ISLAMABAD: Commending Islamabad for its role in the war against terror, Egypt on Tuesday appreciated the efforts of Pakistan’s army in comments made to its top commander, General Qamar Javed Bajwa who is on an official visit to the country, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.
During the meeting with General Mohamed Zaki, Commander in Chief of the Egyptian Armed Forces and the Minister of Defense and Military Production, General Bajwa discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries in various fields. The meeting was also attended by Lt. Gen. Mohamed Farid Hegazy, Chief of Staff of the Egyptian Armed Forces.
“Both sides agreed to increase bilateral cooperation in multiple fields including joint ventures, defense production, training, and intelligence,” the statement read on Monday, adding that the two “also agreed to improve cooperation for regional peace and stability”.
General Bajwa also met Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar who lauded the efforts of Pakistan’s army in eliminating the scourge of terrorism from the country, the statement read.
Al-Tayeb appreciated the issuance of the ‘Paigham-e-Pakistan’ – a fatwa or religious decree issued by religious scholars representing all schools of thoughts in Pakistan and pertaining to matters arising from extremism. In January this year, the fatwa was signed by 1,829 clerics who declared all forms of terrorism as un-Islamic.
“He added that Islam is a religion of moderation and a complete code of conduct, which must not be linked with terrorism/extremism in the global community,” the statement read.
General Bajwa also emphasized “the need to harness Muslim youth toward enlightenment, technological advancement, moderation, and harmony”.
In February this year, at the invitation of Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Egypt’s Grand Mufti, Sheikh Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam had visited Islamabad and endorsed the fatwa.
Egypt all praise for Pakistan’s role in war against terror
Egypt all praise for Pakistan’s role in war against terror
- Lauds country’s efforts in combating militancy during Army Chief’s visit
- General Bajwa also met with Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar
Pakistan launches cashless Ramadan market in Islamabad to promote digital payments
- Pilot market allows shoppers to buy subsidized food using digital payments
- Initiative aims to improve transparency and public relief during Ramadan
KARACHI: Pakistan has launched a cashless subsidized Ramadan food market in the capital Islamabad, the interior ministry said on Wednesday, introducing digital payments for essential goods as authorities try to improve transparency and affordability during the Muslim holy month.
The facility in the G-6 Aabpara area allows citizens to purchase vegetables, fruit and staple food items at regulated prices without cash, part of a broader push toward digitizing subsidy delivery.
Ramadan bazaars, which are temporary and often state-supported markets, are set up across Pakistan each year to limit price spikes as demand rises during fasting hours and evening meals.
Ramadan is likely to start on Feb. 19 in Pakistan.
“The objective is to provide the public affordable and quality items. No negligence in public relief will be tolerated,” the interior ministry said in a statement.
Officials said the market will operate daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and includes private vendors under monitoring mechanisms to ensure goods are sold according to wholesale market rates.
Authorities also instructed administrators to strengthen cleanliness, security and complaint-handling systems and ensure price lists are prominently displayed.
Pakistan last year launched its first-ever cashless weekly market in Islamabad, but slow Internet speeds and patchy phone connectivity have hampered adoption among vendors and shoppers.
The government plans to turn Islamabad into Pakistan’s first fully cashless city, using QR-code payments to formalize retail transactions, reduce tax evasion and improve documentation in one of South Asia’s most informally run economies.
Pakistan relies heavily on cash, enabling widespread tax evasion and limiting financial transparency. Economists say expanding digital payments can raise government revenues, curb corruption, and make marketplaces safer for customers and traders.
Pakistan has increasingly experimented with targeted subsidies and digital systems to manage food affordability during Ramadan, when consumption rises sharply and lower-income households face pressure after years of high inflation.
Last week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched a Rs38 billion ($136 million) Ramadan relief package, pledging direct digital cash transfers of Rs13,000 ($47) each to 12.1 million low-income families across Pakistan.
The government will distribute the relief package through bank accounts and regulated mobile wallet platforms, fully replacing the previous utility store-based subsidy model with a digital payment mechanism overseen by the State Bank of Pakistan.
