Pakistan to send delegation to US for talks on new tariffs

Marking the culmination of its highly anticipated 12-week virtual program “InsurAI,” Tawuniya, the largest insurance company in the Middle East and North Africa, successfully concluded its Demo Day on May 26. The event showcased 10 cutting-edge startups, selected from a competitive pool of over 1,000 applicants, which presented their innovative solutions designed to unlock new avenues for growth and transformation in the insurance sector.

Launched in December 2024 by Tawuniya in collaboration with Plug and Play, and supported by government partners including Monsha’at and CODE, the InsurAI program underscores Tawuniya’s steadfast commitment to driving digital transformation in the region’s insurance industry. It also aims to propel economic development and strengthen Saudi Arabia’s growing startup ecosystem in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030 goals.

The program provided a unique platform for 10 rising innovators — Papaya Insurtech, WideBot AI, DESAISIV, Najeeb.ai, Intella, Yasmina, AlloBrain, Curacel, CozmoX AI, and Chefaa — who were selected through a rigorous evaluation process. During Demo Day, these startups pitched their next-generation generative AI solutions to a curated audience of investors, technology leaders, and Tawuniya executives.

Abdullah Alshargi, CTO at Tawuniya, said: “The InsurAI is more than just a platform — it’s a statement of intent. We are investing in a future where artificial intelligence is seamlessly integrated into the insurance ecosystem to bring about real, measurable impact. Demo Day spotlighted how visionary startups are already solving some of the industry’s most pressing challenges — from claims automation and fraud detection to hyper-personalized customer experiences.”

“Through strategic partnerships and hands-on mentorship, we have built a launchpad for innovation that aligns with Tawuniya’s mission to lead the digital transformation of the insurance sector. We envision InsurAI as a catalyst for long-term collaboration and a driver of what’s next in insurtech,” he added

Over the course of the program, each team received expert mentorship and support in areas such as product development, regulatory compliance, and go-to-market strategy. Strategic partners played an instrumental role in the program, enhancing the startups’ journey toward scalability and investment-readiness.

The event concluded with the announcement of the top three startups, who shared a prize pool of $225,000 alongside potential partnership opportunities with Tawuniya.

This event marks a significant milestone in Tawuniya’s mission to foster an innovation-driven ecosystem and cement Saudi Arabia’s role as a regional hub for AI and insurtech.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s moon sighting committee announced today, Tuesday, that the crescent marking the beginning of the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah was not sighted due to unclear skies and the Eid Al-Adha festival would commence from June 7. 

Dhul Hijjah is the twelfth and final month of the Islamic calendar, a sacred period during which the Hajj pilgrimage and Eid Al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, take place. It is one of the four holy months in Islam, with the first 10 days especially revered and considered among the best days of the year for performing righteous deeds.

“Today, in Pakistan, most areas experienced cloudy weather, and some areas had clear skies. The confirmation of sighting of the Dhul Hijjah moon has not been received from any part of Pakistan,” Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad said at a press conference.

“Hence unanimously [we have] decided that the first Dhul Hijjah, 1446 AH will be observed on Thursday, May 29 and Eid Al-Adha will be on Saturday, June 7, 2025.”

Commemorating the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son on God’s command, Muslims mark the Eid Al-Adha holiday by slaughtering animals such as sheep, cows and goats. The meat is shared among family and friends and also donated to the poor.

Eid Al-Adha is observed on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah, while the annual Hajj pilgrimage will commence on June 4.