ISLAMABAD: On a pitch initially expected to favor fast bowlers, it was Pakistan’s batsmen who excelled. On the first day of the first Test against Bangladesh at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan both scored impressive centuries, leading Pakistan to 448-6 before captain Shan Masood declared the innings on Thursday. By the end of the second day, Bangladesh had reached 27 without loss. The visitors face a substantial challenge to turn the match in their favor. Pakistan resumed the day at 158-4 with Saud and Rizwan on 57 and 24, respectively. Saud, who became the top run-scorer for…
Author: Hasnain Abid Khanzada
RAWALPINDI: Bangladesh opener Shadman Islam scored a resilient half-century on Friday, steering his team to 134-2 at lunch on the third day of the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi. The 29-year-old left-hander was unbeaten on 53, alongside senior batter Mominul Haque, who was also not out on 45. Together, they withstood Pakistan’s pace attack on a pitch that has considerably slowed down. Despite their efforts, Bangladesh still trails Pakistan’s first innings total of 448-6 by 314 runs, with eight wickets remaining. Shadman reached his third Test half-century by pulling pacer Naseem Shah’s final delivery before the break for his…
KARACHI: Millat Tractors Ltd (MTL) has announced a suspension of tractor production until further notice due to the government’s failure to establish a mechanism for processing refund claims. In a stock filing on Thursday, MTL disclosed that while the general sales tax (GST) on tractors is 10 percent, the GST on input raw materials stands at 18 percent, leading to ongoing refund claims. Despite requests for clarification, the government has not provided a solution, forcing MTL to halt production. Previously, on August 12, MTL had reported limited sales and bookings, primarily to agri-loan customers, resulting in an accumulation of completely…
KARACHI: On Thursday, the local gold market experienced a price shock as the domestic rate for one tola (24 kt) gold surged to a new all-time high of Rs261,800, marking an increase of Rs800 from Wednesday. This hike occurred despite a decrease in the global gold price, which fell by $8 per ounce to $2,504. The All Sindh Sarraf and Jewellers Association (ASSJA) also raised the price of 10 grams (24 kt) of gold by Rs686, bringing it to Rs222,451. The association’s recent price adjustments come amid stable global gold rates and a relatively stable rupee-dollar parity. This trend follows…
ISLAMABAD: Following a recent adjustment of Rs5.76 per unit for May and June, K-Electric has requested a further Rs3.1 per unit fuel cost adjustment for July, aiming to collect an additional Rs6.2 billion from its customers. The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has scheduled a public hearing for August 29 to review K-Electric’s latest request. On Wednesday, Nepra approved additional fuel cost adjustments (FCA) of Rs2.59 and Rs3.168 per kWh for electricity used in May and June, respectively, which will be billed to consumers in October and November. In contrast to K-Electric’s request of Rs3.09 per unit for July,…
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is negotiating with Middle Eastern banks to secure approximately $4 billion in loans to address its external financial needs for the current fiscal year. This is part of the broader $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) awaiting approval from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, accompanied by his team including Minister of State for Finance Ali Pervaiz Malik, Finance Secretary Imdadullah Bosal, and Additional Secretary Sara Najeeb, held a virtual meeting with Dr. Adnan Chilwan, Group CEO of Dubai Islamic Bank, on Wednesday. A similar meeting was held with Mashreq Bank President and GCEO Ahmed…
RAWALPINDI: In anticipation of a public meeting by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and expected protests by religious groups in Islamabad’s Red Zone, extensive security measures were put in place, including roadblocks, metro bus service suspension, and heavy police deployment. However, the PTI’s gathering was postponed on the directive of party founder Imran Khan from Adiala Jail. The high level of security led to significant disruptions in daily life. Residents were largely confined to their homes, and business activity diminished, particularly in areas like Raja Bazaar, Murree Road, and surrounding markets. Many employees were unable to reach their workplaces. While Islamabad’s…
ISLAMABAD: Following the release of a revised list of political parties by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which still lists Asfandyar Wali Khan as the Awami National Party (ANP) president, the ECP has now issued a notification for the party’s intra-party elections conducted after a year’s delay. Despite the updated list showing Asfandyar Wali Khan as the party leader, the ECP’s latest notification recognizes Aimal Wali Khan as the ANP president, roughly three and a half months after the elections were held. The delayed issuance of this certificate is another instance of the ECP’s failure to adhere to legal…
ISLAMABAD: On Thursday, a leopard cub was successfully released back into the wild after a period of rehabilitation. The female leopard was set free in an undisclosed location in Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK) by the Wildlife Management Board (IWMB), under the Ministry of Climate Change. The cub, initially found injured with a wounded tail, was cared for at IWMB’s rescue center for five weeks. After receiving a clean bill of health from veterinarians, the release was facilitated with support from the AJK Wildlife Department, according to IWMB Chairperson Rina Saeed Khan. Wildlife ambassador and leopard expert Jamal Leghari joined the…
RAWALPINDI: The Punjab police responsible for maintaining law and order across the province have been prohibited from carrying firearms. Only the city police officers (CPOs), district police officers (DPOs), and senior superintendents of police (SSPs) are authorized to have armed guards. In a directive issued by Additional Inspector General Operations Zahid Nawaz, all divisional police chiefs, including CPOs, DPOs, and SSPs, were informed that no police officer, apart from these senior positions, will be allowed to carry weapons. Instead, officers on duty will be equipped with riot gear, such as tear gas guns, shells, and batons, to manage potential unrest.…
