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FINTECHAjman Bank centralises CBUAE regulatory reporting on new RegTech platform
Ajman Bank has deployed a RegTech system built with 4most and Reporting Center to consolidate its reporting to the Central Bank of the UAE into one auditable, reconfigurable workflow.
NEWSSquare Tech and GOAT Network sign MOU on AI agent stablecoin payments
Square Tech will explore AI agent-powered stablecoin payments for foreign tourists with GOAT Network and DAC Labs, subject to Korean legal and regulatory review.
NEWSVisa survey finds low stablecoin awareness and trust among Filipinos
Only four in 10 Filipinos have heard of stablecoins and just 9% strongly trust them for remittances, a Visa survey found, though 40% want more education on digital money.
- AI
Pakistan building Urdu AI model Buraq on sovereign compute, minister says
IT minister tells Seoul summit that Buraq, trained on Urdu and regional languages, will run on domestic compute so Pakistani data stays in Pakistan, built on digital public infrastructure.
POLICY & REGULATIONBank of Canada joins BIS Project Agorá to test tokenised cross-border payments
The Bank of Canada has joined the BIS-led Project Agorá, which has tested a multi-currency unified ledger for atomic settlement of wholesale cross-border payments using tokenised deposits and central bank money.
- POLICY & REGULATION
OCC sets waiver route for existing stablecoin issuers before 2027 deadline
The OCC says existing US payment stablecoin issuers must file substantially complete applications and request a waiver in writing before the GENIUS Act takes effect on Jan. 18, 2027.
NEWSBank of Punjab leads PKR 17 billion Islamic facility for Novacare hospital in Islamabad
The Bank of Punjab has marked the financial close of a PKR 17 billion syndicated Islamic project finance facility for Novacare Hospitals, funding a 250-bed tertiary care hospital and feeder clinic in Islamabad.
NEWSPakistan's balance of payments swings to $4.39bn deficit in September
State Bank of Pakistan data show the overall balance of payments moved to a $4.39 billion deficit in September from $118 million in August, as the current account gap widened and the quarterly goods trade deficit grew 21.1%.
NEWSWall Street banks frame tokenisation as growth opportunity, not threat
Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo and Morgan Stanley used third-quarter earnings calls to outline how tokenisation could expand trading, payments and advisory work, though none gave revenue figures.
- MARKETS
Pakistan's current account deficit widens 16pc in first quarter on import bill
The State Bank of Pakistan reported a current account deficit of USD 874 million for July-Sep of FY27, up from USD 755 million a year earlier, as goods imports rose to USD 17.7 billion.
- POLICY & REGULATION
World Bank's USD70 million Connected Punjab programme yet to become effective
The World Bank's USD70 million Connected Punjab Programme has yet to become effective, with financing and implementation agreements still unsigned, delaying broadband, AI and cashless transaction targets.
POLICY & REGULATIONPakistan seeks Alibaba cooperation for cashless economy and SME exports
Finance minister Muhammad Aurangzeb met Alibaba International Digital Commerce leadership in Bangkok to discuss digital payments, e-commerce and technology, the finance ministry said.
FINTECHPakistan digital payments reach 14.3bn retail transactions in FY26
The State Bank of Pakistan reports retail payments through formal banking channels hit 14.3 billion transactions worth PKR 673 trillion in FY26, with digital channels accounting for 92 per cent of the total.
NEWSPakistan microfinance conference pushes beyond access to outcomes
The Pakistan Microfinance Network closed its 10th annual conference in Karachi, where the finance minister called for lending to be judged by client outcomes rather than outreach alone.
NEWSPakistan remittances rise 12.7% year on year to $3.6bn in September
State Bank of Pakistan data show overseas workers' remittances reached $3.6bn in September 2026, up 12.7% year on year but 1.9% lower than August, with Jul-Sept FY27 inflows up 14.74% to $10.9bn.
POLICY & REGULATIONIMF and Pakistan reach staff-level deal on $1.21bn disbursement
The IMF has reached a staff-level agreement with Pakistan on the fourth EFF review and the third RSF review, giving Pakistan access to about $1.21bn once the Executive Board approves.
- MARKETS
Mian Zahid Hussain urges reliable energy supply for export industries as deficit widens
Mian Zahid Hussain of the Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum sought reliable, competitively priced energy and faster tax refunds as Pakistan's first-quarter trade deficit widened to USD 10.79 billion.
POLICY & REGULATIONPakistan financial inclusion index climbs to 59.5, central bank says
The State Bank of Pakistan says the Pakistan Financial Inclusion Index rose to 59.5 in 2025 from 58.1 in 2024, led mainly by growth in its usage sub-index.
BLOCKCHAINCardano launches token standard with built-in freeze and seizure powers
The Cardano Foundation says CIP-0113 is live after independent audits, letting issuers of stablecoins and tokenised funds block, freeze or seize holdings to meet regulatory rules.
FINTECHState Bank reports 58% rise in retail payment volume
The State Bank of Pakistan's annual Payment Systems Review shows retail payment volumes rose 58% in financial year 2025-26, with digital channels handling 92% of transactions.
