KARACHI: Imran Khan’s former teammates and rivals have congratulated the World Cup winner after his party won the most seats in Pakistan’s election.
The Election Commission said Friday that Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party enjoyed a strong lead over the outgoing Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) but short of an overall majority.
Khan will likely need to enter into a coalition to form a government.
“Congratulating the new Prime Minister of our country,” tweeted ex-bowler Wasim Akram, who was part of Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup winning side captained by Khan.
Wasim had thrown his support behind Khan, 65, in the run-up to the election.
“It was in your leadership skip @ImrankhanPTI that we became world champions in 1992. It is in your leadership that we can again become a great democratic country,” he wrote on Twitter.
Wasim’s new ball partner Waqar Younis — who also flourished under Khan’s tutelage — praised the leader-elect’s live broadcast to the nation on Thursday in which he claimed victory in the election.
“A special speech from a Great Leader..Very simple, honest and practical..Feeling so proud to be a student of such a Mentor.. Congratulations Skipper,” he tweeted.
Another member of Pakistan’s triumphant World Cup squad Ramiz Raja also lavished praise on Khan, considered one of Pakistan’s best ever all-rounders.
“Who could be a bigger and better example of a leader than Imran Khan, who as a super star had the world at his feet and yet elbow greased for 22 years to work for his objective and vision..he’s special and we are proud to have him as our Prime Minister,” Raja posted on Twitter.
Khan, who vowed to improve relations with arch-rival India in his first comments following Wednesday’s polls, also received praise from across the border.
“Imran is the epitome of setting the bar high and reaching it. Congratulations & good luck to my cricketing hero, Imran Khan!” tweeted former Indian batsman Sanjay Manjrekar, who scored a double hundred against a Khan-led Pakistan in 1989.
Ex-Indian all-rounder Kapil Dev, who was a contemporary of Khan, tipped the former right-arm fast bowler to “deliver” as Pakistani leader in a TV interview.
“It looks nice that a cricketer and one who we know is going to be the PM,” said Dev.
Current Pakistan players Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Hafeez also posted messages on Twitter.
“Congrats to @ImranKhanPTI i hope u guys will do the best for Pakistan,” tweeted Amir.
“Ma Shaa Allah (God has willed) @ImranKhanPTI U done it once again. Long marathon struggle against corruption. A man of strong belief,” wrote Hafeez.
Cricket teammates, rivals congratulate Pakistan’s Khan on vote win
Cricket teammates, rivals congratulate Pakistan’s Khan on vote win
Pakistan bank enables Shariah-compliant digital payment facility for passengers at Islamabad airport
Pakistan bank enables Shariah-compliant digital payment facility for passengers at Islamabad airport
- Pakistan is a cash-dominated market where a significant portion of transactions in the informal sector are made without any taxes, officials say
- The move comes amid Pakistan’s efforts to introduce a cashless model at airports under which only digital service providers can provide services
KARACHI: Aik, Pakistan’s first Islamic digital bank, has enabled fully digital payments at Islamabad International Airport to offer travelers and passengers secure, Shariah compliant digital transaction facility.
The development comes amid Pakistan’s efforts to introduce a cashless model at airports across the country, under which only digital service providers can provide services to customers.
Aik, a subsidiary of Bank Islami, said it has onboarded merchants across the Islamabad airport and integrated QR code deployments at key touchpoints to allow passengers and visitors to make secure, seamless, and Shariah-compliant digital transactions at all counters, retail outlets, and service points.
It said the implementation complies with the regulations and framework set by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and is a working model for a large-scale adoption of cashless systems in public infrastructure.
“This deployment reflects our commitment to building practical digital infrastructure that improves everyday transactions,” Aik Chief Officer Ashfaque Ahmed said in a statement.
“By enabling a fully cashless environment at a major national gateway, we are supporting efficiency, transparency, and financial inclusion at scale. This is not only a project; it is a foundation for Pakistan’s cashless future.”
Pakistan is a cash-dominated market where a significant portion of transactions, particularly in the informal sector, are conducted in cash. Officials say many of these transactions are aimed at avoiding taxes.
In recent years, the SBP has taken steps to ensure a transition toward a more cashless economy so that transactions are more traceable, reducing chances of tax evasion and corruption.
By digitizing Islamabad airport, aik said it continues to invest in secure and accessible financial solutions that “expand digital participation and support national economic modernization.”
