ISLAMABAD: A leading Pakistani boxer has announced that his country is set to host the World Boxing Championship in Lahore on January 25, marking a significant step for the sport in Pakistan, the state media reported on Saturday.
Boxing is a popular sport in Pakistan, but aspiring athletes often face challenges due to a lack of institutional mechanisms to identify and nurture talent across the country. Success in the sport largely depends on individual effort and determination.
Renowned boxer and World Youth Champion Usman Wazir said players from five countries, including Indonesia, Iran, Thailand and France, would compete in ten matches for the championship title.
“I want to promote the country internationally in boxing,” the Associated Press of Pakistan news agency quoted him as saying. “I am trying to organize such a mega event in Islamabad in the future.”
Wazir highlighted that unlike cricket, other sports in Pakistan received less attention but still played a crucial role in promoting the country’s image on the international stage. He maintained that boxing was inspiring the youth, leading many to take up the sport.
He called on the Punjab government, including Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan, to sponsor the event.
Emerging Pakistani boxer Khushal Khan, who will represent the country in the championship, said he drew inspiration from Wazir to pursue boxing.
Undefeated in his last 14 fights, Khan is determined to win the event and bring pride to Pakistan both nationally and internationally.
Pakistan to host World Boxing Championship in Lahore this month
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Pakistan to host World Boxing Championship in Lahore this month
- Leading Pakistani fighter Usman Wazir says boxing plays a crucial role in promoting the country’s image
- He requests the Punjab provincial administration to sponsor the event, saying the sport inspires the youth
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.”
