Viewers bedazzled on second consecutive day of virtual fashion show amid pandemic

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Alisha Malik for Sania Maskatiya for episode 2 of Catwalk Cares. 6th June, 2020. (Photo courtesy: Catwalk)
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Updated 06 June 2020
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Viewers bedazzled on second consecutive day of virtual fashion show amid pandemic

  • Catwalk Events put together “Catwalk Cares,” a virtual fashion show where participating designers made significant contributions to virus front-liners
  • Industry’s top models walked designer wares from the safety of their own homes

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s first ever virtual fashion show “Catwalk Cares,” the brainchild of Catwalk Event’s CEO Frieha Altaf, had its premiere Friday night.
The three-night affair is being released on Catwalk’s digital platforms as well as their partner GEO Entertainment’s YouTube channel and played on the TV channel later in the evenings.
Industry’s top models walked designer wares from the safety of their own homes, keeping in mind social distancing, as Pakistan continues to grapple with COVID-19.
Catwalk compiled their hallway struts with interviews of the models and the designers for a three-episode online fashion event. Each interview, where precedes the collection, focused on thanking the virus frontline workers and acknowledging the tough time that Pakistan and the fashion industry was passing through.
Day one’s line-up included designs from Khaadi, Maheen Kareem, Amir Adnan, Huma Adnan, Nida Azwer and Shamaeel Ansari. Day two and three are expected to feature collections from Generation, Nomi Ansari, Sania Maskatiya, Elan, and Hussain Rehar.
The country’s fashion industry has taken a hit since the spread of COVID-19, closing stores, pausing production and cancelation fashion weeks of which Pakistan has two seasons of each year taking place in Karachi and Lahore respectively.
The fashion show crafted by Altaf is meant to serve two purposes; the first to raise funds and pay tribute to COVID-19 frontliners like doctors and health care workers which the participating designers have done in the form of donations of ration bags, PPE, and even outfits from the collections that will be shown during the show. The second is for boosting the fashion industry itself hoping that the virtual event will lead to online promotion and ultimately online sales.
The show was initially slated to premiere in late May but was postponed following the crash of the Pakistani passenger plane in which a member of the fashion fraternity who was meant to be in the show, model Zara Abid, lost her life.
Catwalk Cares’ days two and three will be released on Saturday June 6th and Sunday June 7th online at 7:00 p.m. local time and later on Geo Entertainment at 9:00 pm.

Episode one of Catwalk Cares:


IMF, Pakistan deny lender rejected crypto mining power subsidy plan

Updated 7 sec ago
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IMF, Pakistan deny lender rejected crypto mining power subsidy plan

  • Reports citing a Power Division official earlier suggested the IMF had rejected Pakistan’s plan for subsidized power tariffs for crypto mining
  • IMF representative says both sides still in talks, global lender reiterated importance of maintaining a level playing field for all participants

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Power Division and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday denied the global lender had rejected the Pakistani government’s plan to subsidize electricity for cryptocurrency mining and artificial intelligence (AI) data centers in the South Asian country.
The development comes days after reports suggested the Power Division secretary had informed a Senate committee that the IMF had rejected Pakistan’s proposal to offer subsidized tariffs for crypto mining and to certain industrial sectors, warning that such measures could further strain the already burdened power sector.
Pakistan’s finance ministry announced in May this year that the government had allocated 2,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity in the first phase of a national initiative to power Bitcoin mining and AI data centers, aiming to transform the country into a global leader in digital innovation.
Speaking to Arab News, Zafar Yab Khan, a spokesperson for the Power Division, clarified that Power Division Secretary Dr. Fakhray Alam Irfan had not made any such comments about the global lender rejecting Pakistan’s proposal.
“He (Alam) categorically said that ‘we are still in negotiations with the IMF and discussing with them pros and cons of this initiative and hopeful to reach a solution during these negotiations’,” Khan told Arab News.
When asked if the IMF had rejected the proposal, Mahir Binici, the IMF resident representative in Pakistan, the two sides were still in talks and would remain engaged on the matter of providing surplus power for crypto mining and artificial intelligence sectors.
“IMF staff has held informational discussions at a technical level with the authorities to learn more about their plans related to developing the IT sector,” he told Arab News.
“Staff reiterated the importance of maintaining a level playing field for all private sector participants and will continue to engage with the authorities on this as appropriate as plans develop further.”
Khan, the Power Division spokesperson, said Pakistan had surplus electricity to power crypto mining.
“We can confirm that this surplus electricity is available and can be allocated for crypto mining and other IT initiatives,” he said.
Pakistan’s bitcoin mining initiative is spearheaded by the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC), a government-backed body under the Ministry of Finance, that was established in March to create a legal framework for cryptocurrency trading to lure international investment.
In April, Pakistan introduced its first-ever policy framework to set rules for how digital money like cryptocurrencies and the companies that deal in it should operate in Pakistan while in May, Islamabad also unveiled the country’s first government-led strategic bitcoin reserve at the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas.
Pakistan is uniquely positioned, both geographically and economically, to become a global hub for data centers, and offers the most strategic location in the world for data flow and digital infrastructure as a bridge between Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, according to officials.
The country’s combination of surplus power, geographic advantage, advanced subsea cable connectivity, renewable energy potential, and a large, digitally engaged population creates a compelling case for becoming a regional epicenter of Web3, AI, and digital innovation.
The office of special assistant to the prime minister on blockchain and crypto, Bilal bin Saqib, has said that strategic partnerships are being forged to ensure that energy-intensive blockchain infrastructure is both sustainable and revenue-generating.
“Further advancing this momentum, the government announced the allocation of 2,000 megawatts of surplus electricity for Bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, leveraging Pakistan’s untapped energy potential to power the future of digital finance and computation,” it said.


Pakistan’s leading Islamic bank, top mobile wallet team up to boost digital remittances

Updated 31 min 3 sec ago
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Pakistan’s leading Islamic bank, top mobile wallet team up to boost digital remittances

  • International transfers to be routed directly into JazzCash wallets under Dubai Islamic Bank tie-up
  • Partnership targets financial access for freelancers amid growth of Shariah-compliant digital banking

KARACHI: Dubai Islamic Bank Pakistan (DIBPL) and JazzCash, Pakistan’s largest mobile wallet provider, have partnered to streamline inward remittances and expand digital payment solutions for the country’s growing freelance economy, the two companies said in a joint statement on Tuesday.

Under a Memorandum of Understanding signed in Karachi, DIBPL and JazzCash will enable international home remittances to be deposited directly into JazzCash mobile wallets through DIBPL’s global network. The collaboration will also focus on developing customized financial products for freelancers in Pakistan.

“This partnership with JazzCash is motivated by our commitment to deliver inclusive and innovative financial solutions,” Muhammad Ali Gulfaraz, CEO of DIBPL, said in a statement. 

“By combining our international and domestic scale with JazzCash’s extensive last-mile digital reach to millions of recipients, we aim to make remittances and digital transactions more accessible, secure, and aligned with the needs of a diverse customer base.”

JazzCash, a subsidiary of Jazz and a key player in Pakistan’s digital payments sector, has over 48 million registered users, according to Mobilink Microfinance Bank. It already serves over 25 percent of the country’s 2.3 million freelancers, according to company estimates.

“With over a quarter of Pakistan’s freelancers already relying on JazzCash for their payments, this partnership with DIBPL allows us to deepen our impact and build tailored solutions for a rapidly growing segment of the digital economy,” said Murtaza Ali, President of JazzCash. 

“Together, we are enabling more seamless cross-border transactions, particularly for freelancers who need fast, secure, and Shariah-compliant access to global payments.”

Pakistan’s Islamic banking sector has expanded rapidly over the past decade, now accounting for nearly 20 percent of the country’s banking assets, according to the State Bank of Pakistan. The combination of Shariah-compliant banking and mobile financial services has created new avenues for financial inclusion, particularly among unbanked populations.

The country also ranks among the top five recipients of remittances in South Asia, with overseas Pakistanis sending home over $27 billion annually. However, informal channels and limited access to formal banking continue to hinder financial inclusion.

With an increasing number of Pakistanis working as freelancers and remote workers for global clients, especially in IT, digital marketing and content creation, there is growing demand for reliable, fast, and regulatory-compliant payment solutions. 

Partnerships like the one announced Tuesday aim to address these gaps by integrating formal financial services with digital platforms, the firms said, adding that the collaboration reflects their commitment to advancing Pakistan’s digital economy while remaining within a Shariah-compliant and regulatory-compliant framework.


Injured Rauf and Shadab to miss Pakistan’s T20 series in Bangladesh

Updated 34 min 32 sec ago
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Injured Rauf and Shadab to miss Pakistan’s T20 series in Bangladesh

  • Haris Rauf injured a hamstring in Major League Cricket in the United States last week
  • Uncapped fast bowlers Ahmed Danial and Salman Mirza were picked in a 15-man squad

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf and allrounder Shadab Khan were injured and will miss the Twenty20 series in Bangladesh this month.

Rauf injured a hamstring in Major League Cricket in the United States last week, and Shadab recently underwent shoulder surgery.

Uncapped fast bowlers Ahmed Danial and Salman Mirza were picked in a 15-man squad on Tuesday to supplement Abbas Afridi and fast bowling allrounder Faheem Ashraf.

Left-arm spinner Sufiyan Muqeem was also recalled after he was overlooked for the last home series against Bangladesh.

Spin allrounder Mohammad Nawaz has also made his way back into the national squad since last appearing in January 2024 against New Zealand, after impressive performance in the Pakistan Super League.

The three-match T20 series will be played in Mirpur from July 20-24.

Pakistan: Salman Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Sufiyan Muqeem.
 


Turkish foreign, defense ministers to visit Pakistan Wednesday

Updated 08 July 2025
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Turkish foreign, defense ministers to visit Pakistan Wednesday

  • Visit aims to deepen bilateral cooperation and boost defense industry ties, Turkish source says
  • Foreign Minister Fidan to offer support for regional peace and express solidarity with Pakistan

ANKARA: Turkiye’s foreign and defense ministers will visit Pakistan on Wednesday for talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss bilateral ties, regional issues, and defense industry cooperation, a Turkish diplomatic source said on Tuesday.

Turkiye has strong ties with Pakistan and expressed solidarity with it during its military conflict with India in May, angering India.

During the visit, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will express Turkiye’s desire to deepen ties in every field and offer Ankara’s support in taking steps toward regional peace, the source said.

Fidan will stress the countries “need to strengthen their cooperation in the defense industry,” the source said.

Ankara also has cordial ties with India, but after its support for Pakistan, small Indian grocery shops and major online fashion retailers boycotted Turkish products, while New Delhi also canceled Turkiye-based aviation service provider Celebi clearance over “national security” reasons.


Pakistan to deploy AI, global experts in push to modernize agriculture

Updated 08 July 2025
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Pakistan to deploy AI, global experts in push to modernize agriculture

  • PM orders reform plan to increase yields, exports and climate resilience
  • Sector contributes 23% to GDP but lags behind in technology and output

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed authorities to harness artificial intelligence and international expertise to overhaul Pakistan’s struggling agriculture sector, which employs more than a third of the national labor force but suffers from declining productivity and growing climate stress.

Pakistan’s agriculture sector, despite accounting for nearly 23 percent of GDP and employing around 37 percent of the workforce, continues to face low yields, water inefficiency, outdated farming practices and limited mechanization.

“To ensure effective use of artificial intelligence and modern technology in agriculture, benefit should be taken from the services of internationally renowned experts,” Sharif said while chairing a high-level review meeting in Islamabad on Monday, according to an official statement.

Pakistan’s agriculture sector faces a host of structural challenges that artificial intelligence and modern technology could help address. These include low per-acre yields due to outdated farming techniques, inefficient water use, erratic weather patterns worsened by climate change and limited access to quality seeds and real-time crop data. 

Farmers often lack timely information on pests, soil health and weather forecasts, leading to avoidable losses. AI-powered tools, such as satellite imaging, predictive analytics, and precision irrigation systems, can optimize resource use, improve forecasting, and boost productivity — critical for a sector that lags behind regional benchmarks in output and resilience.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Sharif called for a “comprehensive short- and long-term action plan” to modernize farming through advanced machinery, quality seed, crop zoning and easy loans for farmers.

The PM said revitalizing agriculture would require activating state research centers and bringing in private sector support to drive innovation.

“Modern research must be ensured in agricultural research centers through public-private partnership,” he said, directing officials to improve per-acre crop yields and promote the value-added processing of farm goods for export.

With the country among the most climate-vulnerable in the world, the prime minister also ordered the adoption of “climate-resistant seeds and modern farming methods” to protect food security. He said farmers should be supported in adapting to changing conditions, especially in flood-hit provinces like Sindh and Balochistan.

He instructed that new cotton farming zones be mapped in consultation with provincial governments, keeping in view changing rainfall and temperature patterns.

“After detailed consultation with the provincial government, comprehensive planning should be done for cotton farming in new suitable areas, especially in Sindh and Balochistan,” Sharif said.

In a move aimed at diversifying Pakistan’s energy sources, the prime minister also called for research into biofuel production using agricultural inputs.

“Research and planning should be done to include biofuels in the country’s energy mix,” he said.

Sharif directed that farmers and key stakeholders be brought into the policy process and coordination with provincial governments be strengthened for the effective rollout of reforms.