Monday, May 18th, 2026
Pakistan sends thousands of troops, jet squadron to Saudi Arabia Iran war
ISLAMABAD, MAY 18: Pakistan has deployed 8,000 troops, a squadron of fighter jets, and an air defense system to Saudi Arabia under a mutual defense pact, ramping up military cooperation with Riyadh even as Islamabad serves as the main mediator in the Iran war. The deployment, the full scale of which is reported here for the first time, was confirmed by three security officials and two government sources, all of whom described it as a substantial, combat-capable force intended to support Saudi Arabia’s military if the kingdom comes under furtherRead More
SECP issues digital finance licenses
ISLAMABAD, 18 MAY (DNA) — The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has taken major steps to promote innovation and digital transformation in Pakistan’s financial sector by issuing the country’s first Shariah-compliant digital general takaful operator license to First Digital Takaful Company Limited and the first Digital Investment Advisory Services license to Wealthbridge Management Limited. The SECP also licensed Punjab Life Insurance Limited as Pakistan’s first provincial government-owned life insurance company for the Punjab Health Initiative Program. During the last three months, since the new management took charge, the SECP hasRead More
PM Shehbaz meets Freedom Holding CEO Timur Turlov
ISLAMABAD, MAY 18 /DNA/ – Timur Turlov, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Freedom Holding Corporation, called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, today. The Prime Minister was assisted by Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Federal Minister for IT, Mr. Bilal Azhar Kayani, Minister of State for Finance, SAPM Tariq Fatemi, Mr. Haroon Akhtar Khan, SAPM on Industries & Production, and Foreign Secretary Amb. Amna Baloch. During the meeting, the Prime Minister welcomed Mr. Turlov to Pakistan, and conveyed his warm wishes for H.E. Kassym Jomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan. He thankedRead More
China awards outstanding diplomat medal to Khalil Hashmi
BEIJING, MAY 18 /DNA/ – Foreign Minister, Wang Yi today conferred on Khalil Hashmi, Pakistan’s Ambassador to China the prestigious Outstanding Diplomat Medal in recognition of his exceptional diplomatic skills and invaluable contribution to strengthening of Pakistan-China relations. The medal was conferred at a special ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing. A total of eight current and former ambassadors accredited to China received this award: former top envoys from Russian Federation, Cambodia, Chad and Uruguay and current Ambassadors of Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan and Colombia. Among theRead More
CDA, JICA discuss Islamabad water sector reforms
ISLAMABAD, MAY 18 /DNA/ – Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Chief Commissioner of Islamabad, Sohail Ashraf, held a meeting with a delegation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) at the CDA Headquarters on Monday. During the meeting, discussions were held regarding reforms and improvement projects in the water sector. The primary objective of the meeting was to explore further avenues for technical assistance in projects aimed at improving water supply and quality in Islamabad. It was discussed in the meeting that JICA will work on a comprehensive MasterRead More
Stimson Report: Morocco is emerging asa rising strategic power
“Under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Morocco has been able to leverage its geographical position, its industrial policy, its infrastructure, its international partnerships and its diplomacy to become a strategic bridge between continents,” notes the Stimson Center in a report entirely devoted to the Kingdom. Specializing in issues of international security, global governance, peace and public policy, this independent and non-partisan American think tank based in Washington highlights in a report, published on May 15 on its website , the rise of Morocco as a stable regional actor, industrial,Read More