Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to develop a comprehensive roadmap and reform agenda to promote investment and trade across all key sectors of Pakistan's economy. Chairing a high-level virtual meeting from London, the prime minister emphasized that advancing these sectors would attract investors while boosting economic stability and employment opportunities nationwide. The directive reflects the administration's determination to address structural economic challenges while positioning Pakistan as a competitive destination for global capital.

The prime minister specifically highlighted agriculture, information technology, minerals, tourism, and renewable energy as promising areas for foreign investment. He stressed that enhancing trade is equally crucial for economic growth, with increasing Pakistan's exports remaining a central policy objective. Ministries have been tasked with utilizing all available resources to ensure timely completion of ongoing projects, creating a stronger foundation for sustainable economic development through improved trade performance alongside investment opportunities.

Shehbaz Sharif instructed ministers to identify feasible projects and take immediate steps to implement them without delay. He emphasized that the roadmap and reform agenda must be forward-looking, ensuring organized and measurable progress toward long-term national goals. The meeting, attended by multiple federal ministers including those for environment, petroleum, finance, commerce, information, and economic affairs, focused on enhancing investment volume and economic activities throughout Pakistan.

The prime minister underscored that the private sector will play a pivotal role in the new economic roadmap, noting that ensuring private sector participation is essential for creating innovative solutions. He added that ongoing economic and financial reform policies have given new direction to the economy, and due to innovation and transparency, the country is now on the path of development. The comprehensive approach aims to leverage both public and private resources to drive Pakistan's economic transformation.

London's Metropolitan Police has reversed its longstanding position on grooming gangs in the capital, acknowledging for the first time that it has multiple active investigations into group-based child sexual exploitation. The shift came after an investigation by MyLondon and The Daily Express challenged official statements from both police leadership and Mayor Sadiq Khan, who had consistently maintained there were "no reports" or "no indication" of Rochdale or Rotherham-style rape gangs operating in London.

The investigation uncovered evidence from four separate His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services reports spanning 2016 to 2025 that documented at least six potential victims of grooming gang abuse. These case studies, which the Mayor of London personally responded to according to public statements, described children as young as 13 being exploited by groups of predatory men. The reports detailed how girls were plied with drugs and alcohol, raped in hotels by multiple perpetrators, and subjected to life-threatening situations.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley revealed to Assembly Members at City Hall that the force now acknowledges a "steady flow" of live multi-offender child sexual exploitation investigations and a "very significant" number of historic cases requiring reinvestigation. The commissioner estimated these reviews would cost "millions of pounds a year, for several years" to properly investigate, contradicting previous assertions that the force had "not seen" such cases in London.

Political figures including Reform UK MP Lee Anderson and Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp have criticized the mayor's handling of the situation, with Anderson stating there is "real, credible evidence that grooming gangs exist in London" and Philp alleging that Khan is "facilitating a cover-up." A spokesman for the mayor maintained that Khan has "always been clear that the safety of Londoners is his top priority" and remains "committed to doing all he can to protect children in London."