JBS and Mercantile partner to enable official Apple Products for Pakistan Enterprises

Jaffer Business Systems (JBS) and Mercantile have announced a strategic partnership to make official Apple products more accessible to businesses across Pakistan. By enabling organisations to adopt Apple products with local support, the partnership will contribute to building AI-native organisations and power growth within Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.

As Mercantile’s Preferred Partner for Enterprise, JBS will add Apple products to its compute portfolio, extending its offering from data centers and infrastructure to workplace and handheld devices. The partnership goes beyond device distribution by giving Pakistani enterprises a structured route to adopt, manage and support global workplace technology within their existing workplace and IT environments.

The partnership will allow organisations to work with JBS beyond the point of purchase, with support across deployment, device management, ongoing service, and the wider lifecycle of their Apple estate. This also extends JBS’s portfolio into handheld devices, helping connect the devices people use every day with the wider technology environment behind them.

The offering will include support for Apple Business, Automated Device Enrolment, Managed Apple Accounts, device management guidance, and access to warranty and after-sales services through Mercantile and Mercantile Care. Enterprise adoption through an authorised ecosystem also means greater confidence around authenticity, warranty, deployment and after-sales support, all of which are important when organisations are investing at scale.

Hasina’s daughter resigns as WHO regional head

Saima Wazed, the World Health Organisation’s Southeast Asia head and daughter of ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, resigned, according to her resignation letter, following fraud investigations by the UN agency and Bangladeshi authorities.

Wazed’s case shows how the fallout from Hasina’s ouster following a deadly uprising against her around mid-2024 has spread to her family members, beyond her political allies. Many of Hasina’s allies face criminal charges, including for alleged corruption in Bangladesh, or live in self-imposed exile like Hasina.

The WHO said a committee had recommended Wazed’s dismissal the day before her resignation. The UN health agency had placed Wazed, who took office as its Southeast Asia regional director in early 2024 for a five-year term, on unpaid administrative leave late last year. She was first sent on leave in July 2025 after Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission, under an interim government that replaced Hasina, filed charges against her in March that year alleging fraud and forgery.

The WHO accused Wazed of “committing financial fraud in relation to her travel to China” and of misrepresenting her academic credentials, according to a separate letter from her lawyers to the WHO on July 3, 2026. Wazed has denied the allegations.

Pakistan’s Manesha Ali wins IMMAF World Cup gold

Pakistan’s Manesha Ali defeated Angola’s Leonela Isabel Blaiye by second-round submission to win gold at the IMMAF World Cup in Luanda, Angola.

With 30 seconds left in the second round, the exhausted Angolan charged forward, throwing a barrage of punches. Manesha, who trains out of Brave Gym Lahore and hails from Gilgit-Baltistan, caught her in a standing guillotine and wrapped up the win with 15 seconds to go.

The tournament featured 15 top-ranked teams from around the world, bringing together some of the strongest amateur MMA talent.

The campaign now moves to the Pakistan Open, followed by the IMMAF World Championships in Georgia, beginning on November 1, where Manesha will compete for a world title.

“I believe completely in my training and in the mentorship of Omar Ahmed,” Manesha said in a statement released by the Pakistan MMA Federation. “In less than a year, I have developed enormously as a fighter, but this is only one step. My eyes are now firmly set on the IMMAF World Championships in Georgia. The goal is to become world champion in IMMAF and be the first Pakistani female fighter in UFC.”

ADB, World Bank show interest in $6.8bn ML-1

Major international lenders, including the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and World Bank (WB), have expressed interest in the 1,800km Karachi-Peshawar Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway project, with its revised estimated cost of $6.8 billion following the withdrawal of Chinese financing.

A team from the Economic Affairs Division (EAD), led by Secretary Humair Karim, briefed the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on EAD on the ML-1 project. The panel, presided over by Mirza Ikhtiyar Baig, was informed that the “ADB is being considered as the lead financing institution, while co-financing commitments have been made by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the World Bank,” the NA secretariat said.

Bangladesh’s fuel price hike starts hitting logistics sector

Owners across Chattogram port’s logistics chain have begun raising charges and pressing for rate revisions after the latest fuel price hike, stoking fears of fresh cost pressure on businesses and exporters already struggling to compete internationally.

In immediate reaction to the rising fuel costs, owners of 21 private inland container depots (ICDs) raised six handling charges, while berth operators wrote to the port authority seeking higher rates. Lighter vessel owners also began discussions on freight rates, and road transport associations held urgent meetings to assess the impact.

Transport leaders across the board warned that fares and charges would rise further unless the government reconsidered the decision.

Businesses, meanwhile, fear the ripple effects of higher fuel costs across production and supply chains.

Nestlé Pakistan and UAF strengthen partnership

Nestlé Pakistan and the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in sustainable agriculture, food science, nutrition, applied research, and workforce development. The collaboration supports Nestlé’s efforts to advance regenerative agriculture across its value chain as part of its global ambition to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

The MoU was signed during a visit by Jason Avanceña, CEO and Managing Director, Nestlé Pakistan, and the company’s senior leadership to UAF. The occasion also formalised the establishment of the Nestlé Learning Resource Center (NLRC) at the National Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFSAT), UAF.

Speaking on the occasion, Jason Avanceña, CEO and MD, Nestlé Pakistan, said, “Through the Nestlé Learning Resource Center and our continued partnership with UAF, we aim to create opportunities for knowledge sharing, research collaboration, and leadership development. It further strengthens our work in regenerative agriculture and food science, and enables creating shared value by bringing together knowledge, industry expertise and young talent.”

Prof. Dr. Zulfiqar Ali, Vice Chancellor, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, said, “Strong industry-academia linkages are essential to translating research into solutions that address real-world challenges. Our partnership with Nestlé Pakistan will provide greater opportunities for our students and researchers to gain practical exposure while jointly exploring solutions for more resilient and sustainable food systems in Pakistan.”

Highlighting the sustainability focus of the partnership, Sheikh Waqar Ahmad, Head of Corporate Affairs & Sustainability, Nestlé Pakistan, said, “Regenerative agriculture is an important part of Nestlé’s journey towards net zero, biodiversity and climate resilience. Our focus is on protecting and restoring natural resources, while strengthening the resilience of farming communities.”

Maldives meets UN target for reducing premature chronic disease deaths

The Maldives has become the only country in the World Health Organization’s South East Asia region to meet the UN target for reducing premature deaths from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases, cancers and diabetes.

Globally, NCDs account for roughly three-quarters of all deaths, with millions of people dying prematurely before the age of 70, according to the WHO.

Some SIDS, especially in the Pacific and Caribbean regions, have among the highest rates of obesity and NCDs in the world because of increasingly sedentary lifestyles and consumption of imported processed foods.

Many are far from meeting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of reducing premature deaths from the four key NCDs by one-third among people aged 30 to 70 by 2030.

For the Maldives, in the Indian Ocean, a digital-focused primary health care model has played a key part in achieving this goal four years early, according to the WHO. The WHO-supported model was first piloted on Faafu Atoll, a tiny atoll comprising 23 islands and islets, only five of which are inhabited.

Starbucks turns to India for new Technology Hub

Starbucks Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Anand Varadarajan has released a letter to partners outlining the coffeehouse chain’s intent to build a new Technology Hub in Chennai, India.

It had been shared earlier this year with the Starbucks Technology team that plans were in place to open a new hub in India in FY27, with the aim of supporting the global business and working closely with the technology and business teams in the United States and across the country.

“This is an important milestone in how we continue to build a more flexible and globally connected Technology organisation. Our teams already work closely with technology vendors in India and other countries. Establishing a Starbucks Technology hub in India gives us the opportunity to build a more partner-centric organisation which will be created by bringing capability inside Starbucks over time and creating stronger connections to the work, priorities and culture of our business,” the letter from Varadarajan reads.

“The selection of Chennai was informed by several factors, including access to a deep pool of technology talent, a reputation for strong talent retention, the ability to support our long-term business needs and alignment with the ways our teams work across Seattle, Nashville, London, and Hong Kong. As we move forward, this office will become part of our broader Technology footprint, not a separate or standalone team. The intent is to strengthen how we deliver for Starbucks partners, coffeehouses and customers by building teams that are connected across sites and focused on shared priorities.”

Govt finalises sweeping civil service reforms

Amid concerns over declining standards and lack of specialisation in the bureaucracy, the federal government has finalised a sweeping restructuring of the civil service, proposing 11 new professional cadres, a complete overhaul of the Central Superior Services (CSS) examination and senior-level promotions and linking officials’ performance to financial rewards.

The proposed reforms, estimated to cost Rs11 billion to implement, seek to reshape recruitment, training, career progression, performance evaluation and the institutional structure of the federal bureaucracy.

The package was unveiled at a consultative session on civil service reforms chaired by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal.

The session was attended by Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Federal Minister Aleem Khan, former PTI federal minister Asad Umar, senior policymakers, sector specialists and other stakeholders.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had constituted two committees on civil service reforms, which have held 18 meetings since September 2024 and reached consensus on 43 of 46 recommendations.

Norway Gives $1.63 Million to Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund

Norway has contributed 15 million Norwegian kroner, or about $1.63 million, to the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund as the United Nations warns that millions of Afghans need assistance, but the humanitarian response remains severely underfunded.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, said on X that the Norwegian contribution would help sustain humanitarian assistance for people in need across Afghanistan.

The contribution comes as 21.9 million people — about 45% of Afghanistan’s population — are expected to need humanitarian assistance in 2026, according to the UN’s 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan. Humanitarian agencies are seeking to provide assistance to 17.5 million people through a response requiring $1.71 billion.

But the response faces a major funding gap. As of August 26, the UN had received only $509.3 million, or 29.7% of the total requirement, leaving about $1.2 billion still unfunded, OCHA said.

The UN plan says Afghanistan’s humanitarian needs are being driven by widespread poverty and food insecurity, climate-related shocks, recurrent disease outbreaks, natural disasters and protection concerns.

Innovation Hive @ USEFP Launched in Islamabad

The U.S.-Pakistan partnership on entrepreneurship took a new step with the launch of Innovation Hive @ USEFP, a new entrepreneurship hub established by the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy to connect Pakistani startups with American expertise, mentors, technology and business networks.

Federal Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja inaugurated the Innovation Hive in Islamabad alongside U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker.

The initiative aims to strengthen Pakistan’s startup ecosystem by providing entrepreneurs with access to mentorship, networking opportunities, demo days and practical business training. The platform is designed to help emerging entrepreneurs develop their ideas into scalable businesses while connecting them with international expertise and opportunities.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja also acknowledged Visa’s She’s Next programme for its contribution to promoting women’s entrepreneurship in Pakistan. She highlighted the importance of initiatives that provide women entrepreneurs with opportunities for mentorship, skills development and greater participation in the digital economy.

U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker encouraged young Pakistani entrepreneurs to pursue innovative ideas and highlighted the social impact initiatives of American companies operating in Pakistan, including Visa’s efforts to support women-led businesses.

She’s Next, Visa’s flagship women’s entrepreneurship initiative in Pakistan, is designed to help women-led businesses address challenges related to funding, mentorship and business growth. Through the program, women entrepreneurs have received grants, tailored training, mentoring and access to a broader business network.

Since its launch in Pakistan, She’s Next has awarded US$100,000 in grants and supported more than 120 women entrepreneurs through mentorship and the She’s Next Club, contributing to greater participation of women in the country’s digital economy and small and medium-sized enterprise sector.

The launch of Innovation Hive @ USEFP marks another effort to create stronger connections between Pakistan’s emerging entrepreneurs and international expertise, resources and business networks.

Bangladesh Seeks Bhutan’s Support to Revitalise SAARC

Bangladesh has sought Bhutan’s support for revitalising the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) for the collective benefit of the region and its people. The request was made during Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay’s brief transit stopover in Dhaka, where the two sides discussed bilateral and regional issues and reaffirmed their longstanding ties. Bangladesh also recalled the close friendship between the two countries, with Bhutan having been the first country to recognise Bangladesh after its independence in 1971.

Bangladesh also expressed interest in contributing skilled and semi-skilled manpower to Bhutan’s ambitious Gelephu Mindfulness City project. Dhaka sees potential for greater cooperation in human-resource development, trade, investment, connectivity, tourism and other areas linked to the initiative. The two sides have previously discussed expanding economic cooperation and exploring mutually beneficial opportunities associated with the Gelephu project.

The renewed call for SAARC revitalisation comes amid Bangladesh’s broader efforts to strengthen regional cooperation through the eight-member organisation, which has faced prolonged challenges in maintaining momentum. Dhaka has recently reiterated its commitment to reviving the SAARC process and promoting greater regional connectivity and economic cooperation.

US has secretly deported 25,000 migrants, says report

The United States has deported more than 25,000 people under secretive agreements with 35 countries to take migrants with no ties to those nations.

Since US President Donald Trump took office in January 2025, Washington has been signing deals with developing countries to take migrants who cannot legally be sent home.

The investigation by Forbidden Stories found the administration has earmarked $410 million to be paid directly to the receiving countries, or to UN agencies to facilitate the returns.

At least 25,447 people had already been deported to third countries by August 31, 2026, according to data compiled by Forbidden Stories with a consortium of international journalists.

The vast majority, around 20,000, were sent to Mexico, but the rest were dispersed to 27 other countries across Latin America, Africa, and the Pacific, and agreements have been finalised with seven more. The deals vary, including over which nationalities can be deported and whether people with criminal records can be accepted.

An investigation earlier this year found Washington is using visa bans and restrictions on African countries to strong-arm them into accepting deportees. Lawyers said that deportees were being thrown into a “legal black hole”, held without charge in countries where they have no ties and few, if any, rights.

Forbidden Stories said 49 of Africa’s 54 countries had been approached about accepting third-country deportees. A little-known State Department division called the Office of Remigration, created in May 2025, has handled most of the negotiations and payments, according to Forbidden Stories.

Italy to ban veils in schools

Italy is preparing to ban face coverings in schools and to cap the number of international students per class, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said as she played up her right-wing credentials at a youth event organised by her party.

Italy is among the European countries most exposed to migrant arrivals because of its central Mediterranean location, making migration a hot-button issue and a major challenge for successive governments.

The integration of migrants, particularly those from Muslim-majority countries, remains contentious in Italian politics and society. Debates over religious symbols, cultural integration, citizenship rules and immigration policy frequently polarise public opinion.

“A measure will soon be presented to a Cabinet meeting to establish a maximum number of foreign students per class legally. It also requires parents of foreign students facing serious difficulties integrating into the school system to learn Italian and bans burqas and niqabs in schools,” Meloni told an annual gathering of the youth wing of her Brothers of Italy party.

“You must go to school with your face uncovered, and in Italy no one, in the name of a real or supposed tradition, can decide that a young woman must hide herself,” Meloni said.

“If there is only one child in a class who doesn’t understand Italian, that child will likely be able to learn the language and integrate quickly with the help of classmates and teachers.

CORRIGENDUM

In the news item titled “50 Years Beyond the Last Mountain,” published in the September 2026 issue of Monthly SouthAsia, incorrect information pertaining to the storyline of the film was inadvertently included. The film’s storyline narrates the passage of an urban-based young man searching for the man who ordered the killing of his father. During this search, the young man encounters three strong-willed women very different from the stereotypes normally featured in commercial cinema films. We regret the error and apologise to our readers and the concerned parties for any confusion or inconvenience caused.