Pakistani singer Atif Aslam donates Rs15 million in aid for Gaza

The combination of photos shows Pakistani musician Atif Aslam, left, and a man carrying the shrouded body of his child, in front of the morgue of the Al-Aqsa hospital in Deir Balah in the central Gaza Strip. (Photo credits: Atif Aslam and AFP)
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Updated 22 October 2023
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Pakistani singer Atif Aslam donates Rs15 million in aid for Gaza

  • Scores of Palestinians were killed in central Gaza on Sunday after Israel stepped up its strikes on the war-torn enclave
  • Israel's relentless bombing campaign has killed more than 4,600 Palestinians, mainly civilians, Gaza's health ministry says

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani singer Atif Aslam has donated Rs15 million ($54,547) to a Pakistani charity, Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan, in aid for the besieged residents of Gaza, the charity organization said this week. 

Aslam's support for Palestine comes at a time when majority of celebrities and prominent figures across the world have kept mum, fearing a fallout from speaking up against Israeli strikes on the besieged enclave that have killed thousands of Palestinians. 

The Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan expressed its "deep gratitude" to the singer for his contribution to its Gaza fund, established to provide humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians in Gaza. 

"Deep gratitude to the esteemed Atif Aslam @itsaadee for his generous contribution of 15 million PKR towards essential medical and food aid for Gaza, Palestine during these trying times," the charity said on X.  

 

 

Scores of Palestinians were killed in central Gaza on Sunday after Israel stepped up its strikes on the war-torn enclave and another convoy of aid trucks arrived in the Hamas-run territory that faces dire shortages of essential supplies. 

The conflict began after Hamas militants stormed across the border into Israel on October 7, launching a raid that killed at least 1,400 people, according to Israeli officials. They also seized more than 200 hostages in the worst-ever attack in Israel's history. 

Israel has hit back with a relentless bombing campaign which has so far killed more than 4,600 Palestinians, mainly civilians, according to Gaza's health ministry. 

Aslam also took to Instagram last week to share his support for the Palestinian people. 

"Mourning the loss of innocent lives in Palestine," his post read. "Let's stand together and pray for healing, peace and hope." 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Atif Aslam (@atifaslam)

 


Asia Cup 2025 cricket tournament moved to UAE amid India-Pakistan tensions

Updated 7 sec ago
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Asia Cup 2025 cricket tournament moved to UAE amid India-Pakistan tensions

  • India was due to host the T20 tournament that will now be played between September 9 and 28
  • The event will feature eight teams and is seen as a key warm-up for the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup

ISLAMABAD: Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi confirmed on Saturday the 2025 Men’s Asia Cup will be staged in the United Arab Emirates in September following a contentious venue dispute that threatened to derail the event.

India was due to host the T20 tournament, but rising tensions with Pakistan, exacerbated by a military standoff in May, and disagreements over the ACC’s Annual General Meeting in Dhaka led to weeks of uncertainty.

New Delhi initially refused to attend the meeting and questioned the neutrality of Naqvi, who also heads the Pakistan Cricket Board and serves as the country’s interior minister. However, Indian authorities later joined the gathering via video link.

“I am delighted to confirm the dates for the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 in UAE,” Naqvi announced in a social media post on X. “The prestigious tournament will take place from September 9th to 28th.”

“We look forward to a spectacular display of cricket,” he added. “Detailed schedule will be out soon.”

https://x.com/mohsinnaqvic42/status/1949064032809337266?s=46&t=x28vcP-XUuQ0CWAu-biScA 

India and Pakistan have not hosted each other for a bilateral series in over a decade, with political and security concerns consistently spilling over into cricketing ties.

Last year’s Asia Cup in 2023 was marred by similar discord, as Pakistan was the official host and India refused to travel.

The ACC then implemented a hybrid model, splitting matches between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

All India fixtures— including the final— were held in Sri Lanka, while Pakistan hosted only non-India group games.

The workaround preserved Pakistan’s hosting rights while accommodating India’s participation.

The ACC has reached a similar compromise this year, with the UAE, an established neutral venue, stepping in to host all matches.

The tournament in September will feature eight teams, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, UAE, Oman and Hong Kong.

A group-stage clash between India and Pakistan is likely, with the event also serving as a key warm-up for the ICC T20 World Cup in early 2026.


PM approves modern digital ecosystem for Pakistan revenue watchdog to increase collection

Updated 26 July 2025
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PM approves modern digital ecosystem for Pakistan revenue watchdog to increase collection

  • The move is tied to the government’s economic stabilization agenda, structural benchmarks under a $7 billion IMF program
  • Pakistan has set a record-high tax collection target of $47 billion for 2025–26, marking a 9% increase from the previous year

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the development of a modern, world-class digital ecosystem in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and directed hiring of world-renowned experts, his office said, in a bid to increase revenue collection.

The prime minister issued the directives at a meeting he presided over to review ongoing reforms in the FBR, during which officials briefed participants about linking FBR data to a single hub for real-time monitoring.

The reforms are tied to the government’s economic stabilization agenda and structural benchmarks under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program. Pakistan has one of the lowest tax-to-GDP ratios in the region, despite a population of more than 240 million.

Speaking at the meeting, Sharif said the country's economy was moving in the right direction, thanks to the ongoing FBR reforms, and the government could only reduce tax on common people by increasing the tax base and eliminating informal economy.

"An entire digital ecosystem should be created to strengthen the new [FBR] system," he said. "All data from raw material production and import, product manufacturing to consumer purchases should be linked to a single system."

In June, Sharif's government set a record-high tax collection target of Rs14.13 trillion ($47.4 billion) for the fiscal year 2025–26, marking a 9 percent increase from the previous year. Officials say meeting this goal is essential to reducing reliance on external debt and ensuring long-term fiscal sustainability.

The prime minister said this consolidated data, collected under the new FBR system, should be used for economic, strategic decision-making.

"The system should be made so effective that the entire value chain can be directly monitored digitally," the prime minister added.

Earlier this month, the FBR launched simplified digital tax returns for salaried individuals, aimed at increasing tax compliance and widening the narrow tax base.


Pakistan’s Sindh reports first dengue-related death of this year

Updated 26 July 2025
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Pakistan’s Sindh reports first dengue-related death of this year

  • Dengue is an illness that spreads through vectors, carried by the bite of an infected mosquito
  • 2024 recorded highest dengue levels with 14,305,764 cases and 10,576 deaths in 112 countries

KARACHI: The health department in Pakistan’s Sindh on Saturday reported first dengue-related death of this year in the southern province.

Dengue is an illness that spreads through vectors, carried by the bite of an infected mosquito. There is currently no cure or vaccine for dengue fever and in its most severe form, it can lead to fatalities.

People affected by dengue go through intense flu-like symptoms including high fever, intense headache, muscle and joint pain, and nausea and vomiting, typically persisting for approximately a week.

The Sindh health department on Saturday confirmed that a 48-year-old woman resident Karachi’s East district died of the virus during treatment at a private hospital.

“The patient was admitted on July 23, 2025, and tested positive for dengue the same day,” it said.

“She also had underlying health conditions, including diabetes and a urinary tract infection (UTI), which contributed to complications in her case.”

The virus has been surging worldwide, aided by climate change.

The year 2024 recorded the highest levels of dengue with 14,305,764 cases and 10,576 deaths reported from 112 countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.

Pakistan reported nearly 16,000 dengue case from Jan. till Oct. 2024, according to the National Institute of Health.


Pakistan arrests five suspects involved in human smuggling, defrauding citizens

Updated 26 July 2025
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Pakistan arrests five suspects involved in human smuggling, defrauding citizens

  • The development comes amid a crackdown against agents involved in sending impoverished Pakistanis abroad through dangerous routes
  • A record 10,457 migrants died trying to reach Spain in 2024, mostly attempting to cross the Atlantic route from West African countries

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested five suspects involved in human smuggling and defrauding citizens, it said on Saturday.

The development comes amid a crackdown against agents involved in sending impoverished Pakistanis abroad through dangerous routes, luring them with a chance at a better life in Europe.

The latest arrests were made by the FIA in different areas of Gujranwala and Gujrat districts for swindling citizens out of millions of rupees by offering fake visas and jobs abroad.

“The suspects were found involved in illegally sending innocent citizens abroad,” the FIA said in a statement, identifying the suspects as Rifaqat, Shabraiz, Muhammad Siddique, Muhammad Yasin and Qasim Shaheen.

Rafaqat and Shabraiz took Rs2.4 million from a citizen for employment in Italy, but sent him to Kyrgyzstan from where he was deported, according to the agency.

Siddique took over Rs2 million from a citizen for employment in Spain, while Yasin received more than Rs645,000 promising to find overseas employment to a citizen. Shaheen duped another man into paying Rs4 million for a job in the United Kingdom (UK).

“The accused had gone into hiding after receiving huge sums of money,” the FIA said, adding that an investigation has been launched against them.

Earlier this month, the FIA said it had arrested an agent involved in the Morocco boat tragedy, in which dozens of Pakistanis attempting to travel illegally to Europe had drowned near the African country’s coast.

The boat had set off from Mauritania in January with 86 migrants on board, among them 66 Pakistanis, for the Canary Islands administered by Spain, international rights group Walking Borders had said. Moroccan authorities said on January 16 that 36 people were rescued from the vessel, while Pakistan confirmed survivors of the tragedy included 22 of its nationals.

A record 10,457 migrants, or 30 people a day, died trying to reach Spain in 2024. Most of them died while attempting to cross the Atlantic route from West African countries such as Mauritania and Senegal to the Canary Islands, according to Walking Borders.

In 2023, hundreds of migrants, including 262 Pakistanis, drowned when an overcrowded vessel sank in international waters off the southwestern Greek town of Pylos, marking one of the deadliest boat disasters ever recorded in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Pakistani government has ramped up efforts in recent months to combat human smugglers facilitating dangerous journeys for illegal immigrants to Europe, resulting in several arrests.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also urged increased collaboration with international agencies like Interpol to ensure swift action against human trafficking networks.


Fast bowler Afridi back in Pakistan squad for white-ball series against West Indies in US

Updated 26 July 2025
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Fast bowler Afridi back in Pakistan squad for white-ball series against West Indies in US

  • Fast bowler Haris Rauf, who suffered a hamstring injury, has recovered and was named in the T20 squad
  • Pakistan’s pace attack was further strengthened Friday with the return of Hasan Ali for both T20s, ODIs

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan recalled fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi for the white-ball cricket series against West Indies, starting at Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida.

The three Twenty20 matches in the US — on July 31, Aug. 2 and 3 — will be followed by three ODI games in Trinidad and Tobago.

Afridi, who is also in the ODI squad, was surprisingly excluded from Pakistan’s last two T20 series against Bangladesh despite leading Lahore Qalandars to its third Pakistan Super League title in the last four years with a rich haul of 19 wickets this year.

In Afridi’s absence, Pakistan routed Bangladesh 3-0 at home but lost 2-1 to Bangladesh at Dhaka in a series which ended Thursday.

Fast bowler Haris Rauf, who was forced to miss the series against Bangladesh because of a hamstring injury he sustained during Major League Cricket (MLC) in the US, has recovered and was named in the T20 squad.

Pakistan’s pace attack was further strengthened Friday with the return of Hasan Ali for both T20s and ODIs against West Indies.

The selectors dropped pace bowlers Abbas Afridi and Salman Mirza, who both participated in the T20 series in Bangladesh, and retained all-rounders Hussain Talat and Mohammad Nawaz.

Middle-order batter Hasan Nawaz is the only uncapped player named in the ODI squad. Nawaz scored Pakistan’s fastest-ever T20 century against New Zealand in March this year.

Salman Ali Agha will continue to lead the T20 side while wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan was named skipper for the ODI series.

Twenty20 squad: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem.

ODI squad: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem.