PMEX’s agri roadshow
Pakistan Mercantile Exchange Limited (PMEX), Pakistan’s only regulated commodity futures exchange, has launched a nationwide Agriculture Roadshow Series in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation to promote awareness of its deliverable agricultural futures contracts that can help farmers, traders, and processors access more transparent pricing and better manage commodity price volatility, as per a press release.
The first roadshow of the series was successfully held in Pakpattan (Punjab) last week, bringing together approximately 125 farmers, traders, commission agents, processors, feed manufacturers, and brokers for an awareness session on regulated trading in yellow maize and other agricultural commodities through PMEX.
The event introduced participants to the PMEX Deliverable Yellow Maize Futures Contract, which enables exchange-based price discovery, standardised quality, exchange-regulated settlement, and physical delivery through approved delivery centres.
The programme included a presentation on PMEX’s agricultural contracts, a demonstration of the trading platform, and an interactive question-and-answer session.
NBP facilitates Raast
Advancing the prime minister’s vision of a modern, cashless, and digitally empowered economy, the National Bank of Pakistan has achieved another significant milestone in the public sector’s digital transformation journey. NBP has onboarded the Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment (BEOE) to digitise its payment collection process. The agreement was recently signed by Rehmat Ali Hasnie, President and CEO of NBP, and Javed Zia, Director General of BEOE.
Under this partnership, NBP will facilitate Raast P2M QR-based digital fee collections for BEOE’s walk-in applicants, enabling instant, secure, and convenient payments while enhancing customer convenience, operational efficiency, and transparency.
On the occasion, Mr Hasnie, accompanied by Adnan Nasir, Group Chief and Chief Digital Officer at NBP, highlighted the significance of cashless and digital payment systems in driving Pakistan’s digital transformation. These developments reflect the rapid shift from conventional payment methods to modern digital transaction systems across public sector organisations.
NBP remains committed to delivering innovative digital payment solutions across Pakistan and accelerating the country’s transition towards a secure, efficient, and inclusive digital economy.
Health tourism
A high-profile session titled “Heal in Pakistan: Unlocking Pakistan’s Potential for Health Tourism” brought together leading figures from government, the armed forces medical services and the private healthcare sector to make the case for positioning Pakistan as a premier destination for medical tourism, on the concluding day of the third Healthcare Expo & Conference at the Expo Centre Karachi, as per a press release.
Organised by Badar Expo Solutions, the session set out a roadmap to promote the country as a top health-tourism destination — delivering affordable, high-quality treatment to international patients while attracting fresh investment into the health sector. Speakers framed the effort in line with the national vision of SIFC, which has launched a National Medical Tourism Initiative to establish Pakistan as a regional hub for affordable, quality healthcare.
The session explored the key levers needed to unlock the sector’s potential — streamlining visa facilitation for medical travellers, raising hospitals to international accreditation standards, and marketing Pakistan’s competitive strengths in cardiac, reconstructive and diagnostic care to patients across the region. A recurring theme was the need for close coordination between government policy, the military’s extensive medical infrastructure and private-sector providers — a partnership reflected in the session’s own line-up.
Insurance awards
Twenty-one leading public sector, private sector and development institutions were honoured at the IAP Partner Awards 2026, organised by the Insurance Association of Pakistan (IAP) at the historic Mohatta Palace in recognition of their outstanding contributions to Pakistan’s insurance ecosystem.
Among the recipients were the Prime Minister’s National Health Program (Sehat Card), Asian Development Bank (ADB), Sindh Police, Sindh Revenue Board, Central Depository Company (CDC), 1LINK, and several other organisations recognised for their leadership in innovation, financial inclusion, digital transformation, public service and industry development.
The awards were presented by Rana Ahsan Afzal Khan, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Commerce, together with Shoaib Javed Hussain, Chairman of the Insurance Association of Pakistan (IAP).
Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, July 27th, 2026