ABHI Microfinance Bank, Thardeep to expand access to banking Services Across Pakistan

KARACHI: ABHI Microfinance Bank has entered into a strategic partnership with Thardeep under its Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) and Super Agency framework, reinforcing its commitment to expanding access to formal banking services for underserved communities across Pakistan.

The partnership agreement was signed by Ms. Mariam Pervaiz, Chief Commercial Officer, ABHI Microfinance Bank, and Mr. Sono Khangharani, Chief Executive Officer, Thardeep, in the presence of Mr. Kabeer Naqvi, Entrepreneur in Residence – ABHI, along with senior representatives from both organizations.

Through this collaboration, ABHI Microfinance Bank and Thardeep will work together to deliver secure, convenient, and innovative financial services to communities with limited access to traditional banking. By leveraging ABHI's Banking-as-a-Service platform and Super Agency model, the partnership aims to bridge financial gaps and bring inclusive banking solutions closer to the people who need them most.

The partnership will enable individuals in remote and underserved areas to access essential banking services through Thardeep's extensive community network, reducing barriers to financial access while promoting greater convenience, security, and financial empowerment. By combining digital innovation with strong on-ground outreach, the collaboration is designed to create meaningful and lasting impact for communities across Pakistan.

This strategic alliance reflects a shared vision of promoting financial inclusion through technology, trusted partnerships, and community-focused innovation. By extending the reach of formal financial services, both organizations are committed to empowering individuals and businesses while contributing to Pakistan's broader financial inclusion agenda.

Speaking on the occasion, representatives from both organizations reaffirmed their commitment to creating greater financial accessibility and enabling underserved communities to participate in the formal financial ecosystem.
This partnership marks another significant milestone in ABHI Microfinance Bank's journey to build a more inclusive and digitally connected financial future for Pakistan.

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Pakistan’s Anahita Fatima Khan Wins Silver and Bronze at South Asian Karate Championship

Anahita Fatima Khan Bags Two Medals for Pakistan in Dhaka Karate Event

DHAKA: Pakistan's young karate star Anahita Fatima Khan delivered an impressive performance at the South Asian Karate Championship in Dhaka, winning two medals for the country. She claimed a silver medal in the Cadet Kumite (-47kg) category and a bronze medal in the Cadet Individual Kata event. Chairman of the Pakistan Karate Federation, Muhammad Jahangir, congratulated Anahita on her outstanding achievement, praising her for bringing pride to Pakistan on the international stage.

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AKRSP Helps Yasin Farmer Establish Climate-Resilient Fruit Orchard

New Apple and Cherry Orchard Promotes Sustainable Livelihoods in Gilgit-Baltistan

AKRSP Expands Climate-Smart Horticulture with Fruit Orchard Initiative

GILGIT-BALTISTAN: The Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) has supported a local farmer in Karimabad Thoi, Yasin, in establishing a climate-resilient fruit orchard under its Climate Initiative (CLI) to promote sustainable agriculture and improve rural livelihoods.

The five-kanal orchard includes **30 apple trees and 90 cherry trees**, showcasing modern fruit production practices aimed at increasing productivity, diversifying income sources, and enhancing household earnings through high-value horticulture.

Since launching its horticulture initiatives, AKRSP has facilitated the plantation of more than **four million fruit trees** across Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral. The programme has introduced improved varieties of cherries, apples, apricots and other high-value fruits to boost crop quality, productivity and market opportunities for local farming communities.

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Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to develop 12 polo grounds in Chitral

ISLAMABAD, Jul 15 (APP): The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has approved a Rs2 billion tourism and cultural heritage project for the development and maintenance of 12 polo grounds in Upper and Lower Chitral, including the historic Shandur Polo Ground.

According to an official document available with Wealth Pakistan, the project has been designed to preserve and promote polo as one of the most important cultural and heritage traditions of Chitral. The scheme also aims to strengthen sports-based tourism and create income opportunities for local communities.

The Shandur Polo Festival is one of the key tourism events of the region. It is organised at Shandur Top in coordination with Chitral Scouts, the district administration, the police, and the Gilgit-Baltistan government.

The festival generates millions of rupees for the communities of Upper and Lower Chitral through tourism-related activities, including transport, accommodation, food services, temporary stalls, and local trade.

Chitral’s polo culture is deeply connected with the region’s identity. Unlike formal club polo, the traditional version played in Chitral is faster, more physical, and closely linked with local festivals and community gatherings.
The document also lists several promotional festivals for the region, including the Shandur Polo Festival, the Pre-Shandur Polo Tournament, the Qaqhlasht Festival, the Broghil Festival, the Khut Festival, the Chilam Joshi Festival, the Uchal Summer Festival and the Choimus Winter Festival.

The polo grounds project is the largest individual tourism-related scheme mentioned in the document for Chitral. Other projects include tourist rest areas, picnic spots, camping pod villages, and road schemes.

The development of 12 polo grounds could help Chitral turn its traditional sport into a stronger tourism product, benefiting local players, transporters, hoteliers, shopkeepers and small businesses.

Besides the polo grounds project, the document outlines several other tourism development initiatives for Chitral. These include the establishment of a Tourist Facilitation and Rest Area at Booni in Upper Chitral, development of tourist picnic spots at Garam Chashma in Lower Chitral and Sorlaspur in Upper Chitral, as well as camping pod villages at Bumburait, Sorlaspur and Yarkhun Lasht to improve visitor facilities and encourage tourism.

The document also includes road infrastructure projects, including the construction of a 17.1-kilometre road at a cost of Rs1.783 billion, while the Ayun-Bumburait and Zainey Pass roads have been recommended for inclusion in upcoming Annual Development Programme (ADP) schemes. In addition, a Rs300 million “Mezban” (Host) Tourism Programme has been initiated in Upper and Lower Chitral, Upper Dir, Lower Dir and Mansehra to support home-stay facilities through interest-free loans ranging from Rs1 million to Rs3 million.

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Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to develop 12 polo grounds in Chitral

ISLAMABAD, Jul 15 (APP): The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has approved a Rs2 billion tourism and cultural heritage project for the development and maintenance of 12 polo grounds in Upper and Lower Chitral, including the historic Shandur Polo Ground.

According to an official document available with Wealth Pakistan, the project has been designed to preserve and promote polo as one of the most important cultural and heritage traditions of Chitral. The scheme also aims to strengthen sports-based tourism and create income opportunities for local communities.

The Shandur Polo Festival is one of the key tourism events of the region. It is organised at Shandur Top in coordination with Chitral Scouts, the district administration, the police, and the Gilgit-Baltistan government.

The festival generates millions of rupees for the communities of Upper and Lower Chitral through tourism-related activities, including transport, accommodation, food services, temporary stalls, and local trade.

Chitral’s polo culture is deeply connected with the region’s identity. Unlike formal club polo, the traditional version played in Chitral is faster, more physical, and closely linked with local festivals and community gatherings.
The document also lists several promotional festivals for the region, including the Shandur Polo Festival, the Pre-Shandur Polo Tournament, the Qaqhlasht Festival, the Broghil Festival, the Khut Festival, the Chilam Joshi Festival, the Uchal Summer Festival and the Choimus Winter Festival.

The polo grounds project is the largest individual tourism-related scheme mentioned in the document for Chitral. Other projects include tourist rest areas, picnic spots, camping pod villages, and road schemes.

The development of 12 polo grounds could help Chitral turn its traditional sport into a stronger tourism product, benefiting local players, transporters, hoteliers, shopkeepers and small businesses.

Besides the polo grounds project, the document outlines several other tourism development initiatives for Chitral. These include the establishment of a Tourist Facilitation and Rest Area at Booni in Upper Chitral, development of tourist picnic spots at Garam Chashma in Lower Chitral and Sorlaspur in Upper Chitral, as well as camping pod villages at Bumburait, Sorlaspur and Yarkhun Lasht to improve visitor facilities and encourage tourism.

The document also includes road infrastructure projects, including the construction of a 17.1-kilometre road at a cost of Rs1.783 billion, while the Ayun-Bumburait and Zainey Pass roads have been recommended for inclusion in upcoming Annual Development Programme (ADP) schemes. In addition, a Rs300 million “Mezban” (Host) Tourism Programme has been initiated in Upper and Lower Chitral, Upper Dir, Lower Dir and Mansehra to support home-stay facilities through interest-free loans ranging from Rs1 million to Rs3 million.

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Mashreq Appoints Muhammad Umar Ilyas as Chief Information Officer for Pakistan Operations

Karachi – Mashreq Pakistan, part of Mashreq, one of the leading financial institutions in the MENA region, has announced the appointment of Muhammad Umar Ilyas as Chief Information Officer, reinforcing the bank’s continued investment in technology, innovation and digital banking capabilities in Pakistan.

Muhammad Umar Ilyas brings more than 22 years of experience in technology leadership, digital transformation, and large-scale IT operations across the telecommunications and financial services sectors. He has a proven track record of driving enterprise-wide transformations, building high-performing teams, and delivering innovative, future-ready technology ecosystems.

In his most recent leadership roles at PTCL Group and Ubank, Umar led data centre strategy, deployment and operations, cloud transformation, and complex core banking transformation programs, including digital banking platforms and allied applications. He has successfully driven large-scale digitization initiatives, managed complex technology landscapes, and delivered impactful solutions across both internal operations and customer-facing platforms.

As Chief Information Officer, Umar will play a critical role in advancing Mashreq Pakistan’s digital transformation agenda, strengthening its technology platforms and innovation capabilities, and accelerating the adoption of cutting-edge technologies such as cloud, AI, and advanced analytics to deliver a truly digital-first banking experience.

Commenting on the appointment, Muhammad Hamayun Sajjad, Chief Executive Officer, Mashreq Pakistan, said, “As Mashreq continues to strengthen its presence in Pakistan, technology will remain central to how we scale responsibly, securely and efficiently. Umar brings strong experience across transformation reflects our long-term commitment to building strong local capabilities while continuing to deliver a banking experience that is modern, dependable and aligned with the expectations of customers in Pakistan.”

Speaking on his appointment, Muhammad Umar Ilyas, Chief Information Officer, Mashreq Pakistan, said, “Mashreq has built a strong reputation for combining innovation with operational discipline across markets. Pakistan’s banking sector is entering an important phase of digital growth and there is considerable opportunity to strengthen the technology foundations that will shape customer experience, operational resilience and future scalability. I look forward to contributing to this journey alongside the team.”

Umar holds a strong academic and professional foundation in technology and leadership, including Certified CTO from UC Berkeley (USA), Certified in CIO Practices from the National University of Singapore, a Master’s degree in Information Security, and a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering.

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TECNO Brand Day on Daraz Brings Up to 14% Off on 14 July

Lahore - TECNO, Pakistan's leading AI-powered smartphone brand, has partnered with Daraz to launch TECNO Brand Day, bringing limited-time offers on some of the brand's most sought-after smartphones through the official TECNO Store on Daraz. The campaign gives consumers an opportunity to purchase authentic TECNO devices at exclusive prices, with discounts of up to 14% available for a limited period.

 
As online shopping continues to gain momentum across Pakistan, TECNO Brand Day is designed to make premium smartphone technology more accessible while offering customers the confidence of purchasing directly from the brand's official online storefront. Alongside attractive savings, buyers can enjoy the convenience of secure online shopping and nationwide delivery through Daraz.

 
Leading the campaign is the acclaimed TECNO CAMON 50 Series, a lineup engineered for users who demand flagship-inspired photography, elegant design, and AI-powered experiences without the flagship price tag.

 
The TECNO CAMON 50 Pro stands out with its premium curved AMOLED display, sleek craftsmanship, and advanced camera capabilities powered by a 50MP Sony imaging sensor. Equipped with AI-powered photography features, Super Zoom, and intelligent image enhancement, the device enables users to capture stunning portraits, vibrant landscapes, and detailed night shots with remarkable clarity. Its refined design and immersive display further enhance entertainment, gaming, and everyday productivity.

 
For users looking to elevate their smartphone photography experience, the CAMON 50 Series combines innovative imaging technology with practical AI tools that simplify content creation. From intelligently optimized photos to enhanced video capabilities, the series is designed to help users create professional-looking content effortlessly.

 
Customers purchasing through the official TECNO Store on Daraz can shop with confidence, knowing they are receiving genuine TECNO products backed by official warranty and after-sales support. The official store also serves as the exclusive destination for Brand Day promotions, ensuring shoppers have access to authentic products and the best available offers.

 
With discounts of up to 14% available for a limited time only, TECNO encourages smartphone buyers to act quickly before the campaign concludes. Whether upgrading to a feature-rich CAMON 50 Series device or exploring other TECNO smartphones, Brand Day presents an excellent opportunity to experience innovative technology at exceptional value.

 
Consumers can visit the official TECNO Store on Daraz at Tecno Camon 50 https://s.daraz.pk/a.ZGGqr, Tecno Camon 50 Pro https://s.daraz.pk/a.ZGGKV today to explore the complete range of participating smartphones and take advantage of these exclusive Brand Day offers before they end.

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