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Pakistan welcomes 2026 with colorful fireworks and festivities

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Pakistan welcomes 2026

KARACHI: The Pakistan ushered in the New Year 2026 with vibrant celebrations, dazzling lights, and fireworks. The first country to welcome the New Year was New Zealand, where at midnight, Auckland’s Sky Tower illuminated the night sky with spectacular pyrotechnics.

Australia followed with a grand display over Sydney Harbour Bridge, attracting thousands of people to celebrate the start of the year.

Across Asia, countries marked the New Year in both traditional and modern styles. Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour hosted impressive fireworks, Taipei Tower in Taiwan lit up with colorful displays, and Bangkok celebrated along the Chao Phraya River.

In Japan, traditional temple bells rang as citizens gathered at Tokodai-ji and other shrines to offer prayers for the year ahead. China celebrated with cultural performances, including a traditional drum show at the Great Wall’s Juyongguan section, drawing large crowds of residents and tourists.

Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur saw a stunning fireworks display at the Petronas Twin Towers, filling the sky with colors as citizens celebrated with joy and hope.

In Pakistan, major cities including Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, Hyderabad, and Faisalabad hosted grand fireworks at midnight. Karachi’s iconic landmarks lit up the night, while special events were organized at Bahria Town Karachi and Centaurus Mall in Islamabad.

Despite some restrictions, large crowds gathered, exchanging greetings and celebrating the arrival of 2026, with sporadic reports of celebratory gunfire in certain areas.

People across Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, South Asia, and around the globe welcomed the New Year with wishes for peace, prosperity, and hope for a better year ahead.

FIFA chief lauds Arshad Nadeem’s achievements in javelin throw

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FIFA chief lauds

KARACHI: Pakistani javelin star Arshad Nadeem held a cordial meeting with International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) President Gianni Infantino in Dubai during the Global Sports Summit.

During the meeting, Infantino inquired about Nadeem’s javelin throwing achievements.

In response, Arshad Nadeem shared that his best throw was 92 meters, but he aims to break his own record.

Infantino expressed his best wishes for the athlete’s future endeavors and the two took pictures together.

Interestingly, Gianni Infantino was already aware of Nadeem’s accomplishments, which pleasantly surprised the Pakistani javelin thrower.

Earlier, Arshad Nadeem added another milestone to his illustrious career after receiving the Global Breakthrough Athlete Award at the Global Sports Summit in Dubai, marking a historic moment for Pakistan athletics on the international stage.

The prestigious award was presented by Sheikh Mansoor bin Muhammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, son of the Ruler of Dubai, in recognition of Arshad Nadeem’s outstanding performances and his rise as one of the world’s leading javelin throwers.

Federal Information Atta Tarar congratulated Arshad Nadeem on his success.

Australian investor emerges as potential buyer for two new PSL teams

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Australian investor

LAHORE: An Australian investor, Hamza M. Chaudhry, has expressed interest in purchasing two new franchises for the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Speaking at a program organized by the Sports Journalists Association of Lahore, Chaudhry clarified that he would be bidding individually, not as part of a consortium. He emphasized that the draft system is a fair method for player selection, ensuring equal opportunities for all teams.

Chaudhry, who hails from Lahore, expressed particular interest in the Sialkot and Faisalabad franchises. “We will try to acquire a team and further promote cricket. I have returned to my homeland to contribute to Pakistan’s economy,” he said.

He added that he envisions the PSL as a world-class league and intends to play his part in achieving that goal. “We will do our best to make the team win. Even if we are not successful, our passion for sports will continue,” he noted.

Having previously been involved in sports activities in Australia and England, Chaudhry said his team would conduct talent hunts across all proposed cities. “I have been a fan of Lahore Qalandars and now we aim to discover new talent. Our expert team has been working on this for the past one and a half months, and we will manage the team professionally once acquired,” he concluded.

Pakistan’s official Oscar entry “Hunden” could not compete amid documentation glitches

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Pakistan’s official Oscar

Pakistan’s 98th Academy Awards selection saw the historic Burushaski-language film “Hunden” being officially chosen by the country’s Oscars selection committee. However, due to documentation and administrative complications, the film could not make it to the international stage.

Director Karamat Ali revealed that the selection committee informed him via email that Hunden had been designated as Pakistan’s official entry.

Following this, the team submitted all required documents through the Academy’s official online portal. Later, they received another email stating that the documents were incomplete.

The team promptly resubmitted everything, but instead of a confirmation, they were informed that the film could not be accepted as Pakistan’s official entry due to incomplete documentation.

Karamat Ali further stated that the Academy mistakenly sent an email regarding another film, Palestine 36, claiming its documents were incomplete. Pakistani Oscars selection committee chairman Mohammad Ali Naqvi (Mo Naqvi) clarified to the Academy team that Hunden was the officially selected film. Despite Mo Naqvi maintaining consistent communication and the Academy acknowledging the error, the nomination issue remained unresolved.

Under Academy rules, any film must be commercially released in its home country for at least seven consecutive days between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025, and at least 50% of the dialogue must be in a non-English language. Director Karamat Ali confirmed that all required documents for Hunden were submitted before the deadline of October 1, 2025.

Despite not making it to the Oscars, Karamat Ali expressed pride in the film’s selection, saying, “We are happy that our film was chosen to represent Pakistan, and we consider that achievement a success.”

Hunden is based on a folk tale from Hunza and is Pakistan’s first film in the Burushaski language. It emphasizes the harmony between nature and human life. This year, due to documentary and administrative challenges, no Pakistani film was officially submitted for the Oscars.

Prominent figures from arts, politics, sports and media passed away in 2025

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Prominent figures

KARACHI: The year 2025 witnessed the loss of several prominent personalities from Pakistan’s arts, politics, sports and media sectors, leaving a lasting impact on their respective fields.

In the political arena, senior leaders Irfan Siddiqui, Mian Manzoor Wattoo, Mian Muhammad Azhar and Agha Siraj Durrani passed away during the year.

Renowned economist and the country’s first female Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, Dr Shamshad Akhtar, also died in 2025, marking a significant loss for the financial and academic community.

Among other notable figures, respected intellectual Dr Arifa Syeda Zahra and acclaimed poet Tajammul Kaleem also passed away this year.

The television and film industry mourned the loss of veteran actress Ayesha Khan, along with Humaira Asghar, Humaira Abid Ali, and child star Umar Shah.

Additionally, celebrated artists Anwar Ali, Javed Kodu and Lucky Dear also left the world of entertainment forever.

In the world of sports, former international cricket umpire Khizar Hayat passed away, drawing tributes from the cricketing fraternity.

These losses marked a somber chapter in 2025, as the nation bid farewell to individuals who made enduring contributions to public life, culture, and sports.

World welcomes 2026 with hopes of peace, stability and prosperity

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World welcomes 2026

The New Year 2026 has begun across several countries around the world, with people celebrating amid hopes for peace, stability and prosperity.

In New Zealand, spectacular fireworks lit up the sky over Auckland as the iconic Sky Tower became the center of New Year celebrations. A large number of citizens gathered around the tower to witness the dazzling display as the country rang in the new year.

Australia also welcomed 2026 with grand celebrations. In Sydney, a breathtaking fireworks show illuminated the Sydney Harbour, while hundreds of people gathered along the coastline to celebrate the arrival of the new year.

Across the globe, countries marked the occasion with traditional and modern festivities. In South Korea, the new year was welcomed by ringing a traditional bronze bell, symbolizing hope and renewal. In the United Arab Emirates, a spectacular fireworks display was planned at Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, one of the world’s tallest buildings.

Major global cities including New York, London and Paris are also set to host large-scale New Year celebrations, attracting millions of spectators.

In Beijing, a New Year tea party featured a traditional opera performance. Addressing the event, Chinese President Xi Jinping stated that China would move forward with more proactive macroeconomic policies in 2026.

The celebrations reflected a shared global spirit of optimism as nations step into the new year with renewed aspirations for progress and harmony.

COAS vows to counter Indian-backed groups in Balochistan

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COAS vows to counter

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir has warned that Pakistan will deliver a strict and decisive response to any direct or indirect violation of its territorial integrity, amid what he described as continued propaganda and violence by Indian-sponsored proxy groups in Balochistan.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Field Marshal Asim Munir was speaking to participants of the 18th National Workshop on Balochistan, who called on him during an interactive session.

Addressing the participants, the Field Marshal said that Indian-backed proxies are actively spreading violence and attempting to disrupt development in Balochistan. He emphasized that the security forces will thwart these nefarious designs through firm and effective actions.

He reiterated that the Pakistan Armed Forces remain fully committed to safeguarding the lives and property of citizens and will continue efforts to rid the province of terrorism and instability.

Highlighting Balochistan’s strategic importance and its role in Pakistan’s future development, Field Marshal Asim Munir praised the resilience and patriotism of the people of Balochistan, calling them a source of national strength. He noted that both federal and provincial governments are pursuing people-centric development projects across the province.

The COAS also underscored the importance of rejecting narrow political agendas to ensure long-term peace and prosperity in Balochistan, adding that civil society and media play a crucial role in exposing hostile propaganda.

ISPR stated that the session concluded with a question-and-answer segment, during which the Field Marshal responded to queries from the workshop participants.

Govt announces major cut in petroleum prices at start of New Year

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Govt announces

ISLMABAD: The public has received significant relief at the beginning of the new year as the government announced a substantial reduction in petroleum product prices.

According to the official announcement, the price of petrol has been reduced by Rs10.28 per litre, while diesel prices have been lowered by Rs8.57 per litre.

 Following the cut, the new price of petrol has been fixed at Rs253.17 per litre, whereas diesel will now be sold at Rs257.08 per litre.

As per the notification, the revised prices will come into effect from January 1, a move expected to provide noticeable relief to consumers in their daily transportation and household expenses.

Rare 2,000-year-old Buddhist statue discovered from Afghanistan

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Afghanistan

A rare Buddhist-era statue dating back nearly 2,000 years has been discovered in Afghanistan’s Kapisa province, according to the Taliban’s Department of Information and Culture.

In a statement issued, the department said the ancient statue belongs to the Buddhist period and was crafted in the Greco-Buddhist style, reflecting a blend of Hellenistic and Buddhist artistic influences. The artifact was recovered from a house in the Kara Taz area of Kapisa.

The discovery comes amid long-standing accusations by historians and international organizations that the Taliban have damaged or neglected Afghanistan’s cultural and historical heritage.

Experts believe the statue could provide valuable insights into ancient Afghanistan’s art, culture, and its historical trade and cultural links with Buddhist civilizations.

The statue is currently in the custody of local authorities. However, it remains unclear whether international archaeologists and experts will be granted access to study the artifact.

Shaheen Afridi recalled from Big Bash League after knee injury

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Shaheen Afridi

SYDNEY: Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has been recalled from the Big Bash League (BBL) after sustaining a knee injury during the tournament.

While representing Brisbane Heat, Shaheen experienced knee discomfort during the match against Adelaide Strikers on Saturday, December 27. Following the injury, a decision was made to send him back to Pakistan for further assessment and rehabilitation.

Shaheen Afridi is expected to return to Pakistan on Wednesday, where a comprehensive rehabilitation program will be arranged for him at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). In a statement, Brisbane Heat said Shaheen would undergo a re-assessment upon the team’s return from Adelaide.

Taking to social media, Shaheen Afridi confirmed that due to the unexpected injury, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had advised him to return home immediately. He stated that he would complete his rehab in Pakistan and expressed optimism about making a strong comeback to competitive cricket soon.

The fast bowler also thanked Brisbane Heat and his fans for their continued support during his time in the BBL.