ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Air Force (PAF) chief, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, on Saturday visited the PAF Training Airbase Mianwali, where he lauded security personnel for thwarting a militant attack that killed nine attackers, the PAF said.
The training base of the PAF came under attack in the wee hours of Saturday, according to the Pakistani military. Three of the attackers were killed while entering the base, whereas six others were eliminated in a combing and clearance operation.
The military said “no damage” had been done to any functional operational assets at the airfield.
During the visit, the air chief commended the on-duty security personnel for their unwavering professionalism and neutralizing the intruders in the minimum possible time.
“Chief of the Air Staff interacted with the base personnel, expressed his utmost appreciation for their exceptional commitment in putting service before self and reiterated the required level of readiness of each & every person in the Pakistan Air Force to counter any malicious intent of hostile elements & terrorist outfits,” the PAF said in a statement.
“He also thanked the joint operations team comprising Zarar Company of Pakistan Army and civil LEAs (law enforcement agencies) for their timely support to counter the infiltration most optimally.”
The air chief said the security scenario demanded unwavering vigilance and commitment of the Pakistani forces and they were resolute to counter any threat to the nation.
“The visit of Chief of the Air Staff serves as a strong message of solidarity and reassurance to the entire Pakistan Air Force personnel, inspiring them to remain steadfast in their duty to protect the nation,” the PAF said.
The assault came a day after three separate attacks killed 21 people, including 15 security personnel, in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces that border Afghanistan.
The South Asian country has been witnessing an uptick in militant attacks, particularly after the Pakistan Taliban called off their fragile truce with the government in November 2022, with a majority of these incidents targeting the two provinces along the Afghan border.
Pakistan last month asked all illegal immigrants, mostly Afghan nationals, to leave the country by November 1, saying they were involved in attacks, smuggling and other offenses.
The expulsion order followed suicide bombings in Pakistan this year that the government said involved Afghan nationals, though it did not provide any evidence.
The South Asian country has since set up tens of holding centers to speed up the repatriation process as authorities continue to arrest illegal immigrants in nationwide sweeps.
Pakistan Air Force chief lauds security personnel for thwarting attack on training airbase
https://arab.news/9uzez
Pakistan Air Force chief lauds security personnel for thwarting attack on training airbase
- Nine militants had stormed the PAF Training Airbase Mianwali in wee hours of Saturday
- None of PAF operational assets were damaged in the operation that killed all attackers
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.
