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Visa Inc. joins hands with Pakistani fintech for seamless money movement in UAE

Visa Inc. joins hands with Pakistani fintech for seamless money movement in UAE
The picture shared on September 27, 2023, shows Omair Ansari (left), CEO and co-founder of ABHI, a Pakistani fintech, and Shahebaz Khan, Senior Vice President at Visa, as they announce partnership to introduce account-to-account payments in the United Arab Emirates. (Photo courtesy: Abhi)
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Updated 27 September 2023
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Visa Inc. joins hands with Pakistani fintech for seamless money movement in UAE

Visa Inc. joins hands with Pakistani fintech for seamless money movement in UAE
  • The collaboration is expected to promote financial inclusion and accelerate adoption of new payment solutions
  • Study shows nearly 70 percent consumers in the Gulf state are turning to digital apps for international fund transfers
Updated 27 September 2023
KHURSHID AHMED   
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KARACHI: The world’s leading multinational payment card services provider, Visa Inc., on Wednesday announced its partnership with a Pakistani fintech, ABHI, along with YellowPepper to introduce account-to-account payments in the United Arab Emirates.

According to a handout circulated by Visa, the collaboration aims to revolutionize the financial landscape by driving innovation, promoting financial inclusion, and accelerating the adoption of new payment solutions in the Commercial and Money Movement Solutions (CEMEA) region.

“People increasingly want faster and more flexible access to their wages,” Shahebaz Khan, the company’s senior vice president and head of CEMEA, said in a statement.

Visa mentioned its own UAE study, “Money Travels: 2023 Digital Remittances Adoption,” which revealed that about 70 percent of surveyed consumers in the Gulf country were turning to digital apps to send and receive funds internationally, as comparison to 53 percent of consumers globally.

It said that the partnership with the two companies would help provide a cutting-edge payment experience, by facilitating an immediate, reliable and cost-effective way for customers to send and receive money.

“As we embark on this journey with Visa, we at ABHI are not just making a technological leap, but a leap toward greater financial inclusion and a sustainable digital economy,” Omair Ansari, ABHI’s co-founder and CEO, said. “By harnessing Visa Direct’s technology, we are democratizing financial services, making transactions seamless, real-time, and secure for everyone in the UAE. This is not just an upgrade in the digital payments’ ecosystem, it’s a step toward financial empowerment for all.”

YellowPepper also maintained the collaboration aimed at expediting the implementation of digital payments solutions in the region.

“Through this partnership, we are dedicated to providing a seamless and robust digital experience that prioritizes security, speed and above all, convenience, to consumers in the UAE,” Nat Scheer, the regional head for CEMEA at YellowPepper, said.

The statement issued by Visa Inc. maintained that Karachi-based ABHI was united with it by its vision to bridge the gap between the financially underserved population and mainstream financial services while advancing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles.

As ABHI and Visa forge ahead with their collaborative efforts and commitment to innovation, the Pakistani fintech is set to unveil an upcoming initiative called “Send Now Pay Later.” The service will empower individuals to seamlessly send money across borders using their earned wages, creating new possibilities for financial empowerment and cross-border connectivity.

With the increasing prevalence of mobile and digital payments in the UAE, Visa also said it was committed to ensuring that all transactions were convenient, accessible, and secure, regardless of the device used for payment.
 

Topics: Pakistan UAE ties

Religious group calls off protests after Pakistan top court agrees to amend blasphemy ruling

Religious group calls off protests after Pakistan top court agrees to amend blasphemy ruling
Updated 9 sec ago
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Religious group calls off protests after Pakistan top court agrees to amend blasphemy ruling

Religious group calls off protests after Pakistan top court agrees to amend blasphemy ruling
  • Right-wing groups have been calling on Supreme Court to omit parts of ruling in which it granted bail to a blasphemy suspect
  • Blasphemy is a sensitive topic in Pakistan where mere accusations of the offense have resulted in public lynchings and mob justice 
Updated 9 sec ago
NAIMAT KHAN & SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's top court on Thursday agreed to remove parts of a verdict in a blasphemy case that were challenged by religious parties and scholars and over which nationwide protests have been held in recent months, with a religious political party calling off a planned strike in Islamabad.
 
The controversy began on Feb. 26 when a Supreme Court bench of which Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa was a part overturned the conviction of Mubarak Sani, a member of the minority Ahmadi community who was charged with blasphemy in 2019 for distributing Islamic literature. The top court said the charges against Sani had not been criminalized till 2021, and ordered his release. In a second verdict following a plea by the Punjab government, the Supreme Court on July 24 said its February ruling had not deviated in any way from past decisions of the Federal Shariat Court and the Supreme Court in approving the bail of Sani.

Infuriated supporters of religious parties, mainly the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), subsequently held protests nationwide, accusing Isa of committing blasphemy and calling for a review of his ruling. The Punjab government challenged the Supreme Court's order, saying paragraph 9, among other parts of the ruling, needed to be modified as the rights of citizens were not absolute and instead subject to law, public order, and morality.

“After hearing detailed arguments … the court will review its ruling of February 6, 2024 and its verdict of July 24, 2024,” the Supreme Court said in a short order, saying it would omit certain paragraphs following recommendations by scholars and the Council of Islamic Ideology, which advises the government on the compatibility of laws with Islam.

The court also said the expunged paragraphs could not “be cited as precedent” in any future verdict, advising the trial court hearing Sani’s case to review the charges imposed against him in the light of the law.

Independent observers and analysts widely see the court’s ruling as coming out of pressure from right-wing groups who have in the past blocked major highways, held violent protests and brought entire cities, including the capital, to a standstill over cases involving blasphemy. 

Blasphemy is a sensitive topic in Muslim-majority Pakistan where mere accusations of the offense have resulted in public lynchings and mob justice. Pakistanis are particularly sensitive about offenses committed by Ahmadis, whom they consider heretics.

Human rights groups say the country's blasphemy laws are often misused to settle personal scores. 

Following the court’s order, the TLP and other religious groups who had announced a strike in Islamabad on Thursday called on supporters to return home.

The court’s order eased tensions in the Pakistani capital, which had been on high alert all day, with heavy deployment of police and the administration putting up shipping containers to block roads leading toward government buildings in Islamabad as well as on entry and exit points into the city ahead of the Supreme Court hearing. 

The security arrangements were made to preempt fresh protests following this Monday, when angry demonstrators from right-wing groups clashed with police after barging into Islamabad’s Red Zone - home to sensitive government buildings such as the Presidency, Prime Minister House, Parliament and the Supreme Court - and tried to storm the building of the top court, demanding CJ Isa step down. 

Former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party had also planned a rally in Islamabad today, Thursday, which was postponed after the Islamabad administration revoked permission, citing security threats and a lack of resources available with security forces. 

The PTI has announced its rally will now be held on Sept. 8. 

Topics: Anti blasphemy protest Pakistan blasphemy

Pakistan naval ship Hunain visits Jeddah, conducts bilateral exercise with Saudi frigate 

Pakistan naval ship Hunain visits Jeddah, conducts bilateral exercise with Saudi frigate 
Updated 42 min 46 sec ago
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Pakistan naval ship Hunain visits Jeddah, conducts bilateral exercise with Saudi frigate 

Pakistan naval ship Hunain visits Jeddah, conducts bilateral exercise with Saudi frigate 
  • PNS Hunain conducts Passage Exercise with Al-Riyadh frigate of Royal Saudi Naval Forces, says navy 
  • Bilateral exercise provided opportunity for both countries to strengthen ties, defense cooperation 
Updated 42 min 46 sec ago
Kashaf Rehman

ISLAMABAD: The newly commissioned Pakistan Navy warship Hunain visited Jeddah to take part in a bilateral exercise with the Al-Riyadh frigate of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF), the navy’s media wing said. 
PNS Hunain was received by senior officials of the RSNF and the Pakistan Embassy after arriving at the Jeddah port, Pakistan Navy’s media wing said. 
During his stay at the port, PNS Hunain’s commanding officer met RSNF Navy Western Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Mansoor Bin Saood Al Jayyad, and Commander King Faisal Naval Base Rear Admiral Saleh Bin Abdullah Al-Amri. 
Both discussed matters of mutual interest and bilateral cooperation between the two navies, the Director-General Public Relations (Navy) said. 

“Later, PNS HUNAIN conducted a Passage Exercise with HMS AL RIYADH of RSNF and rehearsed various Joint Maritime Drills and Operations,” the navy’s media wing said. 

“The aim of exercise was to provide an opportunity to enhance interoperability between the navies.” 

The ship’s visit to Jeddah and its taking part in the exercise provided it the opportunity to strengthen existing brotherly relations and defense collaboration between the two countries, the navy said. 

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy strong defense ties and bilateral security cooperation. The two nations regularly engage in joint air, ground, and sea military exercises, while several cadets from the Kingdom, along with counterparts from other Middle Eastern nations, annually visit Pakistan to undergo specialized military training.

Apart from defense and security ties, Pakistan enjoys strong economic and trade relations with Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom is home to over two million Pakistani expatriates, serving as the top source of remittances for the cash-strapped country.

Topics: Pakistan Saudi Arabia ties

Pakistan’s army chief warns of ‘perils of fake news’ in meeting with Harvard students

Pakistan’s army chief warns of ‘perils of fake news’ in meeting with Harvard students
Updated 22 August 2024
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Pakistan’s army chief warns of ‘perils of fake news’ in meeting with Harvard students

Pakistan’s army chief warns of ‘perils of fake news’ in meeting with Harvard students
  • Pakistan army chief discusses regional peace, stability and country’s efforts against militancy, says military’s media wing
  • Rights activists accuse Pakistani authorities of censoring digital media, including a move to install firewall to monitor online content
Updated 22 August 2024
Arab News Pakistan

Pakistan Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir met a delegation of Harvard Business School (HBS) students on Thursday to discuss militancy and Pakistan’s efforts in battling it, warning them against the “perils of misinformation and fake news” in today’s digital age, the military’s media wing said. 

Pakistan’s powerful army has toughened its stance against criticism on digital media, with its military spokesperson this month accusing “digital terrorists” of attempting to politicize its efforts against militancy. The term was a veiled reference to the party of former prime minister Imran Khan, whose leaders and supporters have attacked the military on digital media platforms since Khan’s ouster from office in a parliamentary vote in April 2022. 

Digital rights activists this month also spoke out against the government’s move to install a firewall that would allow it to monitor malicious content on social media, protect government networks from attacks, and allow authorities to identify IP addresses associated with what it calls “anti-state propaganda.” Rights activists have also criticized the government for its ban on social media platform X since February, which authorities say they imposed due to “national security” reasons. 

Munir met a delegation of 44 students of the HBS from nine countries at the army headquarters in Rawalpindi, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. It said discussions revolved around regional peace and stability, and Pakistan’s efforts to battle militancy. 

“The COAS also cautioned against the perils of misinformation and fake news in the digital age, urging the students to navigate this landscape with discernment,” the military’s media wing said. 

The army chief stressed the significance of education, critical thinking, and innovation in addressing contemporary security challenges during his interaction with the students, the ISPR said. 

“He highlighted Pakistan’s vast potential and encouraged the attendees to form their own opinions based on personal experiences,” the military’s media wing said. 

The ISPR said that the interactive session provided a platform for the army to share perspectives on Pakistan’s pivotal role in promoting regional peace and stability, its unwavering efforts against terrorism, and its commitment to upholding democratic values.

The students expressed their gratitude to the army chief for facilitating a “constructive and enlightening interaction,” the ISPR said. 

The government’s attempts to muzzle social media have also been sharply criticized by Khan’s political party. The former cricketer-turned-politician’s popularity, which persists even from behind bars, has been fueled by social media, including driving Pakistan’s young people to turn out to vote in Feb. 8 elections. 

Khan-backed candidates won the greatest number of seats in the polls despite having to contest as independents after the PTI was deprived of its iconic bat symbol by the election commission. 

Topics: Pakistan Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir Harvard Business School

‘Silent revolution’: Pakistan hosts first Asian MMA Championship, marking ‘new era’ for combat sport

‘Silent revolution’: Pakistan hosts first Asian MMA Championship, marking ‘new era’ for combat sport
Updated 22 August 2024
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‘Silent revolution’: Pakistan hosts first Asian MMA Championship, marking ‘new era’ for combat sport

‘Silent revolution’: Pakistan hosts first Asian MMA Championship, marking ‘new era’ for combat sport
  • Late entrant into MMA, the event in Pakistan has brought 180 athletes from 23 countries
  • Pakistan has done well in the sport globally though MMA remains entirely self-funded
Updated 22 August 2024
Haseeb Asif

LAHORE: Over 180 athletes from 23 countries participated this week as Pakistan hosted the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) Asian Championship for the first time, with the Pakistan MMA Federation calling it the “biggest sporting event in the country’s history.”

MMA is a full-contact combat sport that combines techniques from various martial arts disciplines, including boxing, wrestling, jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai and karate. Competitors use both striking and grappling techniques in a regulated environment, often within a cage or ring, to determine the most skilled fighter.

Pakistan is a late entrant to the sport though it has no shortage of fans, many of whom regularly train at MMA-dedicated gyms equipped with experienced coaches and specialized facilities. Gyms and training centers have been popping up all over the country in recent years as the youth of Pakistan embrace the world’s fastest growing sport.

The MMA Asia championship in Lahore also opened to a packed house on Sunday with a fight between Pakistani and Indian fighters, allowing the fierce cross-border rivalry to not only set the tone for the competition but also pique the interest of fans in other parts of the world.

The event, which was aired by American broadcasters and streamed on multiple platforms, has attracted participants from regions such as the Middle East and Central Asia and will run from Aug. 18-22.

“Since [Asian championship] is being broadcast in 180 countries, translated in 25 languages and hitting 10 million households, so for Pakistan, it’s the biggest sporting event in its history,” Omer Ahmed, the president of the Pakistan MMA Federation, told Arab News. 

Pakistani fighters displayed impressive performances against their Indian counterparts with Zia Mashwani, a local fighter, winning the first-round submission over Bharat Khandare during the inaugural match on Sunday.

Pakistan’s 24-year-old Bano Butt also beat her Indian counterpart in the 47-kilogram atomweight category in the semifinal on Wednesday.

“I started MMA in 2019, and I’m undefeated in Pakistan, my record is 12-1 [with only one international defeat],” said Butt, who was an amateur boxer before training for MMA at a gym that provides combat training. “I thank my coaches and Mr. Omer Ahmed at the MMA Federation for supporting me.”

Ahmed is the driving force behind the tournament in Pakistan and forged global partnerships with entities like the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation to bring the first MMA Asian Championship to the South Asian nation. 

“This is the only event in Pakistan’s history where 16 teams and 300 foreign nationals have shown up,” he said, giving a count of fighters, coaches and support staff and pointing out that even in cricket, the most popular game in the country, only about eight teams joined major tournaments.

“We’ve been winning medals in both the [MMA] Asian Championships and World Championships for the last three years [but] this has been somewhat of a silent revolution,” Ahmed added. “Because even though our Pakistani MMA federation is [globally] recognized, it is a self-funded federation. The best thing is that we’ve learned how to monetize our content.”

“BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY”

Visiting athletes and teams from Pakistan, Middle East, India and other nations praised the arrangements and hospitality at the event. 

“This is the first time I’ve come to Pakistan,” Khushboo Nishad, an Indian MMA fighter, told Arab News. “There was a lot of [negative] hype about Pakistan, but I really enjoyed my time here.

“Coming here to Pakistan, I felt like I was back in my hometime, in India. It’s a beautiful country, Pakistan, it’s just like India.”

Another fighter visiting Pakistan for the first time was Nour Al Fliti from Lebanon.

“I have been a Lebanese flyweight MMA champion twice,” she told Arab News. “I have just finished my fight, and I won by decision after facing team Pakistan.”

Al Fliti said she was aiming for gold like her Lebanese compatriot, Mohammad Fakhreddine who won in the male 55-kg featherweight category.

From Bahrain, Ali Mahroon put in walkover performances on his way to the 77-kg welterweight final.

“I won today with two submissions,” he told Arab News. “Tomorrow [Thursday], let’s go [for] gold.”

Mahroon said he had a “wonderful” time in Lahore, praising Pakistani hospitality and the tournament arrangements.

Mohammad Ghorbani, Iran’s Head Coach, called Pakistan a “beautiful” country.

“The people are nice. It’s a great experience and I would like to be back in this country very soon.”

Ahmed from the MMA federation thanked Rana Mashood of the Prime Minister’s Youth Program and the foreign office for facilitating the event.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave us a desk through which we were able to get these 300 visas … [they] arranged all of these visas within a day or two,” Ahmed said. “The government has supported us in this event, through logistics, through security, through getting visas, but we have not taken any financial support from them.”

Relying mainly on brands and sponsors, the federation had been successful in supporting Pakistani athletes at events around the world, Ahmed said. 

“In Abu Dhabi, Ismail Khan won a bronze medal. Bano Butt picked up a medal in Serbia, which was a big success being the first female [MMA] athlete from Pakistan. We won four medals, in two female and two male categories [3 silvers and a bronze] in Bahrain last December.”

“We will continue to win medals in [international] competitions and want people to watch this sport and make it even bigger than it already is,” the MMA Federation president said, saying hosting the Asian championship would go a long way in putting MMA on the sporting map in Pakistan.

“It’s a big deal, and hopefully if events like these continue to happen, you’ll also see the economy for this sport develop in Pakistan.”

Topics: Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) Asian Championship Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)

Islamabad tense as religious group threatens anti-blasphemy protests, PTI party postpones rally

Islamabad tense as religious group threatens anti-blasphemy protests, PTI party postpones rally
Updated 22 August 2024
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Islamabad tense as religious group threatens anti-blasphemy protests, PTI party postpones rally

Islamabad tense as religious group threatens anti-blasphemy protests, PTI party postpones rally
  • Thousands of angry supporters of right-wing grouping clashed with police on Monday demanding chief justice’s resignation 
  • Ex-PM Khan’s party postpones its planned rally in capital today after authorities revoked permission citing security concerns
Updated 22 August 2024
Shahjahan Khurram & SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s capital remained tense on Thursday with heavy police deployment and entry and exit points to the city sealed as a religious party threatened protests against a Supreme Court verdict in a blasphemy case, igniting fears of fresh clashes with law enforcers. 

The administration put up shipping containers to block roads leading toward government buildings in Islamabad as well as on entry and exit points into the city as the Supreme Court heard a plea by the Punjab government asking it to ‘correct’ a verdict in a blasphemy case concerning Mubarak Sani, a member of the minority Ahmadi community, who was given bail by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa earlier this year. 

Infuriated supporters of religious parties, mainly the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), subsequently held protests nationwide, accusing Isa of committing blasphemy and calling for a review of his ruling. The party and other religious groups have also announced a strike today, Thursday, pending the decision of the SC hearing on the Punjab government’s plea. 

On Monday this week, angry protesters, under the banner of the religious organization, the Aalmi Majlis Tahaffuz-i-Nabuwat, clashed with police after barging into Islamabad’s Red Zone, home to sensitive government buildings such as the Presidency, Prime Minister House, Parliament and the Supreme Court, as they tried to storm the building of the top court. 

Former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party had also planned a rally in Islamabad today, Thursday, which was postponed after the Islamabad administration revoked permission, citing security threats and a lack of resources with security agencies. The PTI has announced the rally would now be held on Sept. 8. 

“DIG Security Division Islamabad Jawad Tariq pays a visit to the entry points of the Red Zone,” Islamabad Police wrote on social media platform X on Thursday morning as security measures were beefed up through the city. 

“He briefed on-duty personnel about performing their duties in an alert manner given the current circumstances.”

Abdul Ghafoor, a senior member of the TLP, told Arab News the party had not called off its protest against the Supreme Court planed for Thursday and would closely follow the day’s court proceedings.

“We will wait for our members who are inside the court and after their report about today’s proceeding, the course of action will be announced after the meeting of the central leadership,” Ghafoor said. 

Blasphemy is a sensitive topic in Muslim-majority, conservative Pakistan where mere accusations of the offense have resulted in public lynchings and mob justice. Pakistanis are particularly sensitive about the Ahmadis, whom they consider heretics.

Human rights groups say Pakistan’s harsh blasphemy laws are often misused to settle personal scores. 

Pakistan’s government last month warned the TLP, which had led the February protests against the chief justice, against spreading hate on the basis of religion after a TLP leader announced a monetary reward for anyone who would kill the top judge. 

Topics: blasphemy

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