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  • Pakistan’s Aliya Soomro shines with knockout win against Thai opponent

    Pakistan’s Aliya Soomro shines with knockout win against Thai opponent

    Pakistan continues to make its mark on the global boxing scene with female boxer Aliya Soomro now playing her part in bringing pride to the nation.

    Aliya Soomro, a talented boxer from the Lyari area of Karachi, secured a major international victory by defeating her opponent in a professional boxing match held in Bangkok, Thailand. 

    The fight, organized under TL Boxing Promotion, took place at the World Siam Stadium, where Aliya emerged victorious in the fourth round of a scheduled ten-round bout.

    Aliya knocked out Thailand’s Sothida Gunayanuch in a powerful display of skill and determination, further establishing herself as a rising star in the world of boxing.

    Hailing from Kalakot, a neighbourhood in Lyari known for producing sporting talent, Aliya competes in the WBA Asia’s 105-pound category. She has already represented Pakistan in several countries, securing wins that have brought recognition and pride to the nation.

    Looking ahead, Aliya is preparing for a high-stakes challenge fight against an Indian boxer scheduled for August. Speaking after her recent victory, she expressed gratitude for the support of the nation and shared how the win has boosted her confidence. She vowed to defeat her Indian opponent and continue making her country proud.

  • Wanted Pakistani human smuggler potentially still luring hapless people to deadly crossing

    Wanted Pakistani human smuggler potentially still luring hapless people to deadly crossing

    A human trafficker named Khawar Hassan, nearly 30 years of age, is still at large and is potentially still luring hapless people to perilous and deadly crossings with promises of safe routes into Europe, a BBC Verify investigation has found.

    Khawar Hassan aka Fadi Gujjar, is unlike many other Pakistani smugglers. While others tend to boastfully advertise illegal routes to Europe online, he is more careful and is believed to be advertising his services through word of mouth.

    His online presence is limited to highly edited videos of his travels, and almost all clients identified were local to his town of Jaurah, in Gujrat, BBC Verify said. In fact, two people he was close to, cousins Sufian Ali and Atif Shahzad, were among those who were beaten to death on a deadly boat journey he put them on.

    As per BBC, the three men can be seen together in a TikTok video, posted on Fadi’s account, filmed at a beachside restaurant in Mauritania’s capital Nouakchott.

    Within a month of the video being posted online, Ali and Shahzad were dead. Fadi, meanwhile, is currently on the run and wanted by Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in connection with the Mauritania boat disaster, which resulted in the deaths of at least 43 Pakistanis and others. 

    The survivors claimed that they paid nearly 13,000 dollars to Fadi, BBC Verify reported.

    The BBC further reports that Fadi Gujjar’s Facebook location is currently set to Istanbul.

    Naming Fadi Gujjar as one of ten smugglers involved in the tragedy, Pakistani authorities have arrested some members of his family, including his mother and one of his brothers, on allegations of collecting money on his behalf from people buying routes to Europe.

    After being contacted through WhatsApp via a number shared by survivors, Fadi declined to address the allegations against him, claiming that his name was being misused and that he “left everything up to Allah”.

  • Donkey business: Rs80m worth of donkey hides seized in export shipment to China

    Donkey business: Rs80m worth of donkey hides seized in export shipment to China

    The Collectorate of Customs Enforcement at Karachi has managed to halt a major smuggling operation, confiscating 14 tons of donkey hides that were being illegally shipped to China. As per reports, the hides were falsely labelled as leather products to facilitate the clearance process and were worth approximately Rs80 million.

    Donkey hides are highly sought after in China, where gelatin extracted from the hides is used in beauty products and traditional medicine. Reports have revealed that a key official from the Collectorate of Customs Enforcement has commended the relevant stakeholders involved in the seizure. Under Pakistani law, the export of donkey hides is prohibited under export policy regulations.

    The Collectorate is responsible for curbing transnational smuggling operations and analysing suspicious cargo to verify whether the contents align with their declared labels. While the Collectorate of Customs Enforcement typically deals with the seizure of contraband such as cigarettes, vehicles, and petroleum products, customs officials maintain strict vigilance even over shipments that may not initially appear suspicious, ensuring that smuggling activities remain effectively curbed.

    At the South Asia Pakistan Port Terminal (SAPT) in Karachi, the Risk Management Profiling System identified a questionable consignment containing 285 packages that were mislabeled as leather goods. Reports suggest that the container, numbered SEGU-3154225 and carrying the donkey hides, was initially cleared by the Customs Export Collectorate.

    However, officials later handed the container over to the Anti-Smuggling Department for inspection. Upon examination, customs officers discovered that the cargo contained donkey hides instead of genuine leather, prompting them to initiate legal proceedings.

    According to reports, the Anti-Smuggling Department relocated the seized donkey hides to their warehouse for safekeeping. Moreover, legal action has been initiated against the exporter under the provisions of the Customs Act.

    Chinese demand for donkey meat and hides led to a meeting between Zhao Fei, Vice President of China’s Donkey Industry Branch, and Pakistan’s Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer, in April 2025. As per reports, China expressed its interest in establishing donkey farms across Pakistan.

    Facilities proposed to meet China’s demand for donkey meat are intended to ensure that the domestic donkey population is not depleted by mass hunting operations. These farms are expected to operate under strict oversight to ensure full compliance with legal and ethical standards.

    China reportedly plans to set up donkey farms in Gwadar’s export processing zone, along with the necessary infrastructure to transport meat and hides to the Gwadar port.

  • Pakistani boxer crushes unbeaten Indian boxer in Thailand

    Pakistani boxer crushes unbeaten Indian boxer in Thailand

    In a thrilling boxing showdown held in Thailand, Pakistani boxer Shaheer Afridi emerged victorious after defeating Indian fighter Tarjot Singh Bawa. The highly-anticipated match saw Afridi dominate in the middleweight category, ultimately clinching the win via technical knockout in the fourth round.

    The Indian boxer began to falter as early as the third round, showing visible signs of fatigue and imbalance. By the fourth round, the referee stepped in to stop the contest, declaring Shaheer Afridi the winner on the basis of a technical knockout due to Bawa’s deteriorating condition.

    The fight marked Afridi’s 18th professional bout. The victory was particularly significant as Tarjot Singh Bawa had remained unbeaten in his professional career until now. With this win, Afridi has now secured 16 wins, faced only one loss, and has drawn once in his career. His impressiveness has propelled him into the list of the world’s top 50 middleweight boxers.

    Shaheer Afridi, who serves as a commando in the Sindh Police, has become a source of pride not only for the department but for the entire nation. His aggressive strategy and tactical precision throughout the match showcased his skill and determination in the ring.

    Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah, congratulated Shaheer Afridi on his remarkable achievement and announced a reward on behalf of the Sindh government. He stated that the entire province is proud of Afridi’s performance and emphasized how the boxer has brought honour to both Sindh and Pakistan by defeating an undefeated Indian opponent.

  • Journalist reveals how weather in Punjab, PAF patrolling destroyed Indian attack plans

    Journalist reveals how weather in Punjab, PAF patrolling destroyed Indian attack plans

    Prominent journalist Mansoor Ali Khan has revealed that, according to intelligence received by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), India was set to carry out a misadventure against Pakistan between the night of Thursday and Friday.

    “Pakistan Air Force received information that India was going to launch a misadventure against Pakistan at 2:30 am (Friday),” the journalist disclosed on his YouTube channel on Friday.

    Detailing on the aversion of the potential misadventure, Mansoor said that on the same night, the weather across the entire area, including the Punjab belt, suddenly deteriorated. “I don’t know whether it was divine help,” he said.

    He further argued that the misadventure might have been averted as “severe patrolling was ongoing” in the Gilgit-Baltistan region that night.

    Regarding claims that the danger of war has faded, the journalist said that nearly 50 fighter jets, including MiG-21s and German-made Rafales, are stationed near the border in India.

    “At one point, 40 to 50 Pakistani fighter jets were also in the air, patrolling simultaneously,” he added, highlighting the escalating tensions.

    He further stated that Pakistan’s radar system and satellite coverage are so strong that all the Indian airports near the border, including Srinagar, fall within their surveillance range.

    Without revealing the name, he concluded that information regarding the potential Indian misadventure had also come from an “ally”.

    Mansoor also dismissed claims that on April 29, Indian fighter jets were patrolling near Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) for 22 minutes, noting that their communication systems were jammed for five minutes.

    Earlier, APP quoted security sources as reporting that the PAF had detected four Indian Rafale fighter jets patrolling near the Line of Control (LoC) late Tuesday night, forcing them to retreat after a coordinated response.

    “On the night of April 29/30, four Indian Rafale jets conducted patrolling within Indian geographical boundaries over IIOJK,” APP reported, quoting security sources.

    Following an attack in Pahalgam, in held Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists, tensions surged between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

    On April 23, India unilaterally suspended the long-standing Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), a critical water-sharing agreement brokered by the World Bank, which had held steady through numerous conflicts between the two countries.

    India has suggested that cross-border links may have been involved in the attack, although it has not provided concrete evidence. In contrast, Pakistan has strongly denied any involvement.

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for an independent and transparent investigation into the incident to determine the truth.

  • Pakistan’s trade deficit surges to $3.4 billion in April

    Pakistan’s trade deficit surges to $3.4 billion in April

    Pakistan’s economic woes continue as the economy witnessed its trade deficit grow to a staggering $3.4 billion in April 2025. According to reports, economic experts believe that Pakistan’s overall current account balance may close in the red for fiscal year (FY) 2024-25, as Pakistan runs persistently high trade deficits.

    Macroeconomic indicators exhibited signs of revival in March 2025 as Pakistan logged its largest current account surplus of $1.2 billion. For reference, the current account considers net export income, net income from abroad and net current transfers.

    Cash-strapped Pakistan was only able to achieve a surplus based on the net current transfers component of the current account, which considers remittance inflows into the country. According to reports, Pakistan has witnessed a significant growth in remittance inflows, largely because of 2.4 million migrating out of the country over the last three years.

    Data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) paints an alarming picture, revealing falling export revenues alongside growing import bills. Pakistan’s trade deficit surged to a staggering $3.39 billion, translating into a month-on-month (MoM) deficit growth of 55.2 percent.

    The widening of the trade deficit is likely to put significant depreciatory pressure on the rupee, resulting in a subsequent pressure on the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) foreign reserves. This is because the SBP follows a managed float regime, intervening in the foreign exchange market to prevent the rupee from straying beyond its permitted exchange rate band.

    As per data from the PBS, Pakistan’s import bill grew to a whopping $5.53 billion, indicating that the import bill had recorded a 14.52 percent growth on a MoM basis. Export figures in April 2025, on the other hand, witnessed a 19.05 percent MoM drop, falling to just $2.14 billion.

    Moreover, this trend of rising imports and falling exports is present in year-on-year (YoY) trade statistics as well. Imports have logged a 14.09 percent YoY increase, with exports witnessing 8.93 percent fall on a YoY basis. 

    Aggregated data from the PBS indicates that the trade deficit for the first ten months of FY 2024-25 has ballooned to a colossal $21.35 billion. The breakdown of Pakistan’s trade statistics over the aforementioned period has revealed that total exports stand at $26.86 billion, vastly outweighed by imports amounting to $48.21 billion.

    Details from reports suggest that the higher import bill signifies a revival of the economy, as the domestic economy demands more petroleum products. The surge in petroleum demand comes on the back of higher vehicle sales due to lower interest rates.

  • PSL X breaks records with 1.1 billion views in just 12 matches

    PSL X breaks records with 1.1 billion views in just 12 matches

    The tenth season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL X) is making headlines across the globe, but this time, it is not just because of thrilling cricketing clashes as the league has recorded a historic surge of 826.5% in digital live-streaming viewership during the opening week as compared to last season.


    According to data compiled by Walee Technologies, PSL X recorded a whopping 1.1 billion views within the first 12 matches, marking a transformative shift in how cricket is consumed in Pakistan, and emerging as one of the most-watched digital sporting events in South Asia.

    The opening three games alone attracted a massive 477.7 million livestream views, dwarfing last year’s figure of 57.8 million for the same period. The breakdown is as follows:

    Match 1: 137.6 million views
    Match 2: 253.5 million views
    Match 3: 86.5 million views

    These numbers are credited to PSL’s expanded digital partnerships across platforms, including Daraz, Myco, Tamasha, Tapmad and Begin, offering broader accessibility and mobile-first engagement.

    With just 12 matches played, the tournament has surpassed 1.1 billion cumulative views and clocked over 16.25 billion minutes of total watch time. This surge reflects not only the league’s widespread popularity but also a deliberate digital-first approach from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), leveraging live streaming, short-form content and on-demand highlights to capture fragmented, fast-moving online audiences.

    Meanwhile, the PCB’s official digital media channels have also recorded exceptional growth across all platforms with over 1.4 billion views across Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and X.

    The content strategy behind this includes a powerful mix of match highlights, player features, behind-the-scenes content and fan-focused reels that resonate particularly well with Gen Z and millennial viewers.

    As PSL celebrates its 10th year, it’s also laying down the foundation of a digitally empowered future for Pakistani sports broadcasting. The blend of accessibility, multi-platform content and interactive fan experiences is turning PSL into a global digital property.

    IPL STREAMING BAN

    Separately, amid tensions with India, the government has officially banned the online streaming of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on local platforms. This decision comes after India banned the online streaming of the PSL in the country.

    According to a government order, popular streaming platforms like Tapmad have already taken down IPL matches from their websites. The ban is said to have been imposed on Friday night (May 2) and will apply to all platforms that were previously showing IPL matches in Pakistan.

  • Jannat Mirza returning home after being criticised for silence on Pak-India tensions

    Jannat Mirza returning home after being criticised for silence on Pak-India tensions

    Pakistani TikToker Jannat Mirza, who has recently been the target of criticism for remaining silent on the rising tensions between Pakistan and India, has now shared her thoughts—urging peace and dialogue over war.


    In a viral video, Jannat was seen avoiding a journalist’s question about how the escalating tensions between the two countries might impact public figures like herself.

    Her refusal to respond drew backlash, with many netizens accusing her of prioritising Indian followers over taking a stand for Pakistan.
    Without responding to the criticism, Jannat posted an Instagram story expressing her concern over the situation. She wrote: “I was supposed to spend my holidays in London, but due to the looming threat of war between India and Pakistan, I’ve decided to cut my trip short and return home. My love for Pakistan knows no bounds, and nothing is more important to me than the safety and well-being of my country.”

    She further emphasised the need for peace, saying, “War is never a solution to any problem; it only brings destruction and devastation. I firmly believe that issues should be resolved through peaceful dialogue and table talks, not through violence and aggression.”

    Jannat concluded her message with a hopeful note, “Let’s hope for a peaceful resolution and a brighter future for our beloved Pakistan.”

    Her statement comes at a time when public figures are increasingly under pressure to speak up amid growing tensions between the neighbouring nations.

  • Ducky Bhai refuses to comment on India’s threats against Pakistan

    Ducky Bhai refuses to comment on India’s threats against Pakistan

    Popular YouTuber Saad ur Rehman, widely known as Ducky Bhai, refused to comment when questioned about rising tensions between Pakistan and India.

    He appeared at the Lahore High Court on Thursday in a case related to reckless driving and was granted bail until May 5.

    After the court hearing, a reporter asked Ducky Bhai about the recent warning issued by the Pakistani government regarding a potential Indian attack within the next 36 to 48 hours. The journalist asked:“The federal interior minister has said that India may attack Pakistan within 36 to 48 hours. As a social media influencer, what is your stance on this?”

    Ducky Bhai chose not to respond.

    Instead, his lawyer Chaudhary Usman addressed the media, saying:“We’ll speak on this matter some other time. For now, we’re here for the case at hand, and we’ll stick to that.”

    Another reporter asked Ducky Bhai about the ongoing tensions between Pakistan and India, specifically regarding the online propaganda being spread by Indian social media influencers, and whether Pakistani influencers should also speak up.

    Ducky Bhai remained silent, but his lawyer responded, “Absolutely, we stand with our country, our army, and our institutions.”

    A journalist then asked, “Shouldn’t a strong response be given?”

    To this, Ducky Bhai replied, “Right now, I’m dealing with my own personal issues. Let me sort those out first, then I’ll talk about this.”

    When a final question suggested that he might be staying silent to protect his Indian viewership, Ducky Bhai responded: “No, I don’t really have that much viewership in India.”

    The YouTuber recently faced legal trouble after the Motorway Police took action against him for posting a video in which he was seen speeding and driving hands-free on the motorway.

    As political tensions grow between Pakistan and India, public figures are increasingly under pressure to take a stance. However, many remain silent, aware that their fan bases span both countries.

    Earlier, Pakistan’s most-followed TikToker, Jannat Mirza, also made headlines—but not for her content.

    At a recent public event in London promoting Shumaila’s Aesthetic Hair Laser Clinic, Jannat was asked about the ongoing tensions between Pakistan and India following the Pahalgam attack.

    Instead of answering, she gestured by sealing her lips and walked away.

    Her reaction sparked immediate backlash online, with many accusing her of avoiding the topic to protect her following in India. Some social media users even questioned her courage and credibility as a public figure.

  • Pakistan bans online streaming of IPL

    Pakistan bans online streaming of IPL

    The Pakistani government has officially banned the online streaming of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on local platforms.

    This decision comes after India banned the online streaming of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in the country following the recent attack in Pahalgam in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

    Popular streaming platforms like Tapmad have already taken down IPL matches from their websites. The ban is said to have been imposed on Friday night and will apply to all platforms that were previously showing IPL matches in Pakistan, according to a government order.

    This move also comes in response to India blocking the social media accounts of several well-known Pakistani cricketers. There was no official explanation, but Indian users on platform X (formerly Twitter) reported that they could no longer access the profiles of Pakistani stars like Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Haris Rauf. Some even claimed that Mohammad Rizwan and the official Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) accounts were also blocked in India.

    Screenshots shared online showed messages such as “Account not available in India” on these profiles, making them inaccessible to Indian followers.

    Tensions between the two countries have increased shortly after a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, IIOJK, on 22 April, which resulted in 26 tourists losing their lives.