carbon emissions by up to 1 million tonnes annually.

This partnership marks a significant step in GreenLine’s ongoing mission to decarbonise India’s transportation sector, which contributes nearly 15 per cent of the country’s total carbon emissions. With over 4 million trucks currently in operation — and the number continuing to grow — India’s road logistics sector remains one of its most carbon-intensive industries.

Aligned with the government’s ambitious goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, GreenLine is committed to transitioning the heavy-duty vehicle (HDV) fleet to LNG and EV trucks to promote cleaner, more sustainable transport. With Shriram Finance’s backing, the deployment of these vehicles is faster and more efficient, making green logistics more financially accessible for businesses across the country.

Anand Mimani, CEO, GreenLine Mobility Solutions Ltd, said: “This fleet expansion, supported by Shriram Finance, is a key step towards transforming India’s logistics with sustainable, high-performance solutions. The trucks, manufactured by Blue Energy Motors (BEM), play a critical role in decarbonising the logistics sector and align with our vision for a greener future. With growing investments in LNG and other alternative fuels, we are seeing tangible progress towards reducing India’s carbon footprint.”

Sharvari Prabhu, CFO, GreenLine Mobility Solutions Ltd, added: “As we scale our LNG fleet, the role of strategic financial support becomes increasingly critical. Shriram Finance’s involvement helps us offer viable green alternatives to conventional trucking while supporting India’s broader decarbonisation goals.”

G.M. Jilani, Joint Managing Director, Shriram Finance Limited, commented: “We congratulate Greenline Mobility Solutions on the expansion of their green fleet with the addition of LNG-powered trucks, which reinforces their unwavering commitment to sustainable logistics. At Shriram Finance, we’re proud to support this forward-looking initiative, which aligns with our commitment to responsible financing and environmental stewardship. This partnership marks a significant milestone as our first investment in cleaner fuel technology, showcases our commitment to expand our green financing beyond electric mobility, and underscores our resolve to drive meaningful change across the transportation ecosystem. We remain dedicated to driving positive change, accelerating sustainable initiatives, and supporting environmentally responsible growth across the transportation sector.”

GreenLine’s LNG-powered trucks are manufactured by Blue Energy Motors (BEM). BEM is a leading manufacturer of LNG-powered trucks, delivering innovative solutions for the logistics industry. Their cutting-edge technology is designed to enhance operational efficiency and sustainability in India’s transport sector.