Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: An Afghan human rights organization has warned that a new penal code issued for courts run by the Taliban legitimizes violence against women and children, institutionalizes discrimination, and strips defendants of basic legal protections. According to a report by AMU, an independent news organization based in Virginia, United States, the group Rawadari said it obtained a copy of the &ldquo;Penal Principles of Taliban Courts,&rdquo; a document it said was <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/taliban-government-instituted-systematic-institutionalized-campaign-to-erase-afghan-women-un-experts" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">violence against women</a> signed by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and circulated to judicial institutions across Afghanistan for implementation. Rawadari said the document consists of three sections, 10 chapters and 119 articles, and is in clear conflict with <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/malnutrition-having-harrowing-impact-on-afghan-women-wfp" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">international human rights standards</a> and fundamental principles of fair trial. In a statement, the organization said the code formally legalizes discrimination, suppresses basic freedoms, and enables arbitrary arrest and punishment. It said the provisions fail to recognize key legal safeguards, including the right to legal counsel, the presumption of innocence, the right to remain silent, protection against arbitrary detention, and the right to an effective defense. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2013900381172957565&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=a88a1e11d2d4a6dfe5d1ffb9a9875a3284bb70bb&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 600px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> Rawadari said the code relies primarily on confessions and witness testimony to establish criminal responsibility and does not provide for independent investigations. The group warned that the approach could increase the risk of torture, coercion and abuse. The organization also raised concerns about provisions affecting children, saying the code does not explicitly prohibit violence against minors and, in some cases, permits corporal punishment. It cited Article 48, which it said allows a father to punish a 10-year-old son for reasons described as being in the child&rsquo;s &ldquo;interest.&rdquo; Rawadari said the code also contains provisions that narrowly criminalize domestic <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/taliban-government-instituted-systematic-institutionalized-campaign-to-erase-afghan-women-un-experts" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">violence against women</a>. Under Article 32, it said, a husband&rsquo;s use of force against his wife is considered a crime only if beatings with a stick result in severe injuries and can be proven before a judge, with a maximum penalty of 15 days in prison. Other forms of abuse, including psychological and sexual violence, are not explicitly prohibited, the organization said. It added that another article allows disciplinary punishment by a &ldquo;husband&rdquo; or &ldquo;master,&rdquo; which it warned could legitimize domestic violence. The group also cited provisions it said discriminate against religious minorities, labeling followers of the Hanafi school of Islam as Muslims while describing adherents of other sects and beliefs as &ldquo;deviants.&rdquo; Rawadari said such classifications could expose Shi&rsquo;ites, Ismailis, Salafis, Sikhs, and Hindus to arbitrary prosecution. Rawadari urged the Taliban to immediately suspend implementation of the code and called on the United Nations and the international community to use available legal mechanisms to prevent its enforcement. It said it would continue monitoring the conduct of the Taliban and publish regular findings. The Taliban have not publicly commented on the report. They have previously said their laws and policies are based on their interpretation of Islamic law.

TOPSHOT - A Taliban security personnel stands guard as Afghan burqa-clad women wait in queue in the midst of a downpour to receive food supplies donated during the Islamic holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Kabul on March 25, 2025 (AFP)

Afghanistan

An Afghan human rights organization warns that a new penal code issued for courts run by the Taliban legitimizes violence against women and children, institutionalizes discrimination, and strips defendants of basic legal protections.

Human rights group says Taliban court code legitimizes violence: Reports 

KABUL: A worsening malnutrition crisis is having dire effects on women and girls in Afghanistan who are failed by the international community, the World Food Programme&#39;s top official in the country told AFP. The UN agency supplies most of the food aid to Afghanistan, which has been run by <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/afghan-taliban-envoy-posted-to-indian-capital" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Taliban</a> officials since 2021. While&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/millions-at-risk-as-afghanistans-food-crisis-deepens-aid-agency" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">aid donations</a>&nbsp;have been slashed over the past couple of years, the Afghan government has faced criticism from abroad for banning women from most professions and blocking girls from attending school beyond the age of 12. John Aylieff, director for Afghanistan at the World Food Programme (WFP), spoke to AFP about the &quot;heartbreaking&quot; struggle to feed families. What do you expect to happen this year?&nbsp;&quot;In the next 12 months, five million women and children in this country will experience acute malnutrition, the life-threatening type of malnutrition,&quot; he said, out of a <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/us-to-close-qatar-transit-site-for-afghan-evacuees" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">population</a> of more than 40 million. &quot;Nearly four million children in this country will need <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/malnutrition-crisis-in-south-asia-a-tale-of-two-nations" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">malnutrition</a> treatment. These numbers are staggering.&quot; What&#39;s the impact of funding cuts?&nbsp;&quot;I think we are, as an international community, abandoning and letting down the very people, women and children in particular, that we pledged to protect,&quot; he said, following &quot;immensely generous&quot; funding in 2021 and 2022. &quot;But since then, funding to Afghanistan has been cut and cut further and cut further,&quot; said Aylieff, with $600 million in donations to WFP for 2024 halved last year. &quot;If we can&#39;t treat children with malnutrition, those children are going to die. Clinics treating children with malnutrition are closing down.&quot; &quot;When those women carry their child, maybe four or five hours to the clinic, and they get there and they&#39;re told WFP simply does not have the money to treat your child anymore -- this is heartbreaking.&quot; What are the consequences for women?&nbsp;&quot;One of the phenomena which has surprised us the most this year (2025) is the dramatic surge in the number of pregnant and breastfeeding women who are malnourished,&quot; said Aylieff. &quot;They&#39;re not getting the food assistance that would otherwise be helping them. Those women are also sacrificing their own health and their own nutrition to feed their children. Many of them just don&#39;t know how to cope.&quot; &quot;In areas where we&#39;ve stopped assisting as WFP, we&#39;re seeing girls being sold off into early marriage just so their families can put food on the table. We&#39;re seeing children being pulled out of school and sent to work.&quot; &quot;And we&#39;re getting an increasing number of distress calls to WFP from very desperate women across the country, including some suicide calls.&quot; &quot;This is very harrowing.&quot;

Afghan women rest outside the Grand Mosque in Herat on January 8, 2026. (Photo by Wakil KOHSAR / AFP)

Aid cuts are worsening Afghanistan’s hunger crisis, with the World Food Programme saying millions of women and children face acute malnutrition as clinics shut, pregnant women suffer, and families turn to early marriage and child labour to survive.

Malnutrition having 'harrowing' impact on Afghan women: WFP

Maryam Shah

ISLAMABAD: As 2025 comes to a close, Pakistani women across sports, culture, exploration, and legal activism have made their mark on national and international stages. From cricket grounds and mountain summits to pageants and courtrooms, these trailblazers have expanded opportunities and challenged conventional boundaries. Sidra Amin&rsquo;s cricket milestones<img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/cf94c1a3-e5a6-4fec-8907-fc3f939f7423.jpg" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil">Official Instagram account/ @sidraamin31 Opening batter Sidra Amin, 33, emerged as one of Pakistan&rsquo;s most consistent performers during the 2025 ICC Women&rsquo;s ODI World Cup. The Lahore-born cricketer became the first Pakistani to score back-to-back ODI centuries, a landmark in Pakistan&rsquo;s cricket history. <div class="fr-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Back-to-back centuries for Sidra Amin as the batter continues her brilliant run with the willow 👊<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PAKvSA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">#PAKvSA</a> 📝: <a href="https://t.co/fKEHXWL3l7" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">https://t.co/fKEHXWL3l7</a> | 📸: <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">@TheRealPCB</a> <a href="https://t.co/LMXPJ7cVzj" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">pic.twitter.com/LMXPJ7cVzj</a>&mdash; ICC (@ICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1969093586667855973?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">September 19, 2025</a></blockquote></div> According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official match report, Amin also recorded the fastest ODI century by a Pakistani woman, reaching 100 runs in just 97 balls. With more than 150 international appearances and 2,221 ODI runs, including six centuries, she remained a linchpin of Pakistan&rsquo;s batting line-up. Gaddafi Stadium has become her personal stronghold, where she has scored three centuries at an average exceeding 120. Since debuting in 2011, Amin has helped elevate women&rsquo;s cricket in Pakistan to new heights. Naila Kiani&rsquo;s unprecedented climbing record<img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/611a7e42-2866-45d0-a73a-3855db9729f0.png" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil">Picture credits: Radio Pakistan Mountaineer Naila Kiani continued her extraordinary ascent in 2025, having summited 12 of the world&rsquo;s 14 peaks above 8,000 metres. Imagine Nepal, the expedition organizer, confirmed that Kiani scaled Kangchenjunga (8,586m), the world&rsquo;s third-highest mountain, in May, staying on course to become the first Pakistani woman to complete all fourteen eight-thousanders. A former aerospace engineer and a mother of two, Kiani also became the fastest Pakistani to summit 11 eight-thousanders in under three years, Alpine Club of Pakistan reported. The Embassy of Pakistan in Turkiye also congratulated her on this achievement.&nbsp; <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1787508031929962698&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=2696e4393e4ed6d9d4f0ffa87d85e770d1536c72&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 673px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> Beyond her personal achievements, she has championed reforms in Pakistan&rsquo;s mountaineering sector, helping reduce helicopter rescue costs and exposing exploitative commercial practices. According to Radio Pakistan, Naila Kiani remains the only female athlete to currently hold the Sitara-i-Imtiaz.&nbsp; Roma Riaz at Miss Universe<img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/6a61b8ec-3923-4895-a670-e3e057da2cd4.jpg" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil">Official Instagram account/ @romariaz_official Roma Riaz, 25, a British-Pakistani from Lahore, represented Pakistan at Miss Universe 2025 in Thailand after winning the Miss Universe Pakistan title earlier in the year. Her participation returned Pakistan to the global pageant stage and sparked conversations about beauty standards, colorism, and representation. Raised between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom, Riaz is a graduate of Manchester Metropolitan University and has worked in merchandising and international fashion. Her advocacy focuses on girls&rsquo; education and challenging narrow definitions of beauty. In response to criticism over her skin tone and background, she posted an Instagram reel condemning colorist and body-shaming remarks, asserting that diversity should be celebrated, not policed. Mahnoor Omer and discriminatory taxation<img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/aeb6f1e9-2e44-46f3-9f28-e37cedb48d66.jpg" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil">Official Instagram account/ @learningwithmahnoor Lawyer and gender rights advocate Mahnoor Omer, 25, gained national and international attention in 2025 for challenging Pakistan&rsquo;s taxation of sanitary products. A former Supreme Court law clerk, Omer is pursuing postgraduate studies in Gender, Peace, and Security at the London School of Economics. She has also served as a Gender Consultant with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, co-authoring Pakistan&rsquo;s first UNODC Gender Equality Strategy. Her constitutional petition contends that menstrual hygiene products, essential for women&rsquo;s health, are unfairly taxed, violating constitutional guarantees of equality and dignity.&nbsp; Natasha Noorani&rsquo;s cultural innovation<img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/e235b212-ad97-4260-bf42-9a6cd0616e0f.jpg" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil">Official Instagram account/ @natashanoorani Emerging artist Natasha Noorani has established herself as one of Pakistan&rsquo;s most innovative contemporary musicians. Her debut album Ronaq, released in 2023, continued to influence the country&rsquo;s music scene throughout 2025. Blending R&amp;B, pop, electronic music, and neo-soul, the album reflects both creativity and cultural depth. Noorani coined the term &ldquo;Lolly-Pop&rdquo; to describe her approach, which merges retro subcontinental sounds from the 1940s&ndash;1980s with modern electronic production. Produced by Talal Qureshi and Abdullah Siddiqui, Ronaq features tracks including &ldquo;Choro,&rdquo; &ldquo;Thandi,&rdquo; and &ldquo;Faltu Pyar,&rdquo; a collaboration with Hasan Raheem. Her work continues to bridge Pakistan&rsquo;s musical past with its contemporary soundscape. While their paths differed, a common thread ran through their stories, questioning long-standing norms and opening space for wider participation.&nbsp; As Pakistan moves into 2026, the impact of these women&rsquo;s work continues to shape public debate. It offers a broader understanding of what achievement and leadership look like for Pakistani women today.

Pakistani women who made headlines in 2025 (Pakistan TV Digital)

Entertainment

In 2025, Pakistani women made headlines across cricket, mountaineering, music, law, and global platforms, redefining representation and excellence while challenging social norms through record-breaking achievements, creative innovation, and rights-based advocacy at home and abroad. 

Pakistan's Powerhouses: The Women Who Owned 2025

ISLAMABAD: In a significant shift towards digital policing, the Punjab government has empowered citizens to convert their smartphones into &ldquo;Live Safe City Cameras,&rdquo; enabling real-time video streaming of emergencies directly to police control rooms. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Friday announced the move on her official X account, calling it a &ldquo;milestone development&rdquo; under the Safe Punjab initiative. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1994435902530339011&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=06f50323e4fad217e1e0e9f9a9e62de55782e0d1&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 651px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> Developed by the Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) and spearheaded by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz sharif, the system operates through two primary channels. Users of the updated PSCA Public Safety App can now access a &ldquo;Live Stream&rdquo; button that instantly broadcasts video to the central command center.&nbsp; Alternatively, citizens calling Emergency-15 can receive a secure SMS link; clicking it activates their phone&rsquo;s camera, giving police temporary visual access to the situation.<figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/cfe09b54-215e-4fb0-a1bc-44f599f60c9d-Screen Shot 2025-11-29 at 1.20.33 PM (1).png" alt="Official PSCA app/App store" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">Official PSCA app/App store</figcaption></figure><figure class="fr-media"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic"> </figcaption></figure>Unlike standard mobile recordings, these live streams are immediately geolocated on the police dispatch map. The footage is automatically watermarked and time-stamped, ensuring it meets legal standards for digital evidence in court. The upgrade is closely linked to CM Maryam Nawaz&rsquo;s earlier launch of the Virtual Women Police Station, which provides remote support to women facing safety concerns. Women traveling alone or experiencing harassment can activate the live stream to receive a &ldquo;digital escort.&rdquo; Female officers in the control room monitor their live route and coordinate with nearby patrol units until the caller reaches safety. PSCA officials explicitly stated that the &quot;Live Stream&quot; feature is one-way and citizen initiated. The app&#39;s privacy policy and terms of use clarify that camera access is granted only when the user actively engages the &quot;Alert-15&quot; button or the &quot;Safety Eye&quot; feature. The live video is not stored on the user&rsquo;s phone, a safeguard meant to protect complainants if their device is stolen or forcibly checked.

Security

Country's Punjab province has enabled citizens to live-stream emergencies to police through an app or a secure 15-call link.

Pakistan launches initiative to boost emergency response with smartphone cameras 

Simran Siraj

KARACHI: Pakistan&rsquo;s financial system has become more accessible to women than ever before, with the number of active bank accounts held by women reaching 37 million by June 2025, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said on Tuesday. The central bank attributed the increase to policy reforms aimed at closing gender gaps in financial access. According to the SBP, women&rsquo;s active bank accounts grew from 20 million in 2021 to 37 million in 2025, narrowing the gender gap in financial inclusion from 39% to 30%. Over the same period, more than 14,600 women joined the banking sector workforce. SBP Governor Jameel Ahmad, speaking at the World Bank&rsquo;s annual meetings in Washington, credited the progress to the Banking on Equality policy launched in 2021, Pakistan&rsquo;s first gender-mainstreaming framework for the financial sector. &ldquo;The initiative has helped triple female microfinance borrowers and double women&rsquo;s access to SME and agricultural financing,&rdquo; he said. Mobility and independenceFor many young women, financial inclusion translates directly to autonomy. Karachi-based filmmaker Zainab Farid, 24, recently became the first woman in her family to obtain a car loan. &ldquo;My motivation behind getting a car was mobility and independence,&rdquo; she told Pakistan TV Digital. &ldquo;In cities where public transport is limited, having your own car changes everything.&rdquo; She described the loan process as &ldquo;surprisingly simple,&rdquo; saying banks now provide clearer guidance for women borrowers. &ldquo;When I opened my first account in 2019, I wasn&rsquo;t earning yet, but I could open a women-specific account with minimal requirements. Banks have made it easier for women to begin.&rdquo; Zainab said her experience encouraged her family to explore financing options as well. &ldquo;Once one woman takes the step, others around her start believing it&rsquo;s possible too.&rdquo; Digital platforms expand accessMobile wallets and fintech platforms are also reshaping access, particularly for women outside major cities. Apps like Easypaisa, JazzCash, and Oraan allow users to save, transfer money, and access services without visiting a bank branch. According to fintech practitioners, simplified onboarding and digital literacy tools are enabling more women to join the formal economy &ldquo;from their homes and even from remote regions.&rdquo; Microfinance: credit plus confidenceThe Pakistan Microfinance Investment Company (PMIC) continues to push financial access deeper into rural and low-income communities. PMIC representative Rimsha Taj told Pakistan TV Digital that partner institutions are required to prioritize women borrowers. &ldquo;In practice, 88% of our portfolio is currently deployed among women,&rdquo; she said. She emphasized that credit is paired with training. &ldquo;We bundle financial products with learning opportunities so that financing is used productively, helping women generate income, stability, and confidence.&rdquo; PMIC is also piloting alternative credit-scoring models to support women without collateral or formal histories. From microcredit to micro-enterpriseAt Lahore&rsquo;s Delhi Gate, 46-year-old salon owner Saira Bibi said an interest-free loan from the Akhuwat Foundation helped launch her business. &ldquo;It gave me a start, but more than that, it made me believe I could manage my own business,&rdquo; she said.Saira now supports a family of six, but says the next challenge is growth: &ldquo;You need someone to guide you on how to expand, not just the money.&rdquo; The road aheadExperts observe that Pakistan has largely addressed the initial challenge of access to financial services, and the next phase centers on strengthening women&rsquo;s ability to independently use and manage those services. Recent assessments indicate that women entrepreneurs increasingly require support in areas such as financial literacy, business management, marketing skills, and opportunities for networking and mentorship. The State Bank&rsquo;s upcoming phase of the Banking on Equality policy will place greater emphasis on women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises, while expanding digital facilitation tools and improving gender-disaggregated financial data. Additionally, the SBP, together with 22 commercial banks, has adopted the WE-Finance Code to reinforce institutional commitment toward reducing gender gaps in the financial sector

Economy

Pakistan’s banking access for women surged to 37 million accounts by June 2025, driven by policy reforms like the Banking on Equality initiative, digital platforms, and microfinance, boosting women’s financial inclusion, autonomy, and entrepreneurship opportunities

Pakistan central bank highlights expansion of banking access for women

KHANEWAL: Most of the 2.6 million people displaced by record floods in Pakistan&rsquo;s Punjab province have returned home to find their houses damaged and their crops destroyed, as authorities promised Thursday to compensate all victims.&nbsp;Flooding triggered by heavy monsoon rains and water from overflowing dams in India since August has damaged 2.5 million acres of farmland and killed 118 people, according to Punjab relief commissioner, Nabil Javed.&nbsp;In a statement, the Punjab Disaster Management Authority said August brought the province&rsquo;s worst flooding on record.&nbsp;Displaced families are returning now that the water is receding, he said, adding said authorities will begin a survey next week to assess damage to crops, homes and infrastructure in Punjab.&nbsp;Many survivors said they learned about their losses only upon returning to the flood-hit villages. In Qatalpur village in Punjab, 45-year-old Mohammad Mohsin broke down after returning from a relief camp with his family. His house is still standing, but is riddled with cracks.&nbsp;&ldquo;The flood destroyed us, our crops are gone,&rdquo; he told The Associated Press. &ldquo;We survived the waters, but I fear one day the roof will fall on us. My house needs urgent repair, but so far we have received no government aid.&quot;&nbsp;In the same village, Parveen Bibi, 39, showed the remains of her broken home where she now sleeps with her children.&nbsp;&ldquo;During the flood, we stayed on the riverbank and got food from the government,&rdquo; she said. Bibi said so far, no official has visited to assess their losses.&nbsp;Along a roadside in Khanewal district in Punjab, Sajjad Hussain, 52, said he spent a week under the open sky with his family after his village was submerged earlier this month.&nbsp;&ldquo;Now that the water has gone, I am going back,&rdquo; the farmer said. &ldquo;Even if the government only gives me a tent, I will thank God.&quot;&nbsp;The swelling of the Ravi, Chenab and Sutlej rivers in recent weeks was &ldquo;unprecedented,&rdquo; said Irfan Ali Kathia, the authority&rsquo;s director general. &ldquo;Water has receded in most areas,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Kathia said the waters are now moving south toward Sindh province.&nbsp;Pakistan witnessed its most devastating monsoon season in 2022 when floods killed 1,739 people and caused an estimated $40 billion in damage.

Climate & Environment

2.6 million people displaced by recent floods in Pakistan’s Punjab province are returning to find their houses damaged

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Pakistan launches initiative to boost emergency response with smartphone cameras

Pakistan central bank highlights expansion of banking access for women

Pakistanis displaced by flooding in Punjab return to find homes and crops destroyed