KARACHI: Digital banking has acquired increasing popularity in Pakistan since the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic, said the central bank on Thursday, adding that the country had witnessed 253.7 million electronic transactions worth Rs19 trillion during the first quarter of the current fiscal year.
"The most promising uptake was seen in internet banking and mobile banking transactions as the number of registered mobile phone banking users reached 8.9 million showing an increase of 41% over Q1-FY20 and the number of internet users touched 4.3 million with a growth of 26% over the same period," the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said in its Quarterly Payment System Review (QPSR) for the first quarter between July and September 2020.
During this period, mobile banking transactions increased to 36.4 million or Rs908.7 billion. This implied an increase of 139 percent in terms of volume and 211 percent in terms of value when compared with the same period last year.
Similarly, internet banking transactions increased to 18.9 million or Rs1.1 trillion, registering a growth of 55 percent in volume and 89 percent in value.
"The digital payment transactions in Pakistan have increased significantly largely due to the impact of measures taken by the SBP that created incentives for customers," the central bank said in a statement. "Growth in digital payment infrastructure as well as emergence of new payment aggregators have also been a contributing factor in this increase. Moreover, it also reflects the changes in consumer preferences for digital transactions amid the COVID-19 situation."
The country's total payment transactions increased by 23 percent in volume and eight percent in value when compared to the previous quarter, according to the report.
E-banking transactions comprise real-time online branches transactions, ATM transactions, internet banking transactions, mobile phone banking transactions, e-commerce, and interactive voice response banking.
Another major avenue of e-banking transactions is through points of sale, whereby people make transactions using credit or debit cards for shopping purposes.
Pakistan witnesses significant rise in digital banking between July and September — central bank
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Pakistan witnesses significant rise in digital banking between July and September — central bank
- Growth in digital payments reflects changing consumer preferences amid the coronavirus pandemic, says State Bank of Pakistan
- Mobile phone banking users increased by 41 percent while the number people availing internet banking option reached 4.3 million
Rescued dog helps police find owner’s body, wife and brother-in-law held
- Omar Hayat, an agricultural worker, had rescued a stray dog with broken legs and nursed it back to health
- Hayat’s body was buried under a heap of cow dung, which was then set on fire to destroy any evidence
KARACHI: A stray dog rescued and nursed back to health by a Pakistani agricultural laborer led police to its owner’s buried body, exposing a murder plot allegedly orchestrated by the victim’s wife and her brother, officials said on Tuesday.
Omar Hayat was killed last month in a village in Tehsil Chichawatni, located in Punjab province. His wife, Shamim, and her brother, Fida Hussain, were arrested and sent into judicial custody on Monday, according to Station House Officer (SHO) Shahzad Ahmed.
“Omar Hayat had found the dog on the roadside months earlier, with both of his legs broken,” Ahmed told Arab News over the phone. “He took it in and treated its legs. After approximately two months, the dog was able to walk again. Since then, the dog stayed with Hayat all the time.”
The SHO said that when Hayat went missing, the dog began searching for him.
“It sensed its owner’s scent and started digging a pile of burnt cow dung with its legs. It continued this for two days until the legs of the body appeared,” he continued, adding that a local resident, Bilal Shah, saw the remains and informed the police.
“We called the crime scene unit and began collecting evidence,” the police official said.
According to him, the victim’s face had been completely burned, making identification difficult. His wife also refused to identify the body and “continuously misled the police,” he added. However, Hayat’s mother recognized the legs, saying they resembled her son’s, and subsequent DNA testing confirmed the body’s identity.
“We arrested Shamim’s brother, Mudasir, a week ago, and Shamim was arrested two days ago,” the police official said. “Yesterday, both were sent to jail on judicial remand.”
During interrogation, both suspects confessed to murdering Hayat and burying his body under a pile of cow dung, which they set on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence and hinder identification.
“Hayat’s wife said that her husband used drugs and had affairs with other women,” Ahmed said. “After catching him with a woman, his wife went to her brother, and they both murdered him.”
Originally from Multan, Hayat worked at a farmhouse in a Chichawatni village, where he lived with Shamim and their four children.
Shamim belongs to Khanewal, and the couple had been married for 15 years.
Amid economic push, Pakistan reviews proposals for investment projects with Azerbaijan
- Cash-strapped Pakistan is currently navigating a tricky path to recovery under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund bailout program
- The South Asian country has been making efforts to generate revenue through increased trade and investment deals with friendly nations
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s deputy prime minister, Ishaq Dar, on Tuesday reviewed various proposals for investment projects with Azerbaijan, the Pakistan foreign office said, amid Islamabad’s push for increase trade and investment in the South Asian country.
The development came days after Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev wrote a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and called for joint ventures with Pakistan in defense, energy, economy, logistics and transport sectors to expand Baku’s strategic partnership with Islamabad.
It followed a visit by Sharif to Baku, where he announced the two nations would sign deals in April to boost bilateral investments to $2 billion. Multiple agreements for cooperation in the trade, energy, tourism, education and other sectors were signed during Sharif’s visit in Feb.
On Tuesday, DPM Dar presided over an inter-ministerial meeting on possible investment projects with Azerbaijan and reviewed various proposals in this regard, according to the Pakistani foreign office.
“DPM/FM directed to accelerate the implementation of decisions to boost economic growth and development through viable investment projects,” it said in a statement. “He reaffirmed that strengthening Pakistan-Azerbaijan ties remains a priority as both countries collaborate across various sectors.”
Cash-strapped Pakistan is currently navigating a tricky path to recovery under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program. The South Asian country has been making efforts to generate revenue through increased trade and investment deals with friendly nations and regional and international allies, focusing on export-led growth.
In September last year, Azerbaijan bought JF-17 Block III fighter jets from Pakistan, reportedly in a $1.6bn deal.
During President Aliyev’s visit to Pakistan last year, a joint committee was set up to materialize projects in trade, commerce, information technology, tourism, telecommunication, mineral resources and other sectors. Sharif said at the time the current trade volume of $100 million did not reflect the “true” trade potential between the two countries.
Pakistani YouTube star charged with blasphemy over perfume
- Rajab Butt has one of the largest online followings in the Muslim-majority country and has been embroiled in controversy for years
- In a recent video, since deleted from social media accounts, Butt launched his ‘295’ perfume which refers to blasphemy legislation
LAHORE: A Pakistani YouTube star has been charged with blasphemy after launching a perfume named after the very law he has fallen foul of, police said Tuesday.
Rajab Butt has one of the largest online followings in the Muslim-majority country and has been embroiled in controversy for years, including over his brief custody of a lion cub.
In a recent video, since deleted from his social media accounts, Butt launched his “295” perfume which refers to blasphemy legislation in the penal code.
He said it followed a case filed against him last year, over an earlier video that was deemed blasphemous.
His perfume publicity sparked further ire, prompting the leader of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) to file a complaint late Monday.
“Our religious sentiments have been hurt,” said TLP leader Haider Ali Shah Gillani, whose party puts blasphemy as its central concern.
“There are numerous sections in the penal code but why did he choose blasphemy-related sections to name a perfume?,” he told AFP.
“This means you acknowledge the offense and are celebrating it. This is essentially an attempt to normalize such actions,” he said.
A police charge sheet seen by AFP and authenticated by a police official on Tuesday details the accusations against Butt, including blasphemy and cybercrime.
Blasphemy is an incendiary charge in Pakistan, where even unsubstantiated accusations can incite public outrage and lead to lynchings.
In both cases against him, the social media personality risks up to 10 years in prison.
Butt issued an apology video on Sunday, asserting he is not against the country’s blasphemy laws.
“I apologize for the words I uttered during the launch of the perfume,” he said while holding the Holy Qur’an.
“I apologize and announce the discontinuation of this perfume,” he added.
Butt has previously drawn a parallel with his “mentor,” the slain Indian rapper Sidhu Moose Wala, who released a song titled “295” in reference to religious incitement.
In other legal troubles, Butt pleaded guilty in January to owning an undocumented wild animal after accepting a lion cub as a wedding gift.
He avoided jail by promising a judge to post animal rights videos for a year.
Pakistan gets first iPhone trade-in program
- Jazz, leading digital conglomerate, and Mercantile, Apple’s authorized distributor, launch initiative
- Customers can trade in old PTA-approved iPhone 11, newer models for discount on iPhone 16 series
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s leading digital conglomerate Jazz has partnered with Mercantile, Apple’s authorized distributor, to introduce the country’s first-ever iPhone trade-in program, a press release said on Tuesday.
Under the initiative, customers can trade in their old PTA-approved iPhone 11 or newer models to receive a discount on the latest iPhone 16 series. Jazz and Mercantile are also offering an additional subsidy bonus on top of the trade-in value.
“As a digital leader, Jazz is committed to bridging the digital divide in Pakistan. Our partnership with Mercantile to launch the first iPhone Trade-In Program reflects our focus on innovation and customer convenience,” Ali Fahd, Head of Marketing at Jazz, said.
“By making premium devices more accessible, we are empowering customers to enhance their digital lifestyle with seamless connectivity and value-added services.”
Nauman Durrani, CEO of Mercantile Pakistan, said the launch would simplify how people in Pakistan could access latest iPhone models:
“By working with Jazz, we’re offering a clear, straightforward way for customers to upgrade from older devices and enjoy a better user experience.”
The program is currently available at Jazz Experience Centers in Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi. The trade-in offer applies to full-price purchases only and is not available on postpaid installment plans at this stage.
In addition to the trade-in program, Jazz has introduced an exclusive six-month bundle for customers purchasing a PTA-approved iPhone 16 through Jazz. This package includes 200GB of Internet, 6 months of free airtime, e-SIM activation, discount vouchers, and handset insurance worth up to Rs. 100,000 covering theft, loss, and damage for 6 months.
Jazz is also offering the iPhone 16 series on an 18-month installment plan for only postpaid customers, providing flexible payment options to suit varying needs.
Pakistan warns drought may ‘intensify’ in parts of Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan
- Meteorological department says drought may exacerbate in coming months due to rising temperatures and low rainfall
- Advises stakeholders to take pre-emptive measures for drought-prone areas, urges farmers to seek updates from PMD
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Meteorological Department (PMD) this week warned that the existing drought situation in Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan provinces may “exacerbate and intensify” in the coming months due to below-normal rainfall, rising temperatures and acute shortage of stored water in the country’s dams.
In its latest advisory issued on Monday, the PMD noted that drought conditions still persist in Sindh, southern parts of Balochistan and lower eastern plain areas of Punjab. It said that the overall, below-normal rainfall deficit of 40 percent was observed across Pakistan from Sept. 1 to Mar. 21, adding that the major rainfall deficits were observed in Sindh at 62 percent, Balochistan at 52 percent and Punjab at 38 percent.
The PMD noted that there is an “acute shortage” of stored water in the Tarbela and Mangla dams, while water in different rivers is flowing at an “extreme low level.” The advisory said that the mean temperature recorded during March in the lower half of the country is two to three degrees above normal.
“Keeping in view the current weather situation and seasonal climate outlook, the drought situation may exacerbate and intensify in the following drought affected areas of the country,” the advisory said.
The advisory said that in Sindh, a “moderate” drought situation is likely in Padidan, Shaheed Benazirabad, Dadu, Tharparkar, Umerkot, Khairpur, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin and Karachi while a “mild” drought situation is likely in Ghotki, Jacobabad, Larkana, Sukkur, Khairpur and Sanghar.
In Balochistan, it said the drought conditions will be moderate in Gwadar, Kech, Lasbela, Panjgur and Awaran, with mild conditions in Chagai, Jaffarabad, Jhal Magsi, Sibbi, Nushki and Washuk.
In Punjab, the affected areas for mild drought conditions will be Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan.
The PMD said it is continuously monitoring the country’s meteorological conditions, warning of the emergence of a “flash drought” in the upcoming months due to the rainfall deficit and increasing temperatures.
“Hence, it is advised to all stakeholders to take pre-emptive measures for drought prone areas,” the PMD said. “Farmers/agriculturists are advised to keep themselves updated from PMD website.”
Pakistan has the fourth-highest rate of water consumption in the world. The country’s agriculture sector uses the most amount of fresh water than any other sector. Rainfall has steadily declined over the past few decades and experts have been warning for years the country will approach “absolute scarcity” of water by 2025.
The results of the latest census in 2023 counted 241.49 million people across Pakistan with a growth rate of 2.55 percent. Linked to that, per capita water availability has been on a downward trend for decades.
In 1947, when Pakistan was created, the figure stood at about 5,000 cubic meters per person, according to the World Bank. Today it is 1,000 cubic meters. It will decline further with the population expected to double in the next 50 years, climate change experts say, pointing out that Pakistan needs intervention on a range of water-related issues: from the impact of climate change to hydropower, from transboundary water-sharing to irrigated and rain-fed agriculture, and from drinking water to sanitation.
