ISLAMABAD: At least three people were injured in a blast outside the Pakistani Consulate General in Afghanistan’s eastern city of Jalalabad, Dr. Mohammad Faisal, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday.
In a tweet posted late on Sunday night, he added that all the Pakistani staff were safe after an improvised explosive device (IED) went off outside the consulate.
“IED exploded outside holding area of our Consulate General in Jalalabad. All Pakistani staff are safe. One policeman and two applicants are reportedly wounded,” he said, adding that Islamabad was in “contact with Afghan authorities to ensure strengthened security for Consulate General’s premises and personnel.”
In September 2018, Pakistan had shut down operations at the consulate in Jalalabad for a few weeks over alleged interference by the provincial governor and due to a lack of security.
Three injured in explosion outside Pakistan Consulate General in Jalalabad
Three injured in explosion outside Pakistan Consulate General in Jalalabad
- All staff members are safe, Foreign Office says
- Islamabad in touch with Kabul to ensure maximum security
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.”
