Day: July 22, 2026

Islamabad: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) here on Tuesday approved the issuance, circulation, and publication of the prospectus for the Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Tasdeeq Information Services Limited.

Since the new management assumed office in February 2026, SECP has accelerated IPO approvals and enhanced facilitation for issuers, resulting in 10 IPOs entering the market. This marks the first IPO approved in FY2026-27, reflecting the continued momentum in Pakistan’s primary capital market, said SECP press release issued here.

Tasdeeq Information Services Limited is a credit bureau licensed by the State Bank of Pakistan. The company collects, maintains, and disseminates credit information on individual and commercial borrowers to its member institutions, enabling informed credit assessment and lending decisions.

The company is offering a total of 219 million ordinary shares, comprising 69 million ordinary shares allocated to pre-IPO investors, and 150 million ordinary shares (representing 15.79% of the post-IPO paid-up capital) through the IPO.

The IPO will be conducted through the book-building mechanism, with 75% of the issue allocated to institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals, while the remaining 25% will be offered to retail investors.

The approval reflects the effectiveness of SECP’s regulatory framework in facilitating capital formation while ensuring transparency, efficient price discovery, and investor protection.

Recent reforms to simplify the IPO process through streamlined requirements, faster approvals, and greater digitalization have made it easier for companies to access Pakistan’s capital market through public listings.

As part of its capital market development agenda, SECP, in collaboration with market stakeholders, continues to conduct nationwide IPO roadshows to encourage public listings and educate companies on the listing process and the benefits of raising equity capital through the stock market, the press release added.

Islamabad: Vice President of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Sherry Rehman has expressed deep sorrow and grief over the loss of 12 precious lives due to torrential rains in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Sherry Rehman offered prayers for the forgiveness of those who lost their lives and expressed solidarity with the bereaved families, praying for their patience and strength during this difficult time.

She said that effective strategies and proactive measures are essential to address the growing risks caused by climate change and to protect communities from the impacts of extreme weather events.

Senator Sherry Rehman urged the government and relevant authorities to ensure the timely provision of relief to affected citizens and take immediate steps for the rehabilitation of affected areas.

She said that in this difficult hour, we stand with the affected families and share their grief.

Islamabad: The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), in collaboration with the Pakistan Africa Institute for Development and Research (PAIDAR), on Tuesday commemorated South Africa’s National Day and Nelson Mandela International Day, with speakers highlighting the enduring legacy of Nelson Mandela and reaffirming Pakistan’s longstanding friendship with South Africa.

The event, organized by the Centre for Afghanistan, Middle East and Africa (CAMEA) at ISSI, was attended by Acting High Commissioner of South Africa to Pakistan Rudolph Pierre Jordaan as the chief guest and Additional Foreign Secretary (Africa) Ambassador Hamid Asghar Khan as the guest of honour, said a press release.

Addressing the ceremony, ISSI Director General Ambassador Moin ul Haque said Pakistan and South Africa enjoyed warm and longstanding relations founded on the shared values of justice, freedom, equality and mutual respect.

Recalling Pakistan’s steadfast support for South Africa’s struggle against apartheid, he highlighted the growing cooperation between the two countries in bilateral and multilateral forums.

Paying tribute to Nelson Mandela, he described him as a global symbol of reconciliation, resilience, and moral courage whose enduring legacy continues to inspire humanity and strengthen the bonds of friendship between Pakistan and South Africa.

Acting High Commissioner R. Pierre Jordaan thanked ISSI for commemorating Nelson Mandela International Day alongside South Africa’s National Day.

He noted that the occasion celebrated South Africa’s democratic journey and Mandela’s enduring legacy. He highlighted Mandela’s lifelong struggle for justice, equality, reconciliation, and human dignity, describing him as a global symbol of peace whose leadership continues to inspire people worldwide.

Recalling Mandela’s message of forgiveness over bitterness after 27 years of imprisonment, he emphasized that true leadership lies in reconciliation, compassion, and service to humanity. Reflecting on today’s global challenges, he called for greater respect for international law, multilateralism, and the peaceful resolution of conflicts. He stressed that Mandela’s vision remains a powerful reminder that lasting peace can only be achieved through dialogue, justice, and shared responsibility. Concluding with Mandela’s words from Long Walk to Freedom, he encouraged everyone to work towards a more just, peaceful, and inclusive world, reminding the audience that ‘it is still in our hands to do good.’

Director CAMEA Dr. Amina Khan highlighted the significance of the occasion, paying tribute to Nelson Mandela’s contribution to freedom and recalling Pakistan’s longstanding support for the anti-apartheid movement, including Mandela’s historic visit to Pakistan and ISSI in 1992.

She also reaffirmed CAMEA’s commitment to strengthening Pakistan-Africa relations under the ‘Engage Africa’ policy. Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, President of PAIDAR, said Pakistan took pride in South Africa’s commitment to human rights and universal freedoms.

He noted that Nelson Mandela admired Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and drew parallels between the two leaders’ unwavering commitment to securing freedom for their people. He concluded by recalling Pakistan’s financial and diplomatic support for South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle and described Mandela as a timeless symbol of freedom.

Pakistan’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Muhammad Farooq, paid tribute to Mandela’s enduring legacy, noting that the story of modern South Africa is inseparable from his struggle for justice, equality, and human dignity. He observed that Mandela’s true greatness lay not only in overcoming oppression but also in his wisdom, humility, and commitment to reconciliation.

Recalling Pakistan’s steadfast support for the anti-apartheid struggle, he underscored the strong ties between Pakistan and South Africa and noted that Mandela holds a special place in the hearts of the Pakistani people, having been honored with Pakistan’s highest civilian awards for his extraordinary contributions to humanity, freedom, and justice.

Additional Foreign Secretary Ambassador Hamid Asghar Khan highlighted the shared values underpinning Pakistan-South Africa relations and also emphasized the need for greater high-level political engagement to unlock the untapped potential in bilateral ties, particularly in trade, investment, tourism, and education.

In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood highlighted Nelson Mandela’s enduring legacy of peace, justice and reconciliation. He reaffirmed the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and South Africa, expressing confidence that bilateral cooperation would continue to grow for the mutual benefit of both countries.

Islamabad: The two-day Indus RAS (Robotics and Autonomous Systems) Expo 2026 will begin on Wednesday at the Pak-China Friendship Centre in Islamabad.

The National Technology Fund (Ignite), operating under the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT), will host the event from July 22 to 23.

The national technology event will bring together policymakers, defence organizations, industry leaders, researchers, academia, startups, investors, students and technology professionals to strengthen Pakistan’s robotics ecosystem and accelerate the adoption of autonomous technologies across strategic sectors.

The Indus RAS Expo 2026 is being organised in collaboration with the National Centre of Robotics and Automation (NCRA) and the NUST College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (EandME).

The event will be open to visitors on both days.

As robotics and autonomous systems continue to reshape economies worldwide, they are driving transformation across manufacturing, defence, agriculture, healthcare, logistics, transportation and public services.

The Indus RAS Expo 2026 aims to position Pakistan at the forefront of this technological shift by providing a collaborative platform where innovators, researchers and industry representatives can showcase indigenous solutions, exchange knowledge and forge partnerships to translate research into real-world applications.

The expo will feature innovations in defence robotics, drone technologies, industrial automation, maritime autonomous systems, agritech, Physical AI, human-machine collaboration, AI-powered decision support systems and emerging startup solutions.

Leading universities, research institutions, technology companies, startups and public-sector organizations will showcase locally developed products, advanced prototypes, applied research and live technology demonstrations, highlighting Pakistan’s growing capabilities in advanced engineering and intelligent systems.

Among the flagship attractions will be the RAS Innovation Challenge and the RoboWars Competition, where students, engineers and startups will present original robotics, drone and autonomous systems solutions before a panel of industry experts.

The event will also feature high-level plenary sessions and an Immersive Experience Dome, combining interactive storytelling with 360-degree digital experiences to inspire the next generation of innovators and demonstrate the transformative potential of emerging technologies.

Ignite Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Bilal Abbasi said, “At Ignite, we believe innovation flourishes when academia, industry and government work together with a shared purpose. Indus RAS Expo 2026 is designed to strengthen these connections, accelerate the commercialization of indigenous technologies and provide innovators with a national platform to demonstrate solutions that can shape Pakistan’s technological future.”

As a flagship event under the broader Indus AI initiative launched in February 2026, the expo reflects Pakistan’s commitment to fostering innovation, strengthening academia-industry collaboration and accelerating the development of a world-class AI and robotics ecosystem.

Islamabad: Supreme Court Advocate and constitutional and commercial law expert Hafiz Ahsan Ahmed Khokhar has stated that the establishment of a Federal Commercial Court has become a fundamental necessity for Pakistan’s economic growth, the promotion of foreign investment, and the speedy and transparent resolution of commercial disputes.

According to him, the creation of this court through an amendment to Article 212-A of the Constitution could prove to be a major milestone in the country’s economy.

In an interview, Khokhar said that a country’s economic strength does not rely solely on natural resources or investment incentives, but also on the efficiency and transparency of its judicial system and the timely resolution of commercial disputes.

He noted that the proposal to establish a Federal Commercial Court by amending Article 212-A of the Constitution-discussed during a recent meeting of the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan chaired by the Chief Justice of Pakistan-is a far-reaching and revolutionary step. This initiative, he said, will restore investor confidence and further stabilize the business environment in Pakistan.

Hafiz Ahsan Ahmed Khokhar stated that if Pakistan aspires to become a hub for trade and investment in the region, it must adopt a modern commercial judicial system. He emphasized that specialized courts with expertise are indispensable for handling cases related to international trade agreements, banking, financial matters, energy projects, corporate disputes, digital commerce, public-private partnerships, and foreign investment.

He pointed out that several countries around the world, including Singapore, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States, have successfully gained investor trust through specialized commercial courts. Pakistan, he added, can significantly enhance its appeal for international investment by establishing a Federal Commercial Court on a similar pattern.

Khokhar suggested that the proposed Federal Commercial Court should be granted exclusive jurisdiction over international trade agreements, foreign investment, banking, corporate disputes, mergers, energy and infrastructure projects, construction contracts, insurance, intellectual property, digital commerce, competition laws, and arbitration-related cases.

He urged the federal government to expeditiously table the proposed constitutional amendment bill in Parliament, followed by comprehensive legislation concerning the court’s jurisdiction, powers, procedures, and the appointment of judges. He also recommended introducing modern digital systems within the court, such as electronic filing, online hearings, restricted adjournments, and fixed timeframes for delivering judgments.

He maintained that the establishment of the Federal Commercial Court will improve contract enforcement, reduce the cost of doing business, and boost exports, industry, banking, private investment, and public-private partnerships, while also improving Pakistan’s global investment and business rankings.

Concluding his remarks, Khokhar said that the Federal Commercial Court will not merely be a new judicial forum, but an essential constitutional and institutional pillar for Pakistan’s economic transformation, the rule of law, commercial predictability, and sustainable national development.

Islamabad: Pakistan’s junior squash players maintained their impressive form at the World Squash Junior Individual Championships 2026 in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada, with all four players advancing to the Round of 32 after convincing victories in the Round of 64.

According to information received here, Nauman Khan produced a dominant performance to defeat Japan’s Ren Makino in straight games, winning 11-5, 11-5, 11-4.

Yahya Khan overcame Japan’s Shu Takahashi 3-1 in a hard-fought encounter. After taking the opening game 11-6, he dropped the second 8-11 before bouncing back to clinch the next two games 14-12 and 11-9. Muhammad Umair Arif, seeded 25/32, comfortably beat Macau’s Ka Hei Li 3-0 with scores of 11-8, 11-3 and 11-2.

Seeded 13/16, Abdullah Nawaz also advanced with a straight-games victory over Belgium’s Corentin Boniver, winning 11-5, 11-8 and 11-5.