KARACHI: It took four years of abject failure and last-placed finishes, but at long last in the fifth season of the PSL, Lahore has finally begun to make its mark. The country’s most important city has long been the butt of jokes when it comes to this tournament, as its team has routinely been the most incompetent and hapless side. But now with their fourth win on the trot, the Qalandars are eyeing a spot in the playoffs for the first time.
Peshawar Zalmi became the latest side to be rocked by Lahore, having posted the exact same total as Karachi had a few nights back. The Qalandars had destroyed that target with ease, but while Zalmi made it a lot closer, the result was the same. Lahore won by five wickets in the final over to take themselves to third on the table.
A big part of this run for Lahore has been their absolutely delirious home crowd but also the toss. Sohail Akhtar called correctly yet again, and Lahore had the advantage of chasing yet again, a situation that has been common to their winning run. At first, it looked like Peshawar might not give a competitive total to chase, as they lost three wickets within the powerplay. Tom Banton continued his miserable run as Shaheen Shah Afridi got him in the first over, and then Samit Patel picked up Liam Livingstone and danger man Kamran Akmal in consecutive overs.
It was then that Shoaib Malik and Haider Ali came together to put on a game changing partnership. Malik has been in superb form for Peshawar, and had come in with back to back fifties to his name. He immediately looked at ease with the Lahore pitch, and helped the teenager on the other end settle in as well. Both batters effortlessly moved up the gears, finding boundaries with increasing ease. Haider continued to send Pakistani fans’ pulses racing with his range and command, and when he went past 50 he became the youngest to this milestone in the PSL. Malik also helped himself to 50 and it looked like Zalmi were going to end up with a massive total. Unfortunately for them, both fell within three overs and it left new batters in to try and keep the momentum going. No one quite managed, and Peshawar’s eventual 187/7 immediately felt under par, not least because it was the exact score Lahore had chased down with ease against Karachi.
To be fair, Karachi had looked on top for much of that chase until Ben Dunk decided to eviscerate their bowling. Here, it looked like Lahore wouldn’t even need him to come in. Openers Sohail Akhtar and Fakhar Zaman put on a steady yet well-paced start, and when the captain Sohail fell, Chris Lynn joined Fakhar in both getting to 50 as well as their personal best scores of this event. But much like Peshawar, the two fell in quick succession and suddenly what felt like a foregone conclusion became tense. It became truly nerve-wracking for the raucous home crowd when Ben Dunk’s wicket was one of several to fall, leaving Lahore up against it.
The Barbadian all-rounder Carlos Braithwaite was superb at the death, single-handedly carrying the fight. Zalmi’s captain, Wahab Riaz, had bowled much of his best bowlers upfront in the hopes for early wickets, and it left the side lacking resources at the end. David Wiese smacked a pressure-breaking six off Rahat Ali’s penultimate over, and while Braithwaite kept it close, Wiese found another six to give Lahore the win.
Lahore’s recent run has truly opened up the tournament, and with the last few matches to go the tournament can go any which way, with only Multan having secured qualification. Lahore now need one more win to join them, but the rest of the league will have plenty to say about that still.
Hapless Zalmi overwhelmed by Qalandar juggernaut
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Hapless Zalmi overwhelmed by Qalandar juggernaut
- Lahore won by five wickets in the final over to take themselves to third on the points table
- With the last few matches to go, the tournament can go any which way
Pakistan says ‘actively engaged’ with UK to ensure lifting of PIA ban
- UK, EU banned PIA after Pakistan probed validity of pilots’ licenses after 2020 Karachi plane crash
- PIA CEO requests “further diplomatic assistance” from Pakistan’s FM to ensure lifting of UK ban
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has assured Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Islamabad is “actively engaged” with British authorities to ensure a ban on the national carrier from operating flights to the United Kingdom (UK) is lifted at the earliest, state-run media reported this week.
PIA was banned by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), United Kingdom (UK) and United States US authorities after Pakistan opened an investigation into the validity of pilots’ licenses following a PIA plane crash in Karachi, in May 2020, that killed 97 people.
PIA resumed flights to Europe in January after EASA lifted its four-year safety ban on the airline. The national carrier has also approached UK authorities for permission to resume its services to the country.
Dar, who also serves as Pakistan’s foreign minister, met PIA’s Chief Executive Officer Amir Hayat on Saturday to discuss matters related to the airline, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
“On the occasion, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister said he and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are actively engaged with the UK authorities to ensure lifting of the ban at the earliest,” Radio Pakistan said.
Hayat requested Dar for “further diplomatic assistance” to ensure the resumption of PIA flights to the UK, the report said.
Pakistan hopes new European routes and flying approval to the UK will boost PIA’s selling potential, as Islamabad plans on privatizing the loss-making national airline.
PIA, once a respected carrier in Asia, has been supported by taxpayers for decades due to political interference, corruption and inefficiencies. Its privatization has also repeatedly collapsed amid union resistance, legal hurdles and low investor appetite.
Cash-strapped Pakistan has been attempting to privatize the debt-ridden PIA to raise funds as part of its efforts to reform state-owned enterprises under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program secured last year.
Late last year, a deal fell through after a potential buyer reportedly offered $36 million for a 60 percent stake in the national flag carrier, a fraction of the asking price of approximately $303 million.
Officials say PIA’s cumulative losses alone are close to $3 billion, with the total asset valuation of the airline standing at approximately $572 million.
Pakistan plans to hold the final bidding to sell the PIA by October and complete its sale by the end of this year, the country’s privatization czar told Arab News this week.
Last week, five consortiums submitted expressions of interest for a 51–100 percent stake in PIA after the government restructured its balance sheet to make the deal more attractive.
5.3-magnitude quake hits central Pakistan
- US Geological Survey says quake’s epicenter located around 60 kilometers northeast of Balochistan’s Barkhan city
- Pakistan straddles boundary where Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet, making it susceptible for quakes
ISLAMABAD: A magnitude-5.3 earthquake struck central Pakistan on Sunday morning, according to the United States Geological Survey.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage from the shallow quake, which USGS reported had occurred around 3:30 am (2230 GMT) with the epicenter around 60 kilometers (37 miles) north-northeast of Barkhan, a city in Pakistan’s mountainous Balochistan province.
Pakistan straddles the boundary where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet, making the country susceptible to earthquakes.
The region can be challenging to navigate during crisis situations — in 2015, a 7.5-magnitude quake in Pakistan and Afghanistan killed almost 400 people across rugged terrain that impeded relief efforts.
The country was also hit by a 7.6-magnitude quake in 2005 that killed more than 73,000 people and left about 3.5 million homeless, mainly in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.
Balochistan province, Pakistan’s largest, saw a quake in 2021 that killed at least 20 people and left more than 10 injured, with landslides hampering initial rescue efforts in the remote mountainous district of Harnai.
Islamabad says 21,700 Hajj pilgrims have left for Pakistan from Madinah so far
- Pakistani pilgrims arrive in Madinah after completing their Hajj rituals in holy city of Makkah
- Pakistan’s post-Hajj flight operation, which began on June 11, expected to continue till July 10
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s post-Hajj flight operations are in full swing as 21,700 pilgrims have so far departed for Pakistan from Madinah, state-run media reported this week, with more expected to leave in the coming days.
Pakistan began its post-Hajj flight operations on June 11 with the arrival of a Pakistan International Airlines flight, PK-732, in Islamabad carrying 307 pilgrims. The flights are expected to conclude by July 10.
State broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported on Saturday that Pakistani pilgrims are arriving in Madinah following the completion of their Hajj rituals in Makkah. It said the post-Hajj phase has begun under the supervision of the newly established Main Control Office (MCO) to facilitate Pakistani pilgrims for their return to the country.
“So far, 21,700 Pakistani pilgrims have departed for Pakistan from Madinah, with the remaining expected to leave in the coming days,” the state broadcaster said.
It said the MCO, set up in coordination with the Pakistan Hajj Mission Madinah, has been equipped with dedicated sections such as Lost and Found, Complaint Cell, Airport Team and other support services.
It said all sections are fully operational to ensure seamless facilitation for pilgrims traveling from Makkah to Madinah before their return to Pakistan.
“The office is managing pilgrims’ accommodation, food, transportation, and other logistical needs during their stay in Madinah,” Radio Pakistan said.
Pakistan received a quota of 179,210 pilgrims from Saudi Arabia for Hajj 2025, which was evenly divided between the government and private Hajj operators.
While the government filled its full allocation of over 88,000 pilgrims, a major portion of the private quota remained unutilized due to delays by companies in meeting payment and registration deadlines.
PM Sharif orders weather alerts for citizens as monsoon rains batter parts of Pakistan
- Shehbaz Sharif instructs NDMA to enhance coordination with provinces, provide all possible support
- NDMA says urban flooding is likely over the next 48 hours in the low-lying regions of southern Sindh
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to enhance coordination with provinces and issue timely weather alerts to citizens via cellphone messages, as heavy monsoon rains continued to wreak havoc across parts of the country.
The directive came during a phone call with NDMA Chairperson Lt. Gen. Inam Haider Malik, amid reports of flash floods, urban inundation and landslides triggered by days of torrential rain.
The provincial disaster authorities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab reported the death of 31 people amid heavy rains. The downpours, which claimed at least 19 lives in KP and 12 in Punjab, also damaged dozens of homes, disrupted rail operations in the southern Sindh province and prompted the meteorological department to maintain a high alert through early next week.
“Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif instructed the NDMA chairperson to remain in close contact with provincial governments, particularly in the country’s northern regions, and to provide all possible support,” said an official statement issued by the PM Office. “He also directed that weather warnings be proactively communicated to citizens via mobile phone messages.”
The NDMA issued its own emergency alert on Saturday, warning of possible urban flooding over the next 48 hours in low-lying areas of southern Sindh, including Karachi, Thatta, Badin, Sujawal, Hyderaba and Mirpurkhas.
Similar risks were flagged for the northeastern region, including Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot and Lahore.
“There is a possibility of increased water flow in southern Balochistan’s Kirthar Range streams,” the NDMA said, adding that flood levels could rise in the Swat and Panjkora rivers and their tributaries, as well as in the Kabul River and northern Punjab’s drainage systems.
The authority advised the public to avoid low-lying areas, stay away from rivers and streams and refrain from unnecessary travel in at-risk regions.
It also urged citizens to download the NDMA Disaster Alert mobile application for real-time updates and guidance.
Pakistan, home to more than 240 million people, is ranked among the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world and faces increasingly severe weather patterns, including heatwaves, droughts and floods.
In 2022, deadly floods brought by record monsoon rains and glacial melt killed over 1,700 people and impacted 33 million in Pakistan. The floods also damaged houses, crop and public infrastructure, with total losses estimated at over $30 billion.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast further heavy rainfall through Tuesday.
At least 1.2 million Afghans forced to return from Iran and Pakistan this year — UN
- Iran has deported over 366,000 Afghans this year, with the 12-day war increasing departures
- Pakistani officials have set a June 30 deadline for nearly 1.3 million Afghan nationals to leave
ISLAMABAD: At least 1.2 million Afghans have been forced to return from Iran and Pakistan this year, the UN refugee agency said Saturday, warning that repatriations on a massive scale have the potential to destabilize the fragile situation in Afghanistan.
Iran and Pakistan in 2023 launched separate campaigns to expel foreigners they said were living in the country illegally. They set deadlines and threatened them with deportation if they didn’t leave. The two governments deny targeting Afghans, who have fled their homeland to escape war, poverty or Taliban rule.
The UN high commissioner for refugees said that of the 1.2 million returning Afghans, more than half had come from Iran following a March 20 government deadline for them to leave voluntarily or face expulsion.
Iran has deported more than 366,000 Afghans this year, including refugees and people in refugee-like situations, according to the agency.
Iran’s 12-day war with Israel also has driven departures. The highest number of returns was on June 26, when 36,100 Afghans crossed the border in one day.
“Afghan families are being uprooted once again, arriving with scant belongings, exhausted, hungry, scared about what awaits them in a country many of them have never even set foot in,” said Arafat Jamal, the UNHCR representative in the Afghan capital, Kabul.
He said women and girls are particularly worried, as they fear the restrictions on freedom of movement and basic rights such as education and employment.
More than half Afghanistan relies on humanitarian assistance. But opposition to Taliban policies and widespread funding cuts are worsening the situation, with aid agencies and nongovernmental organizations cutting back on basic services like education and health care.
IRAN URGES FOREIGNERS TO LEAVE QUICKLY
Iran’s attorney general, Mohammad Movahedi Azad, said Saturday that foreigners in the country illegally should leave as soon as possible or face prosecution, state media reported.
“Foreign nationals, especially brothers and sisters from Afghanistan whom we have hosted for years, help us [so] that illegal individuals leave Iran in the shortest period,” the official IRNA news agency quoted Azad as saying.
Iranian authorities said in April that out of more than 6 million Afghans, up to 2.5 million were in the country illegally.
Iran’s top diplomat in Kabul, Ali Reza Bikdeli, visited the Dogharoun border crossing with Afghanistan and promised to facilitate the repatriation of Afghans, state TV reported.
Iranians have complained about the increasing presence of Afghans in recent months, with some accusing them of spying for Israel since the outbreak of the war.
TALIBAN PLEDGE AMNESTY
Earlier this month, on the religious festival of Eid Al-Adha, the Taliban prime minister said all Afghans who fled the country after the collapse of the former Western-backed government were free to return, promising they would be safe.
“Afghans who have left the country should return to their homeland,” Mohammad Hassan Akhund said in a message on X. “Nobody will harm them. Come back to your ancestral land and live in an atmosphere of peace.”
On Saturday, a high-ranking ministerial delegation traveled to western Herat province to meet some of the Afghans returning from Iran.
The officials pledged “swift action to address the urgent needs of the returnees and ensure that essential services and support are provided to ease their reintegration,” according to a statement from the Taliban deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat on X.
People get food, temporary accommodation and access to health care upon their return, said Ahmadullah Muttaqi, the director of information and culture in Herat. Everyone receives 2,000 Afghanis, or $28.50, in cash and is taken free of charge to their home provinces.
“Upon arrival, they are housed in designated camps until permanent housing is arranged, as residential townships are currently under construction in every province for them,” he told The Associated Press.
Meanwhile, Pakistani authorities have set a June 30 deadline for some 1.3 million Afghans to leave. Pakistan aims to expel a total of 3 million Afghans this year.
