ABHI Microfinance Bank has joined EPL Summit 2026 as a Strategic Partner, adding its financial-services expertise to discussions on Pakistan’s evolving digital commerce ecosystem. EPL (Private) Limited will organize the Summit on September 9, 2026, at Mövenpick Hotel in Karachi. The event will take place under the theme “Re-Engineering Digital Commerce.” The Summit aims to connect leaders and decision-makers from government, technology, banking, e-commerce, payments and logistics. They will examine the infrastructure and collaboration needed to support the next phase of Pakistan’s digital economy. ABHI to Focus on Payments and Financial Inclusion As Strategic Partner, ABHI Microfinance Bank will contribute to discussions on digital payments, financial inclusion and technology-enabled banking. It will also highlight the need to expand access to formal financial services. Kabeer Naqvi, Entrepreneur in Residence at ABHI Group, said different parts of the digital economy must advance together. “Pakistan’s digital commerce ecosystem cannot grow in isolation. Payments, financial access, technology, trust and infrastructure all need to move together. EPL Summit creates an important platform to bring these conversations together, and ABHI is pleased to be part of it.” Read More: Abhi Bank to Sell 14% Stake in Major Pakistan IPO The partnership comes as Pakistan records rapid growth in digital transactions. According to the State Bank of Pakistan, the country processed 9.1 billion retail payment transactions worth Rs612 trillion during fiscal year 2024-25. Digital channels accounted for 88 percent of retail transaction volume. This growth has increased the need for secure payment systems, wider merchant acceptance and stronger consumer protection. It has also placed greater focus on financial inclusion for underserved communities and small businesses. Government and Technology Bodies Support Summit Several public and industry organizations are supporting EPL Summit 2026. They include the Pakistan Software Export Board, Tech Destination Pakistan and NADRA Technologies Limited. The National Information Technology Board and Pakistan Single Window are also supporting the event. The Pakistan Software Houses Association for IT and ITeS, known as P@SHA, is another supporting organization. The Summit’s agenda covers e-commerce growth, digital payments, financial inclusion and merchant trust. Speakers will also discuss regulation, cybersecurity, logistics and cross-border commerce. Other sessions will examine the growing role of artificial intelligence, consumer data and predictive technologies in digital commerce. The official agenda also includes discussions on cash-on-delivery, online fraud, returns abuse and women’s participation in digital commerce. ABHI Expands Technology-Enabled Banking Founded in Pakistan in 2021, ABHI initially focused on improving financial access through technology. It pioneered Earned Wage Access in Pakistan and later expanded into embedded finance, payments and business financing. ABHI Group has since developed into a broader financial-services platform. It combines its fintech capabilities with ABHI Microfinance Bank to serve individuals, employees and businesses in Pakistan and other markets. Read More: Pakistan Banking Awards 2026: Meezan Bank Wins Top Honour The bank offers lending, savings and digital financial services. Its physical network includes more than 110 branches across over 100 Pakistani cities, according to its official website. EPL, meanwhile, operates across fintech, cybersecurity, edtech and technology-enabled services. Through EPL Summit 2026, the company aims to encourage collaboration and innovation across Pakistan’s digital-commerce ecosystem.
Pakistan Railways Brings Back Another Train After Years
Pakistan Railways has restored the Sandal Express between Sargodha and Multan after an eight-year suspension, reviving an important passenger link through Jhang and other central Punjab districts. The service resumed on August 21, with ceremonies held at Jhang and Sargodha railway stations. Large crowds gathered to welcome the train, which had remained off the tracks for years. Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi said the return of the Sandal Express reflected the government’s commitment to public service. He said the revival of suspended trains forms part of a wider plan to improve connectivity and provide better travel facilities. Sandal Express Returns on Multan-Sargodha Route The Sandal Express operates as 139 Up and 140 Down between Multan and Sargodha. The route passes through Khanewal, Shorkot, Jhang Saddar and Shahinabad. Under the new timetable, 139 Up leaves Multan at 6:30am and reaches Sargodha at 1:20pm. The 140 Down service departs Sargodha at 3:35pm and arrives at Multan Cantt at 10:25pm. Pakistan Railways has assigned nine economy-class coaches and one power van to the service. The restored train gives passengers another lower-cost option between the two cities and serves communities along the route. Students, employees, businesspeople and other regular travellers are expected to benefit, particularly those who depend on affordable public transport. Abbasi said, “The government is taking practical steps to improve and modernize the railway system in the country.” He also said the government remained focused on providing better travel facilities to the public. Jhang Railway Station Gets Upgrade Abbasi also inaugurated the upgraded Jhang Railway Station during the restoration ceremony. Dr Mohazam Waheed Sheikh, administrator of Red Crescent Hospital Jhang and a businessman, funded the station upgrade as a contribution toward improving public facilities in the city. The restoration drew a strong response from local residents. Citizens gathered at Jhang and Sargodha railway stations as the train returned to service. Residents have also called on Pakistan Railways to maintain punctual operations and ensure proper passenger facilities so the revived service remains dependable. More Suspended Trains Returning The Sandal Express revival comes one day after Pakistan Railways restored the historic Babu Passenger between Lahore and Lala Musa. That service had remained suspended for about six years following the Covid-19 pandemic. Earlier this month, Abbasi said both trains were returning in response to persistent public demand. He also announced plans to restore additional services during 2026. The government is separately pursuing upgrades to railway infrastructure in Punjab. The Shorkot-Jhang-Sargodha branch line is among more than 1,400 kilometres of track identified for rehabilitation and modernization. Abbasi has also announced that a Chinese-imported train will operate on the Shorkot-Jhang-Sargodha route in the future. The Sandal Express now restores a direct and economical rail connection for passengers travelling between Multan, Jhang and Sargodha after years without the service.
Pakistan Suffer Historic Test Humiliation Against England
Pakistan’s Test campaign in England began with a damaging setback as the tourists suffered an innings and 103-run defeat at Headingley, setting several unwanted records in the process. England wrapped up the first Test inside three days to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Pakistan arrived in England after drawing their two-Test series in the West Indies 1-1, but their batting struggled badly against the home pace attack. England Dominate After Pakistan Collapse Pakistan’s first innings lasted only 48.1 overs. Ollie Robinson claimed 5-51 and Josh Tongue took 5-46 as the visitors were dismissed for 171. Abdullah Shafique top-scored with 61, while Imam-ul-Haq made 42. England then took firm control by scoring 409, giving themselves a first-innings lead of 238 runs. Read More: Which Teams Will Play Cricket at LA28? ICC Reveals the Full Plan England’s batting depth proved decisive. Harry Brook struck 91, Jordan Cox made 72, Joe Root scored 66 and Dan Lawrence added 51. Pakistan left-arm spinner Ali Usman provided one of the few bright moments with 5-92. Khurram Shahzad added three wickets, but England still built a commanding advantage. Pakistan’s 135 Joins Unwanted Batting List Pakistan needed 238 runs simply to make England bat again. Instead, their second innings collapsed for 135 in only 37.3 overs. Mohammad Rizwan offered the strongest resistance with 41, while Shan Masood scored 29. Robinson, Tongue and Jofra Archer took three wickets each. The 135 became Pakistan’s sixth-lowest Test total in England since 2000. Their five lower scores during that period were 72 at Edgbaston in 2010, 74 at Lord’s in 2010, 80 at Trent Bridge in 2010, 119 at Old Trafford in 2006 and 134 at Headingley in 2018. The latest collapse also left Pakistan with back-to-back innings defeats at Headingley, following their innings-and-55-run loss there in 2018. England’s pace bowlers claimed all 20 Pakistan wickets across the match, underlining the scale of the batting failure. Defeat Ranks Among England’s Biggest Against Pakistan The margin of defeat added another unwanted mark. England’s innings-and-103-run victory became their sixth-biggest innings win over Pakistan. England’s larger innings victories came by 225 runs at Lord’s in 2010, 129 at Trent Bridge in 1954, 120 at Old Trafford in 2006, 120 at Lord’s in 1978 and 117 at Headingley in 1962. The Headingley defeat was also Pakistan’s heaviest innings loss to England since the 2010 Lord’s Test. Read More: Bangladesh Stun Australia to Register First Test Win Down Under Stand-in captain Salman Ali Agha accepted that Pakistan had been second best. “England have outplayed us and it is fair to say. We have made many mistakes.” He also called for a response before the second Test, saying, “We need to eradicate mistakes and come back stronger.” Pakistan will now turn their attention to Lord’s, where the second Test begins on August 27. The defeat also pushed Pakistan to the bottom of the ICC World Test Championship standings with a points percentage of 19.05.
US Court Blocks Visa Policy Affecting Pakistan and 74 Countries
A US federal judge has struck down a Trump administration policy that suspended immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries, including Pakistan. US District Judge Jeannette Vargas in Manhattan ruled on Friday that the State Department policy exceeded Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s legal authority. She called the policy “patently unlawful” and said it violated federal immigration law. The decision targets a State Department suspension that took effect on January 21, 2026. The measure had blocked immigrant visa issuance for Pakistanis and nationals of 74 other countries. Importantly, the policy concerned immigrant visas. It was separate from restrictions covering some non-immigrant visa categories. Judge Rejects Nationality-Based Visa Freeze Vargas said federal law limits the secretary of state’s authority over how consular officers process individual immigrant visa applications. “The Policy, which categorically prohibits the issuance of immigrant visas based upon the nationality of the applicant, represents a direct abrogation of this statutory scheme,” she wrote. The court also set aside visa denials based solely on the 75-country policy. This clears the way for affected applications to return to individual assessment under existing immigration law. Read More: Visa and Mastercard May Face New Challenge From PayPak The State Department introduced the suspension as part of a review of screening and vetting policies. It said nationals of the selected countries were “at a high risk for becoming a public charge and recourse to local, state and federal government resources in the United States.” The department had not immediately commented on Friday’s ruling. Pakistan Among 75 Countries Affected Pakistan appeared on the State Department’s official list alongside Bangladesh and several other Asian countries. The suspension also covered Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay in Latin America. Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina were among the affected Balkan states. Many countries across Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean also appeared on the list. Read More: New US Visa Bond Targets 50 Countries: Is Pakistan on the List? The policy created uncertainty for people seeking permanent residence through family and employment-based immigration routes. Vargas, who former President Joe Biden appointed to the federal bench, issued the decision in a lawsuit challenging the suspension. Catholic Legal Immigration Network and African Communities Together brought the case with affected applicants. US citizens sponsoring relatives from designated countries also joined the legal challenge. Ruling Comes Amid Wider Immigration Crackdown The visa suspension formed part of President Donald Trump’s wider immigration crackdown. Trump has defended tougher immigration controls as necessary to improve domestic security and protect US resources. Read More: Italian Embassy Shares Key Update for Pakistan Visa Applicants Immigrant rights organisations have challenged several administration measures in court. They argue that parts of the crackdown violate free speech and due process protections. Rights groups have also raised concerns about racial profiling and the impact of tougher enforcement on ethnic minority communities. For Pakistani applicants, the ruling removes the blanket nationality-based suspension at issue in this case. Applicants will still need to meet normal US immigration requirements and any other applicable restrictions before receiving an immigrant visa.
Pakistan Banking Awards 2026: Meezan Bank Wins Top Honour
SBP Governor Jameel Ahmad has urged banks to reshape their business models by mobilising more retail deposits and expanding private-sector financing. Speaking at the 11th Pakistan Banking Awards 2026 in Karachi, Ahmad said banks have a critical role in supporting Pakistan’s next phase of sustainable economic growth. He said the economy remained resilient through a difficult FY26. The year brought severe floods, geopolitical tensions and uncertainty in global trade. Economy Stabilises but Growth Challenge Remains The governor said inflation averaged close to the medium-term target range, while inflation expectations stayed broadly anchored. The current account deficit also remained near the lower end of the projected range. Foreign exchange reserves exceeded the end-June target of $18 billion. Ahmad said SBP’s foreign exchange purchases, rather than debt, drove much of the accumulation. SBP reserves later stood at $17.08 billion on August 13 after subsequent movements. Read More: HugoBank Gets SBP Approval to Begin Pilot Operations “Policymakers had achieved the difficult task of stabilising the economy. However, stabilisation alone was not sufficient to put Pakistan on a path of high and sustainable growth. The banking sector has a particularly important role to play in this next phase.” Ahmad said Pakistan’s banks remained financially resilient. Total banking-sector assets reached Rs69 trillion at end-June 2026, while deposits stood at Rs43 trillion. Profitability remained strong. Banks’ Capital Adequacy Ratio also stayed comfortably above international benchmarks and domestic regulatory requirements. Banks Urged to Increase Private-Sector Credit Despite strong growth, banking assets and deposits remain low relative to GDP compared with other emerging markets. Pakistan also continues to have a high currency-to-deposit ratio. Ahmad said banks have room to reduce reliance on cash and strengthen their deposit base. He encouraged banks to compete harder for retail deposits through attractive returns and better services. A stronger retail deposit culture could expand financial inclusion while giving banks a more diversified and stable funding base. The governor also raised concern over weak private-sector credit penetration. He said the private-sector credit-to-GDP ratio had declined significantly over the past three decades. Read More: SBP Introduces Rs.1 Per Litre Incentive for Digital Fuel Payments “The government’s budgetary financing needs were not the only explanation for this trend [low private sector credit], as several emerging economies with higher government domestic debt have significantly higher private-sector credit-to-GDP ratios,” he said. Ahmad urged banks to mobilise higher deposits and provide more financing to businesses and the private sector. The ceremony was organised by NIBAF Pakistan in collaboration with Dawn Media Group and A. F. Ferguson & Co. The awards marked their 11th year of recognising excellence in Pakistan’s banking industry. Pakistan Banking Awards 2026 Winners Best Bank: Meezan Bank Limited Best Bank for Women Inclusion: Bank of Punjab Best Microfinance Bank: ASA Microfinance Bank Limited Best Bank for Small and Medium Enterprises: Bank of Punjab Best Bank for Agriculture Inclusion: Bank of Punjab Best Bank for Digital Excellence: Bank Alfalah Limited Best Bank for Customer Engagement: Meezan Bank Limited Best Mid-Sized Bank: Askari Bank Limited and Faysal Bank Limited Best Bank for ESG: HBL Best Contribution by Non-Bank Entity: Pakistan Microfinance Investment Company Limited
