LONDON: Mikel Arteta saluted Arsenal’s hunger as the gritty Gunners ignored the absence of Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard to clinch an “ugly” 1-0 win at bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. Arteta’s side were without skipper Odegaard due to an ankle injury suffered on Norway duty, while fellow midfielder Rice served a suspension for his red card against Brighton and Hove Albion. But the Premier League title contenders dug deep with a combative display, benefitting from Tottenham’s latest display of wasteful finishing before Gabriel Magalhaes bagged the winner in the second half. The Brazilian defender’s first goal since February…
Author: Hasnain Abid Khanzada
ISLAMABAD: The FIFA-appointed Pakistan Football Federation Normalisation Committee (NC) is under renewed fire from the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB). With the Haroon Malik-led NC set to hold the provincial football elections — the second step towards holding the presidential polls of the country’s football governing body — next week, the PSB has expressed its concerns over the process that has been adopted. “The PSB has received several complaints from stakeholder across football community, including clubs and athletes, raising concerns about the manner in which certain processes, particularly elections are being conducted,” the National Sports Federation Wing of the PSB wrote…
The federal government on Sunday night notified a cut of Rs10 per litre in petrol prices, as well as a Rs13.06 per litre reduction in the price of high speed diesel (HSD). According to a notification from the Finance Division, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, “The Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has worked out the consumer prices of petroleum products, based on the price variations in the international market.” Petrol prices have fallen from Rs259.10 to Rs249.10 — a cut of Rs10. Meanwhile, the price of HSD has fallen by Rs13.06 from Rs262.75 to Rs249.69, with the…
The recent cut in the interest rate by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is well-calculated and well-timed. The 200 basis points cut in the central bank’s key policy rate — from 19.5 per cent to 17.5pc — is neither too small to make any impact nor too large to let inflationary pressure build up again. But will it help revive industrial production? And will the recent trend of slowing the inflation rate continue? Well, the answer to the first question depends largely on how long the ongoing increase in electricity and gas prices continues and whether Pakistan can get enough external…
ISLAMABAD: The President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Masatsugu Asakawa, visited the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Tehsil Office in Taxila to observe its initiatives aimed at providing cash assistance, supporting enrolment in schools and maternal and child health in the country. During the visit to the BISP Tehsil Office in Taxila and the Benazir Nashonuma Centre at Wah General Hospital, the ADB president was briefed on BISP’s programmes and their impact on the education, health and well-being of the poorest households. The ADB delegation comprised Haruto Takimura, chief adviser to the president, Yevgeniy Zhukov, director general, Ms Azusa…
ISLAMABAD: The government has extended the application of Pakistan Essential Services Act to all generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity for another six months to Jan 25, 2025 to avoid interruption in power supply because of possible union activities amid ongoing restructuring exercise in the state-owned entities (SOEs). “The federal government is of the opinion that employment under all Pakistan Power Sector Entities including Distribution Companies (Discos), Generation Companies (Gencos) and National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC), Ministry of Energy Power Division of Pakistan is essential in order to ensure uninterrupted operation of the organisation,” said a notification issued…
During the recently held African Summit in Beijing, some influential African leaders called for a balanced trade relationship between China and the region to narrow the trade deficit and address their trade structure. “One great goal may be narrowing the trade imbalance between China and Africa through increasing imports of agricultural goods and processed minerals,” says Zainab Usman, director of the African Programme at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The volume of foreign trade — hamstrung by unsustainable debt-financed imports and chronic balance of payments problem — can be boosted by balanced bilateral trade. It can provide impetus to…
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif unveiled a national initiative on Sunday to promote organ donation, including a special logo for registered donors on their national identity cards. In his message on International Identity Day (Sept 16), the PM described organ donation as a “profound act of kindness” that can provide a new life to those in need. He urged citizens to participate in the initiative, allowing registered organ donors to have a unique logo printed on their Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs), symbolizing their commitment to saving lives. The PM emphasized that identity is more than just recognition—it’s a foundation…
MURREE: Authorities have uncovered a Rs20 million tax fraud in Murree after a revenue official massively undervalued a commercial property worth Rs220 million to just Rs6,000 in order to evade taxes. Sources within the Murree revenue department revealed that the registry muharrar was immediately suspended by Board of Revenue Member Zaman Wattoo following an on-site inspection of the property at Mall Road, Murree. The inspection confirmed the fraudulent undervaluation, leading to disciplinary action against the tehsildar involved. The commercial plaza had been valued at Rs220 million according to the Punjab Board of Revenue’s valuation tables, but its value was fraudulently…
ISLAMABAD: The week-long polio vaccination campaign, which concluded on Sunday, has achieved 97% of its target according to data from the first six days. The final data, including the last day’s efforts, will be compiled on Monday. Launched by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on September 9 across 115 districts, the campaign aimed to vaccinate 30 million children under the age of five, with 286,000 polio workers going door-to-door. Dr. Malik Mukhtar Bharath, the Prime Minister’s Coordinator for Health, reported that 97% of children had been vaccinated by September 14, with catch-up activities underway to ensure no child is left unvaccinated.…
