Author: yasir

Meezan Bank, Pakistan’s leading Islamic bank, has been declared the winner of the ‘Best Bank of the Year – Large Size Banks’ award by the CFA Society Pakistan, a member society of the CFA Institute, USA, at its 22nd Annual Excellence Awards held recently in Karachi. This marks the sixth consecutive year that CFA Society Pakistan has recognized Meezan Bank on an overall industry basis as the ‘Best Bank of the Year’, competing with the largest local and conventional players. The Bank was also named the ‘Best Islamic Bank of the Year’ for its outstanding performance, innovation, and leadership in…

The National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), in collaboration with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), convened Pakistan’s first-ever National Dialogue on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) in Islamabad. The event marked 25 years of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and coincided with Pakistan’s tenure as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (2025–2026). The Dialogue brought together representatives from government, parliament, civil society, academia, youth, and international partners to build national consensus on advancing women’s leadership in peacebuilding, governance, and crisis…

Experts have emphasized that investing in education, encompassing professional development and character building, is essential for creating a prosperous nation and ensuring Pakistan’s sustainable progress. Speaking as the chief guest at the “CEOs Session: Lead with Vision” held recently in Karachi, renowned business tycoon Arif Habib highlighted that investment in education must be significantly increased by the government, NGOs, and the private sector across the country to achieve lasting economic growth and national prosperity. He stressed that character building, grounded in moral and religious values, is as important as professional development for the youth. Such holistic education, he said, enhances…

M&C Saatchi World Services Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd. and Communications Research Strategies (Pvt.) Ltd. (CRS) have announced a new partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The collaboration brings together two leading names in the communications industry with a shared vision: to deliver smarter, more integrated, and purpose-driven advertising and advocacy solutions in Pakistan. This strategic alliance combines M&C Saatchi’s global creative and media expertise with CRS’s deep experience in public relations, advocacy, and strategic communications. Together, the two agencies aim to design campaigns that not only inspire audiences but also drive meaningful social and behavioral impact. Through…

TikTok recently announced a comprehensive set of new features designed to make its platform safer, more supportive, and empowering for all users. TikTok has been empowering creators with safety and productivity tools in Pakistan so that they are able to focus on creating, connect with their fanbase, and feel more like they are in control. These features help to protect creators from unwanted behaviour, while enabling creators to better manage content and audience interactions. TikTok has launched Creator Care Mode, a feature aimed at enabling Pakistani creators to have a better experience governing their comments sections. Once activated, creator care…

Karandaaz Pakistan, in collaboration with the Karakoram Cooperative Bank Limited (KCBL) and the National Credit Guarantee Company Limited (NCGCL), has launched Samarkar (ثمرکار) – a first-of-its-kind de-risking facility aimed at expanding access to finance for women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). Derived from the words Samar (ثمر – meaning “fruit,” “reward,” or “outcome”) and Kar (کار – meaning “to do” or “enterprise”), Samarkar symbolises the “fruit of enterprise” – the tangible rewards of women’s effort, resilience, and contribution to Pakistan’s economy. Gilgit-Baltistan hosts a growing base of micro and small enterprises across agriculture, handicrafts, tourism, and…

Pakistan’s leading digital microfinance bank, Mobilink Bank has cemented its leadership in Pakistan’s digital banking landscape by winning the ‘Best Digital Banking Services’ Award in the microfinance category for the third consecutive year at the Annual Excellence Awards hosted by CFA Society Pakistan. The Bank was also recognized as the runner-up in the ‘Best ESG Reporting’ category amongst Financial Institutions in recognition of its strong performance and continued commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. The award celebrates the bank’s success in advancing financial inclusion and redefining the banking experience through its digital transformation strategy. Its robust digital ecosystem…

Punjab Central Business District Development Authority (PCBDDA), also known as Central Business District Punjab (CBD Punjab), showcased its flagship project, CBD NSIT City, at Data Fest 2025, where it emerged as the highlight of the event, captivating the attention of aspiring entrepreneurs and technology enthusiasts. Organized by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the two-day event in Islamabad promotes a data-driven and digitally empowered Pakistan. The forum gathers national technology stakeholders, innovators, and students to explore the growing potential of artificial intelligence, data analytics, and smart governance. The event was inaugurated by Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives,…

Over two dozen scholars from the Aga Khan University (AKU) have beennamed among the World’s Top 2% Scientists List for 2024 by Stanford University. The listincludes faculty members and alumni from Pakistan whose research continues to shapehealth, education and other critical sectors in the developing world.The annual list, considered one of the most respected global benchmarks, identifies leadingresearchers across a wide range of disciplines. These include health care services anddelivery, education, climate science, economics, mental health, and the wellbeing ofvulnerable groups such as women and children. Rankings are based on standardized citationdata from Elsevier’s Scopus database, which assesses the influence of…

Lucky Investments Limited, a full-fledged Islamic asset management company under the Yunus Brothers Group, has announced the launch of the Lucky Islamic Pension Fund (LIPF) — a Shariah-compliant retirement savings solution designed to enable individuals to build long-term financial security through disciplined and ethical investing. The launch represents a significant development in Pakistan’s Islamic finance ecosystem and aligns with the government’s broader roadmap to transition the national financial system to Shariah-compliant practices by 2028. The initiative reinforces Lucky Investments’ commitment to expanding access to responsible, values-driven investment products that deliver performance while adhering to Islamic principles. The Lucky Islamic Pension…