‘Silent revolution’: Pakistan hosts first Asian MMA Championship, marking ‘new era’ for combat sport

Short Url
Updated 22 August 2024
Follow

‘Silent revolution’: Pakistan hosts first Asian MMA Championship, marking ‘new era’ for combat sport

  • Late entrant into MMA, the event in Pakistan has brought 180 athletes from 23 countries
  • Pakistan has done well in the sport globally though MMA remains entirely self-funded

LAHORE: Over 180 athletes from 23 countries participated this week as Pakistan hosted the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) Asian Championship for the first time, with the Pakistan MMA Federation calling it the “biggest sporting event in the country’s history.”

MMA is a full-contact combat sport that combines techniques from various martial arts disciplines, including boxing, wrestling, jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai and karate. Competitors use both striking and grappling techniques in a regulated environment, often within a cage or ring, to determine the most skilled fighter.

Pakistan is a late entrant to the sport though it has no shortage of fans, many of whom regularly train at MMA-dedicated gyms equipped with experienced coaches and specialized facilities. Gyms and training centers have been popping up all over the country in recent years as the youth of Pakistan embrace the world’s fastest growing sport.

The MMA Asia championship in Lahore also opened to a packed house on Sunday with a fight between Pakistani and Indian fighters, allowing the fierce cross-border rivalry to not only set the tone for the competition but also pique the interest of fans in other parts of the world.

The event, which was aired by American broadcasters and streamed on multiple platforms, has attracted participants from regions such as the Middle East and Central Asia and will run from Aug. 18-22.

“Since [Asian championship] is being broadcast in 180 countries, translated in 25 languages and hitting 10 million households, so for Pakistan, it’s the biggest sporting event in its history,” Omer Ahmed, the president of the Pakistan MMA Federation, told Arab News. 

Pakistani fighters displayed impressive performances against their Indian counterparts with Zia Mashwani, a local fighter, winning the first-round submission over Bharat Khandare during the inaugural match on Sunday.

Pakistan’s 24-year-old Bano Butt also beat her Indian counterpart in the 47-kilogram atomweight category in the semifinal on Wednesday.

“I started MMA in 2019, and I’m undefeated in Pakistan, my record is 12-1 [with only one international defeat],” said Butt, who was an amateur boxer before training for MMA at a gym that provides combat training. “I thank my coaches and Mr. Omer Ahmed at the MMA Federation for supporting me.”

Ahmed is the driving force behind the tournament in Pakistan and forged global partnerships with entities like the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation to bring the first MMA Asian Championship to the South Asian nation. 

“This is the only event in Pakistan’s history where 16 teams and 300 foreign nationals have shown up,” he said, giving a count of fighters, coaches and support staff and pointing out that even in cricket, the most popular game in the country, only about eight teams joined major tournaments.

“We’ve been winning medals in both the [MMA] Asian Championships and World Championships for the last three years [but] this has been somewhat of a silent revolution,” Ahmed added. “Because even though our Pakistani MMA federation is [globally] recognized, it is a self-funded federation. The best thing is that we’ve learned how to monetize our content.”

“BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY”

Visiting athletes and teams from Pakistan, Middle East, India and other nations praised the arrangements and hospitality at the event. 

“This is the first time I’ve come to Pakistan,” Khushboo Nishad, an Indian MMA fighter, told Arab News. “There was a lot of [negative] hype about Pakistan, but I really enjoyed my time here.

“Coming here to Pakistan, I felt like I was back in my hometime, in India. It’s a beautiful country, Pakistan, it’s just like India.”

Another fighter visiting Pakistan for the first time was Nour Al Fliti from Lebanon.

“I have been a Lebanese flyweight MMA champion twice,” she told Arab News. “I have just finished my fight, and I won by decision after facing team Pakistan.”

Al Fliti said she was aiming for gold like her Lebanese compatriot, Mohammad Fakhreddine who won in the male 55-kg featherweight category.

From Bahrain, Ali Mahroon put in walkover performances on his way to the 77-kg welterweight final.

“I won today with two submissions,” he told Arab News. “Tomorrow [Thursday], let’s go [for] gold.”

Mahroon said he had a “wonderful” time in Lahore, praising Pakistani hospitality and the tournament arrangements.

Mohammad Ghorbani, Iran’s Head Coach, called Pakistan a “beautiful” country.

“The people are nice. It’s a great experience and I would like to be back in this country very soon.”

Ahmed from the MMA federation thanked Rana Mashood of the Prime Minister’s Youth Program and the foreign office for facilitating the event.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave us a desk through which we were able to get these 300 visas … [they] arranged all of these visas within a day or two,” Ahmed said. “The government has supported us in this event, through logistics, through security, through getting visas, but we have not taken any financial support from them.”

Relying mainly on brands and sponsors, the federation had been successful in supporting Pakistani athletes at events around the world, Ahmed said. 

“In Abu Dhabi, Ismail Khan won a bronze medal. Bano Butt picked up a medal in Serbia, which was a big success being the first female [MMA] athlete from Pakistan. We won four medals, in two female and two male categories [3 silvers and a bronze] in Bahrain last December.”

“We will continue to win medals in [international] competitions and want people to watch this sport and make it even bigger than it already is,” the MMA Federation president said, saying hosting the Asian championship would go a long way in putting MMA on the sporting map in Pakistan.

“It’s a big deal, and hopefully if events like these continue to happen, you’ll also see the economy for this sport develop in Pakistan.”


Pakistani, UAE officials agree to expand cooperation in railways sector

Updated 17 March 2025
Follow

Pakistani, UAE officials agree to expand cooperation in railways sector

  • The UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner after China and US, and a key source of foreign investment
  • Pakistan Railways is currently working to improve its services with the help of domestic and international partners

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani and United Arab Emirates (UAE) officials have agreed to expand bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the railways sector, the Pakistani railway ministry said on Monday.
The statement came after Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi’s meeting with UAE First Secretary to Pakistan Ahmed Al-Tahiri, at which both officials discussed strengthening bilateral relations across all sectors.
Abbasi highlighted that Pakistan Railways is continuously working to improve its services through long-term agreements with domestic and international suppliers, emphasizing that Pakistan offers a business-friendly environment and presents significant opportunities for investors.
“Both sides deliberated on various aspects of railway operations and mutual trade interests,” the Pakistani railways ministry said in a statement. “Both leaders agreed to continue and expand bilateral cooperation in the railway sector and other economic domains.”
Pakistan Railways faces many challenges like aging infrastructure, outdated tracks, locomotives and signal systems. Poor maintenance and a lack of modern safety measures often contribute to train derailments and accidents. Notable tragedies include the 2005 Ghotki train disaster, which killed over 130 people and the 2021 collision that left at least 65 people dead.
The UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner after China and the United States, and a major source of foreign investment valued at over $10 billion in the last 20 years, according to the UAE’s foreign ministry. Both countries have stepped up efforts in recent years to strengthen their economic relations. In Jan. 2024, Pakistan and the UAE signed multiple agreements worth more than $3 billion for cooperation in railways, economic zones and infrastructure.
During Monday’s meeting, the UAE first secretary emphasized the deep-rooted ties of brotherhood and mutual respect between the two nations, according to the Pakistani railway ministry.
“He reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to further enhancing bilateral cooperation,” the ministry said.


Pioneering American AI firm to expand operations in Pakistan, finance ministry says

Updated 17 March 2025
Follow

Pioneering American AI firm to expand operations in Pakistan, finance ministry says

  • Afiniti is a leading global AI provider in health care, telecommunications, travel, hospitality, insurance and banking industries
  • Around 80 percent of Afiniti’s operational support team is based in Pakistan, with its customer base extending to Europe and other regions

ISLAMABAD: A pioneering American artificial intelligence (AI) company, Afiniti, has decided to expand its operations in Pakistan and recruit more talent in the South Asian country, the Pakistani finance ministry said on Monday.
Founded in 2005, Afiniti is a global AI provider in health care, telecommunications, travel, hospitality, insurance and banking industries as well as across multiple customer experience channels.
A delegation, led by Afiniti Chief Executive Officer Jerome Vaughan Kapelus, called on Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Monday to discuss the company’s growth and continued investment in Pakistan.
“The meeting focused on discussions regarding Afiniti’s expanding business operations in Pakistan, the recruitment of talent and associated issues related to the taxation structure,” the Pakistani finance ministry said in a statement.
Kapelus highlighted that around 80 percent of Afiniti’s operational support team was based in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, with the company’s customer base extending to North America, Europe and other regions.
He praised Pakistani engineers, computer scientists and technologists, and said that his firm had an “exceptional” experience while recruiting people from Pakistan, according to the statement.
Pakistan is making steady progress in AI, with increasing investments in research, education and industry. Initiatives like the National Center for Artificial Intelligence are driving innovation, while startups explore AI applications in health care, finance and security sectors.
Despite challenges such as limited funding and infrastructure, Pakistan’s AI sector shows promise, with companies leveraging AI for data analytics, automation and customer engagement. As global AI adoption increases, the South Asian country aims to strengthen its position through policy support and technological advancements.
Aurangzeb appreciated Afiniti’s continued investment in Pakistan and assured the delegation of his government’s support in creating an enabling ecosystem for IT and agriculture sectors. He apprised the delegation of the Pakistan Crypto Council’s launch to regulate and integrate blockchain technology and digital assets into Pakistan’s financial landscape.
“The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of the government’s commitment to supporting businesses like Afiniti, and the importance of continued collaboration between the public and private sectors to foster growth and development in Pakistan,” the finance ministry said.


‘Significant progress’ in IMF review triggers bull run at Pakistan stock market

Updated 17 March 2025
Follow

‘Significant progress’ in IMF review triggers bull run at Pakistan stock market

  • The KSE-100 index gained over 1,000 points to close the week’s first session at 116,199.59 points
  • The index may rise to a record 123,000 points by June, if Pakistan clears IMF review, analyst says

KARACHI: Pakistan’s stocks rallied on Monday and rose 0.6 percent to the highest close in more than two months as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) gave some positive signals about its ongoing review of the South Asian country’s $7 billion loan program.
The benchmark KSE-100 index gained more than 1,000 points in the day trade before closing the week’s first session at 116,199.59 points, according to stock analysts.
Sana Tawfik, head of research at Arif Habib Ltd, said the stock market could reach 123,000 points by June if Pakistan sails through the first review of the IMF program.
“This is the highest since January 6,” Tawfik said, citing two main reasons for Monday’s bullish run.
“One is the IMF that issued a statement saying significant progress has been made [in talks with Pakistan] toward reaching the staff-level agreement. [Secondly], the overall sentiment is positive.”
The Washington-based lender put all speculation about its negotiations with Islamabad to an end, when its mission chief, Nathan Porter, said last week the two sides had made “significant progress” toward reaching an accord.
“The mission and the authorities will continue policy discussions virtually to finalize these discussions over the coming days,” Porter said on March 15.
The IMF team stayed in Pakistan for more than two weeks and reviewed the country’s economic reforms under its Extended Fund Facility as well as a fresh loan of about $1.5 billion to increase its climate resilience and sustainability.
“The IMF described the progress of the $7 billion loan program as ‘strong’ despite the absence of a staff-level agreement,” said Naveed Nadeem, a senior equity trader at Topline Securities Ltd., in a note to clients.
Monday’s rally was driven by Mari Energies, Pakistan State Oil, Oil & Gas Development Company Ltd. Lucky Cement and Searle Pakistan that collectively added 658 points to the benchmark index at the Pakistan Stock Exchange.
The equity market also gained some strength from reports of the government’s plan to resolve the longstanding issue of power sector debt, or the circular debt, according to analysts.
“This performance was influenced by the government’s initiatives to tackle Pakistan’s power sector debt,” Nadeem added.


Pakistan calls Indian PM’s remarks about regional peace ‘misleading and one-sided’

Updated 17 March 2025
Follow

Pakistan calls Indian PM’s remarks about regional peace ‘misleading and one-sided’

  • PM Narendra Modi said in a recent podcast that India’s attempts to foster peace with Pakistan were ‘met with hostility and betrayal’
  • India’s ‘fictitious narrative of victimhood’ can’t hide its involvement in fomenting militancy on Pakistan’s soil, Islamabad says

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Monday said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent remarks on a podcast about regional peace were “misleading and one-sided,” criticizing New Delhi for “conveniently” omitting the Kashmir dispute from discussions.
Modi, in a podcast with American computer scientist and podcaster Lex Fridman released on Sunday, said that India’s attempts to foster peace with Pakistan were “met with hostility and betrayal” and hoped that “wisdom would prevail” on the leadership in Islamabad to improve bilateral ties.
In response to Modi’s remarks, the Pakistani Foreign Office said India’s “fictitious narrative of victimhood” could not hide its involvement in fomenting militancy on Pakistan’s soil and the “state-sanctioned oppression” Indian-administered Kashmir.
The Muslim-majority Himalayan region of Kashmir has been a flashpoint between Pakistan and India since their independence from the British rule in 1947. Both Pakistan and India rule parts of the Himalayan territory, but claim it in full and have fought three wars over the disputed region.
“Instead of blaming others, India should reflect on its own record of orchestrating targeted assassinations, subversion and terrorism in foreign territories,” it said in a statement.
“Pakistan has always advocated constructive engagement and result-oriented dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues, including the core dispute of Jammu and Kashmir.”
The statement by the Pakistani Foreign Office was a reference to allegations against Indian agents of plotting assassinations in the United States (US) and Canada.
In Jan. 2024, Pakistan also accused India of “extraterritorial” and “extrajudicial” killings of two of its citizens on Pakistani soil, while it has consistently accused India along with other countries of fomenting militancy in its western provinces, particularly Balochistan.
New Delhi denies all allegations.
The Pakistani Foreign Office further said that peace and stability in South Asia have remained “hostage to India’s rigid approach and hegemonic ambitions.”
“The anti-Pakistan narrative, emanating from India, vitiates the bilateral environment and impedes the prospects for peace and cooperation,” it said.
“It must stop.”


Pakistan’s power generation dropped 15% MoM during February— report

Updated 17 March 2025
Follow

Pakistan’s power generation dropped 15% MoM during February— report

  • Pakistan’s power generation cost declined by 13% year-on-year and 30% month-on-month during February 2025, says report
  • Financial analysts attribute power generation decline to a lack of industrial activity, increasing shift toward solar energy

KARACHI: Pakistan’s power generation dropped by 15% month-on-month (MoM) in February 2025, a report by a top brokerage firm said on Monday, which analysts attributed to reduced demand due to slow industrial activity and an increasing shift of customers toward solar energy. 

According to a report by brokerage firm Topline Securities, total electricity generation dropped by 3% year-on-year to 81,738 GWh over the first eight months of the fiscal year 2024-25 (from July-February). This was down from 84,317 GWh in the corresponding period last year, it said. 

“Pakistan’s power generation decreased by 2% YoY and 15% MoM to 6,945 GWh in Feb 2025,” Topline Securities said. 

The report cited a decline of 13% in power generation cost YoY and 30% MoM in February 2025, adding that in the first eight months of the current fiscal year, power generation cost declined by 3% to Rs8.8 per unit.

Financial analysts attributed the decline in power generation due to reduced demand as a result of lack of industrial activity and an increasing number of people shifting toward solar energy. 

“There is reduced demand due to industrial activity which you can also see in the large scale manufacturing (LSM) numbers,” Muhammad Waqas Ghani, head of research at JS Global Capital Ltd., told Arab News. 

He said another reason for the decline in power generation was the increasing shift of residential consumers toward solar energy. He said commercial consumers had also installed their own captive plants that run on gas and coal. 

“This also shows a shift toward alternative [sources of energy] which decreases the grid’s usage,” he added. 

Samiullah Tariq, the head of research at Pakistan Kuwait Investment Company Ltd., agreed. 

“Reasons include reduced industrial activity, people leaving the [national] grid due to higher [energy] prices and solar adoption,” Tariq said. 

Pakistan has sought to ease fiscal pressure in recent months by undertaking energy reforms that reduce tariffs and slash capacity payments to independent power producers (IPPs). The federal cabinet approved a plan in January to renegotiate agreements with 14 IPPs in its bid to lower electricity costs and addressing the mounting circular debt.