{"count":388,"updated_at":"2026-09-23T19:35:02Z","limit":12,"offset":0,"regions":["Asia","Global","Middle East","Pakistan"],"categories":["Editorial","banking","blockchain","fintech"],"articles":[{"id":"84b8a397c8d77024","title":"PSX: Buying continues, KSE-100 up nearly 1,000 points","summary":"Buying interest was observed at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), with the benchmark KSE-100 Index gaining nearly 1,000 points during the opening minutes of trading on Wednesday. At 9:45am, the benchmark index was hovering at 172,373.28, up by 971.20 points or 0.57%. Buying was observed in key sectors, including automobile assemblers, cement, commercial banks, oil and gas exploration companies, OMCs and refineries. On Tuesday , the PSX closed marginally higher, as late-session value-hunting helped the market recover from early weakness amid declining international oil prices and developments surrounding efforts to ease regional tensions. The benchmark KSE-100 remained range-bound during the session before settling at 171,402.08 points. Globally, Asian shares were aiming for a sixth session of gains on Wednesday as signs of consumer demand for AI apps continued to buoy ​tech stocks, while oil prices faltered on reports of increased supply out of the Middle East. Sources told Reuters Saudi Arabia had ‌restarted operations at its East-West Pipeline and may have already resumed exports from the Red Sea port of Yanbu. US President Donald Trump also claimed talks with Iran in New York had made progress, but then threatened to “annihilate” the country if a deal was not done. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian addresses the UN General Assembly later on Wednesday and markets ​are alive to reports he might hold talks with Trump. Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Washington later in the day amid speculation that a trade truce between the ⁠two countries will be extended, and there could be cooperation over AI. Renewed buzz over AI helped South Korean stocks gain 1.2%, with Samsung and ​SK Hynix both up over 2%. Taiwan firmed 0.9%, to near all-time peaks. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan added 0.7%, having now risen ​for six straight days. Chinese blue chips were little changed. Japanese markets were closed for a holiday, but Nikkei futures were trading at 66,745, almost 2,000 points above where the cash Nikkei closed on Friday. This is an intraday update","link":"https://www.brecorder.com/news/40440815/psx-buying-continues-kse-100-up-nearly-1000-points","source":"none@none.com (BR Web Desk) · Business Recorder","category":"banking","region":"Pakistan","published":"2026-09-23T05:00:43.000Z","image":"https://i.brecorder.com/thumbnail/2026/09/2310001170d3283.webp"},{"id":"02fa597d83a1a02d","title":"Pa­­kistan Single Window enables remote biometric verification via Nadra’s PakID App","summary":"THE facility will also be useful for overseas Pakis­tanis involved in trade-related activities at home.—Online ISLAMABAD: The Pa­­kistan Single Window (PSW) has integrated its platform with the National Database and Registra­tion Authority’s (Nadra) PakID Mobile App, allowing users to complete mandatory biometric verification remotely through their smartphones. The new facility enables PSW users to complete biometric verification for subscription, subscription renewal and profile updates without having to physically visit Nadra’s e-Sahulat Centre. Previously, biometric ver­­ification for PSW services required users to ap­­pear in person at Nadra’s e-Sahulat Centre. Follow­ing the integration with the PakID Mobile App, eligible users can now complete the verification process remo­tely, subject to applicable Nadra requirements. The facility is expected to be particularly convenient for overseas Pakis­tanis involved in trade-related activities in the country. Eligible overseas users will be able to complete their PSW biometric verification remotely through the PakID app, reducing the need for physical visits to Pakistan for this purpose. To facilitate a smooth transition, both verification channels will remain available during an interim period. Users will therefore have the option of completing their biometric verification digitally through the PakID Mobile App or continuing to visit Nadra e-Sahulat Centres. “The integration with Nadra’s PakID Mobile App reflects our commitment to listening to the PSW community both in Pakistan and overseas and responding to their needs,” said Syed Aftab Haider, CEO of PSW. “By enabling remote biometric verification, we are removing another phy­­sical trip in the on­boarding process and making the PSW user journey more convenient, accessible, and user driven,” he added. According to PSW, the integration removes the only physical visit previously required during the subscription process, enabling the entire process to be completed digitally. The initiative is part of PSW’s broader efforts to expand the use of digital solutions, improve accessibility and simplify procedures for businesses. Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2026","link":"https://www.dawn.com/news/2031996/pakistan-single-window-enables-remote-biometric-verification-via-nadras-pakid-app","source":"none@none.com (Kalbe Ali) · Dawn Business & Finance","category":"fintech","region":"Pakistan","published":"2026-09-23T02:58:08.000Z","image":"https://i.dawn.com/thumbnail/2026/09/23075542d44b221.webp"},{"id":"d9177198973c81cb","title":"IMF, SBP Talks to Begin Today on Key Economic Issues","summary":"The International Monetary Fund review mission is set to begin discussions with the State Bank of Pakistan on Wednesday, with","link":"https://propakistani.pk/2026/09/23/imf-sbp-talks-to-begin-today-on-key-economic-issues/","source":"ProPakistani","category":"fintech","region":"Pakistan","published":"2026-09-23T04:52:42.000Z","image":"https://propakistani.pk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IMF-1.jpg"},{"id":"f2663992705ee58a","title":"Verification process: PSW integrates with NADRA PakID Mobile App","summary":"ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Single Window (PSW) has integrated with the National Database and Registration Authority’s (NADRA) PakID Mobile App, enabling PSW users to complete the mandatory verification process remotely through the App for PSW subscription, subscription renewal and profile updates. Previously, completing biometric verification required users to physically visit a NADRA e-Sahulat Centre. With the PakID integration, users can now complete their biometric verification remotely through their smartphones, subject to applicable NADRA verification requirements, reducing the need for physical visits. The facility offers a particularly significant convenience for overseas Pakistanis engaged in trade-related activities in Pakistan. Eligible overseas users can now complete their PSW biometric verification remotely through the PakID Mobile App. To ensure a smooth transition and uninterrupted facilitation for the business community, both verification channels will remain operational during an interim period. During this phase, users can choose to verify their biometrics either digitally via the PakID Mobile App or continue visiting NADRA e-Sahulat Centres. “The integration with NADRA’s PakID Mobile App reflects our commitment to listening to the PSW community both in Pakistan and overseas and responding to their needs,” said Syed Aftab Haider, CEO of PSW. “By enabling remote biometric verification, we are removing another physical trip in the on-boarding process and making the PSW user journey more convenient, accessible, and user driven.” Integration with the PakID app eliminates the only physical visit required for PSW subscription and makes the entire process seamlessly digital. The integration reflects PSW’s continued focus on using digital solutions to make its services more accessible, responsive and convenient, while addressing the practical needs of businesses and Pakistanis engaged in trade from abroad. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026","link":"https://www.brecorder.com/news/40440804/verification-process-psw-integrates-with-nadra-pakid-mobile-app","source":"none@none.com (Recorder Report) · Business Recorder","category":"banking","region":"Pakistan","published":"2026-09-23T01:05:03.000Z","image":"https://i.brecorder.com/thumbnail/2026/09/230423046248683.webp"},{"id":"f59a8fddfdfa5fb9","title":"Foreign policy disconnect","summary":"PRIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif stopped in London on his way to New York for the UN General Assembly session. It is his umpteenth foreign trip, and the deputy prime minister is once again inseparable from him. Meanwhile, the interior minister has been on yet another trip to Tehran, as part of Pakistan’s mediation efforts in the US-Iran war. Pakistan’s leaders seem obsessed with being seen on the world stage while their country plunges deeper into political instability and a worsening internal security situation. Islamabad is blocked off with containers yet again as the opposition threatens to march on the capital. At the same time, another terrorist attack hit KP last week, killing and injuring several policemen and civilians in Kohat. Yet the prime minister appears more interested in his foreign trip than addressing security and political problems at home. The disconnect could not be starker. While Pakistan tries to mediate in a war with far-reaching global implications, and presents itself as a net security provider to Middle Eastern countries, its own house is becoming more unstable. Over the past few days, scores of PTI workers have been detained in a sweep across Punjab, and the capital has been sealed as the administration braces for protests by the PTI (a planned march by the Jamaat-i-Islami against the hike in petroleum prices has been postponed for now). These tough measures reflect the insecurity of a government with questionable legitimacy. The all-powerful interior minister has warned the opposition of a “final solution”. Many see his statement as a precursor to a further crackdown on the opposition, even the imposition of governor’s rule in KP. Any such move would render the situation in that province — already in the midst of terrorism — explosive. A politically stable and economically sound country is what builds an independent policy. The security situation in both KP and Balochistan is worsening. The Global Terrorism Index 2026, which covers the calendar year 2025, has placed Pakistan at the top of the list of countries hit by terrorism. More than 1,000 civilians and security personnel have reportedly been killed in terrorist attacks in nine months of this year, with July being the deadliest month, when 112 security personnel lost their lives. One of the deadliest attacks of the year on a police compound in Kohat last week left at least 31 people dead, many of them law enforcers. A day later, six army personnel, including two officers, lost their lives in clashes with militants in the same region. Yet despite claims that hundreds of terrorists have been killed in intelligence-based operations, there has been no let-up in terrorist attacks in the two provinces. Following the latest attacks in KP, the information ministry said Pakistan had conducted air strikes on terrorist sanctuaries across the border and several terrorists were killed and ammunition depots destroyed. Yet such kinetic action lacks an overarching policy for dealing with the menace of terrorism. Political instability — and a federal government locked in constant confrontation with the KP provincial administration — has given terrorist groups wider space to operate in. Under-equipped civilian law-enforcement agencies on the front line of this existential war have become sitting ducks. Last week’s attack on the police compound, together with growing casualties among military and civil personnel, has exposed these fault lines in the country’s fight against terrorism. The ever-widening trust gap between the state and the local people, aggravated by a worsening economic situation, has made terrorism far harder to tackle. Yet the state’s priorities appear to lie elsewhere: instead of focusing on fighting terrorism, the interior minister has threatened the KP provincial government with a “final solution”. The situation in Balochistan is even worse. The state’s writ is non-existent in many parts of the province. Terrorist attacks have increased markedly, while the state insists on the kinetic option rather than seeking a political solution to this festering problem — which gives external forces a chance to fish in troubled waters. The expanding regional conflict has direct implications for a province near the war zone. The intensification of fighting between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi militia could draw Pakistan, which is a part of a trilateral defence alliance, directly into the conflict. Regional instability would have serious spillover effects in the province, given its long coastline. An unrepresentative provincial government propped up by the establishment and the growing alienation of the population from the state have created a conducive environment for separatist groups to operate in, with external support. Some reports suggest that Iranian insurgent groups operating in the border region — allegedly backed by hostile intel elements — have been reactivated to create disturbances inside Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province. For Pakistan, which is trying to end the US-Iran war, this is a challenging situation. Can Islamabad prevent the area from becoming a hub of regional conflict? The state must put in significant effort to win the confidence of an alienated population. That can happen only by restoring democratic and economic rights to the people in Balochistan. Persecuting those who raise their voices against state excesses and blocking the news won’t solve the problem. The province is sitting on a powder keg — yet there seems to be no sign that the state is prepared to change course. There is no disagreement over Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to end the US-Iran war. But they must not divert attention from the dire political and economic situation at home. Foreign policy begins at home; several foreign trips are not a sign of a successful foreign policy. A politically stable and economically sound country is what builds an independent policy. And the spectacle of the capital sealed off with containers does not sit well with Pakistan’s high-profile image on the world stage, however fleeting that image may be. The writer is an author and journalist. zhussain100@yahoo.com X: @hidhussain Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2026","link":"https://www.dawn.com/news/2032020/foreign-policy-disconnect","source":"none@none.com (Zahid Hussain) · Dawn Business & Finance","category":"fintech","region":"Pakistan","published":"2026-09-23T03:11:39.000Z","image":"https://i.dawn.com/thumbnail/2026/09/2303211437fd309.webp"},{"id":"dd5ca2804083571b","title":"Gulf stocks mixed ahead of potential US-Iran UN talks","summary":"Gulf stock markets closed mixed on Tuesday as cautious investors awaited potential US-Iran developments at the United Nations General Assembly. Market sentiment remained fragile following renewed threats exchanged between Washington and Tehran, prolonging a months-long stalemate that continues to pressure global energy dynamics and heighten regional tensions. Compounding these geopolitical risks, Yemen’s Houthis advanced near the strategic Red Sea coast amid persistent cross-border friction with Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index finished flat, with Al Rajhi Bank losing 2.4%. Saudi civil defence lifted a security alert in the Najran region on Tuesday, confirming the threat had cleared amid ongoing hostilities with Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis. Oil behemoth Saudi Aramco is offering prompt oil cargoes through negotiations for lifting from locations outside the Strait of Hormuz, two trade sources said. Aramco shares were down 0.2%. The Qatari benchmark declined 0.5%, following a 2.6% fall in The Commercial Bank . Dubai’s main gauge gained 0.6%, helped by a 1.2% rise in top lender Emirates NBD . The Abu Dhabi index advanced 1.3%, a day after falling 1.6%. A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Tuesday that Tehran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within a week if the US eases military pressure and lifts its port blockade. The conditional offer comes shortly after Iran’s military warned on Sunday of unrestricted retaliation if the US, backed by regional allies, restarts military operations against the country. Outside the Gulf, Egypt’s blue-chip index eased 0.1%. Saudi Arabia finished flat at 10,681 Abu Dhabi advanced 1.3% to 10,232 Dubai was up 0.6% to 5,997 Qatar declined 0.5% to 9,514 Egypt eased 0.1% to 54,931 Bahrain slipped 0.1% to 1,910 Oman gained 0.1% to 7,560 Kuwait down 0.5% to 9,139","link":"https://www.brecorder.com/news/40440687/gulf-stocks-mixed-ahead-of-potential-us-iran-un-talks","source":"none@none.com (Reuters) · Business Recorder · Business & Finance","category":"banking","region":"Pakistan","published":"2026-09-22T13:36:31.000Z","image":"https://i.brecorder.com/thumbnail/2026/09/22183340d65bbc3.webp"},{"id":"21b3690c740f6dac","title":"Experts call for regulated tobacco harm reduction framework","summary":"KARACHI: With tobacco use continuing to claim an estimated 164,000 lives annually in Pakistan, health and policy experts have called for urgent action to strengthen the country’s tobacco control strategy by introducing a regulated, evidence-based framework for Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR). While Pakistan has recorded a 15.7 percent decline in tobacco consumption between 2014 and 2024, experts caution that the pace of decline remains inadequate against the scale of tobacco-related mortality. They stressed that alongside prevention and cessation efforts, adult smokers who are unable to quit should have access to scientifically evaluated, regulated alternatives to combustible cigarettes, supported by accurate information and appropriate medical guidance. Mirza M Abeer, Founder of the Association for Smoking Alternatives in Pakistan (ASAP), said, “A decline in tobacco consumption is encouraging, but when approximately 164,000 lives are still being lost every year, progress cannot be measured by prevalence alone. Pakistan needs a regulatory framework that gives adult smokers access to credible information and scientifically evaluated alternatives while enforcing strict standards for quality, marketing and age restrictions. Regulation is essential to ensure harm reduction is responsible, informed and accessible.” The burden of smoking also extends far beyond individual health, placing pressure on Pakistan’s healthcare system, household finances and the wider economy. Experts highlighted that this burden disproportionately affects lower-income communities, which often have less access to specialist healthcare, cessation support and reliable information. Dr Saima Zahoor, Clinical Oncologist, said, “The safest outcome for every smoker is complete cessation. However, when patients are unable to quit despite repeated attempts, the medical conversation cannot simply end there. Healthcare professionals should be equipped to discuss evidence-based harm-reduction approaches, explain relative risk clearly and help patients move away from continued exposure to combustible tobacco.” Dr Aftab Ahmed Khan, Family Physician & Public Health Expert, added, “Smoking remains a major preventable contributor to cardiovascular disease and every additional year of exposure matters. Complete cessation must remain the goal, but for smokers who struggle to quit, reducing exposure to the toxic products of combustion can be an important step. Physicians need clear, evidence-based guidance to support these patients responsibly.” Experts urged the policymakers to establish a science-based THR framework with stringent product standards, safeguards against youth access and clear guidance for healthcare professionals. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026","link":"https://www.brecorder.com/news/40440763/experts-call-for-regulated-tobacco-harm-reduction-framework","source":"none@none.com (Recorder Report) · Business Recorder","category":"banking","region":"Pakistan","published":"2026-09-23T01:05:02.000Z","image":"https://i.brecorder.com/thumbnail/2026/09/230240157f043b7.webp"},{"id":"356b3e5e24dee9e8","title":"HCSTSI, SBP officials discuss SMEs financing issues","summary":"HYDERABAD: Vice President, Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders & Small Industry (HCSTSI), Shan Sehgal, met with Chief Manager State Bank of Pakistan, Hyderabad Office, Muhammad Ismail, Deputy Chief Manager Khadim Hussain Khokhar and Deputy Director Adil Zahoor, and discussed the financing issues being faced by SMEs, various SME schemes offered by banks, and the hurdles encountered by businesses in obtaining financing. Shan Sehgal said that during the recent SME Baithak, the business community had also highlighted difficulties relating to various bank schemes, their procedures and the problems faced in accessing financing. He said that the State Bank’s focus on promoting SME financing and its directions to banks in this regard were appreciable. However, he stressed that practical cooperation between banks and the business community was essential to ensure that the benefits of these schemes reached businesses effectively. He proposed that the liaison between the Hyderabad Chamber and the State Bank should be further strengthened so that issues faced by Chamber members regarding SME financing, banking schemes or other related matters could be promptly brought before the relevant forum and resolved. On the occasion, the SBP officials assured that whenever the Chamber identifies any issue concerning SME financing or banking facilities, the matter can be brought to the State Bank’s attention, which would take up the issue with the concerned bank and take necessary steps towards its resolution. Shan Sehgal appreciated the cooperation of the State Bank officials and their particular focus on the SME-related issues of the business community, and said that the Hyderabad Chamber would continue to play its role in facilitating the business community through effective coordination with the State Bank and the banking sector. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026","link":"https://www.brecorder.com/news/40440765/hcstsi-sbp-officials-discuss-smes-financing-issues","source":"none@none.com (Recorder Report) · Business Recorder","category":"banking","region":"Pakistan","published":"2026-09-23T01:05:02.000Z","image":"https://i.brecorder.com/thumbnail/2026/09/23024123de05cdd.webp"},{"id":"6f657c68b3d6a0e6","title":"PRA intensifies crackdown on tax evasion","summary":"LAHORE: The Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) has stepped up action against tax evasion and irregularities involving fake receipts and non-transparent record-keeping by restaurants and food businesses. Several restaurants and food chains were found collecting tax from customers without properly recording it in their official tax records. In multiple cases, tax was included in customer bills, but discrepancies were later found in the corresponding records, a PRA spokesperson said. A number of food businesses were fined for fraudulent practices, while notices were issued to others for failing to use the Electronic Invoice Monitoring System (e-IMS). The enforcement drive was carried out in Lahore, Faisalabad, Sargodha and Multan following public complaints and vigilance reports. The PRA has directed restaurants and food chains to issue accurate tax invoices and maintain complete, transparent records. Businesses with monthly sales of up to Rs. 500,000 are also required to issue invoices under the e-IMS, the spokesperson clarified. The spokesperson warned that any misappropriation of tax collected from customers will not be tolerated. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026","link":"https://www.brecorder.com/news/40440719/pra-intensifies-crackdown-on-tax-evasion","source":"none@none.com (Recorder Report) · Business Recorder · Business & Finance","category":"banking","region":"Pakistan","published":"2026-09-23T01:05:01.000Z","image":"https://i.brecorder.com/thumbnail/2026/09/2300521215a275e.webp"},{"id":"1390657b7ea849e3","title":"Karoblis says there is significant scope for expanding EU-Pakistan economic ties","summary":"LAHORE: European Union Ambassador to Pakistan Raimundas Karoblis has said there is significant scope for expanding Pakistan-EU economic ties through higher exports, greater investment, technology transfer and stronger business-to-business (B2B) cooperation. He was speaking to a delegation of the All Pakistan Business Forum (APBF), led by President Syed Maaz Mahmood, during a meeting that discussed bilateral trade and investment, joint ventures, GSP+ market access, SMEs, technical and vocational education and training (TVET), and emerging regulatory requirements in the European market. Karoblis said Pakistan had benefited considerably from the GSP+ scheme and could further enhance its gains by fully implementing ILO conventions, diversifying exports, increasing value addition and developing a skilled workforce. According to the latest European Commission assessment, Pakistan’s exports to the EU reached about €8.3 billion, accounting for around 28 percent of the country’s total exports. The EU remained Pakistan’s largest export market, with textiles and clothing constituting about 75 percent of exports to the bloc. Bilateral trade in goods stood at €12.2 billion in 2025. The ambassador stressed the need for greater interaction between Pakistani and European businesses to identify new areas of cooperation, while highlighting skills development and workforce preparation. APBF President Syed Maaz Mahmood called for stronger and more practical economic engagement with the EU, particularly through B2B contacts, investment and joint ventures. He also urged greater support for SMEs to meet European certification, documentation and compliance requirements and make fuller use of GSP+ market access. He said many Pakistani SMEs faced difficulties in meeting the cost of international certifications and increasingly stringent European standards, adding that technical assistance and easier access to information could help them enter European supply chains. The APBF offered to facilitate direct interaction between Pakistani and European companies through B2B meetings, sector-specific linkages and joint ventures. The delegation also appreciated EU support for TVET programmes, saying a better-skilled workforce could strengthen Pakistan’s domestic economy and overseas employment prospects. EU-supported programmes have focused on demand-driven skills and employment opportunities. The meeting was attended by senior representatives of business and industrial associations, including Mian Faheem Qamar, Haroon Ali Khan, Shahzad Azam, Brigadier (R) M Sajid Khokhar, Nasir Ali Zia, Aziz Ullah Goheer, M Naeem and Zohaib Butt. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026","link":"https://www.brecorder.com/news/40440717/karoblis-says-there-is-significant-scope-for-expanding-eu-pakistan-economic-ties","source":"none@none.com (Recorder Report) · Business Recorder · Business & Finance","category":"banking","region":"Pakistan","published":"2026-09-23T01:05:01.000Z","image":"https://i.brecorder.com/thumbnail/2026/09/230050403b6b85d.webp"},{"id":"b09afb9bbe848f20","title":"IHC working on policy to rotate judges to other provinces","summary":"ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) administration has started working on a policy for rotation of judges of the subordinate judiciary to other provinces, a long-awaited demand of the capital’s legal fraternity that was accepted in principle by the National Judicial Policy Making Committee (NJPMC). Informed sources said several proposals were being considered to determine the modalities for implementing the inter-provincial rotation of judges of Islamabad’s district judiciary. One proposal under consideration is that judicial officers posted to other provinces should preferably be sent to the province from where they originally belong. The Islamabad judiciary comprises officers who joined the service through different modes, including initial appointments, absorption and deputation, and judicial officers from all four provinces are currently serving in the capital. The sources said there were around 60 judicial officers in the Islamabad judiciary, and the authorities were considering whether all of them, 50pc of them or one-third should be rotated to other provinces. Another issue under consideration is whether the rotation should cover all tiers of the subordinate judiciary — civil judges, senior civil judges, additional district and sessions judges and district and sessions judges — or be limited to certain categories. “Whatever formula is adopted, one thing is clear: the equal number of judges sent from Islamabad will be brought in from the provinces to maintain the strength of the district judiciary,” a legal expert familiar with the proposed mechanism said. The proposed policy follows a longstanding demand by Islamabad’s lawyers for giving the district judiciary of the federal capital the same opportunity for inter-provincial transfers and rotations available to judges in the provinces. In May, the Islamabad High Court Bar Association formally demanded a uniform transfer and rotation policy for the district judiciary. The NJPMC subsequently accepted the demand in principle and decided to introduce inter-provincial rotation of Islamabad’s subordinate judiciary. The move came after years of calls from the legal fraternity for greater institutional balance in the capital’s district courts. The issue has gained further significance following the transfer of three IHC judges to the Lahore, Peshawar and Sindh high courts earlier this year. Bar bodies had subsequently called for a structured and periodic rotation mechanism for judges rather than selective transfers. The concept of rotating Islamabad’s lower court judges is not new. In 2018, the federal government had proposed amendments to the Islamabad Judicial Service Rules to enable subordinate court judges to be sent on deputation to other provinces, while noting that the existing rules did not provide for such transfers. The proposed mechanism has, however, also generated apprehensions among some judicial officers. Concerns have been expressed that frequent movement between Islamabad and other provinces could expose judges to new forms of professional pressure, including attempts by lawyers to influence judicial decisions or pressure judges considered “non-cooperative”. The authorities are therefore faced with the task of devising a transparent and uniform mechanism that provides for inter-provincial exposure and rotation while safeguarding judicial independence and ensuring that the strength of Islamabad’s district judiciary remains intact. The final policy is expected to settle the number and categories of judges to be rotated, the duration of their postings and the procedure for replacing them with judicial officers from other provinces. Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2026","link":"https://www.dawn.com/news/2031912/ihc-working-on-policy-to-rotate-judges-to-other-provinces","source":"none@none.com (Malik Asad) · Dawn Business & Finance","category":"fintech","region":"Pakistan","published":"2026-09-23T03:36:16.000Z","image":"https://i.dawn.com/thumbnail/2026/09/23083337cb6fddd.webp"},{"id":"86d19c807305bc88","title":"SECP proposes more insurance tribunals, digital complaint system","summary":"The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has recommended increasing the number of Insurance Tribunals and Small Dispute Resolution Committees (SDRCs), along with establishing an integrated digital complaint system to improve grievance redressal for policyholders across the country. The recommendations were presented in SECP’s report, “Strengthening Insurance Grievance Redressal in Pakistan: Current Status and Strategic Way Forward,” which reviewed existing mechanisms for resolving insurance-related complaints. According to the report, the existing grievance mechanisms collectively received 37,029 complaints in 2025. SECP recommended that the Ministry of Law and Justice increase the number of Insurance Tribunals based on geographical needs, publish a list of Sessions Courts designated as Insurance Tribunals and ensure timely appointment of tribunal members. The regulator also proposed expanding the scope and geographical coverage of SDRCs, periodically reviewing their financial thresholds and digitising their operations through online complaint submission and document sharing. To improve coordination among grievance forums, SECP recommended a formal mechanism for sharing information and consolidating complaint data between the SECP, Federal Insurance Ombudsman, Wafaqi Mohtasib, Insurance Tribunals, SDRCs and insurance companies. The report further recommended including complaint volumes, resolution rates, disposal times and emerging trends in the Insurance Industry Statistics Report to support evidence-based regulatory oversight. To address overlapping jurisdictions, the SECP proposed legal and administrative measures to transfer complaints concerning public-sector insurers to the Federal Insurance Ombudsman, in line with an understanding reached among relevant authorities. It also recommended that grievance forums publish complaint-resolution timelines and that insurers clearly inform policyholders about available grievance procedures. The report called for a coordinated public-awareness campaign and a stronger role for the Insurance Association of Pakistan in promoting consistent complaint-handling practices across the insurance industry. SECP Chairman Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu said stronger coordination and greater use of technology could help reduce complaint-resolution times and improve accountability. “Through stronger coordination and the use of technology, we aim to reduce complaint-resolution times, improve accountability and ensure that every policyholder has access to an effective grievance redressal forum,” he said. The report provides an action-oriented framework assigning proposed measures to relevant stakeholders to improve access to grievance redressal and the overall policyholder experience","link":"https://www.brecorder.com/news/40440690/secp-proposes-more-insurance-tribunals-digital-complaint-system","source":"none@none.com (BR Web Desk) · Business Recorder · Business & Finance","category":"banking","region":"Pakistan","published":"2026-09-22T14:06:32.000Z","image":"https://i.brecorder.com/thumbnail/2026/09/22190624c72f8b0.webp"}]}