Pakistani PM to attend Commonwealth leaders’ meeting in London today

This file picture, taken on September 17, 2022, shows Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz boarding an aircraft in Islamabad. (Photo courtesy: Government of Pakistan/File)
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Updated 05 May 2023
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Pakistani PM to attend Commonwealth leaders’ meeting in London today

  • PM Shehbaz Sharif will also attend coronation of King Charles III on Saturday
  • Sharif is also expected to meet brother ex-PM Nawaz Sharif for political consultations

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will participate in the Commonwealth leaders’ summit in London today, Friday, state-owned Radio Pakistan reported.

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is a biennial summit meeting of governmental leaders representing all members of the British Commonwealth. Despite the name, the summit can be attended by the head of state instead of the head of government, especially among semi-presidential states.

Last year, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar led the Pakistan delegation at the meeting, held in Rwanda from June 24-25.

“The Prime Minister will participate in the Commonwealth Leaders’ Summit in London on Friday,” Radio Pakistan reported. “He is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with leaders participating in the ceremony and summit.”

Before leaving for London, PM Sharif wrote in a Twitter post that Pakistan and the United Kingdom had a “long history of relations strongly anchored in the dynamic Pakistani-British community.”

During his London visit, PM Sharif will also be attending the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla on Saturday, May 6.

The prime minister’s visit is being closely monitored in Pakistan amid growing political instability, as he is expected to hold political consultations with his elder brother and the founding leader of the ruling PML-N party, Nawaz Sharif, who lives in exile in London.

Sharif, a three-time PM, was found guilty in a corruption reference by an accountability court in Pakistan and sent to prison for 10 years in 2018. He began his prison term but was later released on temporary bail on medical grounds.

Sharif left Pakistan in November 2019 to seek medical treatment in London. He has not returned home since.


Pak-Qatar becomes Pakistan’s first dedicated family takaful operator to list on PSX

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Pak-Qatar becomes Pakistan’s first dedicated family takaful operator to list on PSX

  • Pak-Qatar Family Takaful Limited’s initial public offering raises $3.2 million, says company
  • Company says remains committed to strengthening Pakistan’s Islamic financial eco-system

KARACHI: The Pak-Qatar Family Takaful Limited (PQFTL) became the first dedicated family Takaful operator to be listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), the company announced on Thursday, saying the development would strengthen the ecosystem for Islamic financial products and services in the stock market. 

PQFTL is the country’s first and largest dedicated shariah-compliant family risk-protection provider, holding 44 percent of the total family takaful market and more than 90 percent of the fully dedicated segment, with a nationwide presence of 73 branches and 1,971 field representatives.

The company announced in a statement last month it would offer 50 million shares, starting at a floor price of Rs14 per share ($0.05), with a ceiling of Rs21 per share ($0.07). Of the total issue, 37.5 million shares will be allocated to institutional investors, while 12.5 million shares will be offered to the general public.

In its latest statement, the PQTFL said the book building and public subscription portions of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) were oversubscribed by 3.2 times and 3.8 times, respectively, reflecting strong investor confidence in the company and Pakistan’s Islamic financial ecosystem.

“The IPO raised Rs901 million [$3.2 million], achieving a 29 percent premium, reflecting strong investor interest and positive market perception,” the statement said. 

“This historic milestone and response from investors underscore PQFTL’s exceptional financial resilience, strategic foresight, and unwavering commitment to Shariah-compliant excellence,” it added. 

The company said over 8,200 investors participated in the IPO, making it one of the highest investor turnouts in Pakistan’s insurance and Takaful sector. 

“The offering attracted a diverse mix of institutional investors, insurance companies, family offices, corporate investors, and a significant number of individual investors,” it said. 

Muhammad Kamran Saleem, a member of the board of directors of the PQFTL, said the company’s listing on the stock exchange was a “historic achievement.”

“The overwhelming response from investors demonstrates deep trust in our business fundamentals, Shariah governance standards and strategic vision,” he said. 

“We are grateful to Allah Almighty for this historic achievement and we remain committed to strengthening the Islamic financial eco-system and long-term sustainable value creation to all our stakeholders.”

PQFTL said the IPO proceeds will help it in meeting regulatory capital requirements, expand digital distribution channels, enhance product innovation and drive customer-centric growth initiatives.