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Bank Alfalah, NBP and Mastercard unite for PM’s online donation payments

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Bank Alfalah, NBP and Mastercard unite for PM's online donation payments

KARACHI – Bank Alfalah has joined forces with Mastercard and National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) to provide a safe online donation portal to support those in need during the pandemic.

Through the platform, people can now securely donate to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Fund 2020 from anywhere in the world by using their debit or credit cards.

The initiative is in line with the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) guidelines for banks to take necessary steps to facilitate donations to the Prime Minister’s COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Fund 2020.

With Bank Alfalah as the Mastercard Payment Gateway Services (MPGS) provider, Mastercard as the payments technology partner and NBP as the facilitator with the payment link, the new partnership ensures donors’ convenience, making contributions from across the globe easy and effortless. It also encourages customers to switch to online banking and avoid unnecessary visits to branches.

Commenting on the initiative, Mehreen Ahmed, Group Head Retail, Bank Alfalah said: “Bank Alfalah understands the difficulties that people across Pakistan are facing in the prevailing circumstances, and we aim to go beyond our call of duty in order to help the government during these unprecedented times. We are committed to the government’s vision to fuel the growth of digital payments and to work towards this goal, we are pleased to collaborate with Mastercard’s fully-integrated global payment platform. We encourage people – those who are in Pakistan or even abroad – to donate generously to the PM’s COVID-19 Relief Fund, through this safe channel from the comfort of their homes. Now is the time for us to unite as a nation and emerge stronger than ever.”

“As a leading global payments provider, we’re equipped with the technology to help people during these difficult times,” said Magdy Hassan, Country Manager – Egypt and Pakistan, Mastercard. “This is why we’ve recently made several commitments towards combating the spread and mitigating the impact of COVID-19, including our most recent commitment to connecting 1 billion people to the digital economy by 2025. We’re pleased to partner with Bank Alfalah and NBP to not only enable payments to the donations platform but to also enhance the digital payment ecosystem in Pakistan, so people can use their cards to donate to those who are in need.”

Commenting on this partnership Amin Manji, Head of Technology & Digitalization NBP said: “National Bank of Pakistan is The Nation’s Bank and has always led Government initiatives especially those involving social well-being of the underprivileged. NBP shares SBP’s vision of creating a robust and easily accessible Digital Financial Ecosystem and is continually making headway to ensure we play an instrumental role. NBP collaborated with Bank Alfalah and Mastercard to facilitate the seamless inflow of contributions from around the world. We urge individuals to donate generously to the PM’s COVID-19 Relief Fund and help those amongst us rendered destitute as a result of the Pandemic.”

The Prime Minister’s COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Fund 2020 was launched to be utilized to provide food and cash to about 14 million people in need who have been severely affected by the lockdown. The option to donate to the fund will remain in place until the pandemic is over.

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Business

PTA recommends giving licenses to Starlink, OneWeb: PTA Chairman

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The image is AI-generated and used for illustration purposes only

ISLAMABAD – The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has recommended issuing licenses to satellite internet providers, including Starlink, OneWeb, and Amazon’s Project Kuiper, as part of efforts to improve internet connectivity in remote areas and along the country’s motorway network.

Read more: Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup career ends after Spain defeat

The recommendation was shared during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, where PTA Chairman Major General (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman briefed lawmakers on the country’s progress towards introducing satellite broadband services.

PTA Chairman on internet service in Pakistan

The PTA chairman said satellite internet has become an important solution for delivering reliable broadband services in underserved regions where expanding conventional telecom infrastructure is both expensive and technically challenging.

Read more: Why Does Electricity Go Out When It Rains in Pakistan?

According to the chairman, the PTA has completed the required technical and regulatory preparations and has forwarded its recommendations to the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication for further consideration.

He pointed to Nepal as an example of a country that has successfully used satellite internet services to strengthen nationwide connectivity, particularly in geographically challenging areas.

The process of obtaining registration

The chairman explained that satellite internet providers will first need to obtain registration from the Space Activities Regulatory Board before they can apply for telecommunications licences from the PTA to launch commercial operations in Pakistan.

Read more: PIA may sell foreign assets to reduce financial liabilities

Pakistan has been working on a regulatory framework for satellite broadband as part of its broader strategy to extend high-speed internet access beyond urban centres and bridge the country’s digital divide.

If approved, the move could pave the way for global satellite internet providers to begin offering services in Pakistan, expanding broadband availability in areas where traditional fibre and mobile networks remain limited.

Category Details
Regulator Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA)
Recommendation Licence satellite internet operators in Pakistan
Companies Starlink, OneWeb, Amazon Project Kuiper
Objective Expand internet access in remote areas and on motorways
Current Status Recommendations submitted to the Ministry of IT & Telecommunication
Registration Requirement Space Activities Regulatory Board approval
Commercial Licence Issued by PTA after regulatory registration
International Example Nepal’s satellite broadband deployment
Expected Impact Reduce the digital divide and improve nationwide broadband coverage

Key Points:

  • PTA has recommended licensing satellite internet providers including Starlink, OneWeb and Amazon’s Project Kuiper.
  • The proposal has been submitted to the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication.
  • Satellite internet is intended to improve connectivity in remote regions and along motorways.
  • Operators will first require registration with the Space Activities Regulatory Board before obtaining PTA licences.
  • PTA cited Nepal as an example of successful satellite broadband deployment.
  • The initiative is part of Pakistan’s broader effort to expand high-speed internet access and reduce the digital divide.

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Gold

Today’s gold rates in Pakistan – July 16, 2026

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KARACHI – On July 16, 2026, gold prices in Pakistan increased, following the upward trend in international markets.

According to the Saraffa Association, the price of 24-karat gold per tola increased to Rs 428,000 after a rise of Rs 1000, while the rate for 10 grams was Rs 366,090.

Today’s Gold and Silver Rates in Major Cities
City Gold Rate Silver Rate
Karachi PKR 428,000 PKR 3,830
Lahore PKR 428,050 PKR 3,830
Islamabad PKR 428,100 PKR 3,830
Peshawar PKR 428,150 PKR 3,830
Quetta PKR 428,200 PKR 3,830
Sialkot PKR 428,000 PKR 3,830
Hyderabad PKR 428,000 PKR 3,830
Faisalabad PKR 428,000 PKR 3,830
Multan PKR 428,000 PKR 3,830

Note: It is pertinent to mention here that Upfront News in no way claims these rates to be accurate at all times, as the prices can continuously vary.

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Forex

Today’s currency exchange rates in Pakistan – July 16, 2026

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KARACHI – Foreign currency exchange rates for US Dollar, Saudi Riyal, UK Pound Sterling, U.A.E. Dirham, Euro, and other currencies in Pakistan open market on July 16, 2026. The US Dollar’s buying rate stands at Rs 279.05, and the selling rate at Rs 279.2.

Several other currencies, which include the Australian Dollar (AUD), Canadian Dollar (CAD), Chinese Yuan (CNY), Danish Krone (DKK), Japanese Yen (JPY), Kuwaiti Dinar (KWD), Malaysian Ringgit (MYR), New Zealand Dollar (NZD), and Swiss Franc (CHF), showed no significant change in their rates compared to the previous update.

Currency Symbol Buying Selling Charts
🇦🇺Australian Dollar AUD 195.33 198.45 📊
🇧🇭Bahrain Dinar BHD 741.05 751.95 📊
🇨🇦Canadian Dollar CAD 197.72 201.65 📊
🇨🇳China Yuan CNY 38.05 38.8 📊
🇩🇰Danish Krone DKK 42.56 43.25 📊
🇪🇺Euro EUR 321.04 324.4 📊
🇭🇰Hong Kong Dollar HKD 35.24 36.25 📊
🇮🇳Indian Rupee INR 2.75 3.2 📊
🇯🇵Japanese Yen JPY 1.71 1.81 📊
🇰🇼Kuwaiti Dinar KWD 890.02 900.95 📊
🇲🇾Malaysian Ringgit MYR 67 68.05 📊
🇳🇿NewZealand $ NZD 161.2 163.75 📊
🇳🇴Norwegians Krone NOK 27.99 28.29 📊
🇴🇲Omani Riyal OMR 725.81 735.65 📊
🇶🇦Qatari Riyal QAR 75.45 76.47 📊
🇸🇦Saudi Riyal SAR 74.6 75.25 📊
🇸🇬Singapore Dollar SGD 214.85 217.85 📊
🇸🇪Swedish Krona SEK 28.25 28.9 📊
🇨🇭Swiss Franc CHF 343.59 348.25 📊
🇹🇭Thai Bhat THB 8.55 8.8 📊
🇦🇪U.A.E Dirham AED 76.25 76.95 📊
🇬🇧UK Pound Sterling GBP 373.46 376.15 📊
🇺🇸US Dollar USD 279.05 279.2 📊

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