Animal welfare organization, authorities rescue dancing bear ‘Sunny’ from abuse in Pakistan

KARACHI: The government announced on Wednesday the appointment of a lead adviser to Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on the Pakistan Crypto Council to develop policy measures ahead of adopting digital currencies, according to an official statement.
The crypto council is a proposed advisory body the Pakistan government is considering establishing to oversee the development and regulation of the country’s digital asset ecosystem. The initiative aims to ensure Pakistan’s engagement with digital assets is secure, compliant and sustainable.
This appointment of the adviser also signifies a shift in Pakistan’s stance on cryptocurrencies, moving from previous resistance to a more open and regulatory-focused approach.
According to the finance division’s statement, Bilal Bin Saqib, a Web3 investor and strategic adviser recognized by Forbes, has been named as the lead adviser. He featured in Forbes 30 under 30 and received an MBE (Member of the British Empire) in 2023 for his contributions to the UK’s National Health Service. Saqib has background in blockchain and digital finance, making him well-positioned to guide Pakistan’s approach to cryptocurrency regulation.
“Mr. Saqib’s appointment underscores our commitment to embracing emerging technologies while ensuring a secure and transparent financial system,” the finance minister was quoted as saying in the statement. “We are confident that his leadership will guide the development of a sound and effective regulatory framework, fostering innovation and sustainable growth in Pakistan’s crypto sector.”
As the chief adviser, Saqib will contribute to policy development for integrating cryptocurrency and blockchain into Pakistan’s financial system while ensuring alignment with global regulatory standards.
He will also advise on leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance government efficiency and decision-making processes.
“Cryptocurrency and blockchain technology hold immense potential for Pakistan, particularly for the youth, who are the driving force behind our nation’s digital future,” the finance minister’s newly appointed adviser said. “With the right strategies and regulatory framework, we can empower our country’s youth, foster economic growth, and establish Pakistan as a leader in the space.”
Pakistan has maintained a cautious stance on cryptocurrencies in the past, citing financial security and regulatory risks.
However, the government has acknowledged more recently the presence of over 20 million active digital asset users in the country and aims to address challenges such as high transaction fees through proper regulation.
 

ISLAMABAD: Five soldiers and thirteen civilians were killed as militants rammed two explosive-filled vehicles into the boundary wall of a military cantonment in northwestern Pakistan, the army said on Wednesday, as the country faces a surge in terror attacks. 

The assault, which involved “multiple suicide blasts,” took place on Tuesday in Bannu, which is in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan. The military’s media wing said in a statement militants had sought to breach Bannu cantonment’s security, causing the partial collapse of its perimeter wall and damaging nearby buildings.

The KP province has seen a surge in militant attacks in recent years that Pakistan blames on insurgents harboring in Afghanistan. Kabul denies it provides refuge to militants and says Pakistan’s security challenges are a domestic issue. 

“Our valiant troops engaged the intruders with precision, eliminating all sixteen terrorists, including four suicide bombers. In this intense exchange of fire, five brave soldiers, after putting up a heroic resistance, embraced martyrdom in the line of duty,” the army said in a statement. 

The latest attack occurred in an area adjacent to a local market after sunset, when people were breaking their fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Video clips circulating on social media showed thick grey plumes of smoke rising into the air as gunshots rang out.

The army said a mosque and a civilian residential building close to the military facility were damaged in the attack, killing thirteen civilians and injuring 32.

Intelligence reports had “unequivocally confirmed the physical involvement of Afghan nationals in this heinous act,” the military said, adding that evidence proved the attack was orchestrated and directed by insurgents operating from Afghanistan.

“Pakistan expects the Interim Afghan Government to uphold its responsibilities and deny its soil for terrorist activities against Pakistan. Pakistan reserves the right to take necessary measures in response to these threats emanating from across the border,” the military concluded. 

Jaish-e-Fursan Muhammad, a militant faction affiliated with the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement released to media, saying dozens of security officials had been killed in the assault. 

Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Taliban authorities in Kabul of facilitating cross-border militant attacks, a charge Afghan authorities deny. 

The TTP was formed in 2007 as an umbrella organization of various hard-line groups operating individually in Pakistan.

The TTP pledges allegiance to, and gets its name from, the Afghan Taliban, but is not directly a part of the group that now rules Afghanistan. Its stated aim is to impose Islamic religious law in Pakistan, as the Taliban have done in Afghanistan.

The TTP is responsible for some of the bloodiest attacks in Pakistan, including on churches and schools and the shooting of Malala Yousafzai, who survived the 2012 attack after she was targeted for her campaign against the Taliban’s efforts to deny women education.

Militants have targeted Bannu several times in the past also. Last November, a suicide car bomb killed 12 troops and wounded several others at a security post. In July, a suicide bomber detonated his explosives-laden vehicle and other militants opened fire near the outer wall of the military facility.