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Wednesday, 11 February, 2026 | 22 Sha’ban, 1447
Rs 20.00 | Vol XVI No 218 | 8 Pages | Lahore Edition
PM SHEHBAZ HAILS RAQAMI ISLAMIC DIGITAL BANK LICENCE AS MILESTONE IN PAKISTAN–KUWAIT ECONOMIC TIES
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PM STRESSES ECONOMIC ENGAGEMENT AS PILLAR OF PAKISTAN–KUWAIT RELATIONS
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ISLAMIC DIGITAL BANKING SEEN AS KEY TO FINANCIAL INCLUSION AND INNOVATION
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RAQAMI BECOMES PAKISTAN’S THIRD LICENSED DIGITAL RETAIL BANK
KUWAIT SIGNALS STRONGER COOPERATION IN TRADE, INVESTMENT AND FINANCE
PM Shehbaz to attend inaugural US ‘Board of Peace’ meeting in Washington on Feb 18 ISLAMABAD
staff report
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ISLAMABAD
staff report
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday termed the granting of a commercial licence to Raqami Islamic Digital Bank a landmark development for Pakistan’s financial sector and a major step towards deepening economic cooperation with Kuwait. Addressing the concluding session of the licence awarding ceremony, the prime minister stressed that strong political relations must be reinforced through meaningful economic engagement, noting that sustainable partnerships could not endure without robust trade, investment and financial collaboration. “Pakistan and Kuwait are brotherly countries bound by decades of strong cultural, political and people-to-people
relations,” PM Shehbaz said, adding that the time had come to further strengthen economic and investment ties so the relationship could “grow from strength to strength”. Congratulating Raqami Islamic Digital Bank on becoming Pakistan’s third licensed digital retail bank, the prime minister expressed confidence that the institution would promote financial inclusion, innovation and Shariahcompliant banking. He said digital Islamic banking would play a crucial role in modernising Pakistan’s financial ecosystem while remaining aligned with Islamic principles. The Kuwaiti ambassador also congratulated the Raqami team, describing the licensing of the digital bank as a practical manifestation of the deeprooted brotherly relations between Pakistan and Kuwait. He said Kuwait’s
SHC disposes of petitions after Sindh withdraws MPO detention orders for PTI workers KARACHI
staff report
The Sindh High Court on Tuesday disposed of more than 100 identical petitions challenging the detention of PTI workers under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance after the provincial government withdrew the detention orders. The additional advocate general informed the court that the MPO notification had been withdrawn and presented the official notification. The court then disposed of the petitions filed against the detentions. Earlier in the day, the SHC had directed the Sindh government to withdraw the MPO orders, observing that if the orders were not revoked, the court would pass directions against the authorities. Defence counsel Barrister Ali Tahir told the court that over 187 families were affected by what he described as illegal detention orders. He alleged that police had raided the homes of party workers and argued that the orders were contrary to earlier SHC rulings and legal principles. Subsequently, the Sindh home department issued a notification dated February 10 withdrawing all detention orders issued under Section 3(1) of the MPO Ordinance, 1960, from February 1 to February 9 with immediate effect. The notification directed the senior superintendents of Central Prison and Correctional Facilities Karachi and District Prison Malir to release all individuals detained under the MPO if they were not required in any other case. “The government of Sindh is pleased to withdraw all detention orders issued by the Home Department, Sindh, under section 3(1) of the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance (MPO), 1960, during the period from Feb 1 to Feb 9, with immediate effect,” the notification read. A day earlier, government sources had indicated that nearly 300 PTI workers would be released after the completion of the documentary process.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will travel to Washington on February 18 to represent Pakistan at the first leaders’ meeting of US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, diplomatic sources told Pakistan Today on Tuesday. The inaugural session, scheduled for February 19 and to be chaired by President Trump, will focus on the situation in Gaza, including efforts to restore peace and stability, sustain a ceasefire, ensure humanitarian access, and outline a roadmap for post-conflict reconstruction. Pakistan has received a formal invitation and is expected to attend, though an official announcement is still pending. Pakistan’s participation aligns with its broader commitment to regional peace and a just resolution to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Islamabad has consistently called for an immedi-
leadership had consistently supported Pakistan and was keen to expand cooperation in trade, investment and financial services. Abdullah Al-Mutari, chairman of Raqami Islamic Digital Bank’s board of directors, thanked the government and the State Bank of Pakistan for their support and presented a commemorative
ate ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian assistance, and a political process guided by international law and UN resolutions. Officials said Pakistan will reaffirm its long-standing support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds AlSharif as its capital. Pakistan formally joined the USled Board of Peace last month at a ceremony in Davos during the World Economic Forum. The initiative, initially focused on Gaza’s reconstruction following the Israel-Hamas conflict, has since expanded to include other conflict-affected regions. The Washington meeting is expected to mobilise funding for Gaza’s reconstruction. More than 20 countries, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, the UAE, Indonesia, Argentina, and Hungary, are members of the board.
memento to the prime minister. Raqami Islamic Digital Bank Chief Executive Officer Umair Ijaz said the bank would offer fully Shariah-compliant digital banking services aimed at improving accessibility, efficiency and customer experience, while supporting Pakistan’s broader financial inclusion agenda.
Power Minister defends solar net metering changes, Senate defers rooftop solar resolution ISLAMABAD
staff report
Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Khan Leghari on Tuesday defended recent regulatory changes to solar net metering, telling the Senate that the proposed measures were regulatory adjustments rather than a departure from Pakistan’s renewable energy policy. He was responding to a resolution moved by Senator Dr Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur, which called for protecting rooftop solar users and aligning proposed regulations with national renewable energy goals. After a debate in the upper house, the resolution was deferred for further consideration. The resolution expressed concern over the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority’s (Nepra) draft Prosumer Regulations, 2025, warning that the proposed framework could discourage public investment in rooftop solar and slow the country’s transition to renewable energy. Addressing the concerns, Leghari said revising electricity regulations fell within Nepra’s legal mandate and did not amount to a policy shift. He stressed that existing net-metering contracts had not been changed retrospectively and would remain valid until their expiry. The minister said Pakistan
PCB chief says talks with ICC, BCB aimed solely at restoring Bangladesh’s ‘respect’ PESHAWAR
staff Correspondent
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Tuesday said his recent engagements with officials of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) were focused entirely on securing “respect for Bangladesh” and highlighting the injustice done to them. Speaking to the media in Peshawar, a day after the government withdrew its decision to boycott Pakistan’s group-stage T20 World Cup match against India scheduled for February 15, Naqvi said no other matters were discussed during the talks. “We did not discuss anything apart from Bangladesh; our only purpose was to get Bangladesh respect and to highlight the injustice done to them,” he said. He added that Bangladesh’s concerns had been addressed. “You saw that whatever demands Bangladesh made were accepted. That’s it,” Naqvi stated, stressing that there was no personal or institutional interest for Pakistan in the discussions. “Our task was purely related to Bangladesh. When their demands were accepted and it was acknowledged that injustice was done to them, we agreed to play.” The controversy stemmed from the government’s February 1 decision to boycott the match against archrivals India after Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland in the tournament, following Dhaka’s refusal to tour India over security concerns amid strained bilateral relations. Pakistan had initially agreed to participate in the T20 World Cup but announced it would skip the India fixture. The ICC responded by stating that selective participation conflicted with the principles of a global sporting event and warned of long-term implications for Pakistan cricket. Back-channel negotiations involving the ICC, PCB and BCB, along with interventions by Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates, followed to avert a crisis and potential financial losses. On Sunday, BCB chief Aminul Islam and ICC Deputy Chair Imran Khawaja met Naqvi in Lahore, while Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also urged Pakistan to play the match during a phone call with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The following day, the government announced the withdrawal of its boycott decision. In a statement, the ICC confirmed that no financial, sporting or administrative penalties would be imposed on the BCB and said Bangladesh would be compensated by hosting an ICC event prior to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2031. Meanwhile, Pakistan skipper Salman Agha said the team would consult the government again if it faced India in the semi-final or final of the tournament.
1,100 Pakistani students return from Afghanistan after border closure, hundreds still awaiting return ISLAMABAD
staff report
currently has more than 34 million electricity consumers, while around 466,000 net-metering users generate nearly 7,000 megawatts through rooftop solar systems. He argued that maintaining higher buyback rates for a relatively small segment of consumers could place an added financial burden on the vast majority who do not have access to rooftop solar. According to Leghari, bringing buyback rates closer to the average cost of electricity generation was essential to ensure equity among consumers. He added that consultations with key stakeholders, including solar associations and business groups, had been held over the past year on the proposed regulatory changes. The power minister also out-
lined broader reforms in the energy sector, including reducing reliance on imported fuels, renegotiating selected independent power producer (IPP) contracts and improving the performance of electricity distribution companies. These measures, he said, were aimed at stabilising tariffs and easing financial pressure on consumers. Reiterating the government’s commitment to clean energy, Leghari said Pakistan had made progress in increasing the share of renewable sources in power generation and remained aligned with its climate and sustainability commitments. Despite divergent views during the debate, the Senate opted to defer the resolution, leaving the issue open for further discussion.
Around 1,100 Pakistani students have returned home from Afghanistan since the closure of the Pakistan– Afghanistan border in October last year, the National Assembly was informed on Tuesday, as the government said nearly 947 students remain in Afghan cities but are not stranded at crossing points. Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary shared the figures while responding to a calling attention notice moved by MNA Anjum Aqeel Khan regarding Pakistani students affected by the prolonged border shutdown. The minister told the House that only 26 students reentered Pakistan through land routes, while the vast majority were repatriated by air after special facilitation arrangements. He emphasised that those still in Afghanistan were continuing their education and were in contact with the Pakistani Embassy in Kabul. He said most of the students were enrolled in medical institutions in Kabul and Jalalabad and were residing in hostels or private accommodation near their campuses. “They are not stuck at border points,” he clarified, adding that the embassy was regularly engaging with them to ensure their safety and to address documentation and visa related issues. Dr Tariq said the border was closed after Islamabad failed to receive credible assurances from Afghan authorities that cross border firing and militant infiltration from Afghan soil would be halted.
Imran Khan’s health ‘fine’, says SC-appointed amicus after Adiala Jail visit ISLAMABAD
staff report
Advocate Salman Safdar on Tuesday said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s health was “fine” after meeting him at Adiala Jail, adding that further details would be shared in a report to be submitted before the Supreme Court. Safdar, who was appointed by the apex court as a friend of the court to assess the PTI founder’s living conditions, spoke briefly to the media following a nearly three-hour meeting with the former prime minister. “It is not appropriate for me to talk until I submit the report. The meeting has taken place and there was full access,” he said. When asked about Imran Khan’s health, he replied, “Fine. The rest you should see in the report.” Earlier in the day, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi had directed that Safdar be treated with due respect and granted unhindered access to Imran Khan.
“It is expected that our friend of the court will be given access to the PTI founder at Adiala Jail with due respect,” the chief justice said, adding that his personal staff officer would assist in case of any difficulty. A two-member bench comprising CJP Afridi and Justice Shahid Bilal Hasan had instructed Safdar to visit Adiala Jail and submit a written report on the PTI founder’s living conditions and facilities, including access to his jail barrack. The court directed that the report be submitted by Wednesday and adjourned the hearing until the day after tomorrow. During the proceedings, Safdar sought clarification on whether the scope of his report was limited to living conditions, informing the court that there were “some concerns” regarding Imran Khan’s health following a physical eye examination. In response, the chief justice directed that the report be submitted in chambers. Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan told the court that a written re-
sponse had already been submitted in chambers in compliance with an August 24, 2023 order, along with medical reports covering August 5 to August 18 of that year, when Imran Khan was incarcerated at Attock Jail. However, the chief justice observed that there was no order on record showing the court’s satisfaction following the submission and said a fresh report was necessary as the PTI founder was now lodged in a different jail. The court rejected senior lawyer Latif Khosa’s request to meet his client and ordered that Safdar be allowed to conduct his visit the same day. A day earlier, the Supreme Court had declined an urgent plea by Imran Khan’s counsel for an immediate meeting, while issuing notice to the government on the matter. Meanwhile, the apex court also directed the formation of a three-member bench to hear appeals against the acquittal of Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case.