Pakistan’s army chief speaks out against ‘negative propaganda’ on social media platforms

Pakistan army chief General Asim Munir addresses the passing out parade of cadets of the 147th PMA Long Course at the Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul, Pakistan, on April 29, 2023. (ISPR/File)
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Updated 24 January 2024
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Pakistan’s army chief speaks out against ‘negative propaganda’ on social media platforms

  • “Negative propaganda” on social media aimed at spreading uncertainty, hopelessness, says army chief
  • Says armed forces of Pakistan are “fully prepared” to deal with any threat or conspiracy facing the country

ISLAMABAD: Army chief General Syed Asim Munir spoke out against “negative propaganda” on social media platforms in Pakistan on Wednesday, vowing that the military is prepared to deal with any threat or conspiracy, state media reported. 

The army chief was speaking to participants of the Pakistan National Youth Conference in Islamabad. Last month, Munir condemned the spread of disinformation in Pakistan’s cyberspace, saying it was creating an atmosphere of anxiety on social media platforms. 

Former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and supporters have widely criticized the country’s powerful military, which has ruled the country directly for half of its history, on social media platforms since his ouster from office in April 2022. Khan and the PTI have a strong presence on social media platforms in Pakistan, where the party’s followers have attacked Pakistan’s military for not thwarting Khan’s ouster from office.

“Syed Asim Munir said the armed forces can fight terrorists but they too need cooperation and support of the entire nation,” the state-run Radio Pakistan said. “He said the negative propaganda, being spread on social media, is aimed at creating uncertainty and hopelessness in the country.

The army chief advised people to double-check the news that is disseminated on social media, adding that without proper research, there would be “chaos” in society.

“Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir has said the armed forces of Pakistan are fully prepared against any threat and conspiracy,” the state-run media said. 

Munir’s comments come weeks before Pakistan heads to the polls on Feb. 8 as it faces overlapping security, economic and political crises. 

Experts and digital rights activists have warned against misinformation and the use of AI-generated fake news marring polls in Pakistan and other parts of the world in 2024. 


Pakistani’s Bioniks fits first prosthetic limb on Gaza child survivor Sidra

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Pakistani’s Bioniks fits first prosthetic limb on Gaza child survivor Sidra

  • Pakistani startup provides arm to young girl through Jordan partnership as part of Gaza amputee support mission
  • Founded in Karachi, Bioniks specializes in low-cost, customizable prosthetics using 3D printing and smart sensors

KARACHI: Pakistani health-tech Bioniks has successfully fitted its first prosthetic limb in Gaza for a young girl injured in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, the firm said on social media on Thursday, marking the start of its broader effort to support amputees in the besieged territory.

The company said the fitting was made possible through its partnership with Mafaz, Bioniks’ official collaborator in Jordan. The recipient, Sidra, lost her arm during the war and now becomes the first beneficiary of Bioniks’ long-term humanitarian initiative aimed at war victims in Gaza.

“This marks the beginning of Bioniks’ mission to support amputees in Gaza,” the company said in a statement posted to X on Thursday, adding that Sidra’s journey “reflects the resilience of so many in Gaza.”

Bioniks said it hopes to give survivors “mobility, confidence, hope, dignity, and independence ... in a place where conflict has taken so much.”

Bioniks did not specify how many Gaza patients it plans to support or the timeline for future fittings but said its mission will be sustained and scaled in coordination with regional partners.

Founded in Karachi, Bioniks specializes in low-cost, customizable prosthetics using 3D printing and smart sensors. It has gained international recognition for its work with children and war survivors across Pakistan, and has begun expanding its outreach to conflict zones in the region.

The latest war in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas carried out a cross-border attack on Israeli communities, killing around 1,200 people and seizing 251 hostages according to Israeli tallies. Israel has since been carrying out a devastating air and ground assault on Gaza, whose health ministry says the offensive has killed over 56,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and tens of thousands more have been injured. The fighting has displaced nearly 80 percent of the population and decimated the strip’s already fragile health infrastructure.

Aid organizations have widely reported a growing number of amputations, especially among children, due to Israeli airstrikes and the collapse of trauma care. UNICEF estimates that between 3,000 and 4,000 children in Gaza have had one or more limbs amputated. The besieged enclave is now home to more child amputees per inhabitant than anywhere else in the world.

Bioniks said its goal is to reach more children and adults in Gaza with personalized prosthetic limbs and follow-up care.

“Bioniks believes that no one should be left behind when it comes to mobility and dignity,” the company said in the press release. “Through this initiative, our goal is to reach more children and adults affected by war with customized prosthetic limbs and long-term care.”

The company has previously worked with Pakistani hospitals and rehabilitation centers to provide smart prosthetics to underprivileged children and adults, often using crowd-funding and donor support to cover costs.


Pakistan central bank reserves rise to $14.51 billion, surpass IMF target

Updated 9 min 43 sec ago
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Pakistan central bank reserves rise to $14.51 billion, surpass IMF target

  • Forex reserves surge by over $5 billion in FY25, import cover and debt metrics improve
  • Reserves bolstered by exports, remittances, and investment and not new borrowing

KARACHI: Pakistan’s central bank foreign exchange reserves rose to $14.51 billion by the end of June, an increase of $5.12 billion over the previous fiscal year, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said on Wednesday, marking a key milestone as the country closed out its 2024-25 financial year.

The new figure exceeds the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) June 2025 reserves target under Pakistan’s ongoing $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF), and reflects a significant turnaround in the country’s external account after years of balance-of-payments stress.

Pakistan’s forex reserves stood at $9.39 billion at the end of FY24, and have now climbed to their highest level since early 2018. The increase also pushes Pakistan’s import cover — a key indicator of external sector strength — to 2.5 months, up from 1.7 months a year ago and less than one month during the 2022-23 crisis period.

The rise in reserves was driven largely by non-debt inflows, including improved exports, growth in IT services, higher foreign direct investment, and record remittances from overseas Pakistanis, according to government finance adviser Khurram Schehzad.

“Reserves rising. Debt falling. Stability strengthening,” Schehzad posted on X, formerly Twitter, noting that the central bank’s reserves now exceed the IMF’s end-June target.

He added that the debt-to-GDP ratio has declined from 75 percent in FY23 to an estimated 69 percent in FY25, reflecting improved macroeconomic management.

Pakistan entered FY25 facing a challenging external financing outlook, with over $20 billion in debt repayments due during the year. However, a combination of improved current account discipline, fiscal consolidation, and bilateral inflows helped ease pressure on the rupee and shore up confidence in the central bank’s position.

Pakistan’s economy grew an estimated 2.4 percent in FY25, up from 0.3 percent in the previous fiscal year, as inflation cooled and the rupee stabilized after a steep depreciation cycle in 2022-23. The IMF has encouraged Pakistan to maintain exchange rate flexibility and strengthen domestic revenue collection in order to ensure macroeconomic resilience.

The improvement in external buffers is likely to boost investor sentiment at a time when the government is stepping up efforts to attract foreign direct investment and privatize state-owned enterprises.

Further inflows, particularly from Gulf countries and China, are expected in the first half of FY26, which could help Pakistan meet its gross financing needs without resorting to expensive commercial borrowing.

Despite the progress, risks remain. Pakistan’s external debt servicing burden remains high, and its ability to maintain reserve adequacy will depend on continued inflows and fiscal discipline.

Still, the end-June reserve level marks a notable turnaround from just two years ago when Pakistan was on the brink of default and foreign reserves had fallen below $4 billion, barely enough for three weeks of imports.

With reserves now exceeding $14.5 billion, the country has gained critical breathing space to manage its external obligations and restore market confidence.


From Riyadh to Rawalpindi: How Pakistani women are redefining the abaya

Updated 18 min 47 sec ago
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From Riyadh to Rawalpindi: How Pakistani women are redefining the abaya

  • Gulf trends reshape local styles as designers blend Middle Eastern cuts with Pakistani preferences and flair
  • Young women are turning abayas into personal statements, helped by social media and global fashion cues

ISLAMABAD: In Pakistan, the abaya is undergoing a quiet but striking transformation. Long associated with uniform modesty and religious conservatism, this traditional black cloak worn by many Muslim women is now being reimagined by a new generation — one that blends cultural heritage with bold personal expression, often inspired by the glitz and fluidity of Gulf fashion capitals.

Originally worn across the Arabian Peninsula, the abaya has deep roots in Bedouin dress and later became a symbol of modesty under Islamic influence. In Pakistan, it gained prominence in the 1980s and 1990s, a period marked by rising religiosity, increased migration to Gulf countries, and the influence of satellite television beaming in images of Arab fashion.

For decades, black reigned supreme: functional, symbolic, and widely accepted.

But today, the abaya has become more than a religious garment. It is now a medium of fashion, expression and cultural exchange.

“The Middle East has turned abayas into a fashion trend,” said Nimra Saleem, a designer who is preparing to launch a dedicated abaya brand. 

“The Gulf states introduce new cuts, designs, colors, and fabrics every year. So, the cuts of my abayas, the inspiration was taken from Saudi Arabia itself, and I made such cuts that are not available in Pakistan yet.”

Nimra Saleem, a designer, is making sketches in Islamabad, Pakistan, on June 26, 2025. (AN Photo)

Saleem grew up in Saudi Arabia and returned to Pakistan six years ago to pursue a degree in textile design at the National College of Arts in Rawalpindi. Her thesis focused on women migrating from the Gulf, and she explored how Arabic aesthetics could merge with Pakistani tastes. Now, the abaya brand she plans to launch will reflect this evolving sensibility, she hopes. 

“Initially, abayas here were limited to plain black, but now people are using them as a form of self-expression, wearing them in vibrant colors, pairing them with colorful hijabs, and choosing fabrics like georgette and silk. Printed abayas are also becoming more popular.” 

To accommodate Pakistan’s climate while staying true to Gulf-inspired styles, Saleem uses lightweight fabrics similar to those worn in the Middle East.

“These abayas can be worn in Pakistan too because they’re very weather friendly,” she said.

SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCE

The cultural pull of the Gulf, particularly from style hubs like Dubai and Jeddah, continues to influence aesthetics across South Asia, especially among upwardly mobile urban Pakistanis. Social media has only amplified that impact, offering a steady stream of Gulf fashion influencers and modestwear labels that are increasingly global in reach.

For designers like Abdul Rahman, a boutique owner in Rawalpindi with a strong social media following, the shift in tastes is undeniable.

“Over the past five years, trends have changed,” he said. “We design abayas according to customer choice, some like party wear, some need casual wear, and some prefer normal embroidery.”

Rahman’s business, which once catered mostly to domestic buyers, now processes online orders from across the globe.

“We get a lot of orders from South Africa, the United Kingdom, and UAE because abayas there are costly,” he explained.

His store offers options ranging from Rs3,000 ($11) to Rs20,000 ($71), making Pakistani-made garments more affordable for diaspora communities seeking modestwear.

This intersection of modesty and style also resonates with many young women in Pakistan, who say the abaya is no longer seen as restrictive, but adaptable.

“The time is changing, and people are understanding that it’s not about the black color,” said Areeba Faisal, a university student in Islamabad. “It’s about modesty and how you carry yourself.”

While she personally favors black abayas for most occasions, she appreciates the variety now available.

“On some occasions, I prefer to wear this kind of stuff— colored and embroidered abayas,” she said. “Islam does not mandate wearing a specific type of gown, nor does it require it to be black or free of embellishments.”

Another student, Humaira Javeed, echoed that view. “Everything evolves with time— including clothing. Abayas are no exception,” she said.

She prefers light colors, such as skin tones or pastels, but still sees black as modern and versatile. For her, wearing an abaya is more cultural than religious, and there’s space within tradition for creativity.

“It’s not something to be stigmatized in any way,” she added.

Indeed, the new wave of abaya culture in Pakistan reflects broader conversations about identity and modernity in the Muslim world.

In places like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, where strict dress codes once mandated uniform black cloaks, fashion-forward abayas now come in soft hues, adorned with intricate embroidery, pleats, lace, and avant-garde silhouettes. 

These trends are finding fertile ground in Pakistan, where decades of exposure to Gulf culture through migration, media, and remittances have reshaped everything from food to fashion.

“Girls expressing themselves through abayas inspired me to create pieces that prove modesty can be just as fashionable and trend-aware,” said Saleem. “You can be modest, and you can still be in trend.”


Blast claimed by Daesh kills four in northwest Pakistan

Updated 51 min 51 sec ago
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Blast claimed by Daesh kills four in northwest Pakistan

  • Officials were traveling in a car in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province when attack happened in a market in Bajaur city
  • Around 300 people, mostly security officials, have been killed in attacks in KP and Balochistan provinces since start of year

PESHAWAR: An explosion in northwest Pakistan killed at least four local government officials and police Wednesday, an officer told AFP, in an attack claimed by a branch of the Daesh group.

“One senior government official, along with another government official and two police officers, were killed in the attack. Eleven people were wounded,” said Waqas Rafiq, a senior police official stationed in Bajaur, a city near the border with Afghanistan.

The officials were traveling in a car in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province when “the attack happened in a market in Bajaur city,” Rafiq added.

Hours later the IS-K group of Daesh claimed to have detonated an explosives-laden moped that targeted the vehicle in which the officials were traveling.

The deadly blast came four days after 16 soldiers were killed in the same province in an attack claimed by the Pakistan Taliban, a group which is very active in the area.

Around 300 people, mostly security officials, have been killed in attacks since the start of the year by armed groups fighting the government in both Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, according to an AFP tally.

Last year was the deadliest in a decade for Pakistan, with a surge in attacks that killed more than 1,600 people, according to Islamabad-based analysis group the Center for Research and Security Studies.

Pakistan has witnessed a sharp rise in violence in its regions bordering Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021, with Islamabad accusing its western neighbor of allowing its soil to be used for attacks against Pakistan — a claim the Taliban denies.


Pakistan eyes global models to expand SME finance, tackle low credit access

Updated 50 min 25 sec ago
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Pakistan eyes global models to expand SME finance, tackle low credit access

  • Minister stresses SMEs’ role in GDP, employment at international development forum
  • Government says reforms to boost lending, cut red tape and spur sustainable growth

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb this week stressed on the importance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for the country’s economy, highlighting his government’s policy to increase their lending portfolio to enhance their contributions to employment, exports and the national GDP. 

Pakistan’s finance czar was speaking at a high-level panel discussion titled “Scaling up SME Finance” on Wednesday, hosted at the International Business Forum on the sidelines of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) in Sevilla, Spain.

The minister underscored the importance of SMEs to Pakistan’s economy, noting that these enterprises account for approximately 40 percent of the country’s GDP, 25 percent of exports and nearly 78 percent of non-agricultural employment.

However, Aurangzeb noted that despite their contributions, SMEs access to formal finance remains “disproportionately low,” with a small percentage of private-sector lending currently directed toward them, the finance ministry said. He said the government is actively working through the central bank to encourage commercial banks to expand their SME lending portfolios.

“This expansion is expected to enhance the contribution of SMEs to GDP, exports, employment, youth and women’s digital empowerment, and overall financial inclusion, laying the foundation for sustained and inclusive economic growth,” the finance ministry said. 

The minister said the government’s parallel efforts are underway to strengthen the institutional capacity of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) so it can extend market linkages, provide regulatory relief, enhance advisory services and lead capacity-building initiatives.

“Deregulation efforts, such as reducing reliance on NOCs and increasing e-inspections, are also being introduced to reduce compliance burdens for SMEs,” the finance ministry added. 

Aurangzeb expressed his desire to learn from successful models across other emerging markets and fostering partnerships that promote technology-driven, climate-compliant, and socially inclusive SME development. 

Pakistan’s government has increasingly spoken about achieving sustainable economic growth and moving the country away from his usual “boom and bust” cycle. 

The government has attempted to pursue this through financial reforms, signing trade and business agreements with regional allies worth billions of dollars and enhancing its exports.