General Aamer Raza Appointed Commander National Strategic Command

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has promoted Lieutenant General Aamer Raza, Chief of the General Staff of the Pakistan Army, to the rank of four-star general and appointed him as Commander National Strategic Command.

The Prime Minister congratulated General Aamer Raza on his promotion and appointment, and wished him success in carrying out this important responsibility.

The position was created under the 27th Constitutional Amendment, which amended Article 243 of the Constitution. The amendment abolished the longstanding office of the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) and established the posts of Chief of Defence Forces and Commander National Strategic Command. It also expanded the constitutional powers of the country’s senior military leadership and introduced constitutional protections for five-star generals.

According to the ISPR, General Raza was presented with a guard of honour upon his arrival at GHQ on his appointment as CNSC.

Pakistan Banking Summit 2026 Concludes with a Unified Vision

The Pakistan Banks Association (PBA) concluded the second Pakistan Banking Summit 2026 (PBS’26), reaffirming the banking industry’s collective commitment to supporting Pakistan’s next phase of economic transformation through stronger collaboration, innovation, financial inclusion and policy dialogue.

PBS’26 brought together more than 1,200 attendees, including policymakers, regulators, banking leaders, international experts, development partners, academics and representatives of corporate Pakistan, reinforcing its position as the country’s premier platform for shaping the future of banking and financial services.

The Summit also featured more than 15 international speakers and over 20 local thought leaders, providing a unique forum for exchanging global perspectives, strengthening public-private collaboration and identifying practical pathways to build a more resilient, inclusive and future-ready financial system.

PBS’26 featured keynote addresses by Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, Federal Minister for Finance & Revenue; Jameel Ahmad, Governor, State Bank of Pakistan; Bilal Azhar Kayani, Minister of State for Finance & Railways and Head of the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit; Saleem Ullah, Deputy Governor, State Bank of Pakistan; and Shahmir Khaliq, Global Head of Services, Citi. The Summit also included a special video message from Syed Babar Ali, Founding Pro-Chancellor of the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).

India’s ‘Cockroach’ Movement Ends Protests After Education Minister Resigns

India’s Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, announced his resignation after weeks of mass youth-led protests over alleged exam paper leaks and irregularities in the education system.

“I am pained by the events of the past 10 days. This is not a matter of personal prestige for me,” Pradhan said in a statement posted on the social media platform X.

“I have sent my resignation letter to the Prime Minister,” Pradhan said in a letter written in Hindi.

The social media-driven Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), which led the protests, said that following Pradhan’s resignation, all its demands had been met during another round of talks and that it was calling off demonstrations centred at Janatar Mantar in central New Delhi.

“We urge everyone to peacefully withdraw from the protest sites,” Ashutosh Ranka, spokesperson for the CJP, told a news briefing in New Delhi.

The “Cockroach” movement began more than a month ago following allegations of leaks in some of India’s largest entrance examinations. It started as a campaign for education reforms but evolved into a broader protest against unemployment, government accountability and limited economic opportunities. Students, professionals, families and activists joined demonstrations in New Delhi and other cities across India.

Saadia Zahidi Named IATA’s First Woman Director General

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Saadia Zahidi as Director General, effective November 1 2026. Zahidi will become IATA’s ninth Director General and the first woman to hold the position. She joins IATA from the World Economic Forum (WEF), where she serves as a Managing Director and Member of the Managing Board.

Willie Walsh, IATA’s current Director General, concluded his tenure on July 31 2026. The IATA Board of Directors has appointed Sandrine Le Borgne, IATA’s Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President, Corporate Services, as Interim Director General for the intervening period.

Zahidi brings extensive experience in global economic policy, leadership, and international collaboration, having played a key role in shaping the World Economic Forum’s work on competitiveness, the future of work, and sustainable development. Her appointment marks a significant milestone for IATA as the association looks to strengthen the aviation industry’s resilience, drive innovation, and support sustainable growth in an increasingly complex global operating environment.

HBL wins ‘Pakistan’s Best Bank 2026 award by Euromoney

Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026 has awarded HBL the accolade of ‘Pakistan’s Best Bank’. The Bank has also won ‘Pakistan’s Best Retail Bank’, ‘Pakistan’s Best Bank for Sustainable Finance’, ‘Pakistan’s Best for Capital Markets Advisory’, and ‘Pakistan’s Best Investment Bank for M&A’.

Euromoney is a global English-language publication focused on business and finance. These awards are the most prestigious recognition in the banking industry, globally.

The Euromoney citation acknowledges that “Habib Bank Limited (HBL) is recognized as Pakistan’s best bank for 2026, reflecting its market leadership, scale and consistent delivery across retail, corporate, investment and private banking segments, underpinned by strong financial performance and nationwide reach.”

Commenting on the recognition, Muhammad Nassir Salim, President & CEO – HBL, said: “These awards reflect HBL’s transformation into a client-first organization, delivering unparalleled value to our clients. Being recognized as Pakistan’s Best Bank is a tribute to our millions of clients’ continued trust and confidence in HBL.”

Mastercard and Bank of Punjab Expand Digital Payments Partnership

Senior leadership of Mastercard and The Bank of Punjab (BOP) met in Karachi to reaffirm and expand their strategic alliance aimed at supporting Pakistan’s transition towards a cashless, digitally connected and financially inclusive economy.

Ms. Ailish Campbell, Executive Vice President – Public Sector, headed the Mastercard delegation, which also comprised Mr. Arslan Khan, Country Manager – Pakistan, and Mr. Jibran Jamshad, Director – Business Development. The BOP delegation was led by Mr. Zafar Masud, President & CEO, and included Mr. Nofel Daud, Chief Digital Officer, Mr. Raza Bashir, Chief of Staff & Strategy, Mr. Qasim Nadeem, Group Head – Treasury & Financial Institutions, and Mr. Rai Usman, Head of Cards.

Building on a long-standing and successful collaboration, the two organisations discussed strengthening their relationship to support Pakistan’s digital economy through financial inclusion, transit payments, digital government disbursements and cross-border remittances. A significant part of the talks focused on promoting greater acceptance and usage of secure digital payment solutions across consumers, merchants, businesses and government institutions through innovative card-based solutions, e-commerce, contactless transactions and next-generation payment technologies.

Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin Resigns

Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin has resigned two years before the end of his five-year term.

Shahabuddin, 76, cited health reasons for his decision. The move comes amid growing calls from opposition parties for him to step down.

“Recent medical examinations have diagnosed me with a condition known as autonomic neuropathy. Due to this condition, I occasionally experience momentary loss of consciousness,” Shahabuddin said.

The Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad, Bangladesh’s national parliament, will perform the duties of the president until a successor is elected, the statement added.

According to the Constitution, a new president must be elected within the next 90 days.

“I am seriously ill and, therefore, unable to discharge the duties of this constitutional office,” Shahabuddin said in a letter to Parliament Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed.

The resignation comes amid media reports that Shahabuddin spoke by telephone with ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is living in India, during his visit to the UK for medical treatment in May, according to the Dhaka-based The Daily Star.

PM Asks Embassies to Create Employment Opportunities for Pakistanis

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged Pakistani embassies abroad to step up efforts to create employment opportunities for the Pakistani workforce.

Presiding over a meeting on employment opportunities for Pakistani youth, the Prime Minister also directed the complete digitalisation of the country’s immigration system.

He instructed the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) and the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme to ensure skills training, language courses and internationally recognised certifications for the workforce, particularly young people.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the Prime Minister said Pakistan’s workforce was highly capable and that the government was taking every possible step to provide internationally competitive education and expand employment opportunities abroad.

KE’s K-Solar, Chinese Firm Sign MoU

K-Solar (Pvt) Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of K-Electric’s investment arm, KE Ventures Company (Pvt) Ltd, and Mingyang Smart Energy Group Ltd, one of the world’s largest wind turbine manufacturers, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU).

Under the MoU, the two companies will collaborate to market, supply and finance wind power projects and battery energy storage systems (BESS) for the national grid and Pakistan’s commercial and industrial sectors. The partnership will also lay the groundwork for establishing a BESS assembly plant in the country.

According to a press release, the two companies will follow up the MoU with a formal framework agreement in the coming weeks.

Dutch Ambassador Visits FCEPL

The Dutch Ambassador to Pakistan, H.E. Robert-Jan Seigert, visited the FrieslandCampina Engro Pakistan Limited (FCEPL) Head Office and met with the company’s leadership team to discuss the organisation’s progress, the broader outlook for Pakistan’s dairy sector, and opportunities for future growth and investment.

During the meeting, the FCEPL leadership provided an overview of the company’s performance, ongoing initiatives and future growth potential. The discussion also explored the evolving landscape of Pakistan’s dairy sector, including its capacity for expansion and modernisation.

As part of the visit, the Ambassador also addressed employees during a town hall session. The interaction focused on the potential of Pakistani talent and the opportunities within the dairy sector. Employees engaged in a dialogue on the industry’s growth and their role in shaping its future.

Pakistani Filmmakers Invited to Submit Films for Oscars

The Pakistani Academy Selection Committee (PASC) is inviting filmmakers to submit their films for Oscar consideration in the International Feature Film category of the 99th Academy Awards. The submission deadline is 5:00 pm PST on Monday, August 10 2026.

An international film is defined as a feature-length motion picture of more than 40 minutes, produced outside the United States of America and its territories, with a predominantly (more than 50 per cent) non-English dialogue track. Animated and documentary feature films are also eligible, according to a press release issued by the PASC.

The selection committee comprises individuals chosen through a process of private nominations and referrals. Nominators are esteemed film professionals—predominantly filmmakers, artists and craftspeople with expertise in motion pictures. Current and former committee members may recommend candidates, including potential replacements for departing or unavailable members. Proposed candidates are reviewed for eligibility, potential conflicts of interest and willingness to comply with confidentiality obligations before being ratified by a majority vote of eligible returning committee members.

Bhutan records historic tourist arrivals surge

Bhutan welcomed 25,195 tourists in June 2026, more than double the arrivals recorded in the same month a year earlier, according to the Department of Tourism’s monthly bulletin. Of these, 17,814 visitors came from outside India, while 7,381 were Indian nationals, reflecting Bhutan’s growing appeal among both regional and long-haul travellers. The surge follows the inaugural Bhutan International Travel Mart, held from June 11-13 in Thimphu, which brought together more than 200 international buyers from 15 countries alongside over 50 Bhutanese exhibitors, including tour operators, hotels and airlines.