Thirteen months ago, Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof was preparing to bid farewell to cricket and embrace motherhood. Come March, she will be spearheading Pakistan’s campaign at the World Cup in New Zealand, a comeback she hopes will inspire female cricketers in her homeland and beyond. Family support and her love for the game were crucial but the 30-year-old says she owes her return to the parental support policy introduced by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) last year. “I didn’t have any clarity about my future at that time. It seemed all’s over,” Maroof told Reuters from Karachi. “Then I spoke to the PCB…
Author: Hasnain Abid Khanzada
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) collected Rs3.352 trillion in tax revenue in the first seven months (July to January) of the current fiscal year, exceeding its target by Rs262bn. However, data released by the FBR on Monday suggested the quantum of higher-than-targeted collection dropped from Rs286bn in the first six months to Rs262bn by the end of seven months despite higher inflation and higher economic growth. In a statement, the FBR said it successfully maintained the momentum of its growth trajectory in revenue collection. According to provisional information, the country’s premier revenue collection organisation collected net revenue of…
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday rejected in the public interest a summary seeking increase in the prices of petroleum products. As such, the ex-depot prices of petroleum products would remain unchanged for the time being. “The prime minister has rejected an energy ministry’s summary that recommended an increase in the price of petrol by Rs11 and diesel by Rs14 in the public interest”, the Prime Minister Office said in a statement. The premier was quoted as saying that petroleum prices were increasing across the globe due to rising inflationary trends but the government of Pakistan will take every…
ISLAMABAD: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Monday approved four development projects, mostly in Punjab province, involving an estimated cost of Rs448.36bn. Three of the four programmes worth Rs322bn to be executed in Punjab. The meeting of the Ecnec, presided over by Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin, also approved the revised Greater Karachi Water Supply Project (K-IV) at a cost of Rs126.404bn. Planning Minister Asad Umer, Industries and Production Minister Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, Adviser to the PM on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood, Punjab Finance Minister Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht, Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Jehanzeb Khan, federal…
NAIROBI: Six people died on Monday when a minibus was destroyed by a roadside bomb during an ambush by armed men in northeastern Kenya near the border with Somalia, police said. The assailants opened fire on the 14-seater vehicle after it ran over the explosive device about eight kilometres from the town of Mandera. “Six people were killed during an attack on a vehicle,” said national police spokesman Bruno Shioso. “A security operation is under way to get the attackers.” There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the assault. A police report said a General Service Unitpatrol team, which…
FRANKFURT: Two German police officers were shot dead on Monday after pulling over a car during a routine traffic stop, prompting police to launch a major manhunt. The shooting happened at around 4:20am in the Kusel district of western Rhineland-Palatinate state during a routine patrol. A 24-year-old female police officer and her 29-year-old male colleague were killed. The young woman was still in police training, according to Rhineland-Palatinate Interior Minister Roger Lewentz. “We are urgently searching for the fugitive perpetrators,” Westpfalz regional police said in a statement. “At least one of the suspects is armed,” they warned, urging residents not…
SEOUL: North Korea confirmed on Monday it test-launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile capable of reaching the US territory of Guam, the Norths most significant weapon launch in years, as Washington plans steps to show its commitment to its Asian allies. Sundays launch could be a prelude to bigger provocations by North Korea such as nuclear and long-range missile tests that pose a direct threat to the US mainland, as the North tries to further pressure the Biden administration to win sanction relief or international recognition as a legitimate nuclear state. The official Korean Central News Agency said the purpose of the test…
OTTAWA: Police and officials in the Canadian capital Ottawa say some of the trucks blocking the city centre as part of an anti-vaccine demonstration should start leaving this week, even as some protesters insist they will stay. Dozens of trucks and other vehicles have been jamming up central Ottawa since Friday and thousands descended upon Parliament Hill to complain about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Covid-19 vaccine mandates. Parliament resumed on Monday after a six-week winter break with Trudeau’s address. “Demonstrations are expected to become smaller after today. However, it will take some time to clear vehicles from the downtown…
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday dismissed an appeal filed by the spouse of former finance minister Ishaq Dar against the auction of the latter’s bungalow. A division bench, comprising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz, in a short order dismissed the petition of Tabassum Ishaq Dar and also withdrew the stay order issued against the auction of Mr Dar’s properties. His spouse had challenged the confiscation of a house in Gulberg Lahore, saying her husband had verbally gifted the property to her on Feb 14, 1989, in lieu of her dower amount. Ms Dar…
ISLAMABAD: The capital’s civic agency has formed a nine-member committee to make amendments to the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) Ordinance of 1960 to ensure that land acquisition is carried out at market rates. The proposed amendments will bind the CDA to pay compensation to people whose land had been acquired, in accordance with market value that will be determined by an assessment committee. In light of the decision taken by the federal cabinet in November last year, CDA was also barred from making more compulsory land acquisitions. According to documents, seen by Dawn, CDA member estate Naveed Ilahi will head the…
