Football’s global governing body said in a statement that money shared between the 48 teams taking part in the finals in Mexico, Canada and the United States would now total $871 million, up from an initial figure of $727 million announced in December.

The cash injection was announced following a meeting of FIFA’s ruling council ahead of the body’s Congress taking place in Vancouver on Thursday.

The hefty increase comes after several FIFA members reportedly argued that the high cost of travel, tax and overall operations could result in them losing money from taking part in the tournament.

FIFA has now moved to alleviate those concerns, hiking an award of $1.5 million for “preparation costs” to $2.5 million for each of the qualified teams.

A payment of $9 million for qualifying for the tournament has also been increased to $10 million.

Further contributions for team delegation costs and increased team ticketing allocations are also part of the overall increase.

“FIFA is proud to be in its most solid financial position ever, enabling us to help all our member associations in an unprecedented way,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in a statement. “This is one more example of how FIFA’s resources are reinvested back into the game.”

FIFA is projected to earn around $13 billion from the current four-year World Cup cycle, which concludes with this year’s tournament, the largest World Cup in history.

FIFA’s prize money for the 2026 tournament announced last year had already shattered the cash handed out at the 2022 World Cup, increasing by 50 per cent.

The increase in cash payments comes with FIFA increasingly under fire for the high cost of tickets to the tournament, while some local authorities in the United States have dramatically raised transport costs during the event.

FIFA, meanwhile, also confirmed law changes which will be rolled out at the World Cup, which kicks off in Mexico City on June 11.

From now on, players who cover their mouths during confrontations with opponents will face a red card as part of a new initiative aimed at combating racism.

In a statement following a meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in Vancouver on Tuesday, FIFA confirmed that the rule was one of two law changes that would be introduced at the World Cup.

“At the discretion of the competition organiser, any player covering their mouth in a confrontational situation with an opponent may be sanctioned with a red card,” FIFA said.

The new rule follows controversy earlier this year when Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni was accused of racially abusing Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior during a Champions League game in February.

Prestianni was accused of calling Vinicius a “monkey” repeatedly while covering his mouth. Prestianni denied racially abusing Vinicius but was later banned for six matches — with three of those suspended — for “homophobic conduct”.

In a separate law change announced on Tuesday to be enforced at the World Cup, FIFA said that red cards would also be introduced for players leaving the field of play in protest at a referee’s decision.

FIFA also said a team causing a game to be abandoned will forfeit the match.

The move follows the uproar at this year’s final of the Africa Cup of Nations, when Senegal’s players, head coach Pape Thiaw and his staff walked off the pitch in Rabat after Morocco were awarded a penalty in added time, which forward Brahim Diaz ultimately missed.

Senegal went on to win the final 1-0 in extra time, but were sensationally stripped of the title by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in a bombshell decision issued last month.

FIFA has also approved a change to the way sanctions are enforced during the World Cup.

From this year’s tournament, single yellow cards issued to players in the group stage will be cancelled after the first round, and then again after the quarter-finals.

The move is aimed at ensuring that star players do not find themselves suspended for crucial games in the tournament after collecting two separate yellow cards.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026

English clubs dominated the European Cup, now known as the Champions League, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, with two triumphs for Forest and one for Villa.

But the clubs — just 50 miles (80 kilometres) apart in the English Midlands — have had contrasting seasons as they prepare for the first leg on Thursday.

Unai Emery’s Villa are on course for a return to Europe’s top club competition after a strong Premier League campaign.

Forest, by contrast, remain at risk of relegation, though the club have turned a corner under Vitor Pereira, who is their fourth manager during a chaotic campaign.

The club are unbeaten in eight games in all competitions, reaching a first European semi-final in 42 years.

A 5-0 demolition of Sunderland last week followed a 4-1 victory over Burnley, with goals suddenly flowing for a side that had been blunt under Nuno Espirito Santo, Ange Postecoglou and Sean Dyche.

“Everyone is scoring, which makes us happy,” said Pereira. “It’s a good feeling. We’re eight games unbeaten now, and it’s important to keep this mentality.”

Forest’s heyday came under Brian Clough, who masterminded back-to-back European Cups in 1979 and 1980, while Villa were continental champions two years later.

But both teams have been starved of success in the decades since, which have included spells in the lower tiers of English football.

EMERY PEDIGREE

Villa have flourished since Emery joined the club in 2022 and are favourites to end their 30-year wait for a major trophy, with Freiburg or Braga awaiting the winners in next month’s final in Istanbul.

Two years ago Villa reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Conference League in their first taste of European competition for 13 years.

Last season they gave Paris St-Germain a scare before bowing out 5-4 on aggregate to the eventual winners in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

And Emery is no stranger to Europa League glory, having won the second-tier competition four times during his spells at Sevilla and Villarreal.

Emery said he wanted to write a “new chapter” with Villa.

“We are going to try to use our experiences to try to get better in this one,” the Spaniard said at his pre-match press conference on Wednesday.

“But of course I know how difficult it is to win a semi-final, because it is 50/50 between both teams, and they have as well, good players, a good coa­ch, experienced coach in Europe.

“They have as well, I think their momentum, feeling confidence in the moment they are (in).”

“In football, everything you were doing before — maybe it’s fantastic, maybe not — but it’s done, and now is a new chapter, and I want to write a new chapter here.”

Winning the Europa League would give Forest access to the Champions League for the first time since 1980, when they were the holders.

The dreams of a clutch of other Premier League clubs could depend on the performance of Emery’s men.

Should Villa win the Europa League and finish fifth, the sixth-placed team in the Prem­ier League would qualify for the Champions League.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026

Shoaib cruised past Edoardo Cherie Ligniere of Italy 6-1, 6-3, while Barkatullah rallied to defeat compatriot Yousaf Khalil 1-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Top seed Leo Borg of Sweden, son of tennis great Bjorn Borg, downed Pakistan’s veteran Aqeel Khan 7-6(7/4), 6-3.

In men’s doubles, the young Pakistani pair of Abubakar Talha and Ahmad Nael Qureshi fought back after dropping the first set to beat Russian duo of Egor Khotchenkov and Dmitrii Shirokii 5-7, 6-2, 10-5.

Other Pakistan’s doubles success saw Aqeel and Barkat Khan thrash Poland’s Adam Bajurko and Lawrence Bataljin of Australia 6-0, 6-1.

Results (first-round):

Men’s singles: Darrshan Suresh (Malaysia) bt Melih Anavatan (Turkiye) 6-4, 6-3, Arvid Nordquist (Sweden) bt Carl Holder (Britain) 6-4, 7-6(7/0), Samir Hamza Reguig (Algeria) bt Andrei Kunitsyn (Russia) 7-5, 2-6, 7-6(7/4), Alexey Dubinin (Russia) bt Adam Bajurko (Poland) 6-3, 6-3, Mert Naci Turker (Turkiye) bt Stevan Popovic (Germany) 6-7(5/7), 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/3)

Men’s doubles: Essa Qabazard (Kuwait)/Darrshan Suresh (Malaysia) bt Arkhip Kozlov (Russia)/Abdulaziz Usmonjonov (Uzbekistan) 7-5, 6-3, Adam Farag-Cao (Canada)/Carl Holder (Britain) bt Nikita Ianin/Andrei Kunitsyn (Russia) 3-6, 7-6(7/3), 10-6, Tugra Duran/Mert Naci Türker (Turkiye) bt Yousaf Khalil/Muhammad Shoaib (Pakistan) 6-4, 6-4.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026

PARIS: Paris St-Germain coach Luis Enrique admitted his team will likely need to score several more goals away to Bayern Munich next week to be sure of reaching another Champions League final after a remarkable 5-4 victory in the first leg of their semi-final on Tuesday.

In a match that will go down as a classic, PSG came from a goal down to lead 5-2 with two goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembele before Bayern struck twice in three minutes just before the hour to improve their chances for next week’s return leg in Munich.

The match pitted the most attacking Champions League teams of the season against each other and it quickly lived up to its billing with a relentless pace and with Bayern coach Vincent Kompany in the stands, serving out a suspension, and his assistant Aaron Danks in the dugout.

“I just asked my staff how many goals they thought we would need next week and we all think we will need to score at least three,” said the Spaniard, who masterminded PSG’s 5-0 triumph over Inter Milan in last season’s final.

That allowed them to win the Champions League for the first time in their history and next Wednesday’s semi-final second leg will be their first visit to the Allianz Arena since then.

“Bayern will of course be in their stadium and will be even stronger with their fans behind them but going back there will bring back beautiful memories for us. We want to have the same mentality and will go out to try to win the game.”

Tuesday’s thriller was the high­est scoring semi-final match in the modern Champions League era — you have to go back to 1960 to find the last game as prolific at this stage of the European Cup.

That was a 6-3 win for Eintracht Frankfurt away to Rangers, before the Germans lost 7-3 in the final to Alfredo di Stefano’s Real Madrid.

“The intensity of the game throughout was exceptional,” said Enrique.

“We won it and we are very pleased, but at 5-2 we thought we could have had a better result.

“We desverved to win, but we also deserved to draw and lose!”

‘FOOTBALL IS LIKE RELIGION’

A crazy first-half at the Parc des Princes saw Harry Kane give Bayern the lead with an early penalty, and become the first English player to net in six successive Champions League fixtures.

“You saw two high-level teams in attacking play and transition. Overall, we look at their goals, the penalty was harsh but we could have killed the game earlier on,” Kane told the UK’s Amazon Prime.

“We fought and we clawed and we’re back in the tie… We go to the Allianz with nothing to lose, we’re at our best when we’re intense and physical. It’ll be who takes their moments next week, with the crowd behind us, we hope that can push us over the line.”

Kvaratskhelia and Joao Neves strike for the hosts and Michael Olise then make it 2-2, only for a Dembele penalty to put PSG back ahead at the interval.

Kvaratskhelia and Dembele then both scored for PSG before the hour mark, leaving them seemingly out of sight at 5-2, but Dayot Upamecano and Luis Diaz pulled goals back for Bayern.

That ensures it will be game on next week, and there is a strong chance this tie could become the most prolific ever in the Champions League.

The record for most goals in a two-legged tie in Europe’s elite club competition is 13, including in last season’s semi-final in which Inter beat Barcelona 7-6 on aggregate.

“I was proud of how we reacted at 5-2. It was incredible how the players fought back,” said Bayern coach Vincent Kompany, who had to watch from the stands due to suspension, an experience he described as a “catastrophe”.

Asked about the attacking approach of the two teams, he added: “Football is a bit like religion — people believe what they believe, and there is not one style of play that is superior to another.

“What happened today was a clash of two similar ideas — normally in these situations you have one team that starts to sit back a bit but neither team wanted to do that and that is why the match was how it was,” he said.

Bayern will hope to overturn their one-goal deficit next week as they look to reach a first Cham­pions League final since 2020.

“It can’t come quick enough,” Kompany said of the return leg.

“There is not much in it and we just need to win the game. The weight of our stadium can make a difference. It is a legendary venue where Bayern have had so many great successes.”

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026

The 27-year-old, who is competing at Romandie for the first time, started the day in sixth place after Tuesday’s short 3.2km prologue won by Frenchman Dorian Godon.

But he moved into the lead in the overall standings after beating German Florian Lipowitz into second, with France’s Lenny Martinez third at the end of the 171.2km ride through Switzerland’s French-speaking region.

Incredibly, it was Pogacar’s fifth victory in just seven days of racing this year, having won four of five one-day classics before heading to Romandie — including three of the four Monuments so far this season. This victory came just three days after Pogacar triumphed for the fourth time at Liege-Bastogne-Liege, winning the 13th Monument of his glory-laden career.

This is one of two week-long stage races the Slovenian is competing in as his build up to a bid for a record-equalling fifth Tour de France title in July.

In June he will race at the Tour de Suisse.

He made his move halfway up the one major climb of the day, the 8.9km-long ascent to the village of Ovronnaz, with a tough average gradient of 9.8 percent.

Only Bahrain Victorious rider Martinez was able to stay with Pogacar when he attacked, with still 38km to ride to the finish.

Red Bull-Bora Hansgroher’s Lipowitz and Colombian Jefferson Cepeda climbed their way back up to the leading duo about two kilometres from the summit.

Ceeda, though, then fell away and Norway’s Jorgen Nordhagen caught the trio at the front on the descent to the finish in the valley of Martigny.

The four riders came to the line together, with UAE Team Emirates leader Pogacar easily distancing his rivals to win the sprint.

Cepeda came home in a group of 13 riders 21 seconds back which included former Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana winner Primoz Roglic.

Lipowitz moved into second overall at seven seconds, with Martinez third at 16sec and Nordhagen at 23sec.

Thursday’s second stage is a lumpy 173.1km run from Rue to Vucherens which should suit breakaway specialists.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026

Undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Inoue will defend his titles for a seventh time when he clashes with the dangerous southpaw.

They boast identical 32-0 records, setting the stage for a bout that has been more than a year in the making and been dubbed the biggest boxing match in Japanese history.

“I have a good understanding of the way he fights,” said the 33-year-old Inoue, who is giving up an eight-centimetre (three inches) height advantage to Nakatani, who is also five years younger.

“However he starts the fight and whatever methods he uses, I’ll be ready for him,” Inoue said.

The destructive Inoue — who has 27 KOs to his opponent’s 24 — will be fighting for the first time this year after taking on a remarkable four bouts in 2025.

He won them all with little fuss, but admitted he was tired after rounding off the year with a unanimous decision win over Mexico’s Alan Picasso in Saudi Arabia.

Nakatani beat Mexico’s Sebastian Hernandez by unanimous decision on the same card in his super-bantamweight debut.

It earned him his shot at the big time and he will need all of his technical excellence and concussive punching power to get the better of the “Monster” Inoue.

“I’ve trained harder than ever, with no regrets, and I’m coming back fully prepared,” Nakatani told reporters after returning from his training camp in the United States. “I’m in perfect shape.”

Nakatani has held world titles in the flyweight, super-flyweight and bantamweight divisions. At 173 cm he is taller than most boxers of his weight class and has a clear height advantage over Inoue, and a slightly longer reach.

Nicknamed “Big Bang”, Na­k­atani regularly features in The Ring magazine’s top 10 pound-for-pound rankings, wh­ich rate the world’s best box­ers regardless of weight class. Inoue has been a fixture in the pound-for-pound top three for years.

Nakatani did not entirely convince against Hernandez, starting strongly but fading over the second half of the fight. He has set his sights on becoming boxing’s new pound-for-pound king.

“I want to win so that I can close the gap on the top spot in the rankings,” he said.

To achieve that, Nakatani will have to do something that no boxer has managed before and beat Inoue, whose ring intelligence, punching power and ability to adapt to the flow of the fight are second to none.

Inoue did not win either of his last two fights by knock-out but he looked comfortably in control throughout both.

He was knocked down for the first time in his career against Mexico’s Luis Nery at the Tokyo Dome two years ago and again by American Ramon Cardenas in Las Vegas in May last year.

Nakatani believes he can do the same but Inoue knows how to handle the big occasion.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026

The PFA has long argued that clubs based in settlements in the West Bank territory Palestinians seek as part of a future state should not compete in leagues run by the Israel Football Association (IFA).

FIFA said last month it would take no action against the IFA or Israeli clubs, citing the unresolved legal status of the West Bank under public international law.

“Since we have exhausted every legal venue possible at FIFA, we’ll still go by the rules, go by the book, and we’ll appeal that decision because we think it’s very unjust,” PFA vice president Susan Shalabi said after the Asian Football Confederation Congress in Vancouver, held two days before the FIFA Congress in the same city.

“The (FIFA) council decided after 15 years of deliberations on this issue not to decide. So the only course of action that we have is to go to CAS and to appeal that. We will go through the whole process until we are able to achieve justice.”

She later told Reuters that the appeal had been filed on April 20.

CAS has not yet announced the appeal and was not immediately available for comment outside business hours on Tuesday. FIFA was also not immediately available for comment. Reuters has also contacted the IFA.

VISA PROBLEMS

Shalabi said visa problems also prevented some of the PFA’s representatives from entering Canada for the FIFA Congress.

She said she received an electronic travel authorisation immediately because she applied on a foreign passport, but other members of the delegation, including the PFA president, general secretary and legal counsel Gonzalo Boye, initially did not receive visas.

She said the visas were issued only after pressure “on the political level, on the social level, on the media level,” as well as action from community members and activists, adding that the PFA president had not received a visa in time to travel with the rest of the delegation but was expected to arrive later. She said Boye, however, had still not received a visa and would not attend.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada told Reuters it would look into the matter.

Shalabi said the visa problems were not limited to Palestine and that she understood Iran’s football association, whose representatives were not present at the AFC Congress, had also faced issues.

“As you can see, it’s a huge event that’s going to happen. We have a World Cup, and it’s good for Canada to have everyone from everywhere able to come and participate in this,” Shalabi said.

She added the situation for Palestinian football remained dire, particularly in Gaza, where she said every football structure was either unusable or destroyed.

“We lost so many hundreds of footballers; we lost most of them children,” she said. “So football now in Gaza, there is no football at all. It’s very dangerous for our teams to compete,” she said, adding that professional leagues were suspended and that the PFA was trying to keep football alive through grassroots and youth competitions.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026

The 19-year-old Jodar has taken the tour by storm this clay season, winning a maiden ATP title in Marrakesh, and making the semi-finals in Barcelona and the quarter-finals in Madrid before he was stopped by the world number one at the Caja Magica.

This time last year, Jodar was playing college tennis for the University of Virginia and was ranked 687 in the world. He will crack the top 35 when the new rankings are released on Monday.

Sinner was seriously tested before he extended his current winning streak to 21 consecutive matches.

The first-set scoreline may have read 6-2 but it was far from a routine affair for Sinner, who found himself facing a young opponent who could match his firepower, particularly on the forehand wing.

The Italian was tested in multiple service games, including a marathon one at 2-2, and had to save a pair of break points before he took a one-set lead in 44 minutes.

Leaning on the rowdy home support that included several Real Madrid stars, past and present, Jodar skirted danger at the start of the second set and put pressure on the Sinner serve.

But despite his best efforts, Jodar couldn’t convert any of the five break points he created as Sinner levelled for 4-4.

The set fittingly went to a tiebreak, which was dominated by Sinner, who won the last 11 points of the match to advance to his first Madrid semi-final.

Lucky loser Anastasia Potapova reached the first WTA 1000 semi-final of her career with a hard-fought 6-1, 6-7(4/7), 6-3 performance against former world number one Karolina Pliskova.

The world number 56, who knocked out Grand Slam champions Elena Rybakina and Jelena Ostapenko in the previous two rounds, awaits Marta Kostyuk or Linda Noskova in the final four.

On Tuesday, Hailey Baptiste ended Aryna Sabalenka’s title defence in Madrid and halted the world number one’s 15-match winning streak with a 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(8/6) quarter-final victory to deliver the biggest shock of the tournament so far.

The American saved five match points at 4-5 in the decider and a sixth in the tiebreak before she handed Sabalenka just her second defeat of the year, and her first since the Austr­alian Open final three months ago.

Sabalenka is a three-time champion in Madrid and reached the final in the Spanish capital in each of the last three editions of the event but was unable to shake off the 30th-seeded Baptiste, who peppered her with huge serves and ultra-aggressive groundstrokes to reach a maiden WTA 1000 semi-final.

Baptiste came up with huge serves in several crucial moments - finishing the duel with a total of 12 aces and 10 double faults — and even saved a match point with a bold serve-and-volley approach on her way to a memorable two-hour 30-minute triumph.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is the country’s wealthiest sporting body, but it has been plagued by allegations of corruption and mismanagement.

World governing body the International Cricket Council suspended Sri Lanka for two months in 2023-2024, citing political interference in the running of the national board.

“All administrative functions of Sri Lanka Cricket will be temporarily brought under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, effective today,” the ministry said.

Shortly afterwards, the ministry appointed former investment banker and opposition politician Eran Wickramaratne to lead the board.

Among the other members appointed by the government are former skipper Kumar Sangakkara and former Test players Sidath Wettimuny and Roshan Mahanama.

The ministry said the interim committee will “address the current issues in cricket and implement structural reforms”.

Four-time SLC president Shammi Silva resigned on Tuesday, along with his entire committee, after the government intervened.

AFP has contacted the ICC for comment.

Sri Lanka made an early exit from the T20 World Cup, which it co-hosted with India in February-March.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026

The 15-strong squad is led by star all-rounder Amelia Kerr and features 10 players who won the title in Dubai in 2024, beating South Africa in the final.

Devine, Bates and Tah­u­hu had all announced they would retire after the World Cup, which takes place in England and Wales in June-July.

“To have our three most senior players all finishing their careers at the same tournament is a rare and special occasion,” coach Ben Sawyer said.

“All three have had distinguished careers in their own right and given so much to this team and the game in general.”

Sawyer called the tournament their “final mission”.

New Zealand were shock winners in 2024 but did so without having to face Aus­tralia or England, viewed by most as the top two teams in women’s cricket.

Australia were stunned by South Africa while England were beaten by the West Ind­ies. The White Ferns beat Ind­ia in the semi-final and then South Africa to win the title.

Kerr was the star of the tournament taking 15 wickets and scoring 135 runs.

Sawyer said New Zeal­and have only got stronger since 2024, having won seven of their last eight T20 matches, including big scores of 190 plus on four occasions.

Ahead of 2024 the White Ferns had lost 11 T20 matches in a row.

“I believe we’ve landed on a well-balanced squad that features a mix of experience and exciting young talent,” Sawyer said.

“We’ve worked really hard over the past 12 months to develop our batting depth in particular, which we’ve seen bear fruit in our recent home series against South Africa and Zimbabwe.”

New Zealand will play the West Indies, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Scotland and England in their group.

Squad: Amelia Kerr (capt.), Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, Flora Devonshire, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Nensi Patel, Georgia Plimmer, Izzy Sharp, Lea Tahuhu.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026

LAHORE: Half-centuries by Usman Khan and Maaz Sadaqat powered Hyderabad Kingsmen into the second Eliminator of the HBL Pakistan Super League as they cruised past Multan Sultans at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday night, capping a collectively disciplined bowling performance that had earlier restricted their opponents to a modest total.

The comprehensive victory marked a continuation of Hyderabad’s remarkable turnaround this season. After losing their first four matches, the Kingsmen stormed into the playoffs by winning five of their last six league fixtures — a surge that has now carried them into Eliminator 2, where they will face Islamabad United on Friday.

For Multan Sultans, the defeat brought an abrupt end to a campaign that had promised much. They had finished second on the points table with six wins in the league stage but faltered when it mattered most.

Chasing 160, Hyderabad suffered an early setback when captain Marnus Labuschagne was dismissed for 11, edging a cut to Sahibzada Farhan off Mohammad Ismail. At 18-1, the fixture briefly hinted at a contest, but what followed was a decisive shift orchestrated by Usman and Maaz.

The pair stitched together a blistering 102-run partnership off just 53 balls, effectively taking the game away from the Sultans.

Maaz set the tone early, launching pacer Imran Randhawa over covers for four and then lifting Australian fast bowler Peter Siddle over midwicket for a six that underlined his intent. He was particularly severe on anything short, rocking back to dispatch spinner Faisal Akram to the boundary and confidently stepping down the track to clear the ropes.

At the other end, Usman complemented him with equal authority. He unfurled a series of crisp strokes, including a powerful pull off Ismail and a flowing drive through covers off Siddle.

His assault on Mohammad Nawaz’s left-arm spin proved decisive — a 19-run over featuring two boundaries and a towering six straight down the ground brought up his half-century and reduced the chase to a formality.

Usman’s innings of 64 off 35 balls ended when he miscued a slog-sweep off Steven Smith to long-on, but by then the required rate had dipped below five an over.

Maaz, who reached his fifty soon after, ensured there were no late hiccups. He finished unbeaten on 64, sealing the victory alongside Saim Ayub, who played a composed supporting role with 15 not out as Hyderabad completed the chase in just over 15 overs.

Earlier, Sultans had endured a stuttering innings after being put into bat. Despite a promising start from Sahibzada, who struck two early boundaries, Hyderabad’s bowlers quickly seized control. Pacer Mohammad Ali removed Steven Smith with a well-directed short-of-length delivery, before his fast-bowling partner Akif Javed dismissed Sahibzada with a leading edge.

The collapse gathered pace as Hunain Shah trapped Josh Philippe lbw, and Saim accounted for Sultans captain Ashton Turner. When Glenn Maxwell had Arafat Minhas adjudged leg-before, Sultans were reeling at 52-5 inside eight overs.

FIGHTING SHAN

Amid the wreckage, Shan Masood stood firm. Initially cautious, he began to rebuild the innings with measured strokeplay. He broke the shackles with a deft cut off Maxwell and gradually shifted gears, pulling Saim to the fine-leg boundary and driving Hunain majestically down the ground for six.

Shan’s innings gained further momentum in the latter stages. He launched Maxwell for back-to-back sixes over cover, displaying exquisite timing, and later carved Ali through point before following it up with a classical cover drive. His ability to farm the strike and find boundaries under pressure was crucial in lifting Sultans from a precarious position.

Wickets, however, continued to fall at the other end. Nawaz briefly threatened with a couple of boundaries bef­ore perishing, while Imran and Siddle fell trying to accelerate. Even as the tail struggled, Shan carried on, reaching a fighting half-century and pushing the total towards respectability.

His unbeaten 69 off 46 balls — featuring four fours and four sixes — was the backbone of Sultans’ 159-9. He added valuable runs in the death overs, including a towering six off Hassan Khan in the final over, but the lack of support from the rest of the batting line-up proved costly.

Hyderabad’s bowlers shared the spoils, with Ali, Akif and Hunain claiming two wickets each, while Saim and Maxwell chipped in with one apiece. Their collective effort ensured that Sultans never truly recovered from the early setbacks.

In the end, Shan’s resistance was not enough to keep Multan alive in the tournament. Hyderabad, on the other hand, marched on — their dream run gaining further momentum as they moved one step closer to an unlikely final appearance.

Scoreboard

MULTAN SULTANS:

Sahibzada Farhan c Saim b Akif 15

Steven Smith c Maaz b Ali 13

Josh Philippe lbw b Hunain 6

Shan Masood not out 69

Ashton Turner c Hassan b Saim 9

Arafat Minhas lbw b Maxwell 1

Mohammad Nawaz c Ali b Akif 18

Mohammad Imran b Ali 2

Peter Siddle b Hunain 9

Faisal Akram run out 4

Muhammad Ismail not out 1

EXTRAS (LB-2, NB-1, W-9) 12

TOTAL (for nine wickets, 20 overs) 159

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-28 (Smith), 2-30 (Sahibzada), 3-36 (Philippe), 4-51 (Turner), 5-52 (Arafat), 6-85 (Nawaz), 7-93 (Imran), 8-114 (Siddle), 9-148 (Faisal)

BOWLING: Ali 4-0-34-2 (3w), Akif 4-0-30-2 (2w), Hunain 4-0-31-2 (4w), Saim 4-0-23-1, Maxwell 3-0-28-1, Hassan 1-0-11-0 (1nb)

HYDERABAD KINGSMEN:

Maaz Sadaqat not out 64

Marnus Labuschagne c Sahibzada b Ismail 11

Usman Khan c Nawaz b Smith 64

Saim Ayub not out 15

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-1, W-3) 8

TOTAL (for two wickets, 15.2 overs) 162

DID NOT BAT: Kusal Perera, Irfan Khan, Glenn Maxwell, Hassan Khan, Hunain Shah, Mohammad Ali, Akif Javed

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-18 (Labuschagne), 2-120 (Usman)

BOWLING: Imran 2-0-20-0 (1w), Ismail 2-0-22-1 (1w), Siddle 3-0-31-0 (1w), Faisal 3.2-0-20-0, Arafat 2-0-21-0, Nawaz 1-0-19-0, Smith 1-0-14-1, Turner 1-0-10-0

RESULT: Hyderabad Kingsmen won by eight wickets.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Maaz Sadaqat

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026

KARACHI: For Babar Azam, the roar that echoed around the National Bank Stadium on Tuesday night was more than just an ovation for a match-winning century. It was a release — of pressure, of scrutiny, and perhaps most of all, of a phase that had tested both his game and his resolve.

Standing at the centre of Peshawar Zalmi’s emphatic 70-run victory over Islamabad United in the HBL Pakistan Super League Qualifier, Babar cut a composed figure in the post-match press conference. But beneath the calm exterior was a quiet acknowledgement of the significance of the moment.

“I can definitely say it is quite different in the sense that it was a semi-final of sorts for us,” he said. “That’s why it’s very special for me.

“Performing in such a big match, the team needed me to stay out there as long as possible, and I think that’s exactly what was required.”

It was an innings that seemed to encapsulate both his past struggles and his renewed clarity. The century — his fourth in PSL history — not only propelled Zalmi into their first final in five years but also took him to the summit of the batting charts this season. With 588 runs, he now equals Fakhar Zaman’s record for the most runs in a single PSL campaign, with one match still to play.

Yet, the numbers tell only part of the story.

For nearly two years leading into this tournament, Babar had end­ured what, by his own lofty standards, could only be described as a lean patch. Questions were raised, criticisms grew louder — particularly around his strike rate — and the burden of expectation weighed heavier with each passing innings.

Rather than deflecting that scrutiny, Babar chose introspection.

“Time teaches you everything,” he reflected. “With time and experience, you keep learning. These things are part of life. I’ve learned a lot from this phase and it has also helped me a lot. When you fall and come back stronger, it feels really good.”

Central to that resurgence has been a return, not to reinvention, but to familiarity. In a cricketing landscape increasingly obsessed with power-hitting, Babar admitted that he had briefly strayed from his natural method in an attempt to evolve his game.

Now, he has recalibrated.

“There is no big difference,” he explained. “The only thing is that I have become more disciplined and more focused.

“Sometimes in a short period you feel that what you are doing is right, but actually it isn’t. So sometimes you have to accept that you need to go back to normal. back to the basics.”

That decision, he suggested, was less about external advice and more about self-realisation.

“No one else makes you realise it. You realise it yourself,” he said. “You analyse yourself. You watch your videos or your old innings. That’s how I prepare myself. I take motivation from that. But my belief is that your routines matter the most.”

It is a philosophy that has seemingly anchored him through turbulent times. While motivation, in his words, is fleeting, routine has offe­red structure, a daily commitment to refinement that has gradually rest­ored both rhythm and confidence.

“There were quite a few discussions,” Babar added. “I also realised things myself. I looked at my batting, analysed what I was doing and what was going wrong, and worked on fixing it. The coaches helped a lot, and I also worked hard myself. These things go together.”

The result has been a version of Babar that feels both familiar and evolved — a batter who still leans on timing and placement, but with a sharper awareness of tempo and situation. His strike rate this season, hovering above 146, reflects that subtle shift.

“As for hitting, my hitting was like this before as well,” he noted. “The difference is that now the execution is better. I’m trying to understand what I can achieve or target in the given scenario. I’m practising hard hitting a bit more.”

If there was any lingering doubt about his ability to adapt, Tuesday’s innings dispelled it emphatically. It was not reckless aggression, but calculated dominance — a measured assault built on clarity of purpose.

Even so, Babar remained reluctant to delve into the external noise that had surrounded him during his difficult period.

“During that phase, a lot of things were going on, but I don’t want to discuss that here,” he said. “Everyone has their own thoughts and their own mind.

“As for my mind, I try to keep it as cool as possible, focus on cricket, and try to win matches.”

That final remark carried a subtle edge — a nod, perhaps, to one of the more persistent critiques of his career: that his runs, however prolific, did not always translate into victories.

On Tuesday night, they did.

And in doing so, they not only carried Zalmi into the final but also reaffirmed Babar’s stature as one of the game’s premier batters, not just for his ability to score, but for his capacity to endure, adapt and return.

As the tournament heads towards its climax, Babar stands on the brink of both a team triumph and a personal milestone. Yet, if his words are any indication, his focus remains unchanged.

For him, it is not about the noise, the records, or even the redemption narrative that now writes itself so neatly.

It is, simply, about routine.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026

KARACHI: The Pak­istan Stock Exchange (PSX) remained under selling pressure for a third consecutive session on Wednesday, as investors stayed wary of the economic outlook and corporate earnings disappointed expectations.

The benchmark KSE-100 index dropped 2,588 points, or 1.54 per cent, to close at 165,823 after hitting an intraday low of 165,391.47 following sustained selling throughout the session.

Market participants remained cautious despite recent remarks by the finance minister, who said that Saudi financial support had stabilised the external position, reducing the need for further bilateral assistance from other friendly countries. He indicated a shift towards commercial borrowing, including plans to raise $250 million through a Panda bond next month.

However, trade and industry leaders continued to flag concerns over the high cost of doing business, citing expensive bank borrowing following interest rate hikes, alongside elevated electricity and gas tariffs, which have weighed on economic activity.

According to Topline Securities Ltd., bearish sentiment prevailed, with persistent selling dragging the market lower. The downturn was largely driven by continued offloading by local mutual funds, as reflected in NCCPL data, intensifying the negative momentum.

Disappointing corporate results further dented investor confidence, prompting a broad-based risk-off approach. Heavyweight stocks, including United Bank, National Bank, Oil and Gas Development Com­pany, Engro Holdings, and Pakistan Petroleum, rem­ained under pressure, collectively shaving over 1,100 points off the index.

Ali Najib, Deputy Head of Trading at Arif Habib Ltd, said the session was marked by widespread weakness, although a few stocks showed resilience. A few companies such as Millat Tractors, TRG Pakistan, Cherat Cement, and DG Khan Cement posted gains, while Pakistan State Oil and Fauji Fertiliser Company reported robust earnings growth. Nevertheless, declines in key stocks over­shadowed these gains, keeping overall sentiment subdued.

Investor participation remained relatively subdued. Total traded volume stood at around 1.08 billion shares, with a turnover of Rs39.5 billion. Cnergyico PK led the volumes chart, with more than 105 million shares changing hands.

Analysts said rising global oil prices amid geopolitical tensions could keep investors cautious in the near term. However, they noted that current valuations remain attractive, and any further dip in the market may offer buying opportunities, supported by relatively stable medium-term fundamentals.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026

The losses form part of a wider $72bn gap across Asia. The report identifies three key contributors: $0.97bn from cart abandonment, $0.46bn from settlement delays, and $0.18bn from foreign exc­hange and payment-rel­ated costs, said a press rel­ease.

Despite strong demand, many transactions fail to convert because of payment friction, unexpected fees and delayed settlements, limiting revenue for businesses.

Cart abandonment alone accounts for over 60 per cent of total losses, as global buyers increasingly expect localised payment options and transparent pricing. Layered payment systems and slow settlement cycles erode merchant margins and restrict cash flow.

The findings underscore the need for streamlined payment flows, localised checkout experiences and faster settlement processes to unlock growth in Pakistan’s cross-border digital economy, the press release added.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026

SLMTL plans to set up a dedicated PCR manufacturing plant, with commercial operations scheduled to begin in January 2028. The facility will have an initial capacity of two million tyres per year, rising to 2.5m units in FY29 and 3m units by FY30.

The company is offering 389.738m ordinary shares — 5 per cent of its post-IPO paid-up capital — through the book-building method at a floor price of Rs14.25 per share. The price may rise by up to 40pc to Rs19.95, depending on investor demand. Of the total offer, 75pc is reserved for institutional investors through book-building, while 25pc will be offered to retail investors at the strike price.

The book-building phase is scheduled for May, during which institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals may submit bids within the announced price band.

Arif Habib Ltd (AHL) is the consultant to the issue and lead manager. The IPO is expected to raise up to Rs7.8bn, which will finance the company’s expansion into passenger car radial tyre manufacturing.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026

Wheat prices in the domestic market range from Rs3,500 to Rs4,000 per 40kg, in line with international trends, ensuring fair returns for farmers while keeping the staple affordable for consumers, he said while chairing a meeting of the National Wheat Oversight Committee in Islamabad.

He said the government was committed to safeguarding growers’ interests through remunerative prices and smooth procurement operations. The meeting reviewed the wheat procurement drive, harvesting progress and current market prices.

Mr Hussain reaffirmed the government’s commitment to food security, protecting farmers’ interests and maintaining a stable wheat market.

He directed enhanced monitoring of wheat stocks and market trends, and the use of digital tools and data-driven app­roaches for better decision-making. He also called for strengthening storage capacity and minimising post-harvest losses.

The minister directed all provincial governments and relevant departments to ensure uninterrupted inter-provincial movement of wheat, stressing that no administrative or logistical barriers should hinder supply.

He emphasised the importance of transparency and efficiency in procurement, instructing authorities to support farmers through timely payments, adequate procurement centres and reduced delays. Measures to curb hoarding and profiteering were also discussed, with directions to take strict action against market manipulation.

Expressing satisfaction over current reserves, he said sufficient wheat stocks were available to meet domestic consumption requirements and maintain food security.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026

The consignment, valued at $59,314 and weighing 23.9 tonnes, contained assorted oil, tea, henna, herbs, cream, and soap from Hemani Group. It was cleared electronically through the Pakistan Single Window (PSW) system after activating EPZ as a TIR [Transports Internationaux Routiers) station.

An official announcement of the Federal Board of Revenue said the directorate general of Transit Trade, Karachi, led the upgrade of customs systems in coordination with PSW, TIR operators, PNCC-ICC, and the IRU. All formalities, including electronic pre-declarations, were completed for smooth transit.

This move enhances regional connectivity and gives EPZ exporters direct access to Central Asian markets, boosting Pakistan’s trade outreach.

The government has recently notified six transit routes through Iran, expanding options for regional trade. Pakistani exporters are already using this corridor to ship goods such as rice, kinno and potatoes to Central Asian states as an alternative route.

Pakistan had traditionally relied on the Chaman and Torkham border crossings for overland access to Central Asia via Afghanistan. However, these routes have remained closed since October 2025 due to rising security concerns and cross border militancy.

As a result, border stations with Afghanistan have been shut for all categories of trade, including transit to Central Asian markets. With these disruptions, exporters have been left with limited choices and are increasingly routing shipments through Iran to access Central Asia, as well as markets in Azerbaijan, Russia, via China the Sost border Kyrgyzstan corridor.

Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan met with the Tajikistan Ambassador, Sharifzoda Yusuf Toir, to discuss measures to enhance bilateral trade, strengthen transit connectivity, and deepen institutional cooperation between Pakistan and Tajikistan.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026

A fourth dissent at the meeting came in favor of a quarter-percentage-point rate cut. “Inflation is elevated, in part reflecting the recent increase in global energy prices,” the Fed said in its policy statement, a shift from previous language saying that inflation was just “somewhat” elevated.

“Developments in the Middle East are contributing to a high level of uncertainty about the economic outlook.” The 8-4 vote was the most divisive since October 6, 1992, and shows the breadth of opinion incoming Fed Chair Kevin Warsh will face in pursuing rate cuts that President Donald Trump says he expects from his chosen successor to Jerome Powell, whose term as central bank chief ends on May 15.

Though the latest policy statement retained language about how the Fed would assess the “extent and timing of additional adjustments” to rates, a phrase that pointed to future cuts as the next likely move, three policymakers objected.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026

While approving the financial results for the first nine months, the board of directors of the company on Wednesday declared a quarterly dividend of Rs3.25 per share — the highest third-quarter payout — taking the nine-month total dividend to Rs11 per share, the company said in a statement.

The company said it recorded net sales of Rs300.127bn for the nine months ending March 31, about 3.5pc lower than Rs311bn for the same period last year. Profit after tax amounted to Rs115.263bn in the first three quarters of FY26, compared with Rs129bn in FY25 and Rs171bn in FY24.

The Rs115bn profit in 9MFY26 translated into earnings per share (EPS) of Rs26.80. “The results were impacted by production curtailments, lower realised crude oil and LPG prices, and other market dynamics, partially offset by higher realised gas prices and exchange rate movement”, the company said. The production losses were caused by forced closure or curtailment of oil and gas producing wells due to surplus imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the system.

During the period, the company contributed Rs160bn to the national exchequer through corporate tax, dividends, royalties, and other government levies, while its oil and gas production generated estimated foreign-exchange savings of $2.3bn through import substitution.

Average daily net saleable production in 9MFY26 stood at 32,022 barrels of crude oil, 648 mmcfd of natural gas, and 653 tons of LPG, compared with 31,710 barrels, 676 mmcfd and 654 tonnes, respectively, in the corresponding period last year.

“Production remained affected by curtailments, which reduced daily net output by approximately 3,482 barrels of crude oil, 141 mmcfd of gas and 48 tonnes of LPG”, the company announced, adding that the extent of curtailment moderated towards the latter part of the period US-Iran war caused disruption in LNG imports.

Notwithstanding these constraints, the company’s gross crude oil production surpassed the 40,000 barrels per day milestone after a prolonged period, reflecting the impact of targeted production optimisation initiatives.

During the period, OGDCL spud 10 wells, and sustained exploration efforts yielded eight oil and gas discoveries, further strengthening the company’s resource base. OGDCL also successfully injected Baragzai X-1 well, located in Nashpa Exploration License, into the production gathering system. The well is currently producing around 6,100 barrels of oil per day, 18 mmcfd of gas, and 50 tonnes of LPG.

On the development front, Jhal Magsi Project continues to produce approximately 14 mmcfd of gas along with condensate, while Dakhni Compression Project has been successfully completed and is contributing to production enhancement. Other key development projects, including Uch and KPD-TAY compression projects, are progressing as planned.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026

The record bids of Rs3.8 trillion clearly reflect ample liquidity in the financial system, indicating that these funds have limited alternatives other than investment in government securities. This is a concerning sign for economic growth, which is already under pressure from inflation and higher government spending.

Banks and other investors submitted bids worth Rs3.838tr in the auction. The largest portion — Rs1.655tr — was offered for one-month papers, followed by Rs1.528tr for three-month papers. The lowest bids, Rs206.5bn, were received for the 12-month tenor.

The government, however, exceeded its borrowing target, accepting Rs1.048tr against a target of Rs650bn. The target itself was lower than the maturing amount of Rs800bn, and the higher borrowing suggests increased government spending.

Govt exceeds borrowing target, accepting Rs1.048tr against Rs650bn

An additional Rs302bn was raised through non-competitive bids, taking total borrowing in the auction to Rs1.374tr — more than double the initial target.

The relatively low interest in 12-month papers indicates investor uncertainty about the future direction of interest rates. If the prevailing war-like situation in the Middle East continues for weeks, it could intensify inflationary pressures, leaving the State Bank with limited options other than further rate hikes.

As expected after the policy rate increase to 11.5pc, cut-off yields rose across all maturities. The largest jump was seen in the benchmark six-month T-bills, where yields climbed 83 basis points to 11.98pc from 11.15pc.

Returns on one-month papers rose by 78 basis points to 11.47pc from 10.69pc, while yields on three- and 12-month papers increased by 40bps and 20bps, respectively.

While higher yields have made T-bills more attractive to investors, they also add to the government’s debt burden. Domestic debt is already at record levels, having risen by Rs5.6tr between February 2025 and February 2026.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026

The pledges mark a return of EIB Global financing in Pakistan after a decade. The announcement came at the conclusion of the two-day EU-Pakistan Business Forum on Wednesday.

EIB Global is providing a €100 million loan to the Pakistani government for the Sindh housing initiative, which is the world’s largest ongoing reconstruction programme and aims to rebuild around 2.1 million rural homes damaged by devastating floods in 2022. The project has a total cost of almost $2 billion and covers 40 per cent of rural households in Sindh.

EIB Global is also lending €60m to the Pakistani government for the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation to build two energy-efficient filtration plants in the towns of Gharo and Pipri. As a result, Karachi will be supplied with about 300 million litres of clean drinking water per day, enough to meet the needs of 2.2m residents.

Funds reconstruction of flood-hit 2.1m homes, 300m litres daily water for Karachi

EIB Global and the Pakistani government announced the two loan agreements during a EU-Pakistan business forum. The EIB financing forms part of the EU’s “Global Gateway” strategy to mobilise €400bn of investments in the 2021-2027 period.

“Through our support for the Sindh housing programme and the Karachi water initiative, we are helping Pakistan strengthen climate resilience, improve access to safe drinking water and support inclusive, sustainable development, particularly for the most vulnerable people,” said EIB Vice-President Nicola Beer.

“This also marks an important step as the EIB resumes financing in Pakistan after a decade, reaffirming our commitment to support climate resilience and inclusive recovery.”

“The European Union and Pakistan are building a partnership that delivers real improvement in people’s lives — supporting safe homes and access to clean water for communities in Sindh and Karachi. Through Global Gateway, we are investing in quality infrastructure to boost long-term health, safety and prosperity,” stated European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela.

“The re-engagement of the EIB in Pakistan is critical for the country to benefit fully from the opportunities deriving from EU’s Global Gateway strategy,” said EU Ambassador to Pakistan Raimundas Karoblis.

“We are confident that, in the course of the next few years, much more de-risked investments will be agreed between the EIB and Pakistan”, the envoy further said.

The housing reconstruction programme in Sindh is also being supported by the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, and the provincial government. Reconstruction will be based on a plan that ensures households play a central role in rebuilding their homes, in line with resilience standards that address the risks of combined or consecutive disasters.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026

According to the supplementary cause list issued by the registrar’s of­­fice, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif will take up Crl. Appeal 63/2025 (filed by Mr Khan) and Crl. Appeal 64/2025 (filed by Bushra Bibi) on Thursday.

Both appeals challenge the convictions under the Pakistan Penal Code with sentences exceeding seven years.

The cause list mentioned that miscellaneous applications, including those seeking suspension of sentence along with objections, were also pending before the court.

The development comes a day after the same bench, during the hearing of separate petitions seeking suspension of sentence in the £190m corruption reference, indicated a structured timeline for concluding arguments in the main appeals.

Earlier this month, IHC CJ Dogar observed that if arguments on the appeals commenced, the court could decide the matter within seven days. “We will fix the appeal for two days every week — you meet your client and assist the court,” the chief justice told Barrister Salman Safdar, who is the counsel for the PTI founder.

Imprisoned since Aug 5, 2023, for concealing details of Toshakhana gifts, Mr Khan is serving a 14-year sentence at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail in the £190m case, also known as the Al-Qadir Trust case.

An accountability court in Islamabad had sentenced Mr Khan and his wife to 14 and seven years in prison, respectively, on Jan 17, 2025, in the case. Subsequently, both had challenged their convictions before the IHC.

The case alleges that the couple obtained billions of rupees and land worth hundreds of kanals from Bahria Town Ltd to legalise Rs50 billion identified and returned to the country by the United Kingdom during the PTI government.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026

According to police, heavily armed terrorists attacked the post in the early hours of Wednesday, but personnel res­ponded promptly and foiled the assault.

An intense exchange of fire continued for some time, during which one terrorist was killed on the spot, while the bodies of five other terrorists were taken away by their accomplices.

Following the incident, Bannu Dis­trict Police Officer (DPO) Yasir Afridi, along with Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Arshad Khan and teams from the Rapid Response Force and Quick Res­ponse Force, reached the scene immediately. They cordoned off the area and initiated a search operation.

Police recovered weapons and other equipment from the site, including magazines, hand grenades, bandoliers and other material.

During the incident, a constable sustained minor injuries and was shifted to a hospital, where he was reported to be out of danger.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed praised the performance of the Bannu personnel for their successful operation and annou­nced cash rewards and commendation certificates for them.

Chaman action

Separately, security forces have destroyed several Afghan Taliban posts and vehicles in Balochistan’s Chaman sector, security sources said on Wednesday.

The forces action, part of the ongoing ‘Operation Ghazab lil-Haq’, was a response to the “unprovoked aggression” by Afghan Taliban forces and terrorists on the Pak-Afghan border, according to the sources.

Security sources said that several Af­­ghan Taliban posts and vehicles in Cha­man were destroyed “with precision”. “The Pakistan Army’s effective operations have forced the Afghan Taliban and the Fitna al Khawarij to retreat”.

Security forces also destroyed multiple Afghan Taliban posts in the Chaman sector on Tuesday, according to security sources.

Mortar shells fired from Afghan soil

Also, tensions along Pak-Afghanistan border in Mohmand district intensified on Wednesday after two mortar shells fired from the Afghan side and landed near a security post in Baizai tehsil, security sources said.

They said the shelling reportedly aimed at the Suran Dara Shonkari Top security post exploded close to the installation.

No casualties or material damage were reported.

In response, security forces heightened alert levels and intensified monitoring across the area. Officials said intermittent helicopter flights were being carried out over the border belt to enhance aerial surveillance and ensure rapid response capability.

Security sources said troops were maintaining vigilance to prevent any escalation.

With input from Saleem Shahid in Quetta, Fauzee Khan Mohmand in Mohmand

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026

Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Chaudhary Ahmed alleged that the government has violated legal requirements by proceeding with the sale without approval of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) or the parliament.

“The PIA was established under the Acts of 1956, 2016, and 2023. Under the law, neither the CCI nor Parliament was taken into confidence before this privatisation,” he said.

“This makes the entire process of the Pakistan International Airlines privatisation illegal,” he said.

He said while the national flag carrier was valued at Rs135 billion, the government received only Rs10bn from the sale, with Rs6bn separately paid to consultants.

The PPP leader demanded immediate formation of an independent judicial commission to investigate the privatisation of the national flag carrier and to identify those responsible for “selling the national airline for pennies”.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: The Healthcare Devices Association of Pakistan (HDAP) has expressed grave concern over the illegal manufacture and use of banned reusable syr­inges across the country, including the discovery of devices fraudulently labelled as “auto-disable” when they remain fully reusable.

HDAP warned that the practices pose a direct threat to public health by spreading disease.

“These are not merely regulatory violations. They are acts that have directly contributed to the transmission of HIV and other blood-borne infections among the most vulnerable members of our society, including children,” the association said in a press release.

HDAP strongly condemned the illegal availability, distribution and use of banned reusable disposable syringes, whether through unauthorised manufacturing, import or other unlawful channels.

“The continued use of such un­­safe products significantly incre­a­ses the risk of transmission of blo­od-borne diseases including Hepa­titis B, Hepatitis C and HIV,” it stated.

In line with HDAP’s mission to promote and protect the highest standards of patient care and ethical standards through networking, advocacy and expertise enhancement, the association reiterated its commitment to the promotion and supply of only proven quality, safe and internationally compliant healthcare products that meet approved regulatory standards.

It called upon federal and provincial authorities to move beyond reactive measures and implement “sustained enforcement” against all involved in the unlawful practice, from manufacturers and importers to distributors and healthcare operators using the banned products.

Reiterating its mission to uphold high standards of patient care, HDAP said it is committed to the supply of only safe, internationally compliant and regulated healthcare products. “HDAP reaffirms that its membership stands for quality, compliance and patient safety,” it stated.

“The association will continue to support its members in meeting these standards and will work with relevant authorities to ensure that those who engage in unlawful practices are held accountable.”

The organisation pledged to work with government institutions and healthcare stakeholders to eliminate the problem, strengthen market surveillance and promote the use of approved auto-disable syr­­inges to safeguard public health.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026

One of the four rockets, fired from unidentified locations, hit a transformer, plunging a large area into dark.

Quetta DIG Imran Shoukat confirmed to Dawn that the rockets fired from unknown locations landed and exploded in different areas of Quetta city.

Police shifted the injured people to hospital, while local administration issued high alert.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026

According to a spokesperson for the authority, notices were issued on Tuesday to the Pegasus Club and the Al-Jannat Palace over alleged non-compliance. The BRA has directed all business owners to complete their registration, maintain accurate sales records, submit tax returns on time and ensure timely payment of dues.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026

Zulaikha, wife of Shahid Yousaf, was killed when some armed men opened fire in the Aapsar Banday bazaar area of Turbat town and fled, the police added.

Separately, in the Koshkalat area of Tump, armed motorcyclists opened fire at a bus stop where Aamir along with his wife and sister was waiting for a Turbat-bound bus. He died on the spot, while his wife and sister were seriously wounded.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026

The large-scale operations, which also included issuing corrective notices to 19 businesses, aim to ensure the public is provided with safe and quality food.

In Quetta, the three sealed water filtration plants were involved in the production and supply of unregistered bottled water to the open market.

Authorities also imposed fines on 20 food and beverage establishments for a range of violations.

“The authority is taking all possible measures to protect public health and will not tolerate any negligence or violation of the law,” BFA Director General Habibullah Khan said .

Inspection teams conducted detailed checks of food outlets, hotels, shops and water plants, examining sanitation conditions, food quality and compliance with hygiene standards.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026

The first incident took place in the Bhawani area of Hub district, where a citizen resisted a robbery attempt by opening fire on the armed robbers who were holding people at gunpoint near a local hotel.

Area people managed to shoot and kill both dacoits on the spot, Imam Bakhsh Baloch, DSP Hub circle, told Dawn.

Separately, a truck driver identified as Nasarullah was shot dead on Adalat Road.

Additionally, police discovered a body in the Sakran area of the Hub district, which was sent to the hospital for an autopsy.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026