ISLAMABAD: An alliance of opposition parties has called on its supporters to delay a “long march” to the capital due to the presence of foreign ministers of Islamic countries in Islamabad next week for a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC).
On Monday, Maulana Fazlur Rehman of the Jamiat-e-Ulama-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), who also heads the Pakistan Democratic Movement, an opposition alliance against Prime Minister Imran Khan, had asked supporters to embark on a long march to the capital on March 23.
On Tuesday, however, Rehman asked opposition supporters to enter the capital on the evening of Friday, March 25, instead of March 24.
“We have great respect for Muslim countries and do not want to create any problems for the foreign dignitaries,” the politician told reporters, referring to Islamabad hosting the 48th Organization of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers meeting on March 22-23 for which at least 46 OIC foreign ministers have confirmed participation.
The opposition long march call came days after PM Khan announced a rally in Islamabad on March 27 as a show of force by his government ahead of a parliamentary vote on a no-confidence motion filed against him by the opposition in parliament last Tuesday. The date for the vote has not yet been set. First the speaker of the national assembly must convene a session where the motion can be tabled.
The opposition requires at least 172 votes in the 342-member National Assembly to topple Khan’s government. The current party position in the lower house of parliament shows the opposition collectively has 162 members while the government enjoys the support of 179 lawmakers, including its coalition partners.
Opposition parties say they have the required numbers to win the no trust vote as they struggle to convince the government’s allied parties to leave the coalition.
Opposition delays long march to Islamabad due to OIC foreign ministers’ meeting
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Opposition delays long march to Islamabad due to OIC foreign ministers’ meeting
- Opposition leaders had earlier called supporters to march to the capital starting March 23
- Islamabad is hosting the 48th OIC Council of Foreign Ministers on March 22-23
Pakistan pitches digital finance reforms to foreign fintech investors
- Khurram Schehzad highlights progress on digital banking and plans for regulating blockchain and virtual assets
- Visiting delegation welcomes policy clarity, sees scope for long-term investment and partnerships in Pakistan
KARACHI: Pakistan on Saturday pitched its digital finance and fintech reforms to foreign investors as part of a broader effort to attract capital after macroeconomic stabilization, with a senior official highlighting progress on digital banking, payments infrastructure and regulatory overhaul.
The outreach came as Islamabad seeks to sustain reform momentum following a period of economic stress, positioning technology-led financial inclusion as a pillar of its recovery and growth strategy while courting international investors.
Khurram Schehzad, adviser to the finance minister, briefed a delegation of international fintech investors on Pakistan’s reform agenda and digital growth plans at a meeting in federal capital, according to a statement from the finance ministry.
“Consistent policy implementation and structural reforms have strengthened macroeconomic fundamentals and improved Pakistan’s investment outlook,” he said, highlighting the “renewed global confidence” in the economy.
Officials said the discussions focused on the government’s Digital Pakistan Vision, including efforts to expand digital payments, build public digital infrastructure and digitize government transactions to widen financial inclusion and formalize the economy.
Schehzad cited the role of Raast, Pakistan’s instant payment system, which enables real-time, low-cost and interoperable digital payments nationwide, as well as regulatory reforms introduced by the State Bank of Pakistan to modernize retail digital banking.
Under the new framework, easypaisa Digital Bank has been operational for nearly a year, while Mashreq Digital Bank has also begun operations, with several other digital banks moving toward launch, the statement said.
The adviser also outlined Pakistan’s plans to develop a regulatory framework for blockchain, Web3.0 and virtual assets, saying authorities were engaging with global platforms to support innovation while ensuring compliance and investor protection.
The investor delegation was led by John Sfakianakis, chairman of Fintech Solutions Holding, alongside the company’s chief executive Kirill Smolin, and was facilitated by local technology firm Tech Avenue.
The investors welcomed the “clarity of reforms and policy direction,” saying Pakistan’s combination of macroeconomic stabilization, digital infrastructure and emerging technologies offered opportunities for long-term investment and strategic partnerships, the finance ministry said.
