Charles De Ketelaere scored twice, Hans Vanaken punished a goalkeeping howler, and substitute Romelu Lukaku added a fourth to settle a last-16 clash that had been overshadowed by the pre-match uproar surrounding US striker Folarin Balogun.

Balogun, named in US coach Mauricio Pochettino’s starting line-up after FIFA suspended a one-game ban following lobbying by US President Donald Trump, was largely anonymous throughout Monday’s knockout tie at Seattle’s Lumen Field.

Instead, a rampant Belgium ruthlessly dismantled the US’ hopes of reaching a first World Cup quarter-final in 24 years, in a bitterly disappointing end to a campaign that had captivated the host nation.

Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku and Lukaku were all benched, with De Bruyne, so long the talisman of the team, not even used in the clash in Seattle.

Nicolas Raskin, Amadou Onana and Dodi Lukebakio replaced Hans Vanaken, De Bruyne, and Doku, with De Ketelaere moving to a centre forward role that reaped immediate reward with two first-half goals to set the Belgians on their way to a comfortable victory.

Before kickoff, Garcia said his selections were logical given the players’ training form and tactics for the day, and they worked out perfectly as the Belgians produced their best football of the tournament.

De Ketelaere fired Belgium ahead after nine minutes, and although Malik Tillman’s deflected free-kick leveled it in the 31st-minute, the US fightback was shortlived.

De Ketelaere headed Belgium back in front in the 33rd minute, and Vanaken made it 3-1 in the 57th minute after a dreadful blunder by US goalkeeper Matt Freese, who was dispossessed after charging out of his penalty area to clear.

Veteran striker Lukaku piled on the misery with a fourth in stoppage time.

The defeat capped a tumultuous 24 hours for the World Cup co-hosts, who were lifted by FIFA’s shock reprieve of Balogun on Sunday — a decision which brought widespread condemnation across the football world.

Belgium football chiefs had challenged Balogun’s eligibility for the game earlier on Monday but saw their appeal dismissed out of hand by FIFA.

Belgium’s Nicolas Raskin said the perceived injustice had actually motivated Balogun’s opponents.

“I think there was always justice somewhere in life and the fact that something can happen like that ... but we don’t think that was fair,” Raskin said.

US coach Mauricio Pochettino said the row had not affected his team and attributed their poor performance to an off-day against a top side.

“We were not good enough today, we don’t need to find another excuse ... I think it wasn’t a situation that affects us,” he told reporters.

The US defeat means all three co-hosts are out of the tournament, after Canada and Mexico lost their last-16 games.

“In the moments that we were doing well (in the tournament), we felt amazing,” US midfielder Tyler Adams said. “And then obviously, an opportunity like today, we didn’t grasp it and it’s gonna sting.”

Despite their exit, Pochettino said the future was bright for the US squad and the Argentinian coach also suggested he wanted to continue.

“I think now ... it’s (time to) rest a little bit, to think, to have conversations, and then see what the decision is from the federation and from us,” he added. “But I am so happy.”

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2026

ARLINGTON: Substitute Mikel Merino scored a dramatic late winner to put Spain in the quarter-finals with a 1-0 victory over Portugal and end Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup career on Monday.

The European champions will face Belgium on Friday in Los Angeles.

In front of an expectant crowd of 70,649 at the air-conditioned home of the Dallas Cowboys, a match that on paper promised so much failed to deliver.

Extra time looked certain, before fellow substitute Ferran Torres slipped in Merino to settle the contest in the first minute of injury time.

It meant a sour final World Cup match for the 41-year-old Ronaldo, who looked like he was choking back tears at the end.

Spain captain Rodri praised the “maturity” of his side.

“If anyone thinks that we will move forward without suffering, they are mistaken,” he said.

“We knew we had to wait for the right moment and it came, even if they also had chances to win the game,” added the Manchester City midfielder.

Heaping praise on match-winner Merino, who had only been on the pitch six minutes, Rodri said: “He’s a sensational player… one that I love.”

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente was satisfied with his performance.

“It was a fantastic match — a final played early — and, inevitably, we had to sweat it out until the very end,” de la Fuente said. “We put in a complete performance.”

Ronaldo, now playing in Saudi Arabia, confirmed on the eve of the encounter that this would be his last dance on football’s biggest stage.

One of the greatest players of all time has refused to say when he will end his international career and was ineffective here.

The neighbours came into the contest both unbeaten, but while Portugal had not been entirely convincing, Spain had not even conceded a goal in the tournament.

One of the pre-tournament favourites, they still haven’t.

For all their pedigree, talent and history, Spain have only lifted the World Cup once, in 2010, while Portugal’s best was third place in 1966.

In Ronaldo and Spain’s 18-year-old Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal, the last-16 showdown was touted as a showcase of two extraordinary talents at opposite ends of their careers.

In truth neither lived up to expectations on the day.

There was a sombre moment shortly before kickoff when a black-and-white image of the late Portugal forward Diogo Jota flashed up on the giant screen that looms over the field.

DECISION CAN WAIT

Ronaldo’s final game in the showpiece ended with a sting in the tail but he was unwilling to make a hasty call on his international future.

Ronaldo told reporters in the mixed zone that Spain enjoyed “a bit of luck” to score in the dying moments of a match he felt could have swung either way.

“I’m sad to be leaving the World Cup like this,” he said. “I gave it my all. I did my best and I’m leaving with a clear conscience. It was my last World Cup, yes, but I’ll now have time to reflect and be with my family. I won’t be making any rash decisions.”

The 41-year-old stopped short of confirming whether he had played his final game for Portugal, saying he did not want a personal decision to overshadow the team’s campaign.

“I don’t make decisions in the heat of the moment,” he said.

Ronaldo, who helped Portugal win the 2016 European Championship plus the Nations League in 2019 and 2025, said he was proud of his contribution to the national team.

“I’ve won three titles for Portugal; before Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal hadn’t won a single title,” he said.

“The biggest title the national team has ever won was in 2016, the European Championship, which, to be honest, is just as significant to me as a World Cup.”

Portugal’s exit also came with Roberto Martinez’s departure as manager, and Ronaldo offered warm words for the Spaniard.

“I loved working with him,” he said. “A great manager, a great human being, and what he’s done for Portugal is to be commended. I want to thank him and wish him every happiness…

“Its always sad to be knocked out of a major tournament. Its a World Cup. The team was really coming into its own. We played well, in my view. It could have gone either way, but thats football. We have to pick ourselves up and carry on.

“Its frustrating to go out like this, but we can hold our heads high,” added the Al-Nassr forward.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2026

The holders looked down and out when goals from Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Zico, either side of Messi having a penalty saved, put the Pharaohs in sight of a historic victory in Atlanta.

However, Cristian Romero’s header sparked the comeback as Argentina struck three times in the final 11 minutes plus stoppage time.

Messi smashed home the equaliser to score for a ninth consecutive World Cup game and retake the lead for the Golden Boot with eight this tournament.

Enzo Fernandez completed the turnaround with a superb header two minutes into stoppage time. At the end, Messi shed tears of joy as he embraced his team-mates.

Egypt were left furious after a number of controversial calls went against them, including a disallowed goal early in the second half, and a member of their coaching staff was red-carded in the aftermath of the winning goal.

Nicolas Tagliafico, Leandro Paredes and Julian Alvarez came in from the team that started in Miami, but Argentina got off to another slow start.

Marwan Attia’s deep cross to the back post was powered home by Yasser.

Argentina had the chance to level five minutes later when Tagliafico was wiped out by Haissem Hassan inside the box.

However, there was another chapter to Messi’s misery from the penalty spot at World Cups.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or’s strike was tentative and Mostafa Shobeir flew to his left to save, meaning Messi has now missed four of his eight non-shootout penalties at World Cups.

He also became the first player to miss two in a single tournament, having also failed to hit the target against Austria in the group stages.

The penalty save was just the start of Shobeir’s inspired afternoon. Alexis Mac Allster’s powerful header from point-blank range was next to be parried by the Al Ahly stopper.

Shobeir then produced one of the saves of the tournament to prevent Alvarez’s shot finding the bottom corner.

Egypt thought they had doubled their lead on the hour mark after a brilliant counter-attack.

Mohamed Salah played in Zico, who dinked the ball perfectly over the onrushing Emi Martinez.

However, Egyptian celebrations were cut short by a hugely controversial VAR intervention for a foul on Lisandro Martinez, just outside the Egypt box, at the start of the build-up to the goal.

The decision finally fired up the majority Argentine crowd, but they were silenced once more moments later by another blistering Egyptian break.

Salah again led the charge before feeding Hassan and his cross was swept in by Zico.

Argentina looked like a beaten side with Messi among those who head was bowed during the second-half drinks break.

Yet Romero’s header — that Shoubir just failed to keep out — sparked a remarkable revival as the defending champions hauled themselves off the canvas.

Moments later a dazzling run by Messi teed up Lautaro Martinez, who headed just wide and Messi was to have his moment of redemption seven minutes from time.

Gonzalo Montiel fed the ball back for his captain to strike sweetly on the half volley.

Shoubir again got a touch but couldn’t get it out as the ball cannonned in off the bar for Messi’s 21st World Cup goal.

Then Fernandez’s bullet header from Lautaro Martinez’s cross completed the fightback and Argentina’s relief was on full display after the final whistle.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2026

Celeste Amarilla, a member of the main opposition Liberal Party, called France’s captain a “colonised Cameroonian who has really pretended to be French, embittered, nouveau riche, arrogant and ugly”.

Amongst other comments, she accused the striker of being “scared to death” during France’s 1-0 victory over Paraguay in Saturday’s World Cup last-16 match in Philadelphia.

“The racist and dehumanising remarks against French footballer Kylian Mbappe by Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla are despicable and, regrettably, not isolated,” UN human rights office spokesman Thameen Al-Kheetan said in a statement.

“Reports of racist incidents during the FIFA World Cup 2026 reflect a wider phenomenon across football and sports more broadly.

“Public officials have a heightened responsibility to stand against racism, discrimination and hate speech in their discourse.” Kheetan said states and sports organisations must actively work to prevent acts of racism and any other form of discrimination.

They should also ensure that there are independent and effective accountability mechanisms in place, he added.

“Social media companies also have a responsibility to prevent and address racial discrimination and xenophobic abuse on their platforms,” said Kheetan.

Mbappe scored the only goal of Saturday’s ill-tempered game with a penalty in the second half, taking the two-time World Cup winners through to a quarter-final this Thursday against Morocco.

On Monday, Paraguay’s foreign ministry condemned Amarilla’s remarks, saying they ran “contrary to the values and principles that inspire peaceful coexistence and respect for human dignity”.

Mbappe labelled Amarilla “not worthy of her position”.

And FIFA president Gianni Infantino said he “unequivocally condemns” the racist abuse directed at the Real Madrid forward.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2026

In a statement, FIFA said Brazilian official Rapahel Claus had “demonstrated the highest standards of professionalism and integrity” throughout his career.

Claus had shown US striker Balogun a controversial red card last week, prompting Trump to lobby FIFA to review the forward’s one-match suspension.

FIFA subsequently reprieved Balogun, allowing him to play in Monday’s last-16 clash against Belgium in Seattle, in a decision that has been widely criticised.

Trump had questioned Claus’s refereeing credentials while speaking to reporters in the White House earlier on Monday.

“This referee, who is a little bit suspect if you check his past. I don’t want to say that because I don’t like to create controversy, but very suspect.

He made a call that nobody could believe,” Trump said.

The remarks had already been condemned by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), who said there was nothing in Claus’s background which “gives grounds for suspicion.”

FIFA chief refereeing officer and chairman of the referees committee Pierluigi Collina, said Claus was a key member of the World Cup referees pool.

“Raphael Claus is refereeing at his second FIFA World Cup having been with us in Qatar in 2022,” Collina said in a statement. “He is an experienced and highly respected referee and we maintain full confidence in him as a trusted match official.”

FIFA HITS BACK AT UEFA

Earlier, FIFA’s disciplinary committee said it had the authority to suspend the one-match ban on Balogun. It also fined Balogun $40,000 for coming onto the pitch after the match to celebrate their win over Bosnia and Herzegovina with team-mates after his dismissal.

“Reviewing the legal consequences of red cards in football is nothing new in the modern game,” it said in a statement. “Suspending the effects of a red card based on an explicit provision of the applicable regulations is a much more balanced measure,” the chairperson of FIFA’s disciplinary committee said in a statement.

The FIFA disciplinary committee also responded to UEFA’s statement on the matter, the European football governing body having said that the

“unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision” had “crossed a red line”.

“…in the majority of top-tier leagues belonging to UEFA-affiliated member associations the overturning of red cards is a common disciplinary measure, yet this has never raised concerns about crossing any ‘red line’,” the statement read.

The Swiss Football Association also commented on the issue.

“The decision in the Balogun case is incomprehensible to the Swiss Football Association, regardless of how it came about,” said the Swiss FA, whose team are in the World Cup round-of-16. “This decision raises questions and creates uncertainty, particularly regarding the authority of referees decisions, especially when the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) is involved,” it said.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2026

Traeen stripped reigning champion Tadej Pogacar of the jersey just two days after Norway stunned five-time winners Brazil at the World Cup thanks to a brace from Erling Haaland.

Pedersen, who was world champion in 2019, stormed to victory in a sprint finish ahead of Lidl-Trek team-mate Quinn Simmons in second with Spaniard Raul Garcia taking third at the end of the 182km stage from Carcassonne to Foix in scorching temperatures which topped 40C at one point.

It was Pedersen’s third stage victory at the Tour following one each in 2022 and 2023 and was enough to see him take the green points jersey.

Traeen, who had started the day just over five minutes behind reigning champion Tadej Pogacar in the race lead, was part of an initial 34-man breakaway which formed around 25km into the stage.

That had been whittled down to 10 over the day’s final climb and Traeen came home in eighth.

With the peloton finishing 13 minutes after the stage winner, Traeen now leads the yellow jersey standings by 28 seconds from American Sean Quinn, a fellow breakaway companion who finished ninth on the stage.

Pedersen’s Lidl-Trek team-mate Mathias Vacek, who finished the stage 10th, is now third overall at 3min 50sec and now leads the young rider’s white jersey competition.

Pogacar dropped to fourth at 7min 53sec, on the same time as his arch rival Jonas Vingegaard in fifth.

For Traeen, 30, it will be the second time he has led a Grand Tour, having worn the leader’s red jersey at last year’s Vuelta a Espana for four days.

He is the third Norwegian to wear the Tour’s yellow jersey after Thor Hushovd, who is now Traeen’s Uno-X Mobility team manager, did so in 2004, 2006 and 2011, and Alexander Kristoff, who held it for one day in 2020.

A 34-man breakaway group went clear in the first 25km and it was soon clear that Pogacar’s UAE Emirates-XRG team had no intention of controlling the gap, or holding onto the yellow jersey.

Sprinters Biniam Girmay and Jasper Philipsen dropped out of the break after the intermediate sprint, won by the Eritrean ahead of the Belgian.

A couple more riders were shed on the 10km-long Col de Coudons just after the halfway point of the race but the true battle for the stage win — and the yellow jersey — took place on the 7km-long Col de Montsegur at 1,059m.

Over the top with 35km left, 10 riders went clear with the peloton more than 11 minutes behind.

Quinn tried to drop Traeen on the climb but the Norwegian would not budge and had the yellow jersey in his sights.

Several riders tried to drop Pedersen — who was by far the fastest sprinter in the group — but the 30-year-old dug in and kept in contact.

He had two team-mates in Simmons and Vacek to help control the run-in to the finish and when he launched his sprint 300-metres from the end, he streaked clear to win by several bike lengths.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2026

The wicket-keeper/batter, also named player of the tournament in the 2020 edition at home, has overtaken Australia team-mate Georgia Voll, who had occupied the top spot since March 23 this year.

Mooney won the player-of-the-match award in Sunday’s final at Lord’s for a decisive 64 off 49 balls in a seven-wicket win over England that helped her finish the tournament with 238 runs and start her fifth stint as number one.

“I just hate losing, to be honest,” Mooney said when asked about the secret of her success after Sunday’s final. “I know what it feels like at times. I see a bit of red out there when the game’s on the line as well.

“It’s really important to go out there and make sure you do your job and do it when it counts.”

Mooney followed scores of seven and 10 in the first two games of Australia’s unbeaten campaign at this World Cup by reaching 74 before she retired hurt against the Netherlands suffering from back soreness in the third.

After a duck against Pakistan, when she impressed behind the stumps despite twice dislocating her finger, she made 22 against India.

Mooney came came to the fore in knockout play, with 61 in Australia’s semi-final rout of the West Indies followed by 64 as her side reached a target of 151 against England — a record run chase for a T20 World Cup final.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2026

French heavyweight Tony Yoka was due to fight Gassiev at the VTB Arena but pulled out due to a back injury. Gassiev won the secondary WBA ‘regular’ title last December when he beat Bulgaria’s Kubrat Pulev and is now the top heavyweight listed in the world body’s rankings after ‘super champion’ Oleksandr Usyk relinquished his belts and fragmented the division.

The 32-year-old Russian has a record of 33 wins and two defeats — one to Usyk in the cruiserweight division in 2018 — with one no contest.

Hamburg-born Kadiru, 29, has fought 24 times with one defeat.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2026

Aleena Liaba, Alina, Hamna and Ayesha were on target as AJK secured a comprehensive victory.

In another match, Gilgit-Baltistan edged the Federal Directorate of Educ­ation 1-0, with Asheela scoring the winner.

Islamabad defeated Sindh-A 2-0 thanks to a brace from Mahnoor, while Sindh-C and Star Women played out a goalless draw.

The championship, featuring 16 teams, will conclude on July 10.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2026

The German second seed had gone to bed the previous evening tantalisingly close to breaking new ground at Wimbledon, leading by two sets and 3-3 in the third under the roof when Wimbledon’s strict 11:00pm curfew halted his progress.

On the resumption, a listless-looking Zverev lost 12 of the first 13 points to drop the third set as Lehecka came out swinging but managed to refocus to win 6-4, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(6).

Zverev double-faulted on a second match point in the tiebreaker but was spared further overtime as 13th seed Lehecka netted a backhand to end the contest.

His attempt to add the Wimbledon crown to his maiden Grand Slam title at last month’s French Open will continue with a heavy-metal last-eight clash with American Taylor Fritz.

The 29-year-old had reached the fourth round on three previous occasions but despite boasting a serve that can trip the speed gun at 140mph and heavy baseline power, the German has never looked as confident on the lawns.

The powerful Lehecka presented a huge test but after finally getting on court around 9:00pm on Monday, Zverev produced a clinical display and almost beat the clock.

Re-energised by the interruption, Lehecka began in stunning fashion on Tuesday and within minutes he had won the third set.

Zverev went back off court before the start of the fourth set and re-established his rhythm on serve to keep Lehecka at bay. Zverev got ahead early in the tiebreak but at 6-5 he double-faulted to hand Lehecka an escape route.

Lehecka could not take advantage of his reprieve though as Zverev booked a Wednesday date with Fritz.

Reigning champion Jannik Sinner saw off the challenge of Jan-Lennard Struff and sweltering heat to ease into his third Wimbledon semi-final.

The world number one was pushed at times by 36-year-old German Struff, but clinched an ultimately comfortable 7-5, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 quarter-final victory.

Sinner dealt well with 30C heat at the All England Club, after previous struggles in hot conditions, including when he was dumped out of the recent French Open in the second round by Juan Manuel Cerundolo after leading by two sets and 5-1.

Struff started strongly, perhaps buoyed by pushing Sinner in a tight defeat on grass at Halle last month, but fell a set down after being broken in the 11th game.

Struff carved out a set-point opportunity in the second set but Sinner held him off as it went to a tie-break.

The top seed quickly moved 5-2 in front in the breaker and clinched his fist in delight when Struff sent a backhand long to give him a two-set lead.

Struff became the oldest first-time men’s Grand Slam quarter-finalist in the Open era by reaching the last eight.

But his resistance was ended as Sinner won the last three games to wrap up the match.

On the women’s side, the all-American encounter on Centre Court went Gauff’s way as the seventh seed beat fellow American Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Gauff – a two-time major champion – was appearing in the last eight at the All England Club for the first time.

The 22-year-old made a sluggish start as fourth seeded Pegula, 32, took the first set.

But Gauff hit back emphatically, seizing the momentum in the second set before sealing victory in the third.

Seven years after she became the youngest player to reach the Wimbledon main draw aged 15 and then stunned Venus Williams on her debut, Gauff is two wins away from an even more impressive feat at the All England Club.

She is into the semi-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time since winning her most recent major at the French Open last year. She is the youngest player to appear in all four Grand Slam semi-finals since Maria Sharapova in 2007.

In the last four, Gauff faces Czech 10th seed Muchova, who beat Japanese star Naomi Osaka 7-6 (7/4), 6-4.

Muchova had never been past the first round in her four previous visits to Wimbledon, but she won the grass-court tournament at Bad Homburg in June.

The 29-year-old Muchova lost her only Grand Slam final appearance against Iga Swiatek at the 2023 French Open.

Late on Monday, Arthur Fery of Britain downed Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10/7) in their fourth-round match.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2026

Zadran died a day before his 39th birthday at a hospital outside New Delhi where he had been treated for a rare immune-system disorder for the last few months.

“With profound grief and deep sorrow, the Afghanistan Cricket Board mourns the passing of former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran,” the ACB said in a statement.

The board hailed him as “one of the foundation-laying figures of Afghanistan cricket” whose dedication and commitment helped propel the national team onto the international stage.

A strapping left-arm quick with long hair, Zadran played 44 one-day internationals and 36 Twenty20 matches between 2009 and 2020, representing Afghanistan during a period of rapid growth for the sport in the country.

Zadran also featured in four T20 World Cups between 2010 and 2016, taking nine wickets in as many matches.

“He was among the proud cricketers who stood at the heart of Afghanistan’s early cricket journey and helped build the path that brought Afghan cricket to the international stage,” the ACB said.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2026

However, the IOC, meeting in Lausanne, kept in place the ban on the Russian national anthem being played and the flag being displayed, for the time being, but stipulated returning Russian athletes would have to pass “multiple” doping tests before being allowed to participate.

The accompanying statement, laying out a host of conditions, said individual sports could decide whether to allow the flag and anthem at their own events or stage competitions in Russia.

As for the Games, with the Los Angeles Olympics two years away, the IOC said it “will take a decision in relation to the display of the Russian flag, anthem, colours or any identifications for the Olympic Games at the appropriate time.” Russia welcomed the decision.

“The IOC is sending a clear signal: the Olympic movement must remain free from politics,” Russian sports minister Mikhail Degtyarev said on Telegram, adding Russia planned to participate in qualifiers for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

Russia’s return remains more limited than that of Belarus, which was allowed back by the IOC in early May without any restrictions on national anthem or colours.

The IOC said to address “the lack of confidence” after a series of Russian doping scandals, “all athletes newly coming back to international competition must have been tested multiple times prior to their return”.

The ban was imposed in October 2023, more than 18 months after the invasion of Ukraine, when the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) decided to include sports organisations in annexed territories as members.

“The ROC confirmed that it does not, and will not, conduct any activities in these territories,” said the IOC statement adding it will “closely monitor the situation”.

The statement added: “The IOC condemns wars, armed conflicts and violence that cause human suffering wherever they occur.”

IOC SHUFFLE 2030 WINTER GAMES EVENTS

Meanwhile on Tuesday, The IOC also announced that freeride skiing and snowboarding events, as well as synchronised skating, will be on the programme for the 2030 Winter Olympics, while dropping Nordic combined.

The Games, due to be held in and around the French Alps, will also be the first Winter Olympics to achieve gender parity among athletes with a total of 3,046 participants expected across 126 events, the IOC said.

After confirming last week the continued inclusion of ski mountaineering that made its Olympic debut at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games in February, the IOC has added new disciplines affiliated with existing Olympic international federations.

Meeting in Lausanne on Tuesday, the IOC Executive Board opted for freeride — a discipline involving lines and tricks performed in powder snow on skis or snowboards — following a long lobbying effort that began thirty years after the sport’s first competitions.

Synchronised skating which held its first world championships in 2000 will introduce an Olympic audience to routines performed simultaneously by nine skaters.

However, Nordic combined is being dropped, despite having been part of the Olympic programme since the inaugural Winter Games in Chamonix in 1924 and remaining the only discipline restricted to men.

The International Ski Federation (FIS) expressed its disappointment at the decision to drop the sport which combines cross country skiing and ski jumping.

“Our first reaction is, inevitably, one of disappointment,” said FIS President Alexander Ospelt.

“Nordic Combined is also a discipline that has been observing clear and tangible growth and an ever-broader international participation over the last few years thanks to the inclusion of women’s competitions.”

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2026

The five-match series will be played from July 14 to 24 at the National Bank Stadium.

Fizza Fiaz, who was part of the side that won a series 3-2 in Bangladesh in December 2025, will lead Pakistan against South Africa.

The right-handed batter featured in two matches of the five-match T20 series, scoring 72 runs, including a half-century. The 19-year-old also played in the National Women’s T20 Tournament besides competing in the National Women’s U-19 Tournament 2025-26.

Nine of the 17 squad members who featured in the Bangladesh series will compete against South Africa. Alongside Fizza, Aqsa Habib, Areesha Ansari, Komal Khan, Memoona Khalid, Raahima Syed, Ravail Farhan, Rozina Akram and Zoofishan Ayyaz were all part of that tour.

The players of the squad also featured in two U-19 fitness and skills camps in Karachi to prepare for the series against South Africa.

The South African squad, who are set to undertake their maiden tour to Pakistan, arrive in Karachi on July 10.

The series opener will be held on July 14 followed by games on July 17, 19, 22 and 24.

Squad: Fizza Fiaz (captain), Alzoha Hammad, Aqsa Habib, Areesha Ansari, Bar­irah Saif, Hadia Mina, Komal Khan, Mah Noor, Maham Nazakat, Mahnoor Zeb, Memoona Khalid, Raahima Syed, Ravail Farhan, Rozina Akram, Shahar Bano, Zainab Khanum, Zoofishan Ayyaz.

Team management: Aisha Jalil (manager), Mohammad Masroor (head coach), Shoaib Khan (batting coach), Naeem Tayyab (bowling coach), Jaweria Rauf (fielding coach), Eman Arbab (analyst), Taimoor Mehmood (strength and conditioning coach), Surakhsha Shaker (physio).

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2026

The benchmark KSE-100 index ended the session lower, closing at 186,255.55 points, down 1,199.14 points or 0.64 per cent from the previous close, as investors took profits following the market’s strong recovery rally.

Topline Securities Ltd said the market opened higher and extended its early gains, reaching an intraday high of 188,127.15 points. However, selling pressure emerged across key sectors in the latter half of the session, dragging the index to an intraday low of 186,189.16 points before settling near that level at the close.

Investor sentiment remained cautious amid weakness in regional equity markets, prompting participants to lock in recent gains after the index’s strong run over the past several sessions. The broader market outlook remains supported by improving macroeconomic fundamentals and sustained institutional interest.

Bears snap five-session winning streak

On the index contribution front, heavyweight stocks Fauji Fertiliser, Pakistan Petroleum, United Bank, Oil and Gas Development Company, and Lucky Cement were the main drags on the benchmark, collectively wiping out 649 points.

Ali Najib, Deputy Head of Trading at Arif Habib Ltd, said PSX witnessed a consolidation session, with investor sentiment remaining mixed; participants opted to book profits after the benchmark index hovered near its all-time high, dragging the market into negative territory by the close.

Nevertheless, expectations of strong corporate earnings in the upcoming result season continued to provide underlying support to market confidence.

On the macroeconomic front, the government unveiled InvestPak, a digital investment platform aimed at diversifying its funding base by reducing reliance on commercial banks and broadening access to government securities for non-bank and retail investors.

Market activity remained healthy, with trading volume rising 10.85pc to 984.8 million shares. However, the turnover dipped 8.55pc to Rs45.6 billion.

Analysts believe the market may undergo a consolidation phase in the next few sessions before reaching a new all-time high.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2026

On July 6, the SBP said that in order to facilitate the retail and corporate investors, the SBP has formally launched a digital platform namely ‘InvestPak’ through which all investors can directly invest their savings in the government securities in a convenient, efficient and secured way.

“The revised MDR exemption is intended to increase retail participation in the government’s newly launched InvestPak scheme, enabling the government to mobilise funding directly from retail investors while keeping liquidity within the banking system,” said a report of Arif Habib Ltd issued on Tuesday.

Based on our sensitivity analysis, assuming 30 per cent of individual savings deposits qualify for the Rs10m exemption and exempt accounts are repriced at 75bps below the policy rate, we estimate a limited annual EPS impact of approximately 1 per cent to 1.5 per cent for banks, as a base case scenario, it added.

The “InvestPak” platform is accessible to both institutional and retail investors for directly investing their savings digitally in the government securities.

“We do not expect any material liquidity impact, as high-value deposits are likely to either remain with banks at negotiated rates or be invested in government securities through InvestPak, keeping funds within the banking channel,” said the AHL report.

Overall, we expect the exemption to have a neutral to slightly positive impact on banks, supported by manageable earnings implications and limited risk of deposit outflows, it added.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2026

The decision to lift the ban was formally communicated to Pakistan’s Ministry of National Food Security and Research. However, the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance has barred two Pakistani exporters from exporting potatoes to Russia, citing their failure to comply with the required phytosanitary standards.

According to the trade officer’s letter, the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance had informed Pakistani authorities that potato imports from Punjab would be permitted, subject to guarantees provided by Pakistan’s Department of Plant Protection.

The Russian authority said the decision followed a review of the list of Pakistani potato exporters and their planned export volumes from Punjab. However, it excluded two exporters, alleging they had violated phytosanitary quarantine requirements of the Eurasian Economic Union member states while supplying potatoes to Russia in 2025.

The Russian authority also recalled that it had earlier allowed imports from three Pakistani potato exporters from April 8. Those exporters were Chase International, Zahid Kinnow Grading and Waxing Plant, and National Fruit, according to the letter.

Pakistan’s trade mission has requested the Ministry of Food Security to ensure implementation of the Russian decision.

Pakistan had raised the issue of the ban with the Federal Service for Vet­erinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance in February, submitting pest status records and laboratory diagnostic reports confirming the absence of the identified pests and pathogens in the potato crop.

The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan and the Pakistan Horticulture Development & Export Company (PHDEC) teams have held virtual B2B meetings to help Pakistani exporters fully avail of this emerging opportunity.

It is also worth mentioning that Pakistan was assessing export routes to Central Asian states through China and Iran following the closure of the Torkham border. Production this season reached 12 million metric tons, with around 4 million metric tons identified as surplus for export to Central Asia and other destinations.

Pakistan is currently witnessing a bumper potato crop, with production estimated at around 12 million tonnes. This new market access will help absorb surplus stocks, stabilise domestic potato prices, support farming communities, and generate valuable foreign exchange earnings.

In May 2025, Russia imposed restrictions on potatoes from Punjab, citing the alleged presence of the Potato Tuber Moth and Tomato Wilt virus.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2026

Expressing surprise over the figures, Cotton Ginners Forum chairman Ehsanul Haq said the FCA, an attached body of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, had once again issued, what he termed unrealistic projections for national cotton production and provincial yields.

According to the FCA’s estimates for crop year 2026-27, Pakistan is expected to produce 9.643 million bales of cotton. The committee has projected Punjab to cultivate cotton on 3.2m acres, producing five million bales with an average yield of 1.60 bales per acre.

For Sindh, the FCA has estimated cotton cultivation over 1.486m acres, producing 4.042m bales with an average yield of 2.72 bales per acre. Balochistan, meanwhile, has been projected to cultivate cotton on 604,250 acres with an average yield of only one bale per acre.

Stakeholders argue that ‘unrealistic figures’ for FY27 may hit country’s credibility in world markets

Mr Haq termed the figures “highly unrealistic”, arguing that Balochistan has consistently achieved the highest per-acre cotton yields in Pakistan due to its favourable climatic conditions, lower environmental pollution and limited sugarcane cultivation.

He said cotton produced in Balochistan is widely regarded as superior in quality, with its lint fetching Rs500 to Rs700 more per maund than cotton from Punjab and Sindh. Cottonseed and cottonseed oil from the province also fetch higher prices in the market, he added.

He wonders how the FCA could project Sindh’s average yield to be 63pc higher than Balochistan’s and 41pc higher than Punjab’s, saying such estimates did not reflect ground realities.

He also criticised the FCA’s forecasting record, pointing out that the committee had fixed a national production target of 10.18m bales for crop year 2025-26, including 5.553m bales for Punjab and 4.042m bales for Sindh. However, he says, the actual production during the season stood at only 5.524m bales across the country, with Punjab producing 2.718m bales and Sindh 2.807m bales, highlighting what he describes as a significant gap between official projections and actual output.

He urged the FCA to adopt realistic, field-based assessments, instead of issuing what he described as “drawing-room estimates”, warning that inaccurate production figures could damage Pakistan’s credibility in international markets and create uncertainty for cotton stakeholders in planning procurement, imports, exports and overall marketing strategies.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2026

An official announcement from Pakistan Cus­toms’ Directorate General of Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement (IPRE) said that the double-digit growth in the filing of cases demonstrates its continued commitment to combating the trade in counterfeit and pirated goods across Pakistan.

The seized and forfeited goods, with an estimated value of Rs7.7 billion, comprised a wide range of counterfeit products, in­­c­l­u­ding luxury goods, textiles, automobile parts, cos­­metics, footwear, consumer durables, and other trademark-infringing mer­­­chandise.

These enforcement act­ions underscore Pakistan Customs’ resolve to protect consumers, safeguard legitimate businesses, and curb illicit trade through effective border controls.

IPRE Director General Abdul Qadir Memon reaffirmed Pakistan Customs’ commitment to further en­­hancing its enforcem­ent capabilities through continuous capacity building, adoption of modern risk management techni­ques and close collaboration with stakeholders.

He stated that Pakistan Customs will continue to strengthen border enfor­cement measures to effectively prevent the import, export, and transit of counterfeit and pirated goods, thereby protecting consumers.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2026

Addressing a banking summit in Karachi, the minister said parliament had introduced a new tax administration operating model and approved a new structure in which notices would be issued through AI-led systems.

The minister discussed several segments of the economy and expressed optimism about the launch of international bonds.

He said that although Pakistan was late in entering the financial market of China, the world’s second-largest economy, the Panda Bond remained a significant achievement for the country.

Says Pakistan preparing to launch more Eurobonds, sukuk

Pakistan had been trying for years to tap the Chinese financial market but could not do so for several reasons. However, the government succeeded in entering the market to raise yuan equivalent to $250 million in mid-May 2026. The bond attracted demand more than five times its target.

The finance minister said Pakistan was preparing to launch more Eurobonds and sukuk in the international market. He said the upcoming instruments would be dollar-settled rupee-linked bonds, which would be a new experience for the country.

He said requests for proposals had been issued to international investors to assess market demand and pricing.

Mr Aurangzeb said Pakistan had re-entered the international bond market after four years and strong demand for Eurobonds had created space to increase the size of the issuance to $750m. He said strong investor demand would support the new bonds in the pipeline.

Speaking about the Pakistan Stock Exchange, he said activity drivers were more important than the PSX numbers. He said the number of investors had grown, Gen Z investors were also entering the market and corporate profitability had returned to double digits.

Referring to this year’s budget, the minister said the budget was led for the first time by the Tax Policy Office, which had been moved to the Finance Division.

“We focused on export-led growth, removing the advance tax, removing the super tax, low-cost subsidised financing and continuing with the tariff regime,” Mr Aurangzeb said, thanking the prime minister and the cabinet in this regard.

He said the banking industry would remain critical to Pakistan’s journey from stabilisation to sustainable growth. Increased lending to SMEs, exporters, agriculture, manufacturing, construction and IT sectors would be mission-critical, he said, adding that the country had moved in the right direction but still had a long way to go.

Pakistan Banks Association Chairman Zafar Masood told the summit that the banking industry had a dominant role in the economy as it paid more than Rs1tr in taxes annually to the government.

He said credit lending to agriculture had increased by 39 per cent within a year, while housing lending rose by 90pc. He said SMEs were also benefiting from banks, as lending growth had increased by 111pc and the amount provided to SMEs rose by 80pc per year.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2026

For example, the price of tomatoes has been hovering between Rs300 and Rs400 per kg for the last 10 days, while in the third week of June, tomatoes were selling at Rs120-160 per kg. The red fruit was priced Rs80-100 per kg a month back.

Onion rates rose by Rs20 per kg to Rs100-120 per kg from Rs80-100 per kg in the last one month. Potato rates, however, remained unchanged at Rs40-80 per kg over the last month, depending on size and quality, due to negligible exports to Afghanistan and Iran.

Younus Soomro, a tomato grower, said there is a shortage these days, as only Balochistan-grown crops are arriving and cannot meet the entire country’s demand.

Despite Rs90 drop in diesel and 37pc fall in LPG, tomatoes hit Rs400, flour Rs147 per kg, cooking oil gets costlier while pulses stay unchanged

In Sindh, planting is starting now, and crops may be harvested by mid-September. Due to security reasons, minor Iranian tomato varieties have started landing into Pakistan, Mr Soomro said.

President of Falahi Anjuman Wholesale Vegetable Market, New Sabzi Mandi Super Highway, Haji Shahjehan, said the Sindh tomato crop had already ended in April, while crops from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab usually arrive in May-June, remaining confined to these two provinces to meet demand.

Tomato prices may remain under pressure this month, but much will depend on the timing of Iranian tomato arrivals, he said.

In potato, suspension of shipments to Iran and Afghanistan has created a crisis for exports, as the commodity has been available at Rs25-30 per kg in the wholesale market for the last one month.

He claimed that onion exports to Dubai had resumed in small quantities. The Sindh onion crop has ended, while shipments from the Balochistan crop are coming to Karachi.

On unchanged prices despite falling LPG and diesel prices, he said prices further crept up during Muharram, while the wholesale market was also closed on Ashura day and supplies from the producing areas were slow.

Another reason for higher prices was the reluctance of transporters to lower their rates after diesel and LPG prices fell. The rest of the damage was done by the retailers, who always charge consumers much more than the wholesale prices.

As per data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), total vegetable exports during 11MFY26 drastically fell to 550,913 tonnes ($152m) from 1.4m tonnes ($353m) in the same period last fiscal. Potatoes and onions account for the bulk of total vegetable exports.

LPG prices have plunged to Rs300 per kg from a peak of Rs480, while its price ahead of the Middle East crisis was Rs260-280. Diesel prices were Rs399 per litre on May 1 as compared to the current rate of Rs309.50.

Wheat flour

As per weekly data of Sensitive Price Index (SPI) ending July 2, the 20 kg wheat flour bag further crawled up to Rs2,750-2,900 from Rs2,500-2,800 on June 18, while 10kg wheat bag and fine flour prices surged to Rs1,200 and Rs153.11 from Rs1,060 and Rs147 per kg, respectively, in the above period.

In the first week of March, the 20 kg flour bag, 10 kg wheat, and 1 kg fine flour were available at Rs2,200-2,500, Rs990, and Rs136, respectively.

Unfortunately, people in Karachi have been paying the highest prices for wheat flour compared to other cities.

All administrative measures taken by the Sindh government to curb prices and wheat hoarding have failed to yield any results, as consumers are still paying high prices for the main staple food.

There was also no notable decline in the prices of various pulses after falling rates of diesel and LPG. The rates of Masoor, Moong, Mash and Gram Pulse from the Middle East war till date have remained unchanged at Rs220-300, Rs350-400, Rs410-500 and Rs220-280 per kg.

There is a slight increase in the rates of five-litre cooking oil, 2.5 kg ghee and one-litre cooking pouch to Rs3,045-3,065, Rs1,565 and Rs610 from pre-war prices of Rs2,970, Rs1,515 and Rs590, respectively.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary committee on Tuesday recommended comprehensive reforms to the ‘Warrant of Precedence’, calling for elevated ranks for elected lawmakers to reflect parliament’s constitutional status.

The Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat observed that the current protocol hierarchy undermined the status of public representatives, stressing the need to align official ranks with democratic principles. The members argued that since parliament represented the sovereign will of the people, its members deserved protocol that corresponded with their legislative authority.

The proposed revisions aimed to restructure the official order of precedence, ensuring elected officials are placed above non-elected bureaucrats in state ceremonies and official functions. The committee held a detailed discussion and highlighted several anomalies in the existing framework.

Senator Anusha Rehman, who had moved the agenda item, questioned the prolonged delay in reviewing the ‘Warrant of Precedence’ and observed that several constitutional office holders, including the State Bank of Pakistan governor and the chief election commissioner, continued to rank higher than elected parliamentarians.

The committee was informed that the review committee constituted under the secretary of the Cabinet Division had not met for a considerable period due to the sensitive nature of the matter, which requires deliberation at the highest level. Officials informed the committee that recommendations were under consideration at the Prime Minister’s Office.

Following detailed deliberations, the committee chairman decided to write to the PM, requesting the reconstitution of the review committee under the law minister, with representation from both the Senate and the National Assembly, for a comprehensive review of the framework.

He also proposed convening a joint meeting with the National Assembly standing committee to resolve the matter, which has remained pending since 2008.

Bills reviewed

The Senate meeting chaired by Senator Rana Mahmoodul Hassan also considered the private members’ bills. Regarding ‘the National Disaster Man­agement (Amendment) Bill, 2025’, representatives of the law division informed the committee that, under Article 144 of the Constitution, amendments relating to provincial subjects could only be enacted once resolutions to that effect were passed by all provincial assemblies.

The members observed that the proposed amendments were primarily intended to strengthen the oversight of disaster management funds. Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri emphasised the need for the Auditor General of Pakistan to audit the provincial disaster management authorities (PDMAs).

Officials responded that, within the existing constitutional framework, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) could establish an appropriate coordination mechanism to strengthen the oversight. After detailed discussion, the committee decided to refer the bill to the Senate Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination for broader consultation with the provinces.

The committee also deliberated on ‘the Federal Employees Benevolent Fund and Group Insurance (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The bill seeks to provide government employees with the option of receiving their contributory amount upon retirement or allowing those contributions to remain available for the benefit of their families.

Officials opposed the proposal, citing financial constraints and maintaining that the existing scheme serves as a humanitarian support mechanism for the families of the deceased or incapacitated government employees. Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri proposed the constitution of a sub-committee to examine the existing scheme and recommend appropriate reforms.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2026

The meeting was preceded by an official welcoming ceremony held in honour of President Zardari at the Rukh Ordo Cultural Centre. In the meeting, both leaders reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation and explored opportunities in trade, energy, connectivity, political and commercial cooperation, people-to-people exchanges and progress on the CASA-1000 Project.

Mr Zardari recalled the Kyrgyz president’s recent state visit to Pakistan in December 2025, saying that the visit imparted fresh momentum to the bilateral relationship and resulted in the signing of 16 agreements/MoUs.

An MoU between the Kyrgyz Ministry of Health and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan was signed by Damirbek Osmonov, the Kyrgyz health minister, and Health Minister Dr Mukhtar Bharath.

A joint statement was later signed by the two presidents featured economic cooperation with an aim to boost trade and investment, improving the efficiency of the Intergovernmental Commission, and supporting direct business-to-business contacts; accelerating the implementation of the CASA-1000 project as a vital regional link; expanding ties in mining, agriculture, textiles, tourism, the digital economy, and the halal sector; enhancing collaboration between drug regulatory authorities, focusing on medical education, vaccine manufacturing, and joint ventures; optimising transit routes to increase cargo transportation volumes; and strengthening cooperation against terrorism, extremism, and cybercrime.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2026

Police officials said the teenage students of Imdadia Madrassah were playing in the Eidgah ground in Quetta’s Sariab area when a blast occurred, injuring three children.

Police rushed to the site and shifted the injured students to Civil Hospital. However, two of them later succumbed to their injuries.

The deceased were identified as 10-year-old Muhammad Sufyan and 11-year-old Khalil-ur-Rehman. Both had sustained multiple injuries in the powerful blast.

The injured student was identified as seven-year-old Asadullah.

A bomb disposal squad visited the site and said the explosion was caused by a grenade that went off while the children were playing in the ground.

After completion of legal formalities, the bodies were handed over to the families. Police are investigating the incident.

In a separate incident, a man was killed in a bomb blast in the Luni area of Duki district.

Police said unidentified persons had planted an improvised explosive device (IED) by the roadside. The device exploded when a motorcyclist struck it while passing through the area, killing him on the spot.

Police shifted the body to Duki Hospital. Further investigation is underway.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2026

Filed under Article 203D, read with Article 227 of the Constitution, the petition argued that the law’s definition of a “child” as a person un­­der 18 years of age conflicts with the Islamic concept of puberty (bulugh) as the threshold for marriageability.

Senior counsel Kamran Murtaza filed the petition in June, seeking a declaration that the Act is inconsistent with Islamic jurisprudence on multiple grounds. The petition recalled that the FSC had on March 6, 2023 dismissed the Ali Azhar case, in which Section 2(a) of the Sindh Child Marriages Restraint Act, 2013 was challenged. The court rejected the case, holding that fixing the minimum marriage age at 18 is not repugnant to the injunctions of Islam.

The fresh petition argued that while the 2023 judgement was motivated by concern for the welfare of children and the importance of education, it proceeded per incuriam by relying heavily on the concept of Rushd (mental maturity) as a precondition for marriage, citing Verse 6 of Surah An-Nisa.

However, the petition contended that classical Islamic jurisprudence, including the authoritative position of Imam Abu Hanifa, whom the judgement itself cited, has never regarded Rushd as a precondition for the validity of nikah. Rather, it argued, Rushd is a prerequisite for the transfer of property to an orphan, not for the permissibility of marriage, and that the judgement conflated two distinct Quranic injunctions concerning different matters.

The petition asked the FSC to overrule, or hold per incuriam, the reasoning in the 2023 Ali Azhar case to the extent that it conflated the Quranic concept of Rushd with a criterion for marriageability.

It further argued that the judgement relied on Masalih Mursalah and Sadd al-Dara’i to override the established Sunnah practice of marriage after bulugh without engaging with the classical Hanafi doctrine.

The petition requested the FSC to declare Section 2(a) of the ICT Child Marriage Restraint Act, 2025 repugnant to the Quran and Sunnah to the extent that it classified pubescent persons (those who have attained bulugh) as “children” incapable of contracting nikah.

It also sought a directive for the federal government to amend the definition of “child” to exclude persons who have attained puberty (bulugh), as established by physical signs or, in the absence of such signs, by the age of 15 years in accordance with the Hanafi school.

The petition requested the FSC to direct the federal government to incorporate a judicial exception mechanism into the Act, modelled on the legislative practices of Jordan, Mala­ysia, Egypt and Tunisia, as approved by the FSC in PLD 2022. Under such a mechanism, parties seeking to contract a marriage below the age of 18 could approach a competent court for permission upon demonstrating genuine exceptional circumstances, including attainment of puberty (bulugh) and financial capacity.

The petition also sought a declaration that Section 4 of the Act, insofar as it imposes a mandatory minimum sentence of two years’ rigorous imprisonment without judicial discretion to consider the circumstances of a case, is repugnant to the Islamic principles of ta’zir (discretionary punishment) and adl (justice). It asked the court to direct the federal government to amend the provision to allow judicial discretion in sentencing within the prescribed range.

It further requested the FSC to declare Section 5 of the Act repugnant to the Holy Quran and Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) to the extent that it classifies consensual cohabitation within a valid nikah as “child abuse” and imposes a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2026

In a notification issued on Tuesday, Hussain said the doctors’ regularisation issue had been pending for a long time.

“In the presence of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto I have signed the summary and feel happy to make services of 89 doctors regular,” the GB chief minister said.

He said the government move will help strengthen health sector in the region and expressed the hope that regularised doctors will perform their duties honestly.

Earlier, the GB chief minister and PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari attended a briefing about issues being faced by GB.

The meeting was informed that the recent sudden reduction in subsidised wheat to GB is causing serious wheat crisis in the area and this issue needed to be resolved immediately.

The meeting was further informed that absence of an international airport in GB is a major obstacle to promotion of tourism in the region.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2026

Naqvi is currently in New York to represent Pakistan at the Fifth United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit 2026 (UNCOPS), being held at the UN headquarters on July 7 and 8. The summit has brought together interior ministers, police chiefs and senior law enforcement officials from across the world to discuss peace, security and enhanced cooperation against transnational crime.

The key focus of this year’s summit is developing a new vision for United Nations policing to ensure that peace operations remain agile, effective and people-centred.

On the sidelines of the summit, Naqvi is scheduled to meet UN Secretary-General. He is also expected to hold bilateral talks with his counterparts from several participating countries.

During his visit, diplomatic sources said, a meeting between Naqvi and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani is also expected.

Several other Pakistani ministers and senior government officials, including Ahsan Iqbal, Tariq Fatemi, Rana Mashhood and Khurram Dastgir, are also visiting the US at the same time.

After completing his engagements in New York, Naqvi is expected to travel to Washington for meetings with senior US officials. Mr Fatemi may also accompany him during the Washington consultations, diplomatic sources added.

The meetings are being closely watched because of Naqvi’s continuing engagement, including his meetings in Saudi Arabia, in efforts to keep the US-Iran peace process on track since the start of the war.

Islamabad has emerged as the leading venue for the next round of technical negotiations between the United States and Iran.

The technical talks are expected to take place on July 11. They will be followed by the next round of high-level direct negotiations in Doha during the third week of July, after technical sides complete work on the agenda and remaining issues.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet on Mon­day approved a comprehensive Haj Policy for 2027–2030, aimed at providing more facilities to pilgrims and improving operational efficiency.

The cabinet commended Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf and his ministry’s team for the excellent Haj arrangements made this year.

A detailed briefing on the new Haj policy was presented to the cabinet. The meeting was informed that, unlike previous one-year policies, the new framework is the country’s first comprehensive four-year plan aimed at ensuring long-term planning, improving operational efficiency and providing better facilities to pilgrims.

Standard operating procedures (SOPs) and other regulations will be formulated, and they may also be amended whenever necessary to remain aligned with the laws and regulations of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The cabinet was informed that, under the new policy, prospective pilgrims will no longer need to register annually. Instead, they will be able to register at any time for Haj in any year until 2030, enabling uninterrupted registration according to their preference. This will facilitate the preparation of a priority waiting list.

Additionally, a Shariah-compl­ia­­nt Haj savings scheme will be introduced, allowing people to save in advance for their future pilgrimage.

The cabinet was also informed that the entire Haj management system is being digitised, including digital payment mechanisms, a digital complaints management system and digital monitoring mechanisms.

Under the policy, separate quotas have been allocated for government and private Haj schemes, as well as long- and short-duration Haj packages, mandatory training for pilgrims, and provisions for Takaful (Islamic insurance) and emergency response services.

The cabinet also directed that Haj assistants be appointed through a transparent, merit-based process and that third-party validation of both government and private operators be ensured.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed that a comprehensive strategy be formulated to improve small and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs) access to financing.

He made these remarks while chairing a review meeting of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda).

According to the Prime Minis­ter’s Office (PMO), the premier directed the authority to formulate a comprehensive strategy, in coordination with the State Bank of Pakistan and commercial banks, to improve SMEs’ access to financing.

He stressed that greater facilitation should be provided for extending loans to SMEs to boost the country’s exports. He also directed that they be supported in enhancing their productive capacity, particularly by providing awareness and access to financing for farmers processing agricultural produce.

The prime minister further directed that commercial banks be encouraged to develop dedicated financial products tailored to the needs of SMEs.

PM Shehbaz instructed that SMEs should be provided assista­n­­ce in preparing feasibility studies and completing other essential sta­ges required for establishing and expanding businesses. He emphasised that urgent measures were required to remove the obstacles hindering the growth of the sector.

The premier directed Smeda to assist young entrepreneurs, including women entrepreneurs, in establishing small and medium-sized enterprises.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday granted a final adjournment to the counsel for former prime minister Imran Khan in the £190 million corruption case.

The court warned that no further delay would be tolerated and the appeal would be decided on the available record if arguments were not presented at the next hearing.

An IHC division bench comprising Chief Justice Sarfaraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif issued a written order on a criminal appeal filed by Imran Khan against his conviction in the Al-Qadir Trust case, commonly referred to as the £190m corruption reference, by an accountability court in January 2025.

When the matter came up for hearing on Tuesday, Sardar Latif Khosa, the counsel for Mr Khan, sought a two-week adjournment.

The court accepted the request after Mr Khosa gave an unequivocal undertaking that he would not seek any further adjournment on any ground whatsoever and would argue the appeal on its merits at the next hearing.

“The request for adjournment is acceded to. It is, however, made abundantly clear that this shall constitute the final opportunity,” the order stated.

The bench further directed that if the learned counsel failed to advance arguments at the next hearing, no further adjournment would be granted, and the appeal would be decided on the basis of the available record after hearing the counsel for the respondents.

The court adjourned the case till a date to be fixed by the registrar’s office.

Meanwhile, family members and lawyers of PTI founder Imran Khan were again denied permission to meet him at Adiala jail on Tuesday, despite it being the designated day for such meetings.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Khan’s sister Aleema Khan said she had arrived on time but was not allowed to meet the incarcerated former premier. She said Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were imprisoned in “fake cases” and claimed that she, too, could be sent to jail in fabricated cases.

“All Pakistanis should be worried that they can also be sent to jail and should raise their voice against the current situation,” she said.

Talking about PTI’s political activities, she said workers and leaders were under immense pressure. “They have been receiving threatening calls telling them not to come to Adiala jail. We have proposed that parliamentarians who have been receiving such calls should raise the issue on the floor of parliament.”

Aleema Khan also said she would approach the Supreme Court regarding her bail.

Replying to another question, she said many people had made sacrifices and alle­ged that a number of political prisoners had died after being released from jail.

“I don’t know what they are being fed. The media should be speaking about those people instead of those who have been expelled from PTI. We are sitting here and hoping that Allah will help us,” she said.

In reply to a question about reports that PTI leaders in Kot Lakhpat jail had suggested a meeting with Imran Khan, she said no one had contacted the family.

Commenting on a brawl among protesters near Adiala jail, PTI leader Awais Younas Chaudhry told Dawn that members of the Insaf Student Federation had exchanged heated arguments. “It is routine for them to get into heated arguments almost every time, but the leadership intervenes and calms the situation.”

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2026

The tenure of LGs in KP ended on March 15.

Briefing the commission on Tuesday, the KP chief secretary said maps of 23 districts had already been provided and delimitation had been completed. In compliance with the July 1 order, he said maps of the remaining 15 districts had also been submitted. He added that notifications for seven districts had been provided, while those for the remaining eight districts — Karak, Hangu, D.I. Khan, Paharpur, Upper South Waziristan, Lower South Waziristan, Swat and Buner — would be submitted after provincial approval.

The ECP directed that notifications for the eight pending districts be submitted before July 28 so that delimitation could begin in all districts and timely polls could be ensured.

Regarding Islamabad, the chief commissioner said a summary seeking notification of the town corporation limits and the number of union councils in each had been sent to the PM Office. PM Shehbaz Sharif on Monday allowed the summary to be circulated for cabinet approval.

The commission noted that three key documents were still awaited for the ICT: the notification of the town corporation limits along with maps, the notification of the UCs in each town corporation, and legislation under the ICT LG (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026.

Noting that delimitation in 23 KP districts was complete, the commission ordered a consultative meeting on July 14 under Section 219(3) of the Elections Act to annou-nce the poll date.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2026

Over 130,000 people were evacuated, but 11 are still missing, regional officials told a news conference, adding that the rain has damaged nearly 13,000 acres of agricultural land.

Dramatic video shared by state broadcaster CCTV showed a torrent of muddy water rushing past the crumbled concrete walls of a reservoir dam that had burst in the southern region of Guangxi, the worst-hit area.

Rescue workers wearing life vests searched for missing people in inflatable boats, while authorities erected emergency shelters to house those displaced.

40 rivers and waterways overflowing in southern Guangxi region

Intense rain and severe flooding from typhoon Maysak killed six people in Guangxi, where authorities raised the flood control emergency response to its highest level in the regional capital, Nanning.

The state broadcaster said 40 rivers and waterways in Guangxi were overflowing.

Videos of villagers knee-deep in floodwater frantically trying to catch snakes swimming in a flooded Guangxi town went viral on social media, with a related hashtag racking up more than 180 million views.

Around 800 to 900 snakes escaped on Monday morning after a breeding farm was washed away, the head of a village committee told a state-owned newspaper.

Intense winds

Thunderstorms and gale-force winds killed another 11 people and injured 331 in the central province of Hubei, and tornadoes were reported elsewhere late on Monday, state news agency Xinhua said.

One person is missing in Hubei, Xinhua said, adding that 4,800 houses were damaged and 22 more had collapsed.

A man, surnamed Wang, told local media that his brother-in-law, surnamed Zhang, had been “sucked out” of his home in Hubei’s Huanggang city by strong winds, and was found unconscious outside his apartment complex, breathing only faintly.

“Wall cabinets, sofas, coffee tables, dining tables and chairs vanished in an instant. It was as if the entire building had been hollowed out,” Wang told the Xiaoxiang Morning Herald.

President Xi said on Tuesday that rescuers should “go all out” in organising emergency operations.

Natural disasters are common across China, particularly in the summer when some regions experience intense rainfall while others bake in scorching heat.

Parts of Guangxi’s coastal and eastern regions, as well as southwestern Guangdong, will continue to be hit by heavy rain on Wednesday, Minister of Water Resources Li Guoying said on Tuesday.

Flood peaks “exceeding the warning water level” by more than six metres are expected at a hydrological station in Guangxi, Li said.

“Due to the impact of persistent heavy rainfall and the prolonged passage of floodwaters at high levels, the safety of reservoirs and embankments in the affected areas faces a severe test,” he said.

Landslide buries dozens

A landslide in China’s northwestern Gansu province killed five people on Tuesday, with rescuers working to locate 12 others still missing.

At least 33 people were initially reported missing after the landslide in a village near Gansu’s Longnan city.

Rescue teams had located 21 trapped individuals, but five of them died “despite emergency medical efforts”, the agency said.

Authorities have set aside 30 million yuan ($4.4 million) in reconstruction funds following the landslide.

Scientists warn the intensity and frequency of global extreme weather events will increase as the planet continues to heat up because of fossil fuel emissions.

China is the world’s biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, but it is also a global renewable energy powerhouse that aims to make its massive economy carbon-neutral by 2060.

Twenty-two people were killed in the country in May after heavy rains lashed its central and southern regions, with some places “hit by record-breaking rainfall”.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2026