ISLAMABAD: Opener Shahzaib Khan’s scintillating 159 powered Pakistan Under-19 to a 43-run victory over arch-rivals India in a Group A match of the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Shahzaib’s knock, spanning 147 balls and featuring five fours and 10 sixes, anchored Pakistan’s innings as they posted 281 for 7 in 50 overs.
India, in reply, were bundled out for 238 in 47.1 overs despite a fighting 67 by Nikhil Kumar.
The Mansehra-born opener shared a 160-run stand with Usman Khan (60 off 94 balls), setting a solid platform. Their partnership came on the back of impressive recent form, with Shahzaib and Usman scoring 330 and 314 runs, respectively, in a tri-series against Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates.
“There was a lot of seam movement, and the fast bowlers were getting good support,” Khan said after the match. “But after spending some time at the crease, when the spinners came on, I focused on dispatching deliveries in my range to the boundary.”
“By God’s grace, it worked out for me today,” he added.
Khan continued to dominate with a 71-run third-wicket stand with Muhammad Riazullah (27). Pakistan accelerated late in the innings, adding 74 runs in the last 10 overs, as captain Saad Baig’s decision to bat first paid off.
India’s Samarth Nagaraj was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3-45, while Ayush Mhatre chipped in with 2-30.
India started their chase positively but lost early wickets. Abdul Subhan dismissed Mhatre (20) in the fourth over, while Ali Raza removed Vaibhav Suryavanshi in the next spell, leaving the team reeling at 28 for 2.
Usman Khan and Faham-ul-Haq continued to build pressure, reducing India to 81 for 4.
A 53-run partnership between Nikhil Kumar and Kiran Chormale (20) briefly revived India, but Faham broke the stand by dismissing Chormale.
Kumar’s valiant 77-ball 67 ended when he was caught off Naveed Ahmed Khan at 174, dashing India’s hopes of a recovery.
Ali Raza’s 3-36 led the bowling for Pakistan, with Abdul Subhan (2-45) and Faham-ul-Haq (2-41) providing crucial support.
Pakistan will next face the UAE on December 2 at the same venue.
Shahzaib Khan’s brilliant 159 powers Pakistan Under-19 to 43-run victory over India
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Shahzaib Khan’s brilliant 159 powers Pakistan Under-19 to 43-run victory over India
- Khan’s extraordinary performance anchored Pakistan’s innings, helped them post 281 for 7
- In reply, India were bundled out for 238 in 47.1 overs despite a fighting 67 by Nikhil Kumar
Pakistan warns of more showers, landslides after rains kill 31 this week
- The downpours, likely to continue till July 5, may disrupt transportation, communication and electricity services
- Pakistan, home to over 240 million, is currently bracing for an extreme monsoon season that lasts till mid-Sept.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Sunday warned of more showers, flash floods and landslides in the country from June 29 till July 5, following the deaths of more than 30 people in rain-related incidents this week.
Downpours are expected to hit Kashmir, northeastern Punjab, Potohar region, Islamabad, and upper and central parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa between June 29 to July 3. This may result in urban flooding in low-lying areas of Central Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly in the cities of Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, and Kohat.
In the Potohar region, including Attock, Chakwal, Rawalpindi, and Islamabad, there is a high likelihood of urban flooding, especially during the nighttime hours from 9pm to 4am on June 29. Rain emergencies may also occur in the low-elevation areas of Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Narowal, Lahore, Faisalabad and Sargodha.
“These conditions could lead to disruption of transportation in hilly and mountainous regions, landslides, and interruption of communication and electricity services,” the NDMA said in a statement on Sunday afternoon.
“NDMA urges all provincial and district administrations to remain on high alert, activate contingency plans, and ensure timely dissemination of warnings in local languages.”
The authority cautioned against possible flash flooding in Hazara and Malakand Divisions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, lower parts of Jhelum and Poonch valleys in Azad Kashmir, and the Pir Panjal range in northeastern Punjab.
“Low-level flooding is anticipated in River Kabul at Nowshera and its tributaries, along with medium flows in Swat River,” it said.
“Similar low-level flows are expected downstream of Tarbela Dam and in the Chenab River at Khanki and Qadirabad. Additionally, flash floods are likely in tributaries and streams of River Chitral and Hunza.”
The Sindh province in the country’s south is expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall, particularly affecting Hyderabad, Badin, Thatta and Karachi from June 29 till July 5, according to the NDMA.
The risk of urban flooding in low-lying areas of Karachi division is expected to increase significantly from July 2, particularly in the districts of Hyderabad, Thatta and Badin, where rainwater accumulation may trigger localized flooding and emergency conditions.
“Citizens, especially those in high-risk areas, are advised to stay updated through official adviseries, avoid unnecessary travel near glacial streams, riverbanks, and flooded roads, and keep emergency kits ready,” the authority said.
Heavy rains have lashed Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh provinces since June 27, raising water levels in rivers to alarming levels and triggering floods in various cities across the South Asian country.
The death toll from drownings in the wake of flash flooding in Pakistan’s northwestern Swat River has climbed to 12, the main rescue service in KP said on Sunday.
Six people have been killed in Punjab, 18 in KP and seven in Sindh over the last two days, the NDMA said on Sunday. Punjab reported the highest number of injuries in the same period, 21, followed by Sindh with 16 and KP with six.
Pakistan, home to over 240 million people, is considered one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change and faces extreme weather events with increasing frequency.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday directed the NDMA to enhance coordination with provinces and issue timely weather alerts to citizens via cellphone messages.
Islamabad’s mission, Saudi non-profit join hands to assist Pakistani special needs children in Kingdom
- Specially abled Pakistani children will now be able to get evaluative clinics, rehabilitative services at a 60 percent discount
- Saudi Arabia is home to over 2.5 million Pakistani expatriates and serves as the top source of remittances to South Asian nation
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani embassy in Riyadh has signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Children with Disabilities Association (CDA) non-profit group to provide Pakistani children with special needs in the Kingdom with a 60 percent discount on clinical and rehabilitation services at CDA facilities, Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia said on Sunday.
Founded in 1982, the CDA is one of the largest child rehabilitation institutions in the region, providing care and support through rehabilitation and education to disabled children from birth until they are 12 at 11 CDA branches supported by a community of 4,900 members.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmed Farooq and CDA Board of Directors Chairman Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz signed a cooperation agreement in Riyadh on June 24 for Pakistani special needs children for a period of one year, extendable with the mutual consent of both parties.
“We are pleased to share that a long-standing demand of our community has been fulfilled,” Ambassador Farooq told Arab News, adding that the embassy can now refer specially abled Pakistani children below the age of 14, who require evaluative clinic and rehabilitative services, to the CDA.
“All centers of the association will offer these children the support they need, including a 60 percent reduction in their rates.”
The Pakistani envoy said the CDA would offer rehabilitative services to these children in both English and Arabic languages, and thanked Prince Sultan for his support in this regard.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy strong trade, defense, cultural and brotherly relations. The Kingdom is home to over 2.5 million Pakistani expatriates and serves as top source of remittances to the cash-strapped South Asian country.
To avail this service, Ambassador Farooq said, Pakistani community members will have to send a written request to the embassy, including full name, age and passport details of the child.
“Upon receiving requests, the embassy will refer them to the association for further processing, after which the child will be enrolled as a student at a [CDA] center,” he said, hoping this important step will not only address the immediate needs of the community but will also help build confidence in the mission’s public service.
The implementation of the cooperation instrument began on the date of signing of the agreement between both sides and will remain in effect for one year, according to the agreement seen by Arab News.
The agreement was driven by the Pakistani mission’s interest in providing rehabilitation services to the expat community and the CDA’s goal to enhance the level of services provided to children with disabilities in different regions of the Kingdom, whether citizens or residents.
“The second party [CDA] will offer a special discount for assessing and providing rehabilitative services to referred beneficiaries,” the document said, adding that the beneficiaries’ guardians were responsible for covering the costs of assessment and therapeutic services after the discount was applied.
It stated that the association would provide an annual report on the services rendered to patients under this cooperation.
“A contact officer and coordinator shall be appointed by both parties, with each party providing the other with names and information before commencing work under this instrument of cooperation,” the document said.
China rolls over $3.4 billion of commercial loans to Pakistan
- The IMF required Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves to be over $14 billion at the end of the current fiscal year on June 30
- Foreign loans, especially the Chinese ones, are critical to shoring up cash-strapped Pakistan’s low foreign exchange reserves
KARACHI: China has rolled over $3.4 billion in loans to Islamabad, which together with other recent commercial and multilateral lending will boost Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves to $14 billion, a finance ministry source said on Sunday.
Beijing rolled over $2.1 billion, which has been in Pakistan’s central bank’s reserves for the last three years, and refinanced another $1.3 billion commercial loan, which Islamabad had paid back two months ago, the source said.
Another $1 billion from Middle Eastern commercial banks and $500 million from multilateral financing have also been received, he said.
“This brings our reserves in line with the IMF target,” he said.
The loans, especially the Chinese ones, are critical to shoring up Pakistan’s low foreign reserves, which the IMF required to be over $14 billion at the end of the current fiscal year on June 30.
Pakistani authorities say that the country’s economy has stabilized through ongoing reforms under a $7 billion IMF bailout.
Security forces kill two ‘Indian-sponsored’ militants in restive Balochistan — Pakistani military
- Two militants were also apprehended during a security forces raid in Balochistan’s Duki district
- Pakistan and India often accuse each other of supporting militancy, a charge denied by either
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s security forces have killed two militants and arrested two others during an operation in the southwestern Balochistan province, the Pakistani military said on Sunday.
The intelligence-based operation was conducted in Balochistan’s Duki district on reported presence of militants, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing.
The militants were killed in an intense exchange of fire during the operation.
“Weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from the Indian-sponsored terrorists, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area,” the ISPR said.
“Sanitization operation is being conducted to eliminate any other terrorist found in the area.”
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but most impoverished province, has been the site of a long-running insurgency that has intensified in recent months, with separatist militants attacking security forces, government officials and installations and people from other provinces who they see as “outsiders.”
Islamabad accuses India of backing the separatists in Balochistan as well as religiously motivated militant groups, like the Pakistani Taliban, in its northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. India denies the allegations.
On Saturday, the Pakistani military said a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden car into a Pakistani military convoy near the Afghan border in the northwest, killing at least 13 soldiers, blaming New Delhi for the attack.
India’s ministry of external affairs said on Sunday it rejected the Pakistani military statement, seeking to blame India for Saturday’s attack in the North Waziristan district.
Pakistan and India, which often accuse each other of supporting militancy, last month traded missile, drone and artillery fire for four days over a militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. India accused Pakistan of backing the assault, an allegation denied by Islamabad.
Balochistan officials say Daesh involved in high-profile kidnapping, murder of schoolboy
- Muhammad Musawir Khan Kakar, who was from a family of gold traders, was kidnapped by armed men in Quetta on Nov. 15
- Balochistan government officials vow to arrest suspects involved in kidnapping and murder of 11-year-old schoolboy
ISLAMABAD: Senior officials of the Balochistan government this week said Daesh militants had abducted and murdered a schoolboy, whose kidnapping last year triggered a weeks-long protest in the province.
Eleven-year-old Muhammad Musawir Khan Kakar, a third-grade student, was kidnapped from a school van by unidentified armed men while on his way to school in Quetta on Nov. 15, 2024. His family said they had not received any ransom call from the kidnappers since his abduction.
Kakar's relatives and other protesters had staged a sit-in protest at Quetta’s Unity Square for 14 days after his abduction. They ended the protest after Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti met and assured them of setting up a team to recover the boy.
Kakar belonged to a prominent tribal family involved in the gold trading business in Balochistan for decades.
"I do not merely want to condemn the brutal manner in which Daesh terrorists martyred the innocent child Musawir Kakar for ransom—I consider it my responsibility to ensure that those involved in this incident are brought to justice," Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti wrote on social media platform X on Saturday.
Bugti said the provincial government had undertaken hectic efforts to recover Kakar over the past seven months.
"The entire state machinery has now been mobilized against those involved in this incident," he said.
Separately, Quetta Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat shared details of the incident. He said militants part of a Daesh cell operating from abroad had abducted the boy and demanded Rs3 billion [$10.58 million] as ransom, following which police and intelligence agencies launched a joint operation to recover him.
Shafqaat said six suspects were identified by law enforcers, out of which five were Afghan nationals and one was a Pakistani citizen.
The Quetta official said over 1,000 CCTV videos were analyzed while over 2,000 houses and 400 rented properties were searched. He added it was considered one of the largest search operations in which police, the Counterterrorism Department, Intelligence Bureau and Frontier Corps took part.
Shafqaat said the operation progressed to a key hideout where one Afghan suspect detonated himself while another was killed. In a separate operation, he said the other gang members were located.
"It was confirmed that the child had been martyred and was secretly buried," Shafqaat said. "The body was recovered, identified through DNA, and handed over to the family."
He said the provincial government was taking legal action against those involved in militant activities from across the border.
"Rest assured all of them will be arrested," he vowed.
