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  • Buy physical tickets for Champions Trophy here

    Buy physical tickets for Champions Trophy here

    The sale of physical tickets for the Champions Trophy has officially been announced. 

    According to details, a week after the announcement for sale of online tickets, the physical tickets for the tournament will go on sale at designated TCS outlets today (Feb 3), 4 pm Pakistan Standard Time (PST).

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has said that fans can purchase physical tickets from 108 TCS centres across 26 cities. The prices for general stand tickets will start from PKR 1,000, whereas premium seating for the 10 matches in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi, will be available in various categories, starting at PKR 1,500.

    The tournament’s opening match will take place on Feb 19 at Karachi’s National Stadium where hosts Pakistan will face New Zealand. 

    India’s matches, scheduled for February 20, February 23, and March 2 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), will have their ticket details announced at a later time.

    The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 final will be held on March 9, and tickets for the final will be available for purchase in Dubai following the conclusion of the first semi-final.

  • ‘Madam CM, Sindh was first’: Sharjeel Memon reacts to Maryam’s electric buses claim

    ‘Madam CM, Sindh was first’: Sharjeel Memon reacts to Maryam’s electric buses claim

    Sindh Information and Transport Minister Sharjeel Memon has reacted to a claim by Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz, setting facts straight regarding the launch of electric buses as public transport by a provincial government.

    “Punjab is going to be the 1st province to transform its Mass transit to electric vehicles. 1st fleet of 27 e-Buses has arrived. Buses equipped with Wifi, Female Section, Wheelchair ramps, CCTV & Seating for Special persons. Bus stops will be revamped with Water coolers & Mist Fans [sic],” Maryam wrote on X while posting pictures of Punjab’s newly-arrived electric buses.

    Quoting her post, the Sindh info minister and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader corrected CM Maryam, stating how Sindh had launched electric buses back in January 2023. “Madam CM, It’s good to know that after Sindh, Punjab is the second province who has started EV Buses [sic].”

    Memon went on to support his claim by sharing news clippings confirming the launch of Pakistan’s first electric bus service in Sindh two years ago. “Dates of launch of EV Buses in Sindh are visible in these posts,” he wrote.

    The post was followed by Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari’s response to her counterpart.

    “Apologies, but I don’t understand why you people are becoming so insecure these days. First, summoning traders and scolding them over a conversation made in jest, and now this? By the way, after the Orange Line, three metro projects, Speedo buses, and electric bikes, this is the next step. Anyway, the real situation and story of public transport in Sindh is a topic for another time,” she wrote.

    The conversation continued as Memon replied to Bokhari, urging that the provincial chief executive of Punjab fixed her post.

    “We are not insecure, madam. I just want to correct the facts. My suggestion is kindly edit the tweet of CM sahiba and tell people that you are not the first who started you are second province who started after two years of Sindh [sic],” he said.

    Punjab CM on Friday inaugurated the province’s first fully electric bus service in the provincial capital city, Lahore. The new fleet consists of buses with a capacity of 30 seats and the ability to carry 80 passengers.

    The electric buses are equipped with modern amenities, including GPS tracking, Wi-Fi, USB ports, and ramps for people with disabilities.

    To ensure efficiency, nine specialized charging stations have been set up, and each bus will be able to cover a distance of 250 kilometers on a full charge.

  • FBR misses revenue target by Rs85 billion

    FBR misses revenue target by Rs85 billion

    The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) failed to meet its revenue target by a staggering 85 billion rupees. As per reports, the reason behind the failure was the economy’s ‘lower than expected’ inflation rate.

    The revenue watchdog collected just 872 billion rupees despite its target collection level sitting at 957 billion rupees. The 85-billion-rupee gap translates into an approximate 10 percent deviation from target revenue levels.

    While the gap seems alarming, provisional data revealed that collection levels are, in fact, 26 percent higher compared to last year. As per reports, collection levels sat at a measly 677 billion rupees last year, outlining the progress the FBR has made over the past year.

    The gap between revenue collection levels and the target amount has surged to 468 billion rupees during the first half of Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25. Reports claim that meeting the target revenue levels might now be a herculean task.

    Furthermore, recent controversies surrounding a purchase order of automobiles by the department might make it difficult for officials to perform their daily operations efficiently. Senator Faysal Vawda levelled corruption allegations against the board while also alleging that certain FBR officials threatened him for being a whistle-blower.

    FBR chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial ordered an internal investigation into these allegations, which might divert precious resources away from tax collection purposes. The procurement of cars would have reportedly boosted collection figures, which, according to provisional data, sit at 6.497 trillion rupees for the first seven months of FY 2024-25.

    Experts have revealed that the revenue shortfall stems from a fall in import-based taxes, suboptimal growth in the manufacturing sector and, most importantly, low inflation levels.

    Owning to Islamabad’s crackdown against illegal exchange operations and the SBP’s high interest rates, inflation has remained in single digits in the past few months.

    As per reports, analysts have dubbed Islamabad’s revenue target of 12.313 trillion rupees for FY 2024-25 as ‘overly ambitious’. The revenue target stands 40 percent higher than the one set by Islamabad last year.

    Islamabad believes that it can extract another 3.659 trillion rupees in revenue during FY 2024-25 from three main avenues. This will be possible if Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grows at a rate of three percent, the import growth rate touches 16.9 percent, and the manufacturing sector grows by 3.5 percent.

    According to reports, real revenue collection levels in FY 2024-25 might touch 12 trillion rupees. The shortfall is likely to be remedied by cutting back on expenditures rather than levying additional taxes.

  • Fans love video of Ishq Murshid in London

    Fans love video of Ishq Murshid in London

    Actor Ali Gul Malah, who gained widespread fame for his role in the popular 2023-2024 drama Ishq Murshid, became the centre of attention once again when a video of him enjoying a sightseeing tour in London went viral. 

    Malah, known for his iconic dialogue “Bhale” in the drama, shared a short video on Instagram where he expressed gratitude to the drama’s director, Farooq Rind.

    In the video, filmed near London’s famous Big Ben, Ali Gul Malah thanked Farooq Rand for creating Ishq Murshid, which, according to him, not only shaped his career but also brought him to iconic locations like the clock tower. With his signature style, Malah spoke fondly of the director’s role in transforming his life through the success of the drama. 

    He said, “Farooq Rind ne Ishq Murshid jaisa drama bana kar meri zindagi bhi bana di. Aaj mein is drama ki wajah se London ke mashhoor maqam par hoon.”

    [Farooq Rind created a drama like Ishq Murshid and transformed my life. Today, I am at this famous location in London because of the drama.]


    While standing in front of Big Ben, Ali Gul Malah also performed a traditional jhoomar dance, a joyful expression of his happiness and excitement. His short video quickly gained traction on social media, with users flooding the post with comments. Most fans welcomed him to London and sent well wishes for his continued success.

    Ali Gul Malah became a household name for his portrayal of Fazal Bakhsh, a humorous character in Ishq Murshid, who is often heard saying “Bhale” throughout the show. “Bhale” is a Sindhi word meaning agreement or consent, commonly used when someone agrees or approves of something. 

    While Malah had previously appeared in numerous dramas on Pakistan Television (PTV) and in Sindhi dramas since his childhood, it was Ishq Murshid that brought him newfound fame and recognition across the country.

  • Taliban govt-run corporation takes over luxury Kabul Serena hotel

    Taliban govt-run corporation takes over luxury Kabul Serena hotel

    Kabul (AFP) – Afghanistan’s Taliban government took over management of Kabul’s famed Serena hotel on Saturday, a hotel statement said, a luxury property targeted by Taliban attacks during their insurgency.

    The Kabul Serena Hotel was run for nearly 20 years by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development in the Afghan capital and was popular with business travellers and foreign guests.

    “Kabul Serena Hotel shall be closing its operations effective February 01, 2025,” a statement from Serena on Friday night said.

    Hotel operations are now handled by the Hotel State Owned Corporation (HSOC), the statement added.

    “Since opening in 2005, Kabul Serena Hotel has been an integral part of Kabul’s social fabric, an iconic presence in the city, and a symbol of our unwavering commitment to the people of Afghanistan,” the statement said.

    Taliban government spokesmen did not immediately respond to requests for comment and AFP journalists were not allowed onto the property on Saturday morning.

    On Saturday, the hotel’s website only showed the statement about the handover and Kabul has been removed from the Serena brand’s list of destinations.

    The Switzerland-based organisation also did not respond to AFP requests for comment.

    The Serena has been the target of multiple deadly attacks by the Taliban before they swept to power in 2021, ousting the foreign-backed government.

    In 2014, just weeks before a presidential election, four teenage gunmen with pistols hidden in their socks managed to penetrate several layers of security, killing nine people, including an AFP journalist and members of his family.

    In 2008, a suicide bombing left six dead, in an attack blamed on the current Taliban interior minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani.

    In 2021, the United States and Britain warned their citizens to avoid hotels in Afghanistan, singling out the Serena, underlining the shaky security situation in the aftermath of the Taliban takeover.

    In the years since their return to power, however, the Taliban authorities have worked to attract tourism to Afghanistan, touting a return to security.

    Calls for aid not to be politicised

    Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities on Wednesday said humanitarian aid should not be politicised, saying around 30 non-governmental groups had suspended activities in the country since the United States froze virtually all foreign assistance.

    The United States is the largest aid donor in dollar terms globally and in Afghanistan, one of the poorest countries, which is reliant on foreign aid in multiple sectors, including emergency food assistance and healthcare.

    After taking office on January 20, US President Donald Trump ordered a 90-day pause to reassess the country’s global assistance funding.

     

    “Aid groups or countries should not use humanitarian aid for political gains,” economy ministry spokesman Abdul Rahman Habib told AFP.

    “Around 31 local and foreign NGOs funded by USAID (US Agency for International Development) have seen operations supported by America suspended,” he said, adding that operations funded by other donors were ongoing.

  • 18 soldiers martyred, 12 terrorists killed in Kalat clash

    18 soldiers martyred, 12 terrorists killed in Kalat clash

    At least 18 soldiers were martyred and 12 terrorists killed as security forces launched an operation against an attempt to establish roadblocks in Balochistan’s Kalat district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported.

    According to a statement issued by the military’s media wing, terrorists on the night of Jan 31 launched a bid to establish roadblocks in the general area of Kalat’s Mangocher.

    “On behest of inimical and hostile forces, this cowardly act of terrorism was aimed at disrupting the peaceful environment of Balochistan by targeting mainly the innocent civilians,” the statement read, adding that security forces and law enforcement agencies were immediately mobilised to thwart the evil designs.

    Security forces sent 12 terrorists to hell, ensuring security and protection of the local populace, ISPR said. However, it added, during the conduct of operations, 18 brave sons of soil, having fought gallantly, made the ultimate sacrifice and embraced shahadat.

    “Ensuing sanitisation operations are being conducted and the perpetrators, facilitators and abettors of this heinous and cowardly act, will be brought to justice,” the military vowed, saying that the country’s security forces remained determined to thwart attempts at sabotaging peace, stability and progress of Balochistan.

    Such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve, it added.

    According to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), President Asif Ali Zardari has strongly condemned the attack and expressed deep grief and sorrow over the martyrdom of 18 security personnel.

    “The president paid tribute to the martyred personnel, praying for their high ranks and for the bereaved families to bear the losses with fortitude,” the President Secretariat Press Wing said in a press release.

    He also praised the security forces for their timely action, and observed that terrorist elements wanted to disrupt peace in Balochistan.

    “The people of Pakistan had rejected those elements who wanted to disturb law and order in the country,” he said, adding that the entire nation supported its security forces in the fight against terrorism.

    It merits a mention that a spike in terror activities has been reported over the past couple of months as Pakistan continues to reiterate its resolve for lasting peace in troubled areas of Balochistan.

    Armed insurgency coupled with the use of Afghan soil for terror attacks in Pakistan has witnessed the martyrdom of dozens of security personnel in recent months as Islamabad continues to call on Kabul to ensure that terrorist hideouts across the country’s western border were destroyed.

  • ICC names match officials for Pakistan’s tri-nation series

    ICC names match officials for Pakistan’s tri-nation series

    The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that the match officials for the upcoming tri-nation One Day International (ODI) series are set to take place in Pakistan.

    The tri-nation series will be held from February 8 to February 14 in Lahore and Karachi.

    David Boon, Richard Illingworth, and Michael Gough have been appointed as match officials for the series, which features Pakistan, New Zealand, and South Africa.

    Boon, a member of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, will lead the playing control team for the series. 

    The series opener between Pakistan and New Zealand will take place on February 8 at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. Michael Gough, a member of the ICC Elite Panel, and Pakistan’s Faisal Khan Afridi from the ICC International Panel will serve as the on-field umpires for the match.

    On February 10, Gaddafi Stadium will host the match between New Zealand and South Africa, where Richard Illingworth and Rashid Riaz will officiate as on-field umpires, while Michael Gough will act as the third umpire.

    The final league match and the tournament final will be played at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium.

    In the match between Pakistan and South Africa in Karachi, Asif Yaqoob and Michael Gough will be the on-field umpires.

    For the final, scheduled on Friday, February 14, ICC Elite Panel umpire Ahsan Raza and Richard Illingworth will officiate as the on-field umpires.

  • Viral photos confirm Maryam Nafees is expecting first child

    Viral photos confirm Maryam Nafees is expecting first child

    Viral photos circulating on social media have confirmed that actress Maryam Nafees and her husband, director Aman Ahmed, are expecting their first child.

    Nafees is spending quality time with her family in Islamabad. She recently hosted a Godh Bharai (baby shower) ceremony at her home, inviting close family and friends to celebrate the occasion.

    Prominent actors Ahmed Ali Akbar and Usman Khalid Butt were also part of the celebrations. Maryam shared beautiful pictures from the event with her husband, mother, and friends, which quickly went viral on social media.

    Maryam Nafees’ fans have recently praised her exceptional acting skills in the private TV drama serial Jaan-e-Jahan. Apart from her acting career, she is also a prominent social activist who actively raises her voice on various social issues.

  • Internet speculates reasons behind Faheem Ashraf’s return to team

    Internet speculates reasons behind Faheem Ashraf’s return to team

    With the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announcing the squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025, cricketing fans across the country have been left disappointed, reacting strongly to some of the board’s “questionable” selections.

    All-rounder Faheem Ashraf tops the list of cricketers whose selection has left fans fuming as they take to social media to voice their criticism. Netizens speculate if Ashraf, who last played an ODI for Pakistan in 2022, was picked to play for the national side due to his “political allegiances”.

    While the board or any cricket officials have not reacted to the allegations, social media users, almost libelously, continue to share pictures of Ashraf with former prime minister Nawaz Sharif whom the all-rounder had met during his visit to London three years ago.

    Amid claims that Ashraf’s selection was a result of his support for the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), netizens are also training guns at the PCB for including Khushdil Shah and Usman Khan to the national squad.

    While Shah and Ashraf performed well in this year’s season of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), fans maintain the two “do not deserve a place in the team based solely on their BPL performances”. Khan, on the other hand, has not played even a single ODI for Pakistan so far and his performance in T20s, social media user say, does not justify a spot on the squad for the upcoming mega event.

    Netizens are also calling the cricketing board out for “only selecting one spinner”, Abrar Ahmed, despite the team’s recent Test successes at home owing to outstanding spin bowling.

    It merits a mention that the reactions come a day after the team for Champions Trophy was announced.


    The squad includes Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Muhammad Rizwan, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Muhammad Hasnain.

  • ‘Pay 50 Bitcoin or else…’: Malik Riaz receives death threat

    ‘Pay 50 Bitcoin or else…’: Malik Riaz receives death threat

    Controversial property tycoon Malik Riaz’s security officer Colonel (retd) Khalil Ur Rehman has filed a case at Islamabad’s Aabpara police station against an unknown person for threatening to kill the real estate magnate.

    As per the widely circulated First Information Report, an email was sent to Malik Riaz on January 12 at 4:15 pm, demanding 50 bitcoin, equivalent to over PKR 1.42 billion, as ransom. “If the demand is not met, Malik Riaz and his family members will be in danger,“ the FIR said.

    The email states that relatives of Malik Riaz and his son Ahmed Ali live in Gulf countries and in the West. “If you want to save these family members life’s (sic)…….then transfer 50 bitcoins to given bitcoin address otherwise mujahiddi of Tehrik isn’t far away from your drawing rooms” the email states. 

    The FIR states that after the threatening email was sent, an unknown person visited the area where Malik Riaz’s daughter resides, which is also the residence where he himself stays, to scout the house.

    “The individual took photos and videos of the house. Footage has emerged showing a person taking pictures and videos while surveying Malik Riaz’s home, which harassed the household,” it reads.

    The FIR states that although the email ID appeared to be from Switzerland, however, demanding ransom through a threatening email and scouting the house confirmed that the email was sent from Pakistan.


    Following former premier Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi’s conviction in the £190 million case, commonly known as the Al-Qadir Trust case, on January 17, the National Accountability Bureau said in a press release on January 22 that Riaz was an absconder in the same case and they had already frozen a number of his assets.

    “Mr Malik Riaz is residing in Dubai, UAE. He has recently launched a project for the construction of luxury apartments in Dubai, UAE. The general public at large is hereby advised and warned to refrain from investing in the stated project. If the general public at large invests in the stated project, their actions would tantamount to money laundering, for which they may face criminal/ legal proceedings,” the press release read.

    Bahria Town owner, in response to the accountability watchdog press release against his Dubai-based project, took to X (formerly Twitter) on the same day, warning, “I am holding back, but there is a storm within me. If this dam breaks, then everyone’s façade will shatter. Don’t forget that the secrets of the past 25–30 years are preserved along with evidence.”


    According to sources, NAB had written a letter to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to extradite Riaz to Pakistan.

    As per a source, the FIA will secure Riaz’s extradition from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) through the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and then hand him over to the accountability watchdog.