Pakistan

Islamabad For the first time, during the holy month of Ramazan, the government successfully transferred financial assistance to deserving families under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) through digital wallets, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced while chairing a high-level meeting on cashless economy initiatives.Emphasizing that shifting to a cashless economy is crucial for sustainable development and curbing corruption, the PM directed authorities to ramp up rural awareness campaigns to phase out traditional cash transactions.“The world is advancing digitally; Pakistan must keep pace,” he stated, highlighting his government’s early focus on digitalization yielding results. Progress on 10 million BISP digital wallets was reviewed, alongside Raast QR for utility bills.Commending involved ministries and SBP, PM Shehbaz urged timely target achievement for enhanced financial inclusion.

Islamabad In a landmark boost for Pakistan’s tech sector, Federal Minister for IT & Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja announced that Google has officially completed its registration in the country and will soon establish its first local office.The development coincides with the launch of Pakistan’s first Google Chromebook assembly line in Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in collaboration with the National Radio & Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC), Tech Valley, and Australia-based Allied. The facility, inaugurated on November 4, aims to produce 500,000–600,000 units annually, promoting technology transfer, job creation, and regional exports.Minister Khawaja highlighted that the initiative has already created around 600 jobs, with strong gender balance, and reflects global confidence in Pakistan’s economy. An MoU with Google will also provide AI and digital training to youth.This public-private partnership underscores Pakistan’s push toward becoming a regional IT hub.

Islamabad In a boost for Pakistani travelers, the country’s passport has surged into the world’s top 100 rankings in the prestigious Henley Passport Index 2025, announced Federal Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday. The milestone reflects a remarkable 13-spot improvement from the previous year, positioning Pakistan at 100th globally and granting visa-free or visa-on-arrarrival access to 32 destinations. Speaking in the National Assembly, Naqvi attributed the progress to the government’s proactive diplomacy and modernization efforts. “This achievement underscores our commitment to enhancing travel freedom for Pakistanis,” he said, highlighting recent visa waiver agreements with over 50 countries for diplomatic passports. The minister noted a 20-step leap in overall mobility scores, crediting the rollout of e-passports with NFC chips compliant with ICAO standards. Director General of Immigration and Passports, Mustafa Jamal Qazi, echoed the sentiment, praising the clearance of nationwide backlogs and digital upgrades like the “Passport Fee Asaan” app for overseas Pakistanis. Despite the gains, challenges persist, with Singapore topping the index at 195 destinations and Afghanistan languishing at last with 28. Experts view this as a step toward greater economic integration, though some reports cite varying rankings around 96th-103rd due to ongoing updates. The government vows continued bilateral pacts to climb higher.

 Pakistan’s Navy anticipates commissioning its inaugural Chinese-designed Hangor-class submarine in 2026, Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf revealed in a Global Times interview, advancing a $5 billion pact to acquire eight vessels by 2028 and fortify patrols in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean amid tensions with India. The diesel-electric subs, equipped with air-independent propulsion for stealthy operations, will see the first four constructed in China—three already launched on the Yangtze River—while the rest are built locally to hone Islamabad’s expertise. Ashraf lauded Chinese gear as “reliable and advanced,” signaling deeper ties in AI, drones, and electronic warfare. This follows May’s border clash, where Pakistani J-10 jets downed at least one Indian Rafale, spotlighting Beijing’s edge over Western tech and spurring questions on hardware superiority. Pakistan, absorbing over 60% of China’s arms exports from 2020-2024 per SIPRI, integrates this into the $60B CPEC corridor, securing energy routes via Gwadar and encircling India through regional alliances. India counters with three homegrown nuclear subs and diesel fleets from France, Germany, and Russia.