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Pakistan hopes to bring international cricket to Gwadar stadium in restive southwest

A general view of the Senator Muhammad Ishaq Baloch Cricket Stadium in Gwadar district, Balochistan, Pakistan, on February 15, 2021. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Updated 18 February 2021
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Pakistan hopes to bring international cricket to Gwadar stadium in restive southwest

  • The site recently attracted international attention after the ICC tweeted its photos, challenging followers to point to a more picturesque sports venue
  • Experts say bringing foreign teams to Gwadar would be hard given the security situation in Balochistan and an ongoing separatist insurgency 
Updated 18 February 2021
KHURSHID AHMED   

GWADAR: Pakistan hopes it can host international matches at Balochistan’s Gwadar Cricket Stadium, which the International Cricket Council (ICC) has recently described as one of the most picturesque sports venues, officials in the southwestern Pakistani province say.
Senator Muhammad Ishaq Baloch Cricket Stadium in the district of Gwadar, on which work started in 1998, has been built by the military and local government and was inaugurated in November 2020. Grass to cover the venue and tons of soil for the pitch were brought to Gwadar from Punjab.
The lush green site surrounded by mountains attracted international attention after the ICC shared its photos in a social media post in late January, challenging followers to show them a more scenic location.

The ICC spotlight has triggered authorities to seek approval from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to expand the venue to meet international standards.
“We have approached PCB for expansion of the stadium. They know the technicalities required to meet international standards,” Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) director general Shahzeb Khan Kakar told Arab News earlier this week.
According to Hajji Hanif Hussain, former president of the Gwadar Cricket Association, the stadium measures around 66 meters, which is too small for international games that are usually held at venues that are between 137 meters and 150 meters long.




The Senator Muhammad Ishaq Baloch Cricket Stadium in Gwadar district, Balochistan, on February 15, 2021. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)

However, as it is fit for cricketing at the national or local level, the stadium is gearing up to host district leagues matches by the end of February and the Gwadar Premier League (GPL) in August.
“We are planning for Gwadar Premier League in August of September this year where teams from across Pakistan would be invited,” Zahid Saeed, chairman of the Gwadar Cricket Association, told Arab News.
“Before GPL we are planning first Gwadar District League (GDL) at this ground by the end of this month where around 60 local teams would compete for the title,” he said. “It would be a display of Gwadar’s talent.”
While hopes have sprung in Gwadar following the ICC tweet, experts of international cricket say bringing foreign teams to the stadium would need more than just expanding the pitch.
The restive and underdeveloped province which borders Afghanistan and Iran has been the scene of a low-level insurgency for decades. Although authorities often say they have quelled the militancy in Balochistan, violent attacks have continued there.
“The basic requirement is the provision of security to the players and organizers as well as the spectators,” Qamar Ahmed, senior sports analyst, told Arab News. “Besides, the pitch should be approved by the ICC and the stadium should be equipped with floodlights.” 
Local businessmen argue, however, that Gwadar district was safe. As one of the main sites of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), with numerous Chinese-funded infrastructure projects in progress, the area has been heavily protected.
“We are freely roaming in the area in a peaceful environment,” Chaudhry Liaquat, member of Gwadar Business Club, said.

Topics: International cricket Cricket Stadium Gwadar Stadium Pakistan cricket

In scenic Abbottabad, an old church tells a tale of religious unity, colonial heritage

Updated 8 sec ago
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In scenic Abbottabad, an old church tells a tale of religious unity, colonial heritage

  • St. Luke’s Church was built in 1864 on land donated by Queen Victoria, empress of India
  • Can seat up to 150 worshippers, expanding into outdoor area to host larger crowds
Updated 8 sec ago
Yusra Jabeen

ABBOTTABAD: Located in Abbottabad, a picturesque city set against the mountainous terrain of Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the 160-year-old St. Luke’s Church has a tale to tell of religious unity and the region’s colonial history. 

Built in 1864 during British rule, the Anglican-Protestant church was established to serve British officials serving in the Indian subcontinent. Construction of St. Luke’s commenced in 1854-55, with initial delays due to slow fund-raising and then a brief interruption due to the Indian Rebellion of 1857. It was completed and then consecrated by the Bishop of Calcutta in 1864. 

Despite disruptions during the partition of British India in 1947 and the birth of Pakistan, the church has continued to host mass and retained many of its original architectural elements.

“During its construction, the church’s exterior was built with stones that were cut and laid by hand,” Rev. Rafiq Javed, a priest at the church appointed by the Diocese of Peshawar, told Arab News this week, explaining the history of St. Luke’s Church.

“The inner part [of the church] is built using mud, lentils, jute, sawdust, and paste made of eggs. The eggs were provided by the local people.”

St. Luke’s Church retains many elements from the time of its construction, such as stained-glass windows and old locks and their gigantic keys. A pipe organ stands in the church foyer.

Javed said the musical instrument had become unusable due to water damage some 50 years ago but its sound was once well known across the Abbottabad valley.

The church walls display plaques dating back to 1865 and serving as a memory of fallen British soldiers. One also comes across a metallic device permanently fixed on one of the stairs at the church’s entrance that was used by British troops to remove mud from their shoes before going to the main hall for worship.

The local Christian community says the church property was donated by Queen Victoria, empress of India, and one of its gates was named after her. The church property comprises the vicar’s home as well as staff quarters for caretakers of the building.

The church seats up to 150 worshippers, expanding into the outdoor area to accommodate larger crowds during special occasions such as Christmas and Easter.

Christianity, the third largest religion in Muslim-majority Pakistan, is followed by 1.27 percent of the population, according to the 2017 Census. The community has roughly equal proportions of Catholics and Protestants, with a small number of Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Christians as well. There are around 4,000 Christians in Abbottabad, according to local estimates.

Javed the priest said the building of the church was a community effort:

“At the time, the people who lived here included Hindus and our Muslim brothers as well and they also lent a hand in building this church. The eggs [to make paste] were provided by the local Hindu and Muslim communities.”

Topics: Abbottabad Church Pakistan St. Luke’s Church Arab News Pakistan

Google to establish fifty AI-equipped smart schools in Pakistani capital

Updated 19 min 47 sec ago
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Google to establish fifty AI-equipped smart schools in Pakistani capital

  • Smart schools incorporate technology and innovation in teaching and learning processes to improve quality of education
  • Smart schools in Islamabad will be equipped with 30,000 Google for Education IDs with AI features and digital tools 
Updated 19 min 47 sec ago
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: US tech giant Google is all set to establish 50 smart schools in Pakistan’s federal capital offering AI features and a suite of digital tools for “enhanced collaboration and productivity,” Pakistani state media reported this week. 

A smart school incorporates technology and innovation in its teaching and learning processes to improve the quality of education. Smart schools use various technologies such as interactive whiteboards, online learning platforms, artificial intelligence and virtual reality to enhance the learning experience of students. 

Experts say smart schools lead to improved student engagement and motivation, personalized learning, access to a wider range of resources, and enhanced communication between teachers, students, and parents. Smart schools also promote collaborative learning, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills among students.

A Google for Education team and its local partner Tech Valley met this week with the Secretary of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training to present its proposals for Pakistan’s education sector, including setting up smart schools. 

“50 Smart schools in Islamabad will be equipped with 30,000 Google for Education IDs which includes features, powered by AI, like practice sets and a suite of digital tools for enhanced collaboration and productivity,” the APP wire agency reported. 

“Discussions extended to several upcoming initiatives, including teacher workshops on Google for Education tools, the establishment of a public Google Reference School, the training of 2,000 youths in job-ready skills through Google Career Certificates, and the potential collaboration on hosting an Edutech event with the Ministry of Federal Education in Pakistan.”

According to the “Global Education 2020” report issued by UNESCO, there has been a significant increase in the use of technology in education worldwide. The report indicated that 90 percent of the world’s countries have launched initiatives to integrate technology into education, and 80 percent of students in advanced countries use technology in education.

As per a report by “Holistics,” a business intelligence and data analytics platform, Smart School technology has also been adopted by many countries in Asia, including Singapore, China, and South Korea, and has proven to be effective in improving the quality of education and learning outcomes.

The size of the Smart School market is expected to reach $73.8 billion by 2025 compared to a market size of $43.6 billion in 2018, marketing research company “Markets and Markets” said in a recent report. 

Topics: Google

Pakistan inflation eases to 22-month low at 17.3% in April amid monetary tightening

Updated 40 min ago
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Pakistan inflation eases to 22-month low at 17.3% in April amid monetary tightening

  • Pakistan beset by inflation above 20% since May 2022, registering high of 38% in May 2023 due to high food, energy costs
  • Pakistan is currently navigating strict reforms as part of an International Monetary Fund bailout program
Updated 40 min ago
KHURSHID AHMED   

KARACHI: Pakistan’s inflation eased off to 17.3%, the lowest since May 2022, on a year-on-year basis in April 2024 from 20.7% recorded in March 2024 and 36.4% in April 2023, official data issued on Thursday said.

Pakistan has been beset by inflation above 20% since May 2022, registering a high of 38 percent in May 2023 main due to high food and energy costs. 

Pakistan’s central bank, which has kept the interest rate steady at 22% since June last year amid tight monetary tightening, had forecasted that ” inflation will continue to remain on downward trajectory further moderation.”

“Besides the coordinated tight monetary and fiscal policy response, other factors that have led to this favorable outcome include lower global commodity prices, improved food supplies and high base effect,” the central bank said in its monetary policy statement issued on Monday.

On a month-on-month basis, inflation decreased to 0.4 percent in April 2024 as compared to an increase of 1.7% in the previous month and a hike of 2.4% in April 2023, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) . 

In April on an annual basis the prices of onions increased by 156.16 percent, tomatoes 126.67 percent, chicken 33.62 percent and meat 22.18 percent. In the non-food category, gas charges surged by 318.74 percent, electricity charges 71.12 percent, accommodation services 31.50 percent, transport services 26.70 percent, cotton cloth 23.00 percent, drugs and medicines 22.78%, and footwears 21.38%.

Urban core inflation measured by non-food non-energy items increased to 13.1 percent on an annual basis in April 2024 as compared to an increase of 12.8 percent in the previous month and 19.5 percent in April 2023.

Rural core inflation measured by non-food non-energy items increased to 19.3 percent on a year-on-year basis in April 2024 as compared to an increase of 20 percent in the previous month and 24.9 percent in April 2023.

Topics: Pakistan economy inflation in Pakistan

Pakistan’s drug enforcement agency nets record ‘ice’ haul in major anti-trafficking operation

Updated 02 May 2024
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Pakistan’s drug enforcement agency nets record ‘ice’ haul in major anti-trafficking operation

  • The Anti-Narcotics Force seizes 224 kilograms of the substance while it was being transported to Belgium
  • The authorities also apprehended three suspects, among them two Afghan nationals, who were trying to escape
Updated 02 May 2024
Muhammad Ibrahim

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) announced on Thursday it had achieved a “monumental victory” in the ongoing battle against drug trafficking by intercepting the largest consignment of methamphetamine, popularly called “ice,” in the nation’s history.
Methamphetamine, known for its potent and addictive properties, has seen a significant rise in use not just in Pakistan but globally, contributing to a burgeoning health crisis.
The drug’s accessibility and escalating abuse have heightened law enforcement and public health efforts to curtail its spread.
This major seizure highlights the ongoing challenges and the critical need for continued vigilance and international cooperation in combating drug trafficking and its societal impacts.
“A total of 224 kilograms of Methamphetamine (Ice) was seized by the diligent ANF team at the Karachi port,” an official statement announced. “Disguised within five containers labelled as ‘Soapstone’ exports from Afghanistan to Belgium, this illicit substance was artfully concealed within the container’s roof and doors.”
The authorities also apprehended three suspects involved in the smuggling attempt, among them two Afghan nationals.
“The suspects were attempting to flee to Afghanistan via the Torkham border when they were intercepted by ANF Team,” the statement continued.
It added the intercepting the massive methamphetamine consignment by ANF prevented its distribution and potential harm to countless people.

Topics: crystal methamphetamine Drug bust Pakistan’s Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF)

Pakistan’s inflation sees lowest increase in nearly two years at 17.3% in April

Updated 02 May 2024
Reuters
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Pakistan’s inflation sees lowest increase in nearly two years at 17.3% in April

  • Pakistan has been beset by inflation above 20% since May 2022, registering a high of 38% in May 2023
  • Month on month inflation was down 0.4%, showing negative growth for the first time since last year in June
Updated 02 May 2024
Reuters

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) for April rose 17.3% from a year earlier, data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics showed on Thursday, the lowest reading in nearly two years and below the finance ministry’s projections for the month.

Pakistan has been beset by inflation above 20% since May 2022, registering a high of 38% in May 2023, as it has navigated reforms as part of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout programme.

Month on month inflation was down 0.4%, showing negative growth for the first time since June 2023.

The Finance Ministry in its monthly economic report said it expected inflation to hover between 18.5% and 19.5% in April and ease further in May to 17.5%-18.5%.

Pakistan’s central bank kept its key interest rate unchanged at 22% for the seventh straight policy meeting on Monday, hours before the IMF executive board approved $1.1 billion in funding under a $3 billion standby arrangement signed last year.

The bank’s monetary policy committee said in a statement it was “prudent” to continue with its monetary policy stance at this stage to bring inflation down to the target range.

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