Diaz starred in Colombia’s run to the World Cup last-16 and the winger lit up a sometimes scrappy game between last season’s German double-winners and the Europa League champions.

Bayern hit the front in the 37th minute when South Korean defender Kim Min-jae ghosted in to glance a free-kick into the far corner from the edge of the six-yard box.

The Bavarian club brought some of their big guns off the bench in the second half and started turning the screw, Diaz having a shot cleared off the line.

He stretched the lead in trademark style in the 73rd minute, picking up the ball on the left, jinking inside and cracking a dipping shot in off the crossbar.

It was a superb strike that delighted the majority of the 38,000 fans inside Kai Tak stadium who were mostly cheering for Bayern.

Villa pulled one back in the 83rd minute when new signing Joao Gomes took aim from the edge of the area and left Manuel Neuer with no chance.

They nearly equalised moments later but the legendary German stopper reacted quickly to block Tammy Abraham’s point-blank header, and Bayern closed out the game.

Several World Cup stars, including Bayern’s Michael Olise and Harry Kane, did not travel to Hong Kong.

“I told the players honestly that I was impressed (with the performance) because you know who’s there and you know who’s not there,” Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said.

“It’s difficult to go into these games... and still look the same, still look (like) the Bayern Munich that we can be.

“The last 10 or 15 minutes were a little bit a reflection of what pre-season is — a lot of changes... it’s (more) difficult to control in that sense, as a coach.”

Villa are adjusting to life without Morgan Rogers after the England midfielder moved to Chelsea last month for a reported British record fee of 117 million pounds ($157 million).

They face Paris St-Germain in the European Super Cup on Wednesday before travelling to Brighton for their opening Premier League fixture on Aug 23.

Bayern kick off the new Bundesliga season at home to VfB Stuttgart on Aug 28.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026

The 30-year-old has just one season remaining on his deal at the Etihad Stadium and has been strongly linked with a return to his native Spain.

City are understood to want about 68 million for Rodri, who was named player of the tournament at the recent World Cup in North America.

Real Madrid had appeared likely to be Rodri’s next club, but La Liga rivals Barcelona now seem to be in pole position.

Rodri won multiple Premier League titles and the 2023 Champions League with City. He won Euro 2024 and that year’s Ballon d’Or0.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026

The 26-year-old Brazil international has been a central figure in Real’s attack in recent seasons and had been linked with a move to English champions Arsenal.

His previous contract was due to expire in June 2027.

“Real Madrid and Vinicius Jr have agreed to extend our player’s contract, which now keeps him with the club through June 30, 2032...,” Real said in a statement. “Vinicius has become one of the most important players during one of the most successful periods in our history.”

Since joining from Brazilian club Flamengo in 2018, Vinicius has scored 128 goals and registered 100 assists for Real.

Spanish and British media had reported prolonged contract negotiations between the player and the club, while Arsenal were said to be monitoring the situation and exploring a potential move.

Vinicius had a demanding summer with Brazil at the World Cup, where they were eliminated by Norway in the last 16.

The forward has built an impressive trophy collection during his time in Madrid, winning two Champions League titles and three La Liga crowns among numerous other honours.

He is set to work under Jose Mourinho for the first time after the Portuguese coach returned for a second spell in charge at Real in June.

The appointment followed a disappointing campaign for the record 15-time European champions, who finished runners-up to arch-rivals Barcelona in La Liga, exited the Champions League in the quarter-finals and ended the season without a major trophy.

Tying down Vinicius represents another significant step in an active summer for Real.

The club have also strengthened their squad with the arrivals of Yan Diomande, Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konate, Marc Cucurella and Denzel Dumfries ahead of the new season.

To make room for the new signings, Real loaned out playmaker Franco Mastantuono to Serie A outfit Fiorentina.

The 18-year-old will spend one season in Italy under the current agreement, according to a brief announcement on Real’s website.

Mastantuono signed at the Bernabeu last summer after catching the eye in his homeland with River Plate and becoming, aged 17 years and nine months, the youngest player to represent the Argentina national team in an official match.

He moved to Spain on a six-year deal after Real shelled out just over 63 million euros ($72 million) to secure his services.

The teenager made 35 appearances across all competitions last season for Los Blancos, scoring three goals, but failed to nail down a starting spot as he missed out on Argentina’s World Cup squad.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026

The charge relates to an assault that allegedly took place on Dec 6 last year at a nightclub on Wardour Street.

“Ivan Toney, 30, of Northampton, was charged on Friday, July 31 with assault causing actual bodily harm,” the police said in a statement. “He will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, Sept 24.”

Toney, who plays for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli and scored 42 goals last season, was also in the England squad for the 2026 World Cup.

Reuters has contacted Toney’s representatives for comment.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026

The 27-year-old former Arsenal player is manager Pierre Sage’s second signing of the summer transfer window, following the arrival of defender Oscar Mingueza.

Tomiyasu, capable of playing at full-back and centre-back, spent the second half of last season at Dutch giants Ajax.

The defender, who has won 46 caps, was part of Japan’s squad at the 2026 World Cup.

South London club Palace have enjoyed a golden spell over the past two seasons, winning the FA Cup, Community Shield and UEFA Conference League under former manager Oliver Glasner.

“I’m excited to get started,” said Tomiyasu. “This club is in a good moment, winning three titles in two seasons. Here is where I wanted to be.”

Palace chairman Steve Parish said: “Takehiro has experience at the highest level of European and international football. We are delighted to welcome a player of his calibre to the club.”

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026

The 24-year-old creative midfielder has signed with the European champions until 2031 for a reported fee of 50 million euros ($58 million), according to French media outlets.

“Signing for Paris St-Germain is an immense source of pride. Having grown up in the Paris region, joining such a prestigious club means so much to me and my family,” Akliouche said in a statement on PSG’s website.

After joining Monaco as a 15-year-old in 2017, Akliouche progressed through the ranks before making his first team bow in 2021.

In 139 matches in all competitions for the principality side, he netted 23 times and laid on 28 assists.

Akliouche was part of Thierry Henry’s France side which collected a silver medal at the 2024 Olympics.

He has represented his country 10 times and was a part of the French squad at the 2026 World Cup.

Akliouche’s arrival bolsters Luis Enrique’s attacking options, following the departures of Goncalo Ramos to AC Milan and Lee Kang-in to Atletico Madrid, while Bradley Barcola’s future remains uncertain with Premier League side Liverpool interested in the winger.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026

Van Bommel, in his first press conference since his appointment late last month, said he jumped at the offer to replace Rudi Garcia as Belgium coach.

“Did I want to wait for the Dutch national team? No, not at all. I didn’t even think about that,” he said on Friday. “As a coach, being in charge of a national team is one of the best jobs there is. You work with the best players in a country. And there aren’t that many really top countries.

“I am very happy to be here. It is different from coaching a club, but this challenge suits me well.

“In the past two years, I have had many offers, but none that I was convinced of. Things have moved very quickly here. Coaching a country, and certainly Belgium, is an honour. Every coach wants to do this.”

Belgium reached the World Cup quarter-finals last month, but Garcia did not have his contract renewed, with Van Bommel, a former defender with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and AC Milan and who played for the Dutch in the 2010 World Cup final, quickly named as his replacement.

Van Bommel, 49, said winning was top of his agenda.

“As a footballer and a coach, you always want to win,” he told reporters. “You don’t know what will happen along the way, but you want to go as far as possible. In the Netherlands, they often say: ‘We are going to be world champions’. However, there are quite a few factors involved.

“So I don’t want to go around shouting that we are going to win the European Championship, even though that is the reason why we are playing.”

Belgium will start first, however, with the Nations League and Van Bommel’s debut as coach is against Italy in Rome on Sept 25, followed by two matches against Turkiye and one against France in the September-October international window.

Van Bommel was repeatedly asked whether he might try to persuade goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who said after the World Cup he wanted a break from the national team, to keep playing.

“We are going to talk to Thibaut first without passing judgment. He has given his opinion, and at this moment, we are not going to decide about it. That wouldn’t be right if you have only spoken to each other once,” he said. “Perhaps he has already revised his opinion. As soon as he is back in full training, we will fly there and talk.”

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026

The battling British winner trailed a set and a double break against the Australian third seed, who folded in the final set of an epic lasting for almost three hours.

De Minaur, who had been the highest remaining seed in a depleted draw, could have closed it out in straight sets with a match point chance in the eighth game of the second set.

The tournament had already seen an early exit from top seed Alexander Zverev, an injury pullout from Canadian second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime and a loss by fourth seed Daniil Medvedev.

The US Open tuneup hardcourt event had already been hit by the absences of world number one Jannik Sinner and 24-time Grand Slam singles champion Novak Djokovic.

The result leaves fifth-seeded holder Ben Shelton as the new man to beat going into the fourth round.

Norrie said he had to win a struggle.

“It was a great match to win and test my level,” said the 2021 Masters champion at Indian Wells. “I can take so much confidence from this one.

“The level was so high in the first set. He came out firing and I had to match it. Alex stayed tough and stole the first set but took his foot off the gas just slightly in the second.

“I just battled point for point and managed to come out 6-1 in the third set. I was fortunate and I’ll take (the win).”

De Minaur, losing finalist in Canada three years ago to Sinner, seized a 4-1 first-set lead to take the opener, winning six of seven games.

Norrie began turning the tide in the second set, levelling with a winning tiebreaker before running away in the third, taking match point 62 minutes after de Minaur blew his match point.

“I was in a good position,” de Minaur said. “It’s tennis. As we’ve seen, anything can happen. It’s not the easiest of conditions out here.

“I gave myself chances early in the third set, and then I just played some bad points in a row and then got behind. It all just went very quickly.”

Norrie will next play Arthur Fils after the Frenchman defeated Mariano Navone 6-3, 6-2, staking his claim for a comeback effort after missing months of play from a year ago and extending to February.

The 44th-ranked Argentine Navone lost his 22nd career match against a top-30 opponent. Fils advanced on his second match point, winning as he overcame 30 unforced errors with a solid serving performance that included four aces and four breaks of the Navone serve.

“I couldn’t put in a serve during warm-up,” the 24th-ranked winner said.

“But I found my rhythm during the match and hit some good spots.”

With no top five players left in the depleted draw, the path is opening for the survivors in French-speaking Canada.

“It has been a tough time for me, I was injured a lot,” Fils said. “But I enjoy being back on the big stage — it means a lot.”

Jiri Lehecka, at eighth the highest seed remaining after Shelton, stayed alive with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Belgian Alexander Blockx.

He will next face Spanish teen Rafael Jodar, the Washington runner-up who beat 13th seed Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-3.

SABALENKA, PEGULA ADVANCE

In the women’s section on Thursday, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the fourth round of the Toronto Masters by defeating China’s Zhang Shuai 6-3, 6-4.

The 28-year-old reigning US Open champion from Belarus, a four-time Grand Slam winner, dropped only seven points on her first serve to advance in 76 minutes.

Sabalenka, with a 38-6 record and three titles this year, struggled to find a rhythm in her return games early.

“I was trying to step in and then I would step back and nothing really clicked,” she said. “In the end I finally started moving a little bit better and finding my rhythm so I’m really happy at the end it really clicked.”

Sabalenka said she enjoys being atop the rankings, a spot she has held for more than 100 weeks in her career.

“I love it. It just means I’m ahead and they have to come up with something crazy to play such tennis and I’m only getting better from that,” Sabalenka said.

“I enjoy being the one being chased. It’s really fun. It’s tough challenges but I love to go thro­u­gh it and it makes me stronger.”

Sabalenka next plays against Russian 16th seed Ekaterina Alex­androva, who eliminated Australian Talia Gibson 5-7, 6-1, 6-3.

Sabalenka leads their personal rivalry 5-4 thanks to a victory this year on Berlin grass, but Alexandrova won their most rec­ent hardcourt match in a third-set tie-breaker last year at Doha.

“Great player. Super aggressive. Fast game. Always have to stay low,” Sabalenka said. “It’s always great battles and a lot of things to work on.”

American third seed Jessica Pegula advanced to the round-of-16 by defeating Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova 6-4, 6-0 in 68 minutes.

Pegula will play for a quarter-final berth against Russian 15th seed Diana Shnaider, who eliminated compatriot Anna Kalin­skaya 6-3, 6-3, in 77 minutes.

Polish seventh seed Iga Swiatek advanced with a 6-2, 6-1 romp over Swiss Viktorija Golubic in 66 minutes, landing 18 winners and losing only 14 points on her serve.

She next faces 10th seed Marta Kostyuk, who dispatched US 19th seed Madison Keys 6-3, 6-1 in 72 minutes.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026

The Chichester City forward, 21, died after suffering a brain injury in a match at Wingate and Finchley, in north London, in September 2025.

It is believed the injury was caused when he collided with a concrete barrier.

The Football Association (FA) carried out a safety review and has published new guidance for lower-league clubs which “no longer permits solid brick, breeze block or concrete barriers around pitches”.

The ruling applies to clubs competing in the National League System for men (steps 1-6) and the Women’s National League (tiers 3-4).

“Any existing solid brick, breeze block or concrete barriers must be removed as soon as reasonably practicable, or covered with suitable protection if they cannot be removed for structural reasons,” the FA said on Friday.

“We have informed the clu­bs at this level that will be required to take action as a result of these changes.”

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026

Rahane, 38, retired from international cricket last week, bringing the curtain down on a career highlighted by his inspirational leadership during India’s 2020-21 Test series triumph in Australia.

But just minutes after he announced his retirement, Rahane said Waugh convinced him to sign up for ETPL franchise Amsterdam Flames, which he co-owns with field hockey player Jamie Dwyer and businessman Tim Thomas.

“The moment I took the call of retirement, I think within five minutes, Steve Waugh called me and he said, ‘Are you interested in playing for me?’,” Rahane said in an interview with AFP.

“I’ve watched him since my younger days. We’ve been in touch for many years now. I said, ‘I was in a different mindset because I just announced my retirement’.”

Rahane decided to take the plunge after discussing the offer with his family.

“That day I spoke to my family. I still wanted to play cricket, so I thought, let’s take this opportunity. Let’s probably create that impact globally,” he said.

Rahane played 85 Tests, 90 One-day Internationals and 20 T20 Internationals for India, but fell out of favour after a dip in form and made his last international appearance in 2023.

His defining moment came during India’s 2020-21 tour of Australia, when regular captain Virat Kohli returned home after the opening Test for the birth of his child.

Rahane stepped in to lead a depleted side after a heavy defeat in the first Test and guided India to victories in Melbourne and Brisbane, securing a memorable 2-1 series win.

The third Test in Sydney ended in a draw.

The soft-spoken middle-order batsman said the tour reinforced lessons about leadership and teamwork.

“I think that series was very special,” Rahane said. “That series taught us a lot. It’s always about the team. It’s never about the individual.

“When you become a captain, the responsibility changes. But the mindset of a leader, for me, was always there. There were many leadership lessons in that series.”

While Rahane hopes to move into coaching and mentoring after his playing days are over, he said the ETPL offered an opportunity to help develop emerging talent in Europe.

Led by Mitchell Marsh, the Amsterdam Flames are one of six ETPL franchises, along with teams based in Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Rotterdam.

The tournament will feature 32 matches between Aug 26 and Sept 20.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026

Before the hour-long practice session on Friday afternoon, no rider had ever set a sub-1min 57sec lap at Silverstone.

Trackhouse Aprilia’s Ai Ogura became the first with just over 10 minutes to go, as he produced a 1min 56.810sec to take over top spot.

But that would not be enough to keep him there, as Aprilia counterpart Marco Bezzecchi produced a 1min 56.280sec at the end of the session to move 0.335s clear of the field.

It was a statement lap from a rider who spent the summer break recovering from a collarbone injury, following a crash in qualifying at the German Grand Prix.

Aprilia looked strong throughout the session, with both Trackhouse riders leading the way at various points, before Bezzecchi took over at the death. Raul Fernandez made an early leap on fresh soft rubber with a 1min 57.779sec with just over half an hour remaining.

But at the chequered flag, Bezzecchi was well over a second quicker than that benchmark.

He led Fernandez, who took over top spot in the closing stages with a 1min 56.615sec, by 0.335sec, while Fabio Di Giannantonio was third on the VR46 Ducati.

Jorge Martin was another to breach the 1min 56sec barrier with a late 1min 56.780sec on his factory team Aprilia, though the championship leader was 0.5sec from team-mate Bezzecchi.

Ogura was the final rider inside the 1min 56sec in fifth, with Marc Marquez underneath the old lap record in sixth on the factory team Ducati with a 1min 57.013sec.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026

Maradona “wouldn’t get out of bed, he didn’t want to eat, he didn’t want to wash, he didn’t want to look after his personal hygiene”, Nicolas Taffarel testified on Thursday.

He claimed that at the time he had alerted the 1986 World Cup winner’s medical team that they should be more present and visit “every day”, as heard in an audio message played in court.

Seven healthcare professionals have been on trial since mid-April in Argentina for potential negligence that may have contributed to the football icon’s death.

“I reported the issues I observed with him, but I saw no concrete action or swift resolution,” added the masseur, on the verge of tears as he spoke of Maradona.

“He was bloated, his legs were swollen...,” Taffarel recounted.

“The doctors told me to calm down, that these symptoms would pass. When you’re anxious, you put your trust in them; you tell yourself it will pass, that everything will sort itself out. But it didn’t pass.”

On Nov 24, the day before Maradona’s death, Taffarel told how he tried in vain to persuade him to come round and drink mate.

“He said to me: ‘I don’t want anything, Taffita, that’s it.’ I asked him: ‘What do you mean, that’s it?’ and he replied: ‘Nothing, that’s it’,” he said, quoting Maradona’s ambiguous words — “ya esta” can be understood as “it’s all right” or “it’s over”.

Maradona died alone in bed the following day at the age of 60 of heart failure and acute pulmonary edema — a condition where fluid accumulates in the lungs — two weeks after undergoing surgery.

The defendants, who face up to 25 years in prison, deny any responsibility.

Most of them cite their specialism and their limited role, which had no direct link to the clinical causes of death, as grounds for their defence.

The trial could run beyond August.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026

India are led by KL Rahul in the three-day game against Sri Lanka Cricket XI that started on Friday at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground in Colombo.

The opening Test will begin on Aug 15 at Galle. The second Test will be played between Aug 23-27 in Colombo.

“Captain Shubman Gill sustained an impact injury to his right ring finger during India’s practice on Thursday,” the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a statement.

“As a precautionary measure, he will not take the field on Day 1 of the warm-up game against SLC XI. The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring his progress.”

The series will be India’s first in the current World Test Championship (WTC) since the 2-0 home defeat to South Africa in November.

India are fifth in the WTC standings, which are led by Australia, with Sri Lanka sixth.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026

Price called for a fight with the American after beating Stephanie Pineiro in April to retain her welterweight world titles, with the pair coming face-to-face after the contest.

Shields, 31, is due to move down to middlewei­ght to challenge Australia’s WBA and WBC champion Kaye Scott in Atlanta on August 15, but said she rem­ained eager to face Price.

“When I look at Lauren fight, she’s very explosive. She’s fast. She got a lot of skill. I can’t wait to get in there and showcase my skills against her,” Shields told the BBC. “I think I will have this fight and I would love to fight again at the end of the year at 160lb [middleweight].

“I thought it was going to Lauren, but I don’t know when Lauren is getting back in the ring. But I think me and her will fight in 2027 in the first quarter.”

The 32-year-old Price told Reuters in April that there was no reason to delay a meeting between the two fighters in their prime, while promoter Ben Shalom later told ESPN the pair could sign a two-fight deal.

However, the Briton has not fought since her victory over Pineiro and momentum around a potential clash with Shields has since cooled.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026

Kruis was initially appointed on July 3 as National Hockey Coaching Advisor and head coach of the national team for an initial two-year period. A few days later, Veldhof was appointed goalkeeping coach.

David Dwyer was also appointed high-performance coach, while Chris Bowen was given the dual role of technical coach and sports psychologist. Adnan Zakir was the only Pakistani among the newly appointed coaches, being named junior talent identification coach.

However, PHF president Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani told Dawn on Friday that Kruis would serve only as national hockey coaching adviser, while Veldhof had been elevated from goalkeeping coach to head coach for the FIH World Cup, to be jointly hosted by the Netherlands and Belgium from Aug 15 to 30.

Asked about the role of former Pakistan captain and Olympian Tahir Zaman, who was appointed Director High Performance on May 21, Mr Wani said he had now become his advisor.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026

PARIS: Beleaguered FIFA president Gianni Infantino has received some much-needed support, after over a week of scathing criticism revolving around the now shelved private investment plan, but also on Friday there was a call for him to resign.

The 56-year-old Italian-Swiss lawyer’s position remains far from assured despite support from friends he has made during his 10 years in power, the Confederation of African Foot­ball (CAF) and the Mexican and Argentinian football federations.

FIFA said it could raise up to $4.2 billion based on a valuation of $20 billion for a new commercial subsidiary, called the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which it proposed would run events such as the World Cup and Club World Cup.

However, old ties have been cut loose.

European football’s governing body, UEFA, who he served as secretary-general from 2009-16, is in open conflict with FIFA and on Thursday doubled down on last Saturday’s statement saying it no longer has “confidence” in Infantino.

Its reaction came in the wake of Infantino gaining the full support of senior FIFA directors — dismissed as those “whose careers depend on his favour” — and UEFA repeated its threat of boycotting the World Cups.

UEFA’s deployment last Thursday of the nuclear option of the boycott is said to have been pivotal in forcing Infantino to shelve the private investment deal.

One of its member associations, the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF), did not beat around the bush and called for him to go immediately.

“We (NFF) are going to ask the FIFA president to resign now,” said its straight-talking president Lise Klaveness on Friday.

Infantino is nigh on certain not to heed such a call and carry on his campaign to be elected for a fourth and final term in Rabat next March.

Infantino, who has spent the past turbulent week amongst friends in Morocco who are co-hosting the 2030 World Cup, is for the moment the only candidate.

The deadline for nominations is Nov 18.

There is also a mechanism whereby an extraordinary FIFA congress can be called and a vote of no confidence in Infantino held.

Klaveness, also a lawyer, would be many people’s choices as a successor, and also the first woman to be head of world football.

However, Klaveness told AFP her personal ambitions had not played a role in demanding Infantino’s resignation.

“We’re not there yet,” said Klaveness. “For us, it’s now about the issues I just mentioned, and not about particular individuals.

“It would be strange for me to start answering questions about myself, and that goes for everyone,” the 45-year-old added.

‘PUBLIC LYNCHING’

North and Central America’s governing body CONCACAF’s president Victor Montagliani has been the most oft-cited name in terms of challenging Infantino.

CONCACAF — which includes the three co-hosts of the recent World Cup — had been along with UEFA the most brutal in their taking down of Infantino even after the humiliating climbdown last Saturday when he withdrew the proposal.

CONCACAF had called for “a comprehensive reckoning with this presidency”.

However, there has been radio silence from CONCACAF since the latest FIFA statement was issued late on Wednesday following Infantino hosting an emergency meeting of senior directors in Morocco.

The Asian Football Confe­deration (AFC) had also been critical of the manner in which the plan had been handled but like CONCACAF kept its own counsel following the FIFA statement.

Far from Infantino keeping the plan to himself some of those FIFA directors present in Morocco are reported by the New York Times to have been made aware of the proposal at a meeting on the eve of the World Cup final last month.

Infantino, who has moved on to Colombia where he will attend the inauguration of the hard-right president Abelardo de la Espriella, is not without support, though, and some stepped forward publicly.

One of CONCACAF’s most powerful members Mexico — one of the World Cup co-hosts — may have been unhappy over the plan but now it is no longer in play they have swung behind him.

“The FMF (Mexican Football Federation) supports president Infantino’s leadership,” it said in a statement.

CAF’s executive committee “unanimously reconfirmed its support” for the FIFA president in a statement following a meeting on Thursday.

The body’s decision will have pleased South Africa’s sports minister Gayton McKenzie, who had urged African football to resist what he called the “public lynching” of Infantino.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026

McCullum was sacked from his role in charge of the red-ball side last month after a woeful Ashes campaign was followed by a 2-1 series loss at home to New Zealand, but he remains in charge of England’s limited-overs teams.

England are now reverting to a split coaching set-up with Fleming — like McCullum a former captain of New Zealand — taking over for the tour of South Africa later this year that follows a home series against Pakistan.

Former batsman Fleming, 53, made his name as a coach in the Indian Premier League, leading Chennai Super Kings to five titles.

“The ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) has done incredibly well to get someone who has options all round the world,” McCullum told Sky Sports. “To get someone [like him] to commit to English cricket for the period he has is an outstanding achievement.

“I had a great time for those four years and now it’s heading in a different direction. Flem will be excellent. He’s a little bit like me, but better.”

McCullum believes he can work closely with Fleming to avoid disputes over the availability of multi-format players such as Test captain Joe Root and white-ball skipper Harry Brook.

“Flem and I talk pretty much every day, we’re close mates and we’ve done a lot together. He’s one of those guys I trust completely,” said McCullum.

“We have good robust conversations and both of us just want what’s right for English cricket. We want to be able to set this thing up so England is successful across all three formats of the game.

“That is going to take some give and some take at times, but we both understand that and we are going to try and work very closely together.”

Former England batsman Marcus Trescothick will be the interim head coach for the three-Test series against Pakistan starting at Headingley on Aug 19.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026

With the series decided in their favour, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) fielded its U-21 side in the final match to give its youngsters valuable exposure against South Korea’s senior team.

South Korea made a flying start, scoring twice through penalty corners in the opening five minutes. Rim Jinkang converted in the third minute before Kim Hyeonhong doubled the lead two minutes later.

Pakistan reduced the deficit in the second quarter when Muhammad Ahmed scored a field goal in the 19th minute. South Korea, however, maintained its 2-1 advantage at halftime.

The visitors dominated the third quarter, scoring three successive penalty-corner goals. Lim Dohyun struck twice, in the 37th and 40th minutes, while Kim Hyeonhong added another in the 42nd to give South Korea a commanding 5-1 lead.

Pakistan pulled one back in the 43rd minute through Ghulam Mustafa’s field goal, but South Korea restored its four-goal advantage when Kim Yong Bok scored in the 54th minute to complete the 6-2 victory.

Pakistan had secured the four-match series after winning the first three Tests, prompting the PHF to hand an opportunity to its U-21 players in the final game. The junior side had recently returned from Oman, where it swept the hosts 3-0 in a series.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026

KARACHI: The Pakis­tan Stock Exchange (PSX) stalled on Friday, ending a two-session recovery rally, as the benchmark index faced selling pressure amid investor profit-booking ahead of the weekend.

Topline Securities Ltd said the benchmark KSE-100 index remained under pressure for most of the trading session, although buying interest emerged in the final hours, enabling it to recover some losses. The index ultimately closed at 181,430.02 points, down 346.57 points or 0.19 per cent.

The negative sentiment was primarily driven by the rebound in international oil prices, prompting investors to book profits ahead of the weekend.

Engro Holdings, United Bank, MCB Bank, Engro Fertiliser, and Fatima Fertiliser were the largest drags, collectively shaving 331 points off the benchmark index.

Investor participation weakened as the trading volume dipped 9.74pc to 716 million shares, while the traded value fell 15.40pc to R34.1 billion. Cnergyico PK topped the volume chart with 161 million shares traded.

Ali Najib, Deputy Head of Trading at Arif Habib Ltd, said the market opened on a subdued note, with the benchmark index touching an intraday high of 181,647. However, early gains were erased in the second half as investors squared off positions ahead of the weekend, resulting in a marginally negative close.

Mari Energies reported record FY26 earnings of Rs87bn, with 4QFY26 earnings per share (EPS) of Rs31.2, up 99pc year-on-year, driven by higher oil prices, increased production from the HRL field, the commencement of output from Spinwam, and a tax reversal.

Analysts anticipate the market will remain range-bound in the near term as investors await new macroeconomic and corporate catalysts. Ongoing easing of geopolitical tensions, stable oil prices, and the earnings season are expected to support the market, while profit-taking at higher levels could keep the benchmark volatile.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026

The decision was announced in the 102nd board of directors meeting held on Friday, and the first to follow the transition to private management.

The board of directors of Pakistan International Airlines Corporation Ltd (PIACL) has approved a performance bonus equivalent to one month’s basic salary for airline employees.

A spokesman for PIA said in a press release that the strategic decision reflects the new leadership’s immediate priority to invest in human capital and align the workforce with the airline’s broader transformation and growth strategy.

Commenting on the decision, the PIA management highlighted that the gesture aims to recognise staff dedication while energising teams for upcoming operational milestones, route revivals, and service enhancements.

“Our workforce is the backbone of PIACL revival,” remarked the chairman of the board.

“By prioritising employee welfare and motivation from day one, we are building a foundation of excellence, accountability, and commercial viability to take the national flag carrier to new heights.”

The decision marks a strong, positive start for the new management, setting a clear trajectory towards operational reliability, customer-centric service delivery, and sustainable corporate growth.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026

He suggested a roadmap calling for working towards a ‘Welfare GDP’ measure, saying it does require a smarter pooling of existing indicators, including Gross National Disposable Income (GNDI), per capita growth, the relationship between income and production, and distribution-weighted growth.

Zafar Masud delivered a lecture at Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) on Thursday, titled ‘Measuring Welfare-GDP Beyond Arithmetic’.

In his articulate discourse, he posed a question: “If Pakistan’s economy is growing at 3.7 per cent, why does that growth not register at the household level?”

Says rich gain 9.9pc, poor lose ground; slams IMF reforms

He laid out his case using five years of data, spanning FY21 to FY25. He showed that over the five years, headline GDP grew by 18.8pc.

However, once population growth was factored in, the GDP growth fell to 9.6pc, and once he adjusted for how income is actually distributed and what price the poor pay for food and fuel, the bottom 40pc of households, the poor decile, were found to be 3.0pc worse off overall, he explained.

Mr Masud also said that the wealthiest segment of the population captured cumulative welfare gains of 9.9pc.

Even remittances, which add roughly $42 billion a year that headline GDP does not count, only pushed growth up to 13.1pc, still leaving Pakistan’s poorest no better off than they were five years ago. He also cited labour market strains, including a dependency ratio of four people relying on a single income earner, and a labour force participation rate of only 45pc.

Drawing comparisons with Argentina, Greece and Sri Lanka, which faced steeper crises than Pakistan’s but succeeded in steadily bringing down inflation, he argued that there is reason for cautious optimism.

He cited the UK, the US, and Sweden as examples of nations whose prosperity was not built overnight but through what he termed an “anchored compact”: credible rules that lower the cost of capital and, over time, lift living standards broadly.

His most telling point was, “Stability is visible, and welfare is not.” He said he is not opposed to macroeconomic stability, but is critical of the way successive governments have blindly followed lenders’ prescriptions.

He was critical of the IMF’s continued emphasis on stability over growth, suggesting that as long as Pakistan operates within that framework alone, sustainable economic transformation will remain out of reach.

He outlined five reforms that he believes can reset the trajectory. They are: moving out of the stabilisation trap through honest fiscal accounting, redirecting capital toward high-return sectors such as agriculture, SMEs and capital markets, competing globally on productivity, and ensuring long-term policy predictability for investors and citizens alike.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026

Short-term inflation has steadily risen, mainly driven by a sustained increase in daily petroleum prices over the past week, which has increased transportation costs and is also reflected in the prices of essential food items.

On a week-on-week basis, the index increased by 0.28pc, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

Meanwhile, the National Price Monitoring Committee, headed by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal reviewed inflation trends and reported a deceleration in monthly inflation. The minister also ordered a nationwide survey of loose edible oil, ghee and milk over the increasing incidents of cardiovascular diseases and other non-communicable illnesses, particularly among younger Pakistanis.

Planning minister orders loose food survey after 36pc packaged food samples fail

Quality assessment

The Ministry of Science and Technology presented a quality assessment report to the committee on packaged edible oil, ghee and milk products.

A total of 491 samples of packaged edible oil, ghee and milk products were collected and tested by PCSIR, with the consolidated findings submitted by PSQCA.

Of these, 315 samples were found conforming to the prescribed national quality standards, while 176 samples failed to meet the required specifications, indicating a non-conformance rate of approximately 36pc.

The report showed that 98 out of 204 banaspati ghee samples, 40 out of 146 blended cooking oil samples, 26 out of 104 packaged liquid milk samples, 8 out of 18 milk powder samples, three out of four refined palm oil samples, and one out of 13 refined canola oil samples failed to conform to the prescribed standards.

To ensure a thorough scientific evaluation of the findings, a specialised technical sub-committee was constituted to critically analyse the laboratory findings and submit evidence-based recommendations to the committee for appropriate regulatory and policy action.

Iqbal directed that the next phase of the exercise should focus on the quality assessment of loose edible oil, ghee and milk, which were not included in the laboratory testing of packaged products.

He instructed all provincial governments, regional administrations, and relevant authorities to undertake a comprehensive nationwide survey of these loose food items, identify regional quality patterns, determine the causes of quality deficiencies, and recommend practical measures to strengthen food safety standards, regulatory oversight, and consumer protection.

The committee also reviewed the country’s inflation outlook, monthly and weekly price trends, wholesale-retail price differentials, international and domestic prices of essential commodities, LPG prices and the implementation status of previous decisions.

The committee was informed that natural gas remained the largest contributor to inflation, while housing, wheat flour, fresh milk and petrol continued to exert upward pressure on prices. Conversely, lower prices of sugar, potatoes and chicken helped moderate overall inflation.

It reviewed international price trends of major commodities to assess their potential implications for domestic markets.

The items whose prices increased the most over the previous week included onions (10.14pc), chicken (9.19pc), pulse gram (2.43pc), chilli powder (1.01pc), mustard oil (0.99pc), tea Lipton (0.57pc), wheat flour (0.52pc), vegetable ghee 1kg (0.37pc), firewood (0.32pc) and washing soap (0.08pc).

The items whose prices declined week-on-week included tomatoes (6.82pc), LPG (1.90pc), diesel (1.66pc), bananas (1.20pc), petrol (0.63pc), sugar (0.51pc), bread plain (0.29pc), and eggs & potatoes (0.09pc) each.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026

Brent crude futures were up 93 cents, or 1.14 per cent, at $83.42 a barrel at 1:14 p.m. CDT (1814 GMT). West Texas Inter­mediate futures rose 96 cents, or 1.24pc, to $78.25.

Oil futures had settled more than $3 a barrel higher on Thursday as Iran reviewed a bill to ban US and Israeli vessels from the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas normally pas­sed before the war began at the end of February.

Oil prices fell earlier in the week as a possible solution to the conflict looked more likely, and both benchmarks are on course for a weekly loss of more than 9pc.

“The market is trying to assess if an Iran-Oman ag­­reement would allow a US-flagged vessel to transit the Strait of Hormuz,” said Andrew Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associa­tes. “Would it allow a US-ow­­ned vessel to go through? Would it allow a vessel headed for a US port to go through?”

Both Iran and Oman are said to have agreed on the route ships would take through the strait betwe­en their two countries.

The oil market is also trying to determine how long it might take to end the 5-month-old war between the US, Israel and Iran, Lipow said.

“The longer the supply disruption goes, the longer the world’s commercial reserves are being drawn down,” he said.

Analysts also said that this week’s developments have signalled that hostilities between Iran and the US are not yet over.

Iran is seeking fees of between 5pc and 7pc of the price of cargoes from ships using the strait, a senior Ira­­nian official said. Oman, meanwhile, is discussing fees of about 3pc while Wa­­shington wants no fees at all.

Four industry sources have said the proposed deal is not easily workable because of US sanctions and restrictive insurance clauses on any payments.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026

Spokesman for All Pakistan Goods Transport Itehad and All Pakistan Goods Transport Owners Association President Mohammad Owais Chaudhry Advocate told Dawn that the talks with Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan and other government officials have failed.

He said the negotiations ended without a breakthrough, prompting the transporters, including the edible oil tankers, petroleum oil tankers, trucks, trailers and other intercity loading vehicles, to proceed with their previously announced strike.

“We have informed the government side about the problems we are facing and our concerns,” Mr Chaudhry said, adding that the strike would continue until their demands were accepted.

Talks fail over axle-load limit; minister promises fresh round on Monday

However, the minister has promised the transporters that he would discuss their demands in the next round on Monday morning.

The unified body of the transporters had already announced that they would commence their wheel jam strike from Aug 8, and threatened that it would not be a token strike but would last indefinitely.

“Commercial goods carriers across the country have already started to be off the road, and they would be stationed at our designated places during the protest period,” Mr Chaudhry said.

Among their key demands are uniform enforcement of the axle-load limit nationwide and permission for 10-wheel vehicles to carry up to 35 tonnes.

They have also demanded reductions in diesel prices and toll taxes, and sought relief from withholding tax to reduce the financial burden on the transport sector.

The transporters have called for the withdrawal of customs provisions that, according to the association, allow authorities to confiscate vehicles carrying goods found in violation of customs laws.

Other demands include withdrawal of the Punjab Highway Patrol’s powers to issue challans to commercial vehicles, an end to what the association described as unnecessary challans and excessive fines on motorways and highways, and measures to facilitate the issuance of heavy transport vehicle licences to drivers.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026

“On the closing date, the commission received 12 Expressions of Interest (EoIs) from prospective investors seeking to acquire 51 to 100pc shareholding in Fesco together with management control.

The EoIs came from three Turkish, one Chinese and eight local investors.

The three from Turkiye include Aktor Elektrik Enerji Yatrmlar San. ve Tic. A.., Genvera Enerji A.. (Celik Group) and Cengiz Enerji Sanayii ve Ticaret A.. The EoI from China was submitted by Jiang Xi Electric Power Construction.

12 Turkish, Chinese, local firms submit EoIs

The remaining eight Pakistani groups include Engro Energy Ltd, Sapphire Fibres Ltd; Hub Power Holdings and Lucky Cement; Shirazi Investments (Pvt) Ltd (Atlas group); Maple Leaf Cement and Kohinoor Textile; Nishat Mills Ltd and Pak Elektron Ltd; Artistic Milliners (Private) Ltd; and K-Electric.

The commission welcomed interest from leading business groups in entering the power distribution business and appreciated the investor community’s extensive engagement during the domestic and international road shows over the past six months.

“This is an important milestone in the privatisation of Discos. The strong response reflects investor confidence in the potential of Pakistan’s electricity distribution sector and in the government’s commitment to a transparent, competitive and professionally managed process,” said Muhammad Ali, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation and Chairman, Privatisation Commission.

“The commission now looks forward to engaging constructively with the prequalified investors through the due-diligence process and discussing the contours of the post-privatisation regime.

The privatisation is intended to improve operational efficiency, modernise distribution infrastructure, strengthen customer service, reduce losses and support a more financially sustainable power sector.

Over time, these measures will help create the conditions for more competitive electricity distribution and affordable, reliable power for consumers,” he added.

The EoIs and Statements of Qualification (SOQs) submitted by the interested parties will now undergo a comprehensive evaluation against the approved prequalification criteria.

Applicants meeting the prescribed requirements will be prequalified and invited to the next stage of the transaction, where they will be granted access to the Virtual Data Room (VDR) to undertake detailed buy-side due diligence.

Fesco is among the three electricity distribution companies in Disco Batch-I privatisation, alongside Gujranwala Electric Power Company (Gepco) and Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco). The deadlines for submission of EoIs for Gepco and Iesco are Aug 21 and Sept 7, respectively.

The commission said it would ensure an open, transparent and competitive privatisation process, undertaken in the public interest and in support of the government’s wider power-sector reform agenda.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026

Speaking at a press conference, NLF Balochistan General Secretary Umar Hayat said the province had 196 mining companies operating nearly 3,000 coal mines, yet only 17 mine inspectors were responsible for monitoring safety standards, describing the number as “grossly inadequate”.

He said the victims were the sole breadwinners for their families, noting that 24 of the deceased belonged to the same village, while six were from a single family, including three brothers, a cousin and two close relatives.

Labour federation says shortage of inspectors, failure to comply with standards put miners’ lives at risk

He added that the latest incident was the third major accident in the past two years involving the same mine owners’ group.

Mr Hayat criticised the state of emergency response services, claiming that several ambulances used to transport the bodies were in poor condition, with some lacking functional air conditioning, while others were transported on the roofs of Hiace vans, calling it “a violation of human dignity”.

He demanded the immediate ratification and implementation of ILO Convention 176 on Safety and Health in Mines, along with the establishment of an independent, high-powered inquiry commission to investigate the Sorange mine disaster and identify those responsible.

He also called for the mandatory installation of modern gas monitoring systems, proper ventilation, emergency exits, rescue equipment and certified safety gear in every mine. The chief inspector of Mines and the Mines Inspectorate, he said, should be granted administrative autonomy, modern equipment and adequate staffing.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: The country’s two leading lawyers’ bodies on Friday adopted differing approaches to the debate over the creation of new provinces, with the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) throwing its weight behind Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s proposal and the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) insisting that any such move be pursued strictly within the constitutional framework, through parliamentary process and with national consensus.

Recently, while addressing the Pakistan Economic Summit 2026, the interior minister urged all political parties to resolve key national issues, including the creation of new provinces, saying it was the only solution to improving the country’s overall condition, which he said had now collapsed.

Speaking at the Full Court Reference held at the Supreme Court in honour of Justice Musarrat Hilali on the occasion of her retirement, SCBA President Haroonur Rashid said the association endorsed and supported the proposal to create new provinces.

The reference, presided over by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi, was attended by Supreme Court judges in person as well as through video link. The event was also attended by Additional Attorney General Chaudhry Aamir Rehman, representatives of the SCBA and PBC, senior members of the legal fraternity, officers of the court, media representatives, and other distinguished guests.

The SCBA president said the association believes that any constitutional measure to create more provinces would be a step towards enhanced governance through devolution and equitable administration at the grassroots level, creation of equal opportunities for balanced economic development, and stronger political stability in the country. He said the creation of more provinces would also help improve the standard of living by addressing the economic hardships faced by the people.

Meanwhile, the PBC, the apex representative body of the legal fraternity, in its 250th meeting held on Friday, said it firmly believed that all constitutional matters must be addressed strictly within the framework of the Constitution.

The PBC deliberated on the issue of creating new administrative units/provinces and, through a resolution, reaffirmed that the legal fraternity remained committed to upholding the Constitution. It said members unanimously believed that the question of creating new provinces should be considered in accordance with constitutional principles and procedures.

The resolution emphasised that all political parties, irrespective of their differences, should act in the larger national interest and initiate a comprehensive and meaningful dialogue for the betterment of the country and its people.

The PBC further resolved that if the establishment of new provinces is considered necessary, it must be carried out strictly in accordance with the Constitution through due parliamentary process and national consensus.

The council also authorised its Vice Chairman Pir Muhammad Masood Chishti and the chairman of its Executive Committee to organise a national seminar by inviting leaders of all parliamentary political parties as well as representatives of the provincial bar councils for a meaningful dialogue aimed at developing a broad-based national consensus.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026

Political and business lea­­ders in both cities of Ba­­lochistan confirmed the de­­velopment, saying the measures effectively amo­unt to a night-time curfew. They warned that the rest­rictions would create difficulties for the general public.

Government officials, however, maintained that no formal curfew has been imposed. They described the measures as a precautionary night-time lockdown implemented becau­­se of security concerns.

Balochistan Home Minis­­ter Mir Ziaullah Langove said no notification had been issued imposing a curfew in any city of the province.

Hafiz Qasim Lehri, a me­­mber of the central gen­­eral council of JUI-F, said traders had been asked to shut their shops at 6pm, while residents were inst­ructed to remain indoors from 10pm to 7am. “In practical terms, a night curfew has been imposed in Kalat,” he said.

Qadir Bakhsh Mengal, a BNP leader, said the entry and exit routes to Kalat had also been closed.

In Khuzdar, a senior tra­der said officials from the administration and police had visited the city and ins­tructed shopkeepers to clo­se their businesses. He said the authorities cited se­­curi­­ty threats, explaining that the rest­r­i­ctions were inten­ded to prevent civilian casualties in the event of an emergency operation.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: The National Account­abi­lity Bureau (NAB) on Friday urged the government to withdraw a restriction that prevents it from taking action against government officials accused of corruption involving less than Rs500 million.

“Untie our hands and withdraw the Rs500m restriction; otherwise, people [government officials] will become addicted to committing corruption,” NAB Chairman retired Lt Gen Nazir Ahmed said during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice.

Under the amended NAB law, the anti-graft watchdog cannot take up cases involving amounts below Rs500m. As a result, a large number of cases it had been pursuing were transferred to other departments, such as the Federal Investigation Agency.

Mr Ahmed said that because of the restriction, a station house officer (SHO) of the police enjoyed more powers than a NAB investigation officer.

A NAB prosecutor general read out the amended law governing the anti-graft body, saying the bureau could not take action against members of the federal or provincial cabinets or their committees.

At this, committee chairman Senator Farooq Naek said that although NAB could not act against cabinet decisions or those of its committees, it could proceed against individuals who violated those decisions or engaged in corrupt practices.

He said NAB had been established to investigate mega corruption cases, such as the Rs1.20 trillion Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project, on which Rs513bn had been spent. It had now emerged, he said, that the design prepared by the National Engineering Services Pakistan (Nespak) was faulty.

“It is a joke played on the people of Pakistan. We all know that corruption was committed during the construction of roads,” he added.

JUI-F Senator Kamran Murtaza, also a member of the committee, said the Rs500m threshold should also be withdrawn in cases involving politicians.

The NAB chairman said the media usually highlighted cases involving politicians more vigorously than other corruption cases.

However, he said politicians accounted for six per cent of the country’s overall corruption, while government officials were responsible for 11pc.

‘Private sector’

“We are always asked to pursue cases against politicians. However, the private sector, including the sugar mafia, accounts for more than 45pc of the country’s total corruption,” he added.

The committee chairman asked why NAB did not take action against officials of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the police. Mr Ahmed replied that the FBR did not fall within NAB’s jurisdiction.

Senator Abdul Qadir urged NAB to investigate the petroleum sector, where wells had been drilled for oil and gas exploration over the past 20 years without any production.

“If NAB takes action on this, millions of people could benefit from cheaper oil and gas,” he added.

The committee also received a detailed briefing from NAB, during which its chairman claimed the bureau had recovered assets worth $64bn, including state and private land.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026

GILGIT: The search operation to recover the remains of Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi and two foreign climbers missing after the deadly Broad Peak avalanche has been suspended due to the continuing risk of fresh avalanches, rescue officials said on Friday.

Search teams spent eight days trying to locate the rem­ains of Sohail Sakhi, American climber Sarah Mallory Geis, and Nepalese climber Nawang Thindu Sherpa before deteriorating conditions forced authorities to halt the mission.

Ayaz Shigri, General Secre­t­a­­ry of the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP), said a leg believed to belong to Geis had earlier been recovered. He added that Nawang Thindu Sherpa’s body has been located but cannot be retrieved because it lies in a highly dangerous, avalanche-prone area. He said rescue efforts would resume once weather conditions improve and the area is safe.

ACP President Major Gen-eral (retd) Irfan Arshad Khan also confirmed the suspension, saying rescue teams would return to Broad Peak when conditions permit.

Meanwhile, the bodies of five foreign climbers killed in the Bro­ad Peak avalanche were flown from Skardu to Islamabad on a private airline flight on Fri­day for repatriation. They were received by Airport Mana­ger Aftab Ali Shah Gillani, ASF Chief Security Officer Mu­­ham­mad Rashid, and other officials before being transfer­red to the mortuary at the Pims, where they will remain until repatriation arrangements are completed.

The bodies had been airlifted from Broad Peak Base Camp to Skardu and temporarily kept at the CMH, Skardu. Mr Khan said the deceased climbers were wrap­ped in their national flags bef­o­­re being handed over to airport au­­thorities by the Pakistan Army.

The remiains of three climbers will be repatriated to Nepal, while Purja’s body will be sent to the UK. Meanwhile, Chinese climber Zhong’s family is expected in Islamabad to collect his body.

With input from Mohammad Asghar

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026