KARACHI: In a move towards digitalisation of financial products and services, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has introduced digital cheques clearing and a unified QR code for payments. Announcing these initiatives at the 5th stakeholders’ meeting on Digital Financial Services, SBP Governor Dr Reza Baqir said the introduction of these digital services by the financial institutions will benefit all …

ISLAMABAD: Reporting about 20 per cent increase in peak summer electricity demand, the government on Wednesday sought approval for an approximately $400 million energy sector loan by the World Bank (WB) by end-September. A senior government official told Dawn that a meeting of WB’s Board of Directors is expected on September 27 and the authorities are making efforts to address outstanding issues …

ISLAMABAD: Taking some corrective measures in procurement of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), the government on Wednesday ordered its two entities — Pakistan State Oil and Pakistan LNG Ltd — to make public disclosure of bidding results in a timely manner to ensure transparency. “Both the entities are advised to publish the results of the procurement decisions within 24 hours on …

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Wednesday wrote letters to the UN Security Council and the UN Secretary General, drawing their attention to “unlawful steps” being taken by India after the annexation of the disputed region of Kashmir to strengthen its “colonial hold” on the territory. These actions include changes to the demographic structure and electoral boundaries in the …

Barbra Streisand recently weighed in on wanting to obtain “a purpose bigger than myself” through philanthropy. The star got candid about it all in an exclusive interview clip with Zane Lowe. There she began by stressing on the importance of wanting a ‘purposeful’ existence and admitted, “Isn’t it great for women now? Oh my God. I mean, I started off with …

Award winning singer and songwriter Blake Shelton recently got about having to answer a hoard of ‘awkward conversations’ with friends after having a small wedding ceremony. The singer got candid about it all during his interview with SiriusXM’s Storme Warren. There he was quoted saying, “I’ve had awkward conversations with so many of my friends. ‘Oh, oh, yeah. I read about that. …

Selena Gomez has befittingly reacted to a joke made about her on a TV show, saying ‘I am not sure how writing jokes about organ transplants has become a thing.’ On a recent episode of the Paramount+ show ‘The Good Fight’, a reference to the pop star was made by the characters while discussing which topics comedians cannot talk about …

Priyanka Chopra wished her pal Meghan Markle a very happy birthday, putting rumours of discord to rest as she responded to the Duchess of Sussex for her latest initiative. Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, Priyanka Chopra wrote that she was ‘happy to join’ the cause, and praised Prince Harry’s wife  for putting the welfare of others before her own, on …

The Grammy Awards show has committed to hiring a diverse team of people working on and off stage to produce the highest honors in the music industry, organizers said on Wednesday. The Recording Academy said it was adopting a so-called “inclusion rider” to its contract with producers of the January 2022 Grammy ceremony to boost diversity at every level. The …

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry ‘nearly’ set up camp in New Zealand after stepping down from the royal family. The revelation was made by the country’s governor-general Dame Patsy Reddy who said the Duke and Duchess of Sussex contemplated living in New Zealand. “When we sat down and had a drink, and they said that they could imagine living in …