ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has some of the highest numbers of women blue helmets in the world, EU envoy to Pakistan said on Twitter on Sunday, a day after the ‘International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.’
Pakistan’s contributions to UN peacekeeping span over six decades.
“Did you know that Pakistan has one of the highest percentage of women Peacekeepers in the world ?” Androulla Kaminara, ambassador of the European Union to Pakistan said on Sunday.
On Saturday, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said in a statement:
“As one of the top troop contributing countries, Pakistan deeply values the vital role played by ‘blue helmets’ in maintaining security and stability in many conflict-ridden areas around the world.”
It also said Pakistan had led the way in deputing female peacekeepers in “record time.”
“A team of our officers is presently serving as the first all-female group from Pakistan in a UN peacekeeping mission, deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” the FO said.
These officers provide a range of resources to the region including through work as psychologists, stress counsellors, vocational training officers, gender advisers, doctors, nurses, operations officers, information officers and logistics officers.
“Since 1960, over 200,000 of our servicemen have served with honor and valour in 46 UN missions in 26 countries in almost all continents of the world,” the statement read.
Pakistan brings a “unique perspective to peacekeeping,” the FO said, not only as a leading troop contributing country, but also as host to one of the oldest peacekeeping missions in the world.
According to foreign ministry data, 157 of Pakistan’s peacekeepers have been martyred in the line of duty for the cause of international peace and security.
Pakistanis among world’s highest percentage of women UN peacekeepers — EU envoy
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Pakistanis among world’s highest percentage of women UN peacekeepers — EU envoy
- A team is serving in Congo as Pakistan’s first all-female group in a UN peacekeeping mission
- Since 1960, over 200,000 Pakistani servicemen have served in 46 UN missions in 26 countries
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.”
