ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Home and Tribal Affairs Department sent a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) last week, requesting to postpone polls in 16 new constituencies of the tribal districts of the province due to security and administrative reasons.
“Election is a breathing life for democratic nations and the people of the newly-merged districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are availing this opportunity for the first time in the constitutional history of Pakistan,” the letter, dated June 3, 2019, said.
It added that the polls, which were originally scheduled to be held on July 2, should be postponed due to “unwarranted situation and threats of serious nature from across the border.”
“Some developments within the newly-merged districts may sabotage the whole process of holding the forthcoming elections,” it read.
There was an unusual increase in terrorist attacks in Pakistan’s tribal districts, particularly in North Waziristan, with the ISPR, the military’s media wing, saying in a statement that “at least 10 soldiers have been killed and 35 wounded over the past month” in the area.
With that in mind, the KP government has requested for a delay in the polls by 20 days “which is within the constitutional limit of 25th of July, 2019 for holding the subject elections.”
In May last year, the National Assembly (NA) – through a constitutional amendment bill – had allowed the merger of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas with the KP province. The new law had approved an increase in the number of NA seats from six to 12 for the tribal districts and from 16 to 24 for the KP assembly seats.
KP requests Pakistan’s poll body to delay elections in newly-merged tribal districts
KP requests Pakistan’s poll body to delay elections in newly-merged tribal districts
- Says request made in light of serious threats from across the border
- Voting in tribal districts is due to be held on July 2
Veon Group invests $20 million in Pakistan’s Mobilink Bank to accelerate digital Islamic banking
- The investment builds on $15 million capital deployed by Veon in January 2025
- The capital will be used to scale the bank’s micro, small and medium enterprises
KARACHI: Global digital operator Veon Group has announced an investment of $20 million in Pakistan’s Mobilink Bank to support its growth and digital Islamic banking expansion in Pakistan, it said on Friday.
Mobilink Bank is a part of Veon Group, a global digital operator that provides services to over 150 million connectivity customers and over 140 million monthly active digital users. The Nasdaq-listed company operates across five countries that are home to more than 6 percent of the world’s population.
The investment builds on $15 million capital deployed by Veon in January 2025 and underscores its confidence in Mobilink Bank’s growth momentum and its integrated digital financial ecosystem with JazzCash, amid the rapid expansion of Pakistan’s digital banking and microfinance sector, according to Veon Group.
The capital will be used to scale Mobilink Bank’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) financing portfolio, advance its Islamic banking offerings, and strengthen its evolution into a technology-driven, digitally native bank, with a continued focus on expanding regulated financial access for underserved communities.
“This investment will accelerate the expansion of our shariah-compliant Islamic banking offerings, helping small businesses formalize cash flows, access regulated credit, and build long-term financial resilience,” said Haaris Mahmood Chaudhary, president and chief executive officer of Mobilink Bank.
“As a future-ready digital bank, our focus remains on delivering practical, technology-enabled financial solutions that empower entrepreneurs — particularly women and underserved communities — across Pakistan.”
Mobilink Bank’s expanding deposit base and MSME-oriented lending portfolio are enabling small businesses to transition from informal cash usage to regulated banking, while targeted women-centric financial products and green financing initiatives support inclusive growth and resilience in the face of Pakistan’s climate and economic challenges, according to a statement issued by Veon Group.
Mobilink Bank, together with JazzCash, which serves over 57 million customers and is supported by a nationwide network of more than one million merchants and agents, anchors one of Pakistan’s largest digital financial ecosystems. During the year, JazzCash processed gross transaction value exceeding Rs15 trillion ($53 billion), underscoring the scale, resilience, and impact of fintech in advancing financial inclusion, social mobility, and responsible digital innovation across Pakistan.
The investment reflects Veon Group’s broader digital strategy of strengthening high-impact financial ecosystems through technology-led solutions and disciplined capital deployment, positioning Mobilink Bank as a key contributor to Pakistan’s evolving financial sector, according to the global digital operator.
“This continued stream of investment from VEON underscores our long-term commitment to Pakistan and confidence in the structural shift underway in the country’s digital financial services ecosystem,” Veon Group Executive Committee Member and Chairman Mobilink Bank, Aamir Ibrahim, was quoted as saying.
“It strengthens Mobilink Bank and JazzCash’s ability to execute on our strategic priorities, invest in resilient technology infrastructure, and contribute to the development of inclusive and sustainable digital banking.”
