The 22-year-old outclassed Wilson 5-0 in the quarter-final, with all five judges awarding her the contest to guarantee at least a bronze medal under the competition’s format, where losing semi-finalists receive bronze.

Pakistan’s women’s boxing team only made its international debut in 2016 and, a decade later, the country’s flag is now assured of being raised during the women’s 60kg medal ceremony later this week.

“We are developing in boxing, but it’s the sign that we are going in the right direction,” Fatima said after her landmark victory.

“This is our first step. We are hoping for the gold as well, and this medal will mean a lot for Pakistan boxing as well.”

Fatima controlled the three-round bout from the outset, winning 29-28 on four judges’ scorecards and 30-27 on the fifth to complete a commanding performance.

She will now face Canada’s Marie-Bathoul Al-Ahmadieh in Friday’s semi-final, with a place in the gold medal bout at stake.

While Fatima shone at the SEC Centre, Pakistan’s male pugilists failed to leave a mark as Qudratullah lost his 60kg bout to Northern Ireland’s Jude Gallagher, becoming the last Pakistan male boxer to exit the Commonwealth Games.

In a classic southpaw-versus-orthodox matchup, the orthodox Gallagher — gold medallist in the 57kg category at the last edition in Birmingham — made a blistering start, finding his range with a left hook and a straight right.

Qudrat, fighting in southpaw stance, landed a good left but Gallagher blocked it effectively and took the first round on all five judges’ cards.

The second round proved worse for the two-time national champion Qudrat as he was docked a point for not keeping his head up. Already trailing, Qudrat needed something big, but the 24-year-old Gallagher landed a sumptuous left hook to the body that left his opponent gasping.

One judge ruled in Qudrat’s favour but the other four gave the round to Gallagher.

Trailing by two rounds, Qudrat needed a finish in the final round and started briskly with a shot to the body and a straight left to the head. He showed urgency but Gallagher, content to sit back and counter, made good use of ring space, pushing Qudrat back and stalling.

Qudrat landed a good combination at the end but it wasn’t enough as Gallagher won on a split decision. Qudrat, believing he had done enough, fell to his knees when the result was announced.

Pakistan also endured disappointment in athletics and swimming.

Mohammad Ismail finished 41st among 46 runners in the men’s 400 metres heats after clocking 50.60 seconds, nearly three seconds slower than his National Games performance and well outside the top-16 qualification places.

Swimmer Hamza Asif also failed to progress, placing 46th overall out of 70 competitors in the men’s 50m butterfly heats with a time of 26.09 seconds, missing out on a place in the semi-finals.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026

TAROUBA (Trinidad): Pakistan’s hopes of sealing their first away Test victory in more than three years were left hanging by a thread after West Indies pacers Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales ripped through the tourists’ top order to leave them reeling at 28-3 at lunch on the fourth day of the opening Test at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on Tuesday.

Set 211 for victory after Mohammad Abbas claimed a five-wicket haul to dismiss West Indies for 181, Pakistan lost Imam-ul-Haq, Azan Awais and Salman Ali Agha inside the first 43 deliveries as the home side exploited lively seam movement, steep bounce and occasional uneven lift.

At the break, Pakistan still required 183 runs with seven wickets in hand, with Babar Azam unbeaten on 16 and Mohammad Rizwan on one.

Pakistan entered the final day needing to complete what would be their first away Test victory since July 2023 after a dramatic third day in which 14 wickets fell and momentum swung repeatedly between the two sides.

Although Pakistan’s bowlers fought back impressively in the final session on Monday, they were first left to rue an astonishing collapse with the bat after surrendering a commanding position.

The tourists had resumed the third day well placed before captain Shan Masood’s seventh Test century put them in complete control at 244-3. But the innings unravelled spectacularly after lunch as Pakistan lost their remaining seven wickets for just 38 runs to concede a crucial first-innings lead of 29.

The collapse was engineered by all-rounder Justin Greaves, whose disciplined seam bowling earned career-best figures of 5-27. After Shamar Joseph bowled Salman, Greaves struck repeatedly, dismissing Masood for a painstaking 109 before cutting through the middle and lower order with relentless accuracy.

Only a stubborn last-wicket stand delayed the inevitable before veteran pacer Roach returned with the second new ball to dismiss Khurram Shahzad and bowl Pakistan out for 282.

With the cricketing world mourning the death of Garfield Sobers, Greaves’ all-round contribution proved decisive. The right-hander later made 20 in West Indies’ second innings before producing another key moment when he was eventually dismissed by Abbas after being brilliantly caught by diving Pakistan captain Babar Azam at cover.

“We didn’t execute our plans the way we should have on the first day but for the second day and the second innings our bowlers hit the right areas and bowled a bit up (fuller),” Pakistan bowling coach Umar Gul said after Monday’s play.

“He is so experienced. He’s played a lot of red-ball cricket and is not only leading from the front but is helping the younger bowlers as well,” Gul added of Abbas.

Abbas justified that praise as Pakistan hit back strongly in the final session on Monday, reducing West Indies to 126-7 despite an enterprising counter-attack from Joseph. However, the home side’s lower order frustrated Pakistan once again on Tuesday morning.

Resuming with only three wickets in hand, West Indies added another 55 valuable runs. Abbas removed Roach before completing his seventh Test five-wicket haul by bowling Jomel Warrican for 14 to finish with outstanding figures of 5-22.

The damage, however, had already been inflicted by the eighth-wicket partnership between Roach and Shamar late on Monday, while Warrican and Jayden Seales eked out a few more precious runs to stretch the target to 211. Shamar’s aggressive 38 and Roach’s patient 18 assumed |ven greater significance as the surface continued to assist the seamers.

Pakistan’s chase never settled.

Roach opened with a probing maiden before striking in his third over when Imam, attempting to cut a lifting delivery, gloved behind to wicketkeeper Shai Hope after the ball climbed awkwardly from a back-of-a-length.

Babar weathered the early storm and gradually found his rhythm, clipping Roach through square leg before unfurling a series of trademark straight drives that briefly eased the pressure.

But Seales ensured West Indies retained complete control.

After repeatedly beating Azan outside off stump, Seales finally tempted the opener into edging a half-volley behind, reducing Pakistan to 21-2.

Any hopes of recovery disappeared in the next over when Salman was trapped lbw by a delivery that jagged back from a probing length. Pakistan reviewed the decision in vain, leaving Seales with remarkable figures of 2-3 from four overs after his wicket maiden.

Babar continued to offer resistance with some elegant strokeplay and successfully negotiated a testing spell from Shamar Joseph, while Rizwan survived a searching examination before getting off the mark.

But with Seales extracting movement and Roach finding both swing and variable bounce, Pakistan headed into the lunch interval staring at another collapse.

Scoreboard

WEST INDIES (1st Innings) 311 (S. Hope 92; Mohammad Ali 4-50)

PAKISTAN (1st Innings):

Azan Awais b Roach0

Imam-ul-Haq c Greaves b Joseph63

Shan Masood b Greaves109

Babar Azam c Hope b Seales23

Salman Ali Agha b Joseph20

Mohammad Rizwan c Hope b Greaves 12

Aamer Jamal b Greaves3

Ali Usman lbw b Greaves0

Khurram Shahzad c Hope b Roach19

Mohammad Abbas c Hope b Greaves0

Mohammad Ali not out2

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-17, NB-10)31

TOTAL (all out, 80.1 overs)282

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-1 (Azan), 2-156 (Imam), 3-197 (Babar), 4-244 (Salman), 5-244 (Shan), 6-248 (Aamer), 7-256 (Usman), 8-259 (Rizwan), 9-267 (Abbas)

BOWLING: Roach 15.1-2-53-2 (4nb), Seales 22-5-73-1 (1nb), Joseph 16-2-58-2 (2nb), Greaves 11-6-27-5 (3nb), Warrican 16-1-50-0

WEST INDIES (2nd Innings, overnight 126-7):

T. Chanderpaul c Usman b Aamer35

B. King c Rizwan b Abbas5

K. Hodge c Rizwan b Abbas0

A. Jangoo c&b Ali4

S. Hope b Khurram10

J. Greaves c Babar b Abbas20

R. Chase c Rizwan b Khurram8

K. Roach c Babar b Abbas18

S. Joseph b Ali38

J. Warrican b Abbas14

J. Seales not out6

EXTRAS (B-8, LB-6, NB-8, W-1)23

TOTAL (all out, 54.5 overs)181

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-7 (King), 2-7 (Hodge), 3-28 (Jangoo), 4-43 (Hope), 5-80 (Chanderpaul), 6-85 (Greaves), 7-93 (Chase), 8-154 (Joseph), 9-169 (Roach)

BOWLING: Abbas 15.5-6-22-5 (2nb), Khurram 15-2-54-2 (5nb), Ali 14-1-52-2 (1nb), Aamer 10-2-39-1 (1w)

PAKISTAN (2nd Innings):

Azan Awais c Hope b Seales3

Imam-ul-Haq c Hope b Roach3

Babar Azam not out16

Salman Ali Agha lbw b Seales0

Mohammad Rizwan not out1

EXTRAS (LB-3, NB-2)5

TOTAL (for three wickets, 10 overs)28

STILL TO BAT: Shan Masood, Aamer Jamal, Ali Usman, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Abbas

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-5 (Imam), 2-21 (Azan), 3-25 (Salman)

BOWLING: Roach 4-1-19-1 (2nb), Seales 5-3-4-2, Joseph 1-0-2-0

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026

The 33-year-old comes in place of Washington Sundar, who was unavailable for selection for the first Test after sustaining a hamstring injury during the One-day International series against England this month.

Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has returned to the squad, although his availability, along with batter Sai Sudharsan’s, remains subject to fitness clearance.

Experienced all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has recovered from a tennis elbow injury and returns to the Test side, while Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and uncapped seamer Gurnoor Brar bolster the pace attack.

Shubman Gill will captain the side with KL Rahul as his deputy in the series which marks India’s first assignment in the World Test Championship cycle following their 2-0 home defeat to South Africa in November.

India sit fifth in the WTC standings, one place above sixth-placed Sri Lanka.

The first Test will be played in Galle from Aug 15, with the second beginning in Colombo on Aug 23.

Squad: Shubman Gill (captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel (wicket-keeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026

GLASGOW: Adam Ramsay-Peaty fell short of gold at a fourth Commonwealth Games as he was beaten into bronze once more in the 50m breaststroke on another dominant night for Australia in the Glasgow pool.

Three-time Olympic champion Ramsay-Peaty was reduced to tears after finishing third in the 100m breaststroke on Saturday and could not hide his disappointment, even if this time he kept his emotions in check.

Australia’s Sam Williamson completed a double of 50 and 100m breaststroke gold, shocking pre-race favourite Michael Houlie of South Africa, who had to settle for silver.

Williamson’s was one of six Australian golds from seven finals on the night, with only New Zealand’s Lewis Clareburt in the 200m butterfly preventing a clean sweep at the top of the podium.

All of England’s four golds in the pool so far have come in the para-swimming events, with Ramsay-Peaty failing to add another Commonwealth title.

Williamson’s double gold is all the more remarkable after he suffered a ruptured patella in April 2025 which put his career at risk.

Jenna Forrester won her second gold of the meet in the 400m Individual Medley to back up her 200m backstroke victory.

Meg Harris led home an Aussie 1-2-3 in the women’s 100m freestyle, while Alex Perkins took gold in the women’s 100m butterfly.

Olympic 800m champion Daniel Wiffin missed out on the podium as the Northern Irishman finished fourth to another Australia clean sweep of the medals.

Sam Short added the 800m crown to his 400m gold ahead of Benjamin Goedemans and Matthew Galea.

Only a strong finish by Clareburt prevented an Australia taking every gold of the night as he pipped Aussie duo Harrison Turner and Matthew Temple to the wall.

After four days of competition, Australia dominate the medals table with 26 golds to 38 between the other 73 nations combined.

There was more Australian joy on the first night of athletics action as Rose Davies won the 10,000 metres in the absence of injured home favourite Eilish McColgan.

Jamaica’s Demario Prince won the 110m hurdles.

Romaine Beckford added a second Jamaican gold in the high jump on fewer failed attempts after both he and India’s Sarvesh Anil Kushare cleared 2.25m.

Canada’s Ethan Katzberg set a new Games record to win the Hammer.

Edmund Serem claimed Kenya’s first gold of the Games in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase.

Olympic gymnastics champion Rhys McClenaghan dismissed the Commonwealth Games as a “training day” after he finished a shock sixth in the men’s pommel final as Canada’s Jordan Carroll secured gold.

England’s Luke Whitehouse made up for the disappointing performance in the men’s all-around competition by taking gold in the men’s floor final.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026

After being bundled out for 187 in just 40 overs, Pakistan never seriously threatened to defend the modest total as half-centuries from skipper Chamari Athapaththu, Harshitha Samarawickrama and Hasini Perera powered Sri Lanka to 191-2 in 37.2 overs and a 2-1 series triumph with 76 balls to spare.

The defeat was particularly disappointing for Pakistan after they had opened the series with a convincing win before Sri Lanka bounced back to claim the final two matches.

Pakistan’s hopes were effectively dented inside the opening two overs after opting to bat, with Chethana Vimukthi ripping through the top order.

Sadaf Shamas (nine) was the first to depart before Sidra Amin and Ayesha Zafar both fell in the space of two deliveries, leaving Pakistan reeling at 10-3 after just 11 balls.

Gull Feroza and Muneeba Ali steadied the innings with a fourth-wicket stand of 68. Gull continued her impressive series with a brisk 40 off 35 balls, striking five boundaries, while Muneeba made a patient 34 from 71 deliveries.

Athapaththu broke the partnership by trapping Gull lbw before Inoka Ranaweera accounted for Muneeba, preventing Pakistan from converting the recovery into a substantial total.

Najiha Alvi added 30 and shared another useful stand with Muneeba, but Pakistan kept losing wickets at crucial moments despite several promising partnerships.

Captain Fatima Sana once again led from the front with a fighting 41 off 49 balls, including two fours and a six, but lacked meaningful support as Pakistan were dismissed with the final ball of the 40th over.

Vimukthi, Athapaththu and Kavisha Dilhari claimed three wickets apiece to share the spoils.

Reflecting on the batting effort, Fatima admitted the early collapse had left her side chasing the game.

“It was a good batting surface but we didn’t bat the way we should have,” she said. “We lost three early wickets and after that we were always trying to recover. When responsibility comes to the younger players in the middle order, they have to grab that opportunity.”

Sri Lanka’s chase was clinical despite losing centurion Vishmi Gunaratne cheaply for 12 after Fatima had her caught behind.

Athapaththu quickly seized control, smashing seven fours and two sixes in a 38-ball 52 while sharing a 39-run stand with Samarawickrama after the opening wicket.

Umm-e-Hani ended Athapaththu’s enterprising knock shortly after the skipper reached her 20th ODI half-century, but Pakistan found no further breakthrough.

Samarawickrama, who had scored a century in the previous match, anchored the chase with an unbeaten 71 off 92 balls, while Perera compiled an unbeaten 50 from 77 deliveries as the pair added an unbroken 106 for the third wicket.

Samarawickrama struck the winning boundary through extra cover to finish an emphatic chase and was later named Player of the Series for scoring 173 runs across the three matches.

Athapaththu completed an outstanding all-round performance with three wickets and a half-century to earn the Player of the Match award.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026

The ambitious plan would see FIFA establish FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a wholly-owned subsidiary consolidating the organisation’s commercial and event operations. FIFA said it would retain sole control as well as “exclusive authority” over football governance, competitions, the match calendar and all regulatory and sporting decisions.

Under the proposal, FIFA would invite external investors to purchase minority, non-controlling stakes in FFE to raise up to $4.2 billion, with the body saying all net benefits will be reinvested in the game.

“Football is the world’s most popular sport and an extraordinary engine of human and social development,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in a statement.

“Parts of the game have turned that popularity into remarkable commercial value and we celebrate that success and want it to continue, because it lifts the whole game. Our job is to make sure the rest of football grows with it: FIFA exists to support sustainable, inclusive development in every corner of the world.”

FIERCE CRITICISM

However, the proposal has drawn fierce criticism from European soccer’s governing body UEFA.

“This crosses a line that football’s governing institutions should never cross,” UEFA said in a statement. “UEFA takes it extremely seriously. So should every National Football Association. So should every stakeholder: leagues, clubs, players, supporters, governments and everyone who cares about the future of the game.

“The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade — especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially. None of us are the owners of football. It is not FIFA’s to sell.”

Infantino, however, said every member association should have the opportunity to seek a fair share of the available funding to shape its own future. “This is about the democratisation of football worldwide,” he added.

A FIFA spokesperson said the proposal will soon be presented to the 211 Member Associations and the FIFA Council, which will be the sole final decision-makers on the matter.

EXTERNAL INVESTORS

FIFA is working with bankers at JP Morgan to raise billions of dollars by bringing in external investors to take as much as a 20% stake in the entity, a source said. The source added that former Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei has been involved as a commercial adviser on the creation of the FIFA enterprise.

Thrive Eternal, a new investment strategy launched by venture capital firm Thrive Capital, is expected to be a lead investor in the entity, the source said.

The strategy is a permanent capital vehicle focused on making a small number of long-term investments in franchises and cultural institutions.

Thrive Eternal took a minority stake in Major League Baseballs San Francisco Giants this year.

The vehicle was founded by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trumps son-in-law. Former Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger serves as an adviser. Jared Kushner, however, is not a potential investor, the source said.

The Financial Times first reported on the stake sale.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026

Zidane, 54, had long been viewed as the leading candidate for the role and had been waiting for an opportunity to take charge of the national team for several years.

He will replace Deschamps, whose tenure began in 2012 and ended earlier this month after France finished fourth at the World Cup.

Deschamps guided France to 2018 World Cup glory and the final four years later.

“For me, it’s an immense joy... being able to become the coach of this French team. I don’t have any other words,” said Zidane, who takes over on a four-year deal that runs until the 2030 World Cup co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco.

“I’m holding myself back because I have so many emotions inside me. I’m ready for the challenge, that’s what drives me today.” Former Real Madrid star Zidane, who was Deschamps’ team-mate in the 1998 World Cup triumph, has been readying himself for the role since leaving Real Madrid in 2021.

“The France job was the only one I wanted,” Zidane said at his unveiling in Paris, where he signed autographs and took photos with fans waiting outside the FFF headquarters after his appointment.

“I’ve had offers over these four or five years to take charge of a club and I turned them all down for the French national team.”

The former France playmaker, who scored twice in the 1998 World Cup final victory over Brazil and also won the 2000 European Championship as a player, has coached only one club, Real Madrid.

‘COMPLETELY DIFFERENT JOB’

During his time with the Spanish giants, he led them to three consecutive Champions League titles in 2016, 2017 and 2018, an unprecedented achievement in the competition’s modern era.

“I think it’s a completely different job, that’s for sure,” said Zidane. “I’ve experienced the club side of it. Now this is something new for me, but it doesn’t scare me.”

Zidane will follow in the footsteps of former international team-mates Laurent Blanc, who coached the national side from 2010 to 2012, and Deschamps.

“I’m going to give everything so that this team keeps on winning. That’s it, the only thing that drives me is being able to work for this France team and making sure it keeps on winning.

“‘DD’ [Deschamps] is ‘DD’, Blanc was Blanc and ‘Zizou’ is Zizou’.

“I will do things the way I know how to do them.”

FFF president Philippe Diallo said he first met with Zidane in February 2025, shortly after Deschamps revealed he would step down from his role after the 2026 World Cup.

“There was one thing that struck me, that perhaps ultimately made the difference,” said Diallo. “During the conversations we had, he said to me, ‘President, I know how to win.’

“When he said that, I saw someone who had both the desire and the self-belief needed to lead France. That is what it takes for our national team to remain successful in the years ahead.”

Zidane’s first game at the helm of France will come away to Turkey in the UEFA Nations League on Sept 25. His first match at home will be against Italy at the Stade de France on Oct 2.

France captain Kylian Mbappe and all-time leading scorer welcomed the arrival of Zidane, posting a message that read “Welcome home” on Instagram.

Mbappe became the first player to win the World Cup Golden Boot twice after scoring 10 goals at this summer’s tournament.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026

The world number 13 will join Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Flavio Cobolli, Jakub Mensik and Rafael Jodar for the Sept 25-27 event.

Ruud will be making his sixth successive appearance in the team tournament.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026

The development, which had emerged in May, was officially announced by the federation as Pakistan were named among the 14 teams set to participate in the tournament scheduled to be held during the extended international window in September and October.

Pakistan are among the eight teams that will feature in the main FIFA ASEAN Cup in Indonesia, alongside Malaysia, India, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. The Shaheens are one of three invited teams in the competition, with the remaining participants coming from Southeast Asia.

“The Pakistan Football Federation is extremely thankful to FIFA president Gianni Infantino for presenting us with the opportunity to participate in our second-ever FIFA event,” PFF president Syed Mohsen Gilani said in a statement.

“After the women’s national team participated in the FIFA Series, it is now the turn of our men’s national team to take part in their maiden FIFA event when they feature at the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup.

Gilani said the tournament would provide Pakistan with an opportunity to compete against stronger opposition and gain valuable international experience.

“The FIFA ASEAN Cup represents a huge opportunity for our men’s team to play high-profile competitive matches against some of the top teams in Southeast Asia during the extended 16-day international window in September/October,” he said.

“It is also a step that reaffirms our commitment to provide our national teams with competitive matches at every opportunity possible.”

The ASEAN Cup will feature two tiers of competition. The main tournament, hosted by Indonesia, will include Pakistan along with seven other teams, while the FIFA ASEAN Challenge Cup will feature Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Timor-Leste along with hosts Hong Kong, China.

Teams will be divided into groups based on their international ranking to ensure competitive balance. Both competitions will follow a single round-robin format, with group winners advancing to the finals and runners-up contesting third-place matches.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said the event was created to provide national teams with meaningful competitive opportunities and strengthen football ties in the region.

“It is time to dream big. We are not content with playing in development competitions,” Gilani said. “Pakistan is ready to mix it with the big boys. Pakistan football has well and truly arrived at the global stage.”

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026

However, both men’s world number one Jannik Sinner and second-ranked Carlos Alcaraz have not entered the competition which was heavily revamped last year.

Italians Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori will defend the title.

Djokovic and Sabalenka are certain to feature among the initial six pairings selected according to world rankings when the deadline for entries closes on Aug 17.

Sinner is “prioritising” his health ahead of the final Grand Slam of the year while Alcaraz, who played last year with Emma Raducanu, is recovering from an injury.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026

Embolo received a second yellow card during the second half with the match level at 1-1. Argentina struck twice in extra time to beat 10-man Switzerland 3-1 in Kansas City.

The 29-year-old had gone down following a challenge by Leandro Paredes, and referee Joao Pinheiro initially booked the Argentina midfielder. But the VAR informed the referee that Paredes had not committed a foul, and Pinheiro booked Embolo instead for simulation.

IFAB clarified that while the VAR can intervene in relation to mistaken identity when the wrong player has been booked, it cannot be used to review the offence itself.

“A yellow card [caution] which is not a second yellow card can only be reviewed to identify the player who committed the offence that was penalised; the offence itself cannot be reviewed/changed,” IFAB said.

“The use of the mistaken identity clause to deal with simulation during the FIFA World Cup 2026 was well received and will be included in the detailed review of the VAR protocol... however, it may not be used as such until that review is concluded.”

Switzerland coach Murat Yakin said the rule behind Breel Embolo’s sending-off was unacceptable after a loss that stopped them reaching the World Cup semi-finals for the first time.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026

The American third seed, seeking his 11th ATP tour title and first Eastbourne last year, needed only 79 minutes to complete a 6-3, 6-4 triumph.

Fritz, the Wimbledon quarter-finalist, will next face either countryman Tommy Paul or Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak.

“He had a few break chances, but when I served out the first and went up a break in the second, I felt like the momentum was on my side,” Fritz said.

“It’s really good to get out of those games and to finish the match unbroken.”

Britain’s Jack Draper withdrew from the event with a left arm injury after also missing Wimbledon.

“These last months have felt like nothing but adversity and setbacks,” the former world number four Draper wrote on Instagram.

“Most days I’ve spent in doubt, yet hopeful that I can keep taking positive steps forward and finding ways to progress.”

American lucky loser Mackenzie McDonald replaced Draper.

Japan’s Kei Nishikori, the 2015 Washington champion who will retire at the end of season, beat China’s Shang Juncheng 6-7 (3/7), 6-3, 6-4 in two hours and 31 minutes in his first ATP tour match this year.

“It was not easy,” the 36-year-old Nishikori said after his first ATP tour victory in 14 months. “I started playing better in the second set and, especially in the third set, I think I played really solid.”

France’s 56th-ranked Terence Atmane upset sixth-seeded hometown hero Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in two hours and five minutes.

In the women’s draw, Russian Liudmila Samsonova, the 2022 Washington winner, outlasted American sixth seed Madison Keys 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Venus Williams, 46, rolled back the years to win her doubles opener with Russia’s Diana Shnaider 6-3, 6-4 over Ulrikke Eikeri of Norway and American Quinn Gleason.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026

De Snaijer holds two decades of elite coaching and player development experience in the Netherlands and Belgium.

The 52-year-old coach has served as technical director of KHC Dragons, Rapid Temse and LMHC Laren, coached leading women’s teams including HC Rotterdam and Laren. He also worked with Dutch youth national teams besides featuring in other international hockey programmes.

According to the PHF, De Snaijer will work closely with Herman Kruis, who was named Pakistan’s national coaching adviser and national men’s team coach recently, and the national coaching staff to enhance the technical, tactical and physical standards of the national women’s team.

He will also help create international training opportunities for Pakistan players through European clubs, enabling them to prepare for major international events.

“For decades, women’s hockey in Pakistan has suffered from neglect, with inadequate investment in coaching, infrastructure and international exposure. The PHF is determined to reverse this trend by building a sustainable pathway for girls’ hockey from schools to the national team,” the PHF said in its statement.

Commenting on De Snaijer’s appointment, PHF president Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani said that the federation wanted to revive women’s hockey.

“Our girls deserve the best opportunities. With De Snaijer’s appointment and the guidance of Herman Kruis, we are investing in a modern, high-performance women’s hockey programme,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan maintained their unbeaten run at the Central Asian Volleyball Association (CAVA) Men’s Volleyball Championship, defeating Sri Lanka in straight sets to qualify for the final, where they will face Bangladesh at the Liaquat Gymnasium on Tuesday.

Bangladesh also secured their place in the title match after beating Uzbekistan 3-0 in the other semifinal.

Pakistan controlled proceedings against Sri Lanka from the start, using effective serving, blocking and attacking to take the opening set 25-18. They produced a dominant display in the second set, restricting Sri Lanka to just 10 points before completing the victory with a 25-21 win in the third.

Sri Lanka showed greater resistance in the final set, but Pakistan held their composure to complete a 3-0 victory and remain unbeaten in the tournament.

In the other semifinal, Bangladesh defeated Uzbekistan 25-21, 25-20, 25-19 to reach the final for the first time.

Bangladesh maintained control throughout the match, with their serving and blocking helping them overcome Uzbekistan’s challenge. Uzbekistan remained competitive in all three sets but were unable to sustain pressure as Bangladesh secured a place in the championship match.

Uzbekistan will now play for the bronze medal.

Earlier, Kazakhstan defeated Nepal 3-0 to finish fifth in the tournament. Kazakhstan won the match 25-16, 26-24, 25-20 after overcoming a stronger challenge from Nepal in the second set.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026

Topline Securities Ltd said the PSX witnessed a volatile trading session, with the benchmark index fluctuating throughout the day. The KSE-100 opened on a positive note and climbed to an intraday high of 860 points at 179,123.01 as early buying interest kept sentiment upbeat.

However, investors opted to lock in recent gains during the latter half of the session, triggering widespread profit-taking.

As a result, the index wiped out its gains, fell to an intraday low of 827 points at 177,434.96 and eventually settled at 177,623.88, down 638.45 points, or 0.36 per cent.

Profit-taking drags index into negative territory

The refinery sector remained in the spotlight after reports suggested that the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE) had approved amendments to the Pakistan Oil Refining Policy 2023, removing the remaining hurdles that had delayed the execution of refinery upgrade agreements since the policy was first notified in August 2023.

The development sparked strong buying interest across the sector, with Attock Refinery, Pakistan Refinery, National Refinery and Cnergyico PK all ending the session higher, outperforming the broader market.

On the other hand, United Bank, Oil and Gas Development Company, Hub Power, Pakistan Petroleum and Bank of Punjab weighed heavily on the benchmark index, collectively shaving around 318 points off its gains.

Market activity moderated from the previous session, with traded volume declining 7.8pc to 958 million shares, while the value of shares traded amounted to Rs41.5 billion. Cnergyico PK topped the volume chart, with nearly 273 million shares changing hands.

According to Arif Habib Ltd, the market turned bearish as investors resorted to profit-taking.

However, in early trading sentiments remained bullish as the United States and Iran extended their pause in hostilities, with attention shifting to talks involving Tehran and Oman on resuming traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, Pakistan and China strengthened their economic partnership by signing investment and commercial agreements worth around $1.4bn at the Pakistan-China Business Confere­nce, paving the way for greater industrial collaboration, technology transfer and local manufacturing.

Analysts said that after a period of consolidation, the 180,000 level remained the KSE-100 index’s near-term target.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026

The financial results were announced for the half year ended June 30, after a meeting of the company’s board of directors on Tuesday.

PTCL’s revenue grew by 8pc compared to the same period last year, driven by a 27pc increase in Flash Fiber revenue and a 13pc growth in Business Solutions, supported by 16pc growth in Carrier & Wholesale services, while international business revenue increased by 3pc.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting of the Wheat Board to review the country’s wheat availability, distribution strategy, and provincial requirements.

National Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain chaired the meeting.

A countrywide assessment revealed that the collective grain demand from the provinces has completely overwhelmed the current emergency reserves managed by the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation.

The upcoming import operation aims to prevent potential market disruptions and ensure uniform supply distribution across all regions.

“Therefore, in consultation with the provinces and based on their requirements, a process for the import of approximately one million tonnes of wheat was being explored.

The collective demand from the provinces exceeded the available stocks with Passco,” the unanimous decision taken in the meeting stated.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026

An official statement said the Privatisation Com­­mission Board, presided over by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation Muhammad Ali, recommended for ap­­proval by the Cabinet Committee on Privatisa­tion (CCoP) the restructuring plans and schemes of arrangement for sale of first batch three Discos — Faisal­ab­­ad, Gujranwala and Islamabad.

The CCoP led by Dep­uty Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is expected to meet on Thursday (July 30) to clear the restructuring plan, scheme of arrangement and transaction structure including creation of a special purpose vehicle to take over liabilities.

The PCB in its meeting approved the restructuring plans and schemes of arrangement for the privatisation of Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (Fesco), Gujranwala Electric Power Company (Gepco), and Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) on the basis of the audited financial statements for the period ended March 31.

“The proposed framework is designed to maximise value for the Government of Pakistan while ensuring that the transactions remain commercially viable and attractive to prospective private-sector investors,” an official statement said.

Under the proposed structure, a government-owned Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) will be established to carve out selected assets and liabilities of the three Discos, facilitating an efficient and commercially viable transaction structure.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026

According to data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the average price per tonne of palm oil imported in FY26 stood at $1,078 versus $1,056 in FY25.

Pakistan Vanaspati Manufacturers Association (PVMA) Chairman Sheikh Umer Rehan attributed higher palm oil imports to rising demand for ghee and cooking oil as a result of population growth and lower crops such as cottonseed. He said edible oil consumption has increased to 4.8 million tonnes from four million tonnes five years ago. Despite this growth, no edible oil policy has been made since independence, he complained.

He said the local industry faced a pr­­oblem as the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) was pressurising the manufacturers for paying the general sales tax (GST) on retail price which had previously been charged at ex-mill price.

Instead of creating a business-frie­nd­­ly environment and reducing the cost of doing business, the FBR is creating complications for taxpayers, Umer said.

The PVMA chief warned the new sales tax mechanism, introduced in the FY27 budget, would push up ghee and cooking oil prices by Rs10-15 per kg.

The FY27 budget expanded the scope of the Third Schedule by shifting sales tax collection on ghee and cooking oil to a mechanism based on the Maximum Retail Price (MRP). This change would significantly increase the tax burden on the industry.

The PVMA had previously urged the government to cut taxes for the edible oil and ghee sector in the budget to ease the public burden.

According to data from the Sensitive Price Index (SPI), the national average price of 5-litre cooking oil, 2.5kg ghee and 1kg ghee stands at Rs2,975-3,110, Rs1,500-1,565 and Rs590-610 versus Rs2,800-3,000, Rs1,425-1,485 and Rs550-580, respectively, showing a slight increase in prices over a year.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026

According to a press release, the Banking Mohtasib Pakistan has granted monetary relief amounting to Rs762.76m to banking customers by disposing of over 18,482 complaints against commercial banks during the first half (January to June) of 2026.

The number of complaints being lodged against commercial banks is on the increase. The Banking Mohtasib Office received 21,392 new complaints from Jan 1 to June 30, including 4,005 complaints from the Prime Minister’s Portal, compared with 16,915 complaints received during the same period last year.

With a view to protecting banking customers from fraud and forgery, the Banking Mohtasib Pakistan, Sirajuddin Aziz, has stressed the need for banking customers not to disclose their personal and financial credentials to any third person.

He advised that on receipt of suspicious calls, they should immediately approach the nearest branch of their bank or contact the bank’s helpline.

He emphasised that customers must know that call centres of banks cannot make outbound calls from their respective helplines — hence calls showing banks’ UAN numbers should not be attended.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026

The Special Procedure for Small Shopkeepers was notified through Income Tax SRO 1166 issued on Tuesday. The draft procedures were issued earlier on July 14 to seek objections and suggestions from the public.

As per the plan, individual retailers with an annual turnover of up to Rs200 million will have the option of paying income tax equal to one per cent of their gross turnover instead of filing returns under the normal taxation regime.

However, participating retailers will have to pay a minimum cash tax of Rs25,000 even if taxes already deducted at source exceed their liability. Any excess withholding tax will not be refundable.

The scheme will remain optional, allowing eligible shopkeepers either to join the simplified regime or continue filing regular income tax returns under the existing law. Registration will be available through the FBR’s IRIS portal, a dedicated mobile application, or at tax offices.

The procedure excludes retailers whose turnover exceeded Rs200m in any of the preceding three years, owners of more than one shop, tier-I retailers, jewellers and professionals such as doctors, engineers and lawyers.

Retailers who filed tax returns for 2025 may opt for the scheme only if their liability is not lower than the previous year and they have not split or renamed their businesses to qualify.

To encourage participation, the FBR has decided that retailers opting for the scheme would generally remain outside the routine audit framework.

Departmental proceedings could only be initiated after consultation with representatives of trade associations and only where the tax authorities receive third-party information relating to significant economic transactions, ownership of expensive assets or misuse of the scheme for tax avoidance.

Moreover, participants will also be exempt from withholding tax obligations on purchases under Section 153 of the Income Tax Ordinance. The provisions relating to minimum tax under Section 113 and the 1.25pc minimum tax applicable under the normal regime will also not apply.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026

Federal Tax Ombudsman Zafar Hijazi in his order released on Tuesday observed that the case pointed to a coordinated scheme through which a lawful consignee was deprived of his duty-paid mobile phone for more than one-and-a-half years despite paying all applicable taxes.

The complaint was filed by Muhammad Nausherwan Khan, who stated that his sister in Canada sent him an iPhone 16 Plus through FedEx in December 2024. After the handset arrived in Karachi, he paid the PTA tax of Rs138,526 but alleged that the phone was never delivered to him. He later discovered that a forged authority letter had allegedly been used to release the device to another person.

During the proceedings, Customs maintained that the mobile phone had been released after verifying the original detention receipt, invoice and other documents presented by a clearing agent. However, the Ombudsman questioned why the complainant, whose name appeared as the consignee on the import documents, was denied possession despite personally approaching Customs authorities.

FTO orders inquiry into courier fraud allegations

The FTO found that while the consignee’s name remained unchanged in the tracking records and import documents, the address and contact details had allegedly been substituted with those of another individual in the airway bill and invoice.

The Ombudsman observed that such manipulation was indicative of an organised scam and stated that the modus operandi could not be ignored.

Although the complainant subsequently informed the Ombudsman that his grievance had been resolved, the FTO decided to continue pursuing the broader issue, saying the suspected scam required a thorough investigation to protect the public interest.

The Ombudsman recommended that FBR direct the Chief Collector of Customs (Airports) to initiate a targeted inquiry into FedEx, obtain courier import data for January 2025-June 2026 to identify similar cases, investigate the alleged use of forged authority letters, examine the role of Customs officials who may have facilitated the scam, and initiate legal and disciplinary proceedings where warranted.

The FTO also recommended introducing a uniform standard operating procedure for courier clearances at all international airports.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026

Mr Dar made the remarks while addressing a delegation of US congressmen and businessmen. The gathering included US congressmen Ryan Zinke and Michael James Baumgartner, who are on a visit to Pakistan. Addressing the event, Mr Dar called strong and mutually beneficial economic ties “the true measure of a mature strategic partnership and friendship”.

Noting that the US is Pakistan’s largest single-country export destination, he said that goods trade between the two countries in the last fiscal year reached $9.4bn.

“While encouraging this figure… we are confident that we can double bilateral trade to $20bn over the next five years by fully harnessing the complementarity of our economies,” the deputy premier said.

Says bilateral trade can reach $20bn in five years through stronger economic cooperation

He said the Pak-US partnership was “mutually rewarding”, as Pakistan re­­m­ained among the largest importers of US cotton and was also emerging as an im­­portant market for US hydrocarbons. Si­­milarly, he said, Pakistan’s growing de­­mand for advanced machinery, technology and capital goods presented “significant opportunity for American manufacturers”.

The minister also noted that the presence of over 80 US companies in Pakistan reflected “their confidence in our market, our people and our long-term economic potential”. “With an improving macroeconomic outlook, ongoing structural reforms, and competitive US tariffs, Pakistan’s market is well positioned for a new wave of investment,” he said.

Mr Dar highlighted that the government had set up the Special Investment Facili­tation Council (SIFC) to provide a “one-window facility” to potential investors, and encouraged the delegation to continue working closely with SIFC as it was ready to help them turn opportunities into successful economic partnerships.

He called on the delegation to meet potential partners, explore new opportunities, engage with the government and lead discussions into long-term investments that benefit both our countries.

He expressed the government’s commitment to deepening engagement with the US government, businesses, investors and entrepreneurs to expand bilateral trade and investment in areas including IT, AI, energy manufacturing, critical minerals and agriculture.

Mr Dar said that the government had stre­a­­­mlined regulatory procedures and enha­nced transparency to create a more business-friendly climate for investment, as well as transforming the infrastructure and connectivity of the country. He added that it remained open to providing competitive incentives to facilitate greater US investment in the country, saying, “Our ob­­jective is to make it easier for busines­ses to start, operate and expand in Pakistan.”

He expressed the hope for continued support from the US’ EXIM Bank, US In­­ternational Development Finance Cor­po­ration, and the US Trade and Development Agency. He appreciated EXIM Bank’s $1.25bn financing for the Reko Diq project and said he was “confident” that it would be “the first of many such investments”.

He also stated the government’s commitment to supporting the investors’ long-term success in the country, adding that Pakistan’s embassy and consulates in the US would also remain available for assistance and support upon their return home.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026

Speaking to reporters outside Adiala jail, Imran’s sister Aleema Khan said that family members had informed the jail administration of their arrival to meet him, but did not receive any response.

While announcing plans to launch a countrywide movement to demand his release, she said she received an overwhelming public response during her recent visit to Hazara division. “People have started loving Imran Khan even more and are demanding his release,” she said.

About KP CM Afridi’s claim of a “semi-final” on Aug 5, Imran’s sister Noreen Niazi said the date should instead mark the “final”.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the department said its field staff had inspected the site after receiving reports of damage to the protected trees.

After the inspection, the relevant agency was asked to take immediate measures to prevent any further harm.

While acknowledging the prevailing security requirements in the area, the department stressed that all construction activities within officially notified forest areas must be carried out in accordance with the law and with adequate environmental safeguards in place.

The Ziarat Juniper Forest is regarded as one of the world’s oldest surviving juniper ecosystems and is considered a vital environmental and ecological asset of Balochistan.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026

The chief minister gave the assurance during a meeting at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat with a delegation of doctors’ organisations, whose representatives briefed the chief minister on issues they are facing across the province.

The representatives included Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Quetta President Dr Nadeem Achakzai, Senior Vice President Dr Kamyar Khan, General Secretary Dr Shoaib Baloch, Young Doctors Association (YDA) Balochistan members Dr Hafeez Mandokhail, Dr Ali Jan, Dr Adil and Dr Muzammil, as well as Jamal Shah of Allied Health Organisations.

The chief minister said the government was introducing reforms in consultation with all stakeholders to improve healthcare services for doctors, medical staff and the masses.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026

An official notification issued late on Tuesday night by the Balochistan Home Department stated that, in view of the law and order situation, a curfew had been imposed across Noshki district from 8pm on July 28.

It added that the curfew would remain in force until 8pm on July 31.

“There will be a complete ban on the movement of people and leaving their homes without permission from the concerned authorities during the curfew,” the notification stated.

It added that public gatherings, processions and rallies would also remain prohibited across Noshki district during the curfew period. Unnecessary travel within the district would not be allowed.

However, the deputy commissioner would be authorised to exempt government employees, medical staff, rescue workers and utility service personnel from curfew restrictions.

The notification warned that strict action would be taken against those found violating the curfew under the relevant laws.

It may be recalled that a curfew has already been imposed in Khud Kocha sub-tehsil of Mastung district since July 22 following an attack on a Karachi-bound passenger coach in the area, which left three people dead and five others injured. The curfew in Khud Kocha remains in force.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026

DSP Mureed Bugti was on routine patrol when armed men blocked Barkhan-Rakhni Road in the Khatta Chowki area, opened fire on their vehicle and attempted to kidnap him along with a police constable, a senior official of the Balochistan government confirmed.

However, officials said, police rushed to the area on receiving the information about the assault and started chasing them. In an ensuing encounter, DSP Mureed Bugti was martyred and the other cop wounded.

Barkhan SP Abdul Haq said that security forces launched a search operation in the area to trace out the attackers and their facilitators.

A search operation was underway in Rakhni, with additional security personnel called in to assist the operation, said Shahid Rind, aide to the chief minister for media and political affairs. He explained that security forces had surrounded the area for search.

Meanwhile, seven labourers and four employees of a private construction company working on different development projects in Balochistan were kidnapped in Kech and Khuzdar districts.

Officials said that armed men blocked Turbat-Mand Road in Kalatak area of Kech district and took away seven labourers travelling in a vehicle. Half of them were hailed from Punjab while one was Pashtun, and all of them were associated with a development project, officials said.

Babar Yousafzai, an aide to the home department, confirmed the kidnapping and said the kidnappers killed one of the hostages. “The body of the slain laborer recovered from the area who was identified as Javed,” Yousafzai told Dawn, adding that security forces launched an operation for their recovery.

Separately, armed men kidnapped four employees of a private construction company in the Karkh area of Khuzdar district, officials said.

“All the four officials of the private company were working at the emergency flood protection projects in the Karkh area,” police said.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026

According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Finance, the government set the value of diyat at Rs19,352,390, as required under the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), 1860.

Diyat is compensation for murder payable by the offender to the heirs of the victim.

The amount reflects the value of 30,630 grams of silver under subsection (2) of Section 323 of the PPC.

The notified value of blood money marks an increase of around 97pc from the FY2025-26 value of Rs9,828,670, mainly because of an increase in the value of silver.

The notified value of diyat stood at Rs6,757,902 for FY2023-24, which also marked a phenomenal 56pc increase over Rs4,318,524 in FY2022-23.

Section 323 of the PPC requires that the court, subject to the injunctions of Islam as laid down in the Holy Quran and Sun-nah and keeping in view the financial position of the convict and the heirs of the victim, fix the value of diyat, which should not be less than the value of 30,630 grams of silver.

Subsection (2) requires the federal government to declare, through a notification in the official Gazette, the value of silver on the first day of July each year, or on a date it may deem fit, which will determine the diyat amount for the fiscal year.

In July 2025, an amendment was proposed in the Senate seeking to substitute minimum blood money from 30,630 grams of silver to 2,000 grams of gold or one fourth of the assets held by the convict.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026

He said the issue was becoming increasingly serious and dangerous with each passing day.

Speaking at a press conference at the Quetta Press Club on Tuesday, along with other party leaders, he said the jirga would be held from August 29 to 31. He also announced that countrywide protest rallies and demonstrations would be held on August 5 to mark three years of imprisonment of former prime minister Imran Khan.

He said the proposed jirga would bring together political leaders, tribal elders and other stakeholders to deliberate on rising insecurity, attacks on highways, disruption of trade, burning of goods vehicles and the killing of judges, lawyers, political workers and civilians in the province. He added that after discussions, the jirga would prepare recommendations on how to address the issue.

Political leaders, tribal elders and stakeholders will participate in gathering to draft recommendations

Achakzai, who is also chairman of the Tehreek-i-Tahaffuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan, expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situation, alleging that frequent attacks had severely affected businesses and transport, leaving many people without livelihoods. He questioned what he described as the government’s failure to restore peace and ensure the protection of citizens’ lives, property and commercial activities.

He also criticised what he termed the limited role of Parliament and provincial assemblies in addressing public concerns and alleged restrictions on the media’s ability to report freely. He condemned the killing of civilians in Kashmir and called for solidarity with the Kashmiri people.

The PkMAP chief opposed the proposed division of districts in Balochistan’s Pashtun-majority areas, saying the move could create further complications. He announced that separate jirgas would also be convened to discuss administrative changes, with decisions to be made in consultation with local communities.

Referring to attacks on transporters, Achakzai claimed that buses, trucks, oil tankers and other commercial vehicles belonging to Pashtuns had been targeted in Balochistan. He warned that transporters could suspend operations if such incidents continued and urged the government to ensure the safety of transport and trade routes.

He also expressed concern over the killing of labourers in recent incidents and criticised the authorities’ handling of security-related events, including those in Hanna Urak and Ziarat. He qu­­estioned why no senior officials had been held accountable following the incidents.

Achakzai further alleged that extortion was being demanded from drivers of goods vehicles travelling on national highways and called on the government and security institutions to take effective action against those responsible. He also criticised what he described as high airfares on flights between Quetta and Islamabad, saying they had become unaffordable for many passengers.

Commenting on compensation for vehicles damaged in recent attacks, he said owners of 14 coal-laden trucks that were set on fire had each been offered Rs950,000, adding that affected transporters were demanding full compensation for their losses.

Achakzai reiterated that political and security challenges could not be resolved through the use of force alone. He called for strengthening democratic institutions, an independent judiciary and a free media, saying lasting peace and stability could only be achieved through constitutional and democratic means.

He also opposed the formation of tribal militias, arguing that maintaining law and order was the responsibility of state security institutions.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026