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Author: News Desk

  • Solve Asia Cup issue amicably if you want to become ICC chief in the future: Najam Sethi advises Jay Shah

    Solve Asia Cup issue amicably if you want to become ICC chief in the future: Najam Sethi advises Jay Shah

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee Chairman Najam Sethi has shown concerns about the biased attitude of Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Chairman Jay Shah who is also the secretary of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

    Sethi said that if the ACC chairman wants to become the head of International cr Cricket Council (ICC) than he has to solve Asia Cup’s issue amicably.

    Jay Shah is the secretary of BCCI and also son of powerful BJP leader Amit Shah. He has refused to send the Indian team to Pakistan to play Asia Cup 2023, saying that the Indian Government is not allowing them to play in Pakistan.

    The excuse is childish and hypocritical because India has sent many other sports teams to Pakistan. If the Indian cricket team has security concerns then why is Indian government allowing other teams to travel in Pakistan, asked Najam Sethi in a BBC podcast.

    He advised the ACC president to be neutral and solve the matter amicably.

    “I think Jay [Shah] is a young man, he aspires to be the head of the ICC,” Sethi told Associated Press (AP). “My advice to my young friend would be if you want to be a leader, you have to keep the herd together, keep the flock together.

    “Don’t let it be said that when you were in the chair in the ACC, the ACC broke up.”

    Najam Sethi also said that we will always be on the helping side for Asian countries.
    “When Aussies pulled out against Afghanistan, we said to them that we will play a series with you and you will get some money from the series,” Sethi remarked.

    We do not have any issues with any team in Asia neither they have any issues with us, he said, adding that its just India.


    He also spoke about the hybrid model for the Asia Cup, which would allow India to play their matches at a neutral venue while the rest of the tournament takes place in Pakistan.

    “Until India is ready to play Pakistan bilaterally and in Pakistan, let’s have a hybrid solution,” he said.

  • Petrol price expected to decrease by Rs10 per litre for the next fortnight

    Petrol price expected to decrease by Rs10 per litre for the next fortnight

    The prices of petroleum products are expected to decrease starting from May 16, as the coalition government intends to provide some relief to the distressed public amidst the severe economic crisis and record inflation.

    According to reports in local media, petrol price will see a reduction of Rs10 per litre for the rest of May.

    It has been reported that the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has recommended a decrease in the prices of petroleum products. Based on these reports, the price of petrol may be reduced by Rs10 per litre, while the price of diesel is anticipated to decrease by Rs8 per litre.

    OGRA has submitted a summary to the government, and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and other officials will seek the input of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the recommendations. The final decision will be announced today.

    The revised prices of petroleum products for the upcoming two weeks will be implemented after midnight on May 15.

    Earlier this month, the federal government announced a reduction of Rs5 per litre in the price of diesel, while the price of petrol remained unchanged. Presently, petrol is being sold at Rs282, HSD at Rs288, kerosene oil at Rs176.07, and light diesel oil at Rs164.68 per litre.

  • Chief Justice asks govt and PTI to sit together again on elections matter

    Chief Justice asks govt and PTI to sit together again on elections matter

    While hearing the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) plea to revisit its April 4 order on Punjab polls, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), Umar Ata Bandial, said on Monday that both government and Pakistan Tehreeke-e-Insaf (PTI) should resume talks.

    Justice Bandial said that the constitution guaranteed political rights. “We don’t want to get into political matters and we don’t want to hear anything. We hope that negotiations will start anew and a solution will be reached.”

    The hearing is now adjourned till next Tuesday.

    On April 4, the SC said that Punjab polls will be held on May 14, however, the date has passed without elections taking place.

    It is pertinent to mention that prior to this govt and PTI tried to talk this matter out but no consensus took place.

  • Amid political chaos, UAE President telephones army chief

    Amid political chaos, UAE President telephones army chief

    United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has telephoned Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir.

    According to media reports, bilateral defense and military relations were discussed, with both emphasising the need to further promote mutual defense and military cooperation.

    The conversation has taken place while the country is gripped in political chaos. Recently, after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s arrest, his supporters attacked military installations.

    Khan has also openly named COAS Munir for his arrest and accused him of spreading anarchy just to save his seat.

  • Traffic police crackdown: More than 5,000 underage drivers in Lahore face strict action

    Traffic police crackdown: More than 5,000 underage drivers in Lahore face strict action

    City Traffic Police have recently cracked down on underage drivers, taking strict action to address the issue. On a particular holiday, the traffic police apprehended over 5,000 underage drivers, while also taking the initiative to educate the parents of more than 22,000 children who were found driving without proper authorisation.

    Chief Traffic Officer (CTO), Mustansar Feroze, spoke regarding the matter and announced that, starting from the upcoming weekend, all motorcycles and vehicles involved in such violations would be impounded and kept at police stations. According to The News, the CTO earnestly appealed to parents, urging them not to provide motorcycles, cars, or rickshaws to their young children. He highlighted that on holidays, it has become common to witness young children recklessly roaming the streets with these vehicles.

    CTO Mustansar Feroze emphasised that accidents are frequently caused by young drivers. Consequently, any underage drivers caught in possession of a car, motorcycle, or rickshaw will have their vehicle impounded and stored at the local police station. He called upon parents to play a proactive role in discouraging young drivers from engaging in such activities.

    Furthermore, the CTO stated that parents would be held responsible in the event of accidents involving underage drivers. He strongly emphasised that no young driver should be seen operating a vehicle of any kind, be it a car, motorcycle, or rickshaw. The City Traffic Police are dedicated to ensuring the safety of all citizens on the roads and will continue their efforts to address this critical issue.

  • Pakistan to travel to Australia at year end for Benaud-Qadir Trophy

    Pakistan will take a trip Down Under later in the year to take on Australia for the Benaud-Qadir Trophy. Three Tests – part of the third World Test Championship cycle – will be played at Perth, Melbourne and Sydney in December and January.

    The tour will open at the Perth Stadium on 14 December and it will mark the first instance of Pakistan playing a Test at the venue. The two teams will face off in the Boxing Day Test at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground from 26 till 30 December and the third and final match will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground from 3 January, 2024. Pakistan has played 10 Tests at the MCG and eight at the SCG – at both venues they have won two matches each.

    In the lead-up to the series, Pakistan will play a four-day warm-up to acclimatise to the conditions Down Under.

    This will be Pakistan captain Babar Azam’s third Test tour of Australia. The prolific stroke-maker previously landed on the Australian soil in December 2016, under Misbah-ul-Haq’s captaincy, and November 2019, when Azhar Ali was the captain of the side.

    The right-hander has 278 runs – including a century – in five Tests. On the 2019 tour, Babar scored a century in the second innings in the first Test in Brisbane and followed it up with a 97 at Adelaide.

    Naseem Shah made his Pakistan debut at Brisbane in November 2019 and since has evolved as a mainstay in Pakistan’s bowling line-up across all formats. The right-arm speedster has 80 wickets in 42 matches.

    Pakistan last toured Australia for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and finished as the finalists.

    The Benaud-Qadir Trophy was launched in 2022 when Australia arrived in Pakistan after 16 years for a three-Test series. Pat Cummin’s side bagged the first iteration as they bagged the series 1-0 after defeating Pakistan in Lahore in the third and final Test.

    Schedule

    14-18 Dec: First Test, Perth Stadium

    26-30 Dec: Second Test, Melbourne Cricket Ground

    3-7 Jan: Third Test, Sydney Cricket Ground

  • Inquiry launched in girl’s alleged rape at Okara railway station

    Inquiry launched in girl’s alleged rape at Okara railway station

    Trigger warning: rape/sexual violence

    An inquiry has been ordered into an alleged rape incident that took place at Okara Railway Station earlier this month.

    The incident happened on May 10. The prime suspect offered the rape survivor a free ticket, suggesting that he would help her travel all the way to Karachi from Okara for free.

    He later took her to the parcel branch of the railway station where he allegedly raped her. The rape survivor informed the police after reaching Karachi.

    Karachi Cantt Station Police have registered a case against the prime suspect Haseeb.

  • US embassy in Pakistan issues security warning, cancels appointments

    US embassy in Pakistan issues security warning, cancels appointments

    The US Embassy in Islamabad has announced the cancellation of all routine consular appointments scheduled for Monday due to security concerns. The embassy issued a security alert on Sunday, stating that there is a possibility of road closures and/or traffic delays, which could impede the movement of people.

    The alert clarified that although the embassy is still operational, it is limiting the movements of its personnel to official and mission-essential travel only. The US Consulates General in Karachi and Lahore, however, are open for routine consular appointments, according to the notification.

    US citizens who are traveling in-country are advised to be aware of potential disruptions to mobile phone service and have contingency communication plans in place. The embassy urges US citizens to remain vigilant and maintain good situational awareness of their surroundings. It also recommends that they pay attention to local media for security updates and planned road closures.

    Furthermore, the US embassy strongly encourages its citizens to avoid large gatherings, unnecessary travel, and comply with all established security checkpoints. It is essential to take the necessary precautions and maintain a high level of security awareness to ensure personal safety while traveling in Pakistan.

  • IMF denies seeking $8 billion fresh financing from Pakistan in bailout talks

    IMF denies seeking $8 billion fresh financing from Pakistan in bailout talks

    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has denied recent reports that it is seeking fresh financing from Pakistan, stating that Pakistan’s external financing requirements have remained unchanged throughout talks with the Fund.

    The clarification comes after a report by the Express Tribune suggested that the IMF had increased its demand for additional financing to $8 billion, up from an unmet condition of $6 billion, in order to ensure debt repayments for the May-December 2023 period.

    According to Reuters, IMF Resident Representative Esther Pérez Ruiz confirmed that the country’s external funding requirements had not changed, and that discussions were centered around a review to unlock $1.1 billion in financing as part of a $6.5 billion IMF package.

    Despite ongoing talks, a staff-level agreement on the review has been delayed since November, and the IMF has reiterated that commitments on external financing from friendly countries will be necessary before it can release bailout funds.

    Pakistan’s central bank reserves currently stand at $4.38 billion, equivalent to barely a month’s worth of imports.

  • Naila Kiani becomes second Pakistani woman to scale Mount Everest

    Naila Kiani becomes second Pakistani woman to scale Mount Everest

    Naila Kiani has successfully scaled world highest mountain Everest (8848.86 m) on Sunday morning, becoming the second woman to do so.

    She scaled the mountain with Nepali climber Pasang Temba Sherpa.

    Samina Baig was the first woman mountaineer from Pakistan to scale Everest in 2013.

    Before this, she climbed Annapurna I in Nepal, K2, Gasherbrum I and II.

    As per media reports, Naila Kiani is the first Pakistani woman climber to summit five peaks over 8,000m.