KARACHI: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Jameel Ahmad has said that the central bank is fully committed to undertaking structural reforms and laying the foundation for sustainable and inclusive economic growth. He was speaking at the launching ceremony of the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Code in Karachi, organised jointly by SBP and the Asian Development
Assessing vulnerability is one of the most pressing challenges facing local authorities today. Yet, many still rely on static indicators, such as postcode, benefit status, or historic income, that only paint part of the picture. These data points often miss the subtle, daily indicators of financial pressure. What’s often missing is a live view
ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety has called for urgent reforms to ensure Pakistan’s social protection system transitions to a fully transparent, technology-driven model with minimal human intervention. Chairing the 10th session of the Committee at Parliament House, Mir Ghulam Ali Talpur emphasised the original intent behind income support
Artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic buzzword—it’s a present-day battleground for competitive advantage in banking. Across the globe, countries are embracing AI at vastly different speeds, with Asia and the Middle East taking the lead in enterprise adoption, while the U.S. and UK scale up their generative AI pilots. From virtual assistants to risk
Open banking isn’t just a regulatory shift – it’s a generational opportunity. For the UK, one of the most digitally connected economies in the world, it offers a pathway to make managing money simpler, smarter, and more rewarding. It holds the promise for consumers to move money instantly, access better financial tools, switch providers effortlessly,
In today’s financial world, trust is more than a virtue, it’s a currency. As global banking continues to evolve under the weight of new regulations, data transparency mandates, and geopolitical uncertainty, clients across the world are seeking something increasingly rare: institutions that can both protect their financial privacy and comply with international standards. Belize, quietly
In the past decade, the financial landscape witnessed a dramatic transformation driven by two distinct forces: fintech startups and traditional banks. Initially, fintechs emerged as UX-rich but often monofunctional challengers, while banks remained service-rich but struggled with digital customer experience. Today, however, these lines are blurring — fintechs are expanding into full-scale banks, and traditional
Listen to article ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday announced that it has initiated a deal with President Donald Trump-backed World Liberty Financial to accelerate the journey towards legally adopting digital currencies, in a move that might follow a slew of legal changes to inch towards the crypto world. The Ministry of Finance made the announcement following separate meetings
Listen to article KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan’s 2024 Financial Stability Review signals improving macroeconomic conditions, with easing inflation, stable exchange rates, and a rebound in private sector credit. The banking sector showed strong performance, though concerns remain over rising borrowings, stressed microfinance banks, and global protectionist risks. The review highlights that macroeconomic conditions improved considerably
Listen to article KARACHI: Although late, as usual – a trait of any developing conservative country – Pakistan has finally decided to adopt cryptocurrency. However, better late than never. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on March 15, 2025, constituted the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC), mandated to introduce new regulatory guidelines for launching digital currency – a move backed