Pakistan Archives - Page 11 of 19

Faheem Ashraf’s blistering knock seals thrilling win for Pakistan over Netherlands

February 7, 2026 by Newsdesk

COLOMBO: Pakistan registered a narrow three-wicket victory over the Netherlands in a thrilling opener of the ICC T20 World Cup, powered by Faheem Ashraf’s explosive late-innings performance.

Chasing the target set by the Netherlands, Pakistan’s innings got off to a shaky start as Saif Ayub fell for 24 runs off 13 balls, hitting four boundaries and a six. Sahibzada Farhan and captain Salman Ali Agha also fell cheaply, with Agha contributing just 12 runs to the total of 53 before being caught by Aryan Dutt. Farhan added 46 runs but was dismissed alongside Usman Khan, both falling to Paul van Meekeren in the same over. Babar Azam was caught by Van der Merwe in the following over, leaving Pakistan in trouble.

Middle-order contributions were limited, with Mohammad Nawaz (6 off 13 balls) and Shadab Khan (8 off 12 balls) failing to stabilize the innings.

Pakistan had lost seven wickets when Faheem Ashraf unleashed a stormy knock of 29 runs off 11 balls, smashing three sixes and two fours to steer his team to its first victory of the tournament.

Earlier, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha had won the toss and elected to field, putting the Netherlands in to bat first.

Netherlands Innings:

Openers Michael Leut and Max O’Dowd gave the Dutch team a solid start with 28 runs, but O’Dowd fell for 5 to Salman Mirza. Leut was dismissed for 24 runs by Mohammad Nawaz, while Colin Ackermann (20) and Bas de Leede (30) were also among the key wickets, with de Leede falling to Nawaz.

Pakistan’s bowlers staged a remarkable comeback, taking six wickets for just 20 runs in the latter stages. Salman Mirza claimed three wickets, Saif Ayub, Abrar Ahmed, and Mohammad Nawaz took two each, and Shaheen Afridi added one wicket via a catch by Agha. The Netherlands were bowled out for 147 runs, well short of an expected 160–170.

Top scorers for the Netherlands were captain Scott Edwards (37), Bas de Leede (30), Michael Leut (24), and Colin Ackermann (20).

Pakistan will now look to carry this momentum into their upcoming group-stage matches against Namibia, the Netherlands, and the United States.

US approves $1.3b loan for Pakistan’s Reko Diq project

February 6, 2026 by Newsdesk

WASHINGTON: The United States has approved a loan of $1.3 billion for Pakistan’s Reko Diq mining project, marking a major step in strengthening cooperation on critical minerals and supply chains.

The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by the US Secretary of State in Washington, where participants discussed ways to secure the supply of important minerals and ensure stable global distribution.

The meeting also focused on developing new supply chain sources and promoting secure, reliable transportation and logistics networks.

According to officials, the loan has been approved under former US President Donald Trump’s “Walt Project” framework and will be provided by the US Export-Import Bank to support the Reko Diq project in Pakistan.

The Reko Diq project is considered one of the world’s largest undeveloped copper and gold reserves and is seen as strategically important for both Pakistan’s economy and global mineral supply chains.

High-Level Visit: Pakistan signs multiple agreements with Kazakhstan

February 4, 2026 by Newsdesk

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warmly received Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the Prime Minister’s House, marking the beginning of a high-level visit aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation.

Upon arrival, President Tokayev was presented with a guard of honor, and the national anthems of both countries were played.

Prime Minister Sharif introduced members of his federal cabinet to the Kazakh president, who in turn introduced his delegation.

A formal reception was held in honor of the Kazakh president, attended by senior officials and diplomatic delegations from both countries.

During a detailed meeting following the reception, Prime Minister Sharif and President Tokayev discussed matters concerning bilateral relations, regional security, and cooperation in multiple sectors. Both leaders emphasized strengthening ties between Pakistan and Kazakhstan.

Signing of MOUs and Agreements

The visit included the signing of 19 memoranda of understanding (MOUs) and agreements aimed at expanding cooperation. The leaders also signed a joint communiqué, described as a major step forward in bilateral relations.

Key areas covered by the agreements include:

Cooperation in UN peacekeeping operations

Partnerships in mining and petroleum sectors

Prisoner exchange programs

Maritime sector collaboration

Transit trade agreements and customs cooperation

Partnerships in Pakistan Railways

Climate change initiatives

Collaboration in virtual assets, AI, and digital development

Protection and veterinary sector cooperation

Officials highlighted that these agreements will facilitate future technological cooperation and digital partnerships between the two countries.

The signing ceremony was attended by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal.

This visit and the accompanying agreements underscore a strengthened Pakistan-Kazakhstan partnership across economic, technological, and strategic domains.

Pakistan invited to participate in US–Iran talks: Foreign Office confirms

February 3, 2026 by Newsdesk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Office has confirmed that Islamabad has been invited to participate in talks between the United States and Iran.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andarabi said that Pakistan has received a formal invitation to attend the US–Iran negotiations.

According to diplomatic sources, the talks are scheduled to take place this week in Istanbul. The sources revealed that the negotiations were made possible through back-channel diplomatic efforts, with Pakistan and Türkiye playing a key role in facilitating the process.

Meanwhile, a foreign news agency quoted Iranian officials as saying that US–Iran nuclear talks will resume on Friday in Türkiye. The negotiations had remained stalled since May 2023, following five previous rounds.

A regional official stated that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Pakistan, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates have also been invited to Istanbul to attend the talks.

Iranian diplomatic sources said Tehran is neither optimistic nor pessimistic about the Istanbul negotiations, adding that the talks will determine whether the United States is serious about pursuing meaningful and result-oriented dialogue.

The Iranian sources further emphasized that Iran’s defensive preparedness remains at its highest level, stressing that the country is ready for any situation and that Iran’s defense capabilities are non-negotiable.

Gold prices continue sharp decline in Pakistan

February 2, 2026 by Newsdesk

KARACHI: The downward trend in gold prices in Pakistan continued on the first day of the business week, with a massive reduction of thousands of rupees recorded once again.

According to the All Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Association, the price of gold fell by Rs21,500 per tola on Monday, bringing the new rate to Rs490,362 per tola.

Similarly, the price of 10 grams of gold declined by Rs18,433, settling at Rs420,406.

It is noteworthy that over the past three days, gold prices have dropped by a cumulative Rs82,500 per tola, marking one of the steepest short-term declines in recent times.

Meanwhile, in the international market, gold prices fell by $215 to $4,676 per ounce, which also contributed to the sharp correction in local prices.

India faces $1.4 billion loss as Pakistan skips T20 World Cup clash

February 2, 2026 by Newsdesk

KARACHI: Pakistan’s announcement to not play against India in the ICC T20 World Cup has caused a stir in India and across the cricketing world, largely due to the massive commercial value associated with the high-profile clash.

In modern cricket, certain matches outweigh the tournament itself in significance, and a Pakistan-India T20 match is not just a game—it is a major commercial event.

Reports indicate that the match generates roughly $50 million (around PKR 140 billion) in revenue, including broadcast rights, advertising premiums, sponsorship activations, ticket sales, and legal betting activities.

The fixture injects energy into the tournament, with broadcasters paying premium prices for rights, while the ICC financially supports boards that may otherwise not generate such revenue.

The match is often referred to as the “golden goose” for broadcasters. A 10-second ad slot during a Pakistan-India T20 match can cost between INR 2.5–4 million (PKR 7.6–12.2 lakh), significantly higher than ad rates for India’s other matches.

According to Indian media, the primary financial loss from the cancellation will fall on the rights holders. During a Pakistan-India match, advertising alone typically generates an estimated INR 300 crore (PKR 9.2 billion).

If the match does not take place, broadcasters may seek compensation from the ICC, creating a ripple effect that impacts payments not only to Pakistan and India but also to other full and associate member boards, posing significant challenges for the ICC’s financial framework.

Pakistan, Türkiye military leaders meet to explore mutual interests

January 30, 2026 by Newsdesk

RAWALPINDI: Chief of the Turkish General Staff, General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu, called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Field Marshal Asim Munir at General Headquarters (GHQ).

Upon his arrival at the General Headquarters, he was presented with the guard of honour by a smartly turned contingent of the Pakistan Armed Forces.

During the meeting, besides dilating upon matters of mutual interest, prevailing regional and global security landscape, and prospects for strengthening bilateral defence and military cooperation were also discussed.

The dignitaries expressed satisfaction on current trajectory of Pakistan-Türkiye relations while underscoring the requirement of maintaining close coordination and enhancing defence collaboration.

Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir highlighted longstanding brotherly relationship between Pakistan and Turkiye, rooted in shared history, mutual trust, and strong people-to-people ties.

He appreciated the support and cooperation extended by the Turkish Armed Forces and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening bilateral military-to-military relations.

General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu expressed gratitude for the warm reception and appreciated the professionalism of the Pakistan Armed Forces.

He reaffirmed Turkiye’s resolve to deepen defence cooperation, including training, joint exercises, and capacity-building initiatives.

The visit reflects the enduring strategic partnership between Pakistan and Turkiye and their shared commitment to regional peace, stability, and security.

Pakistan beats Australia in first T20 to go 1-0 up in series

January 29, 2026 by Newsdesk

LAHORE: Pakistan defeated Australia by 22 runs in the first match of the three-match T20 series, taking a 1-0 lead. The match was played at Gaddafi Stadium, where Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha won the toss and elected to bat first.

Pakistan posted 168 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in their 20 overs. Saim Ayub was the standout batter with 40 runs, supported by Salman Ali Agha’s 39 and contributions from Babar Azam (24), Fakhar Zaman (10), and Usman Khan (18). Mohammad Nawaz remained 15 not out.

Pakistan’s start was shaky as Sahbazada Farhan was dismissed for 0 on the very first ball. However, Saem Ayub and Salman Ali Agha stabilized the innings with responsible batting and attractive stroke play.

Adam Zampa was Australia’s most successful bowler, taking 4 wickets for 24 runs, while Barrett and Beardman took 2 wickets each.

Chasing 169 runs, Australia struggled to keep up with the required run rate and finished on 146 for 8 in 20 overs. Cameron Green (36) and Barrett (34) were the main contributors, while Pakistan bowlers Saim Ayub and Abrar Ahmed picked 2 wickets each, and Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz took one wicket each.

With this win, Pakistan takes a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20 series.

Three Australian players made their T20 debuts: Mahli Beardman, Jack Edwards, and Matthew Renshaw.

This victory gives the Green Shirts a strong start in the series, putting pressure on Australia in the remaining two matches.

Sunil Gavaskar breaks silence on Pakistan–India group draw

January 28, 2026 by Newsdesk

Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has revealed the reason behind placing Pakistan and India in the same group for major international tournaments.

In a column written for a digital platform, Gavaskar said the primary objective of grouping the two arch-rivals together is to ensure at least one high-profile clash between them during the event.

He explained that, similar to previous mega tournaments, Pakistan and India have not only been placed in the same group but also in a comparatively easier pool to increase the likelihood of both teams progressing to the next round — setting the stage for further high-intensity encounters.

In the upcoming T20 World Cup, scheduled to begin next month, Pakistan and India have been drawn in Group A alongside Namibia, the Netherlands, and the United States.

Gavaskar further noted that the United States could emerge as a competitive side in the tournament, having gained valuable experience through participation in Major League Cricket (MLC).

Pakistan enforces strict entry screening after Nipah outbreak in India

January 28, 2026 by Newsdesk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has been placed on high alert over the threat of the Nipah virus, though no confirmed case has been reported in the country so far.

In response to the spread of the virus in India, the Border Health Services (BHS) under the Federal Ministry of National Health Services has issued a formal warning and health advisory.

According to the health ministry, strict screening measures have been ordered at all airports, seaports, and land border crossings nationwide.

Authorities have made 100 percent screening mandatory for all incoming and transit passengers, along with thermal screening and clinical assessment.

Passengers have been directed to provide complete travel histories for the previous 21 days. Special monitoring has been ordered for travellers arriving from Nipah-affected or high-risk areas.

In case of suspicious symptoms, immediate isolation of the passenger has been made mandatory.

Officials further stated that no traveller will be allowed to enter Pakistan without formal health clearance.

The authorities confirmed that Pakistan has not reported any verified Nipah virus case to date. However, five cases have been confirmed in India’s West Bengal, prompting heightened vigilance.

Due to fears of cross-border transmission, countries including Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Nepal have also initiated enhanced screening procedures at their entry points.