For the Serbian 24-time Grand Slam champion, it marked a return to winning ways at ATP 1000-level tournaments for the first time since his run to the fourth round at Indian Wells back in March.

Djokovic also exacted his own bit of revenge on Vacherot in just the second meeting between the pair — the Monegasque downed the 39-year-old on his way to a sensational Shanghai Masters title last season.

“I knew that coming into the court it was going to be a very tight match as it was,” Djokovic told reporters. “He’s very confident, and he’s one of the best servers we have in the game,” he added of Vacherot, who lifted the second title of his career last week in Basel.

Victory also kept alive Djokovic’s chances of landing a spot in the season-ending ATP Finals later in November.

Djokovic is currently 11th in the race to the eight-man tournament in Turin.

However, he insisted his main focus was not the ATP Finals but “to win every match” on his return to the Paris Masters.

In his last appearance at the tournament in 2023, he lifted the trophy for the seventh time.US Open finalist Shelton, who, as third seed, enjoyed a bye through the first round, put on a commanding display in the night session with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Cameron Norrie.

The world number four needed just 71 minutes to see off the former eighth-ranked Briton, with the only hiccup being a break of his own serve near the end of the second set, which the 24-year-old instantly righted to close in on victory.

The American then ceded centre stage to Gael Monfils for a ceremony to honour the career of the hugely popular French player, who retired last month at the age of 40.

Rising star Rafael Jodar was last on centre court but fell in straight sets to former world number two Casper Ruud.

The 20-year-old Spaniard currently sits ninth in the race to Turin, and his defeat meant Italy’s Flavio Cobolli secured his spot in the season-ender despite having to withdraw from the Paris Masters with a leg injury.

Elsewhere, Holger Rune, who beat Djokovic in the 2022 final, exited at the first hurdle this time as he continues his return from a lengthy lay-off. The Dane lost 7-5, 6-4 to Tommy Paul.

Matteo Berrettini edged out 14th seed Brandon Nakashima 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(10/8), and Taylor Fritz showed grit to see off Benjamin Bonzi in three sets.

New home favourite Moise Kouame was unable to recreate his Roland Garros heroics as the French 17-year-old went down 6-3, 6-1 to lucky loser Nuno Borges.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2026

Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam winner, has been an honorary club member since 2011 and shares a strong relationship with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.

“For Real Madrid and for all Madrid supporters, it is a source of immense pride that a figure of his sporting and human stature — a benchmark of Spanish and world sport — should become part of our board of directors and, in this role, contribute to the present and future of our club,” said Los Blancos in a statement.

Real Madrid’s socios — members — are expected to ratify Nadal’s appointment at the club’s general assembly on Nov 21.

“I want to thank president Florentino Perez and the board for proposing that I join the board of directors of Real Madrid,” wrote Nadal on social media platform X.

“I have accepted this proposal with great excitement; I’m eager to learn and to contribute everything I can.”

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2026

Defending champion Rybakina will begin her title defence against Gauff, four-time WTA Finals participant Jessica Pegula and reigning Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova, who is making her tournament debut.

Sabalenka’s group also includes 19-year-old Andreeva, 2018 WTA Finals champion Elina Svitolina and Czech Karolina Muchova.

The event, which brings together the season’s top eight qualifiers, will be held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden from Nov 8 to 15. The top two players from each round-robin group will advance to the semifinals.

Rybakina, who claimed the world number one ranking after September’s US Open, said the position brought both added scrutiny and motivation.

“It has been an unbelievable couple of months,” Rybakina said during Tuesday’s draw ceremony.

“It is, of course, pressure because of all of the attention, but at the same time it’s motivation because you don’t want to lose. In this sport, you still need to work a lot.”

Sabalenka will be looking for vengeance after losing her top ranking to Rybakina at the US Open.

The Belarusian won both Indian Wells and Miami earlier this year to complete the “Sunshine Double.”

In July, organisers announced the tournament would move from Riyadh to Indian Wells following the early end of the WTA’s hosting agreement with Saudi Arabia.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2026

Looking set for another abject defeat when two behind within 18 minutes through a smart Mathias Soule finish and Donyell Malen’s penalty, United staged a thrilling comeback in the second half to turn a poisonous atmosphere at Old Trafford into one of joy.

Matheus Cunha, who was sent off in stoppage time, saved the day for United with a brace in three minutes with the final whistle nearing, sparking wild celebrations in the stands.

Those scenes at the end of the game couldn’t have been more different to the anger which pulsated around the ground in the first half, when United fans threw tennis balls and other objects onto the Old Trafford pitch and directed foul-mouthed chants at the club’s majority owners, the Glazer family.

“We knew that the fans would be behind us until the last day; we just had to get a result for them,” United captain Bruno Fernandes told TNT.

United head into Sunday’s match with Aston Villa, beaten 3-0 at Barcelona, in an entirely different mood after punishing slapdash Roma who vanished in the second half after having shown why they look like league title contenders in Italy.

“I spoke at half-time about being positive. Anything can happen here, I’ve seen it many times over the years,” said Carrick. “You just need something to go our way, and the boys were fantastic in the second half.”

Roma, who also threw away a commanding lead against Real Madrid in their only other defeat of the season, failed to deal a knockout blow and crumbled once Bruno Fernandes pulled United back into the game in the 58th minute at the second time of asking from the penalty spot.

The Portuguese thu­mped home past Roma’s third-choice goalkeeper Devis Vasquez, who saved the first attempt but was let down by his team-mates encroaching in the penalty area.

And that set up Cunha to hit Roma with a one-two that decided a thrilling encounter and gave Carrick some breathing room with the international break coming up after the weekend.

PERFECT PSG

PSG were in a ruthless mood even without star player Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as they beat Villarreal 6-0 on a night in which Europe’s elite clubs paid tribute to tragic Tenerife player Jesus de Miguel with a moment’s silence before kick-offs.

De Miguel died aged 30 from injuries he suffered in a sickening collision with FC Andorra’s goalkeeper in a Spanish second-division match, leaving football in mourning and condolences pouring in from around the globe.

PSG tore into sorry Villarreal, with Joao Neves, Desire Doue, Senny Mayulu and Fabian Ruiz all striking in eight first-half minutes as the French outfit set a record for the fastest four goals scored in a match in Europe’s elite club competition.

It certainly didn’t look like PSG were missing Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele, captain Marquinhos and Nuno Mendes, and further strikes from Spain World Cup star Ruiz and teenager David Boly rounded off a stellar performance which put Luis Enrique’s team top of the table.

“We were impressive throughout, and we are really pleased even if it is very difficult for Villarreal,” said Luis Enrique. “But it is hard when you play against a team like us that presses constantly.”

Another team missing a host of stars in Bayern Munich saw off Atletico Madrid 2-0 to move into the top eight positions.

Teenage Germany forward Lennart Karl and Konrad Laimer netted in the second half in Madrid as Bayern triumphed despite the absence of Jamal Musiala, Luis Diaz, Serge Gnabry and Ismael Saibari.

Meanwhile, Barcelona eased to a 3-0 home win over Aston Villa after Lamine Yamal opened the scoring in the seventh minute and Raphinha added a second-half double.

Barca coach Flick was pleased with his side keeping Villa at bay.

“It was important that we defended together very compactly,” said the German coach. “The back line played on an amazing level; they defended everything.”

The victory came at a cost, though, as Barca midfielder Rodri suffered a hamstring injury and will miss Saturday’s La Liga clash against Atletico.

“Tests have confirmed a minor injury to his right hamstring,” said Barc­elona in a statement on Wednesday. “He will miss next match against Atletico Madrid. His exact recovery time will depend on how the injury develops.”

Inter Milan were equally convincing, beating Feyenoord 3-0 at De Kuip. Inter recovered from the derby defeat at the weekend with a comfortable win, which came through goals from Yann Bisseck, Pio Esposito and Piotr Zielinski.

“We knew that quality was already there. It was about determination, pride, and character — values that this group has always demonstrated,” Inter boss Cristian Chivu told reporters.

Elsewhere, LASK claimed only their second ever Champions League win in a 4-0 triumph over Slovan Bratislava, while hosts Bodo/Glimt drew 0-0 with Lille.

Earlier, Aleksey Batr­akov scored twice as Gala­tasaray beat VfB Stutt­gart 2-0, while Sporting Lisbon defeated Shakhtar Don­etsk 1-0 at Stamford Bridge.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2026

Simone Inzaghi’s side moved to nine points from four matches as the western league phase reached the halfway point, the club bouncing back from last week’s loss to Qatar’s Al-Shamal.

“It was a tough game; I thought they played very well,” said Watkins. “There’s a lot of good teams in this competition, but I thought it was an important win and it’s nice to get a couple of goals.”

Watkins gave Al-Hilal the perfect start in the sixth minute when he capitalised on Kalidou Koulibaly’s ball-winning challenge midway inside the Shabab Al-Ahli half that put the Emirati side in trouble.

The former Chelsea defender drove into the penalty area before laying off possession to Watkins and, after holding off the challenge of Nemanja Maksimovic, he steered his shot into the bottom corner.

Watkins doubled his side’s lead in the first minute after the interval when Yusuf Akcicek delivered an incisive pass from the halfway line, and the England forward applied an expert finish.

The win means Al-Hilal pull level on points with Shabab Al-Ahli, who had won their opening three matches in the league phase.

Iranian side Esteghlal also have nine points following a 1-0 victory over Qatar’s Al-Shamal, with Albanian international Jasir Asani netting the winner in the 91st minute.

“It was a hard game,” said Asani, who scored for the third time in four matches in the competition.

“From the first minute, we showed our quality, but the other team was very good.

“We missed many chances to open the game, but this is football.”

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2026

Ahtesham Humayun and Mohammad Hassan Usmani joined Hamza Roman in the boys’ singles quarter-finals, bringing the total number of Pakistan players in the last-eight stage to three.

In the boys’ doubles, five Pakistan players — Ahtesham Humayun, Hamza Roman, Mohammad Hassan Usmani, Mohammad Haziq Asim and Amir Mazari — also secured their places in the semi-finals.

Ahtesham produced an excellent performance to defeat Russia’s Daniel Elias 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 while Hassan dominated his match against compatriot Amir, to secure a convincing 6-1, 6-1 victory.

Earlier, as reported yesterday, Pakistan’s Hamza Roman booked his place in the quarter-finals after defeating Sweden’s Nils Preger 6-3, 6-3.

Results:

Boys singles (second round): Mohammad Hassan Usmani (Pakistan) bt Amir Mazari (Pakistan) 6-1, 6-1; Ahtesham Humayun (Pakistan) bt Daniel Elias (Russia) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4; Phasin Sinchalong (Thailand) bt Sanzhar Bolat (Kazakhstan) 6-2, 6-0; Aliaksandr Viarsotski (Belarus) bt Aolun Ma (China) 7-5, 6-4

Girls singles (second round): Chiu Kwan Nina Wang (Hong Kong) bt Githmi Riyana Fernando (Sri Lanka) 6-0, 6-1; Yuqi Li (China) bt Arianna Grigorian (Russia) 6-2, 6-4; Meimei Hu (China) bt Stefaniia Vasilevskaia (Russia) 6-1, 6-3; Varvara Rubtsova (Russia) bt Xuan Yi Wei (China) 6-0, 6-2

Boys doubles (quarter-finals): Aahil Kaleel (Sri Lanka)/Amir Mazari (Pakistan) bt Rayyan Khan/Mohammad Shayan (Pakistan) 2-6, 6-3, 10-4; Ahtesham Humayun/ Hamza Roman (Pakistan) bt Abdul Basit (Pakistan)/ Vukasin Pavlovic (Serbia) 6-1, 6-4; Mohammad Haziq Asim/Mohammad Hassan Usmani (Pakistan) bt Napat Pattanalertphan (Thailand)/Phasin Sinchalong (Thailand) 6-1, 3-6, 10-5; Aolun Ma (China)/Haoxuan Xu (China) bt Nils Preger (Sweden)/Aliaksandr Viarsotski (Belarus) 6-3, 7-6(0), 10-7

Girls doubles (quarter-finals): Meimei Hu (China)/Yijia Wang (China) bt Xeniya Semenova (Kazakhstan)/Hajra Sohail (Pakistan) 6-3, 6-1; Chiu Kwan Nina Wang (Hong Kong)/Pimpisia Wongwanitkajon (Thailand) bt Daixi HU (China)/Yeanna Chowdhury (Bangladesh) 6-0, 6-4; Ploypetch Daungkhiaw (Thailand)/Anyawee Paisarnpanuwong (Thailand) bt Victoria Gruntova (Russia)/Arianna Grigorian (Russia) 6-1, 6-4; Varvara Rubtsova (Russia)/Evelina Dzepa (Russia) bt Yuqi Li (China)/Xuan Yi Wei (China) 7-5, 6-3.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2026

The wicket-keeper/batter, who was among seven players sent home after the second Test at Lord’s and remains under investigation by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency over matters linked to the tour, finished the day unbeaten on 200 off 252 balls, hitting 35 fours and one six.

The right-hander’s innings helped Peshawar declare at 503 for four in 115.2 overs after resuming the day at 306 for three. Overnight centurion Najab Khan scored 133, while Mohammad Haris contributed an unbeaten 70 off 69 balls, including nine fours and two sixes.

Rizwan’s innings marked a significant personal milestone — his second double century in first-class cricket — and came shortly after the Pakistan Cricket Board cleared him to resume domestic cricket.

The former Test regular had endured a lean run with the bat in England, scoring just 61 runs in four innings before the squad overhaul and subsequent investigation into alleged dressing-room issues and related matters.

In reply, Faisalabad reached 118 for two in 35.2 overs at stumps. Both openers, Faham-ul-Haq (31) and Sameer Saqib (25), were dismissed leg-before-wicket by Mohammad Adnan.

Asim Ali Nasir (35 not out) and Atiq-ur-Rehman (24 not out) will resume their innings on Thursday.

LEAN OUTING FOR BABAR

Elsewhere, Babar Azam endured another modest outing, scoring just 28 as Lahore Whites were bowled out for 234 in 49.2 overs against Fata at the Diamond Cricket Ground in Islamabad, conceding a first-innings lead of 128 runs.

Fata had earlier been dismissed for 362, with debutant Fawad Arshad scoring 115. Teenage fast bowler Hammad Aziz claimed six for 97 for Lahore Whites.Shaheen Shah Afridi and Afaq Afridi took three wickets apiece for Fata, with the latter dismissing Babar. Fata ended the day at 22 for one.

At the Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi, Multan recovered from a middle-order collapse that left them struggling at 88 for five to reach 249 for seven in reply to Islamabad’s 215.

Imran Rafiq led the recovery with an unbeaten 93, while Sharoon Siraj scored 82. Musa Khan took three for 31 for the hosts.

At the National Ground in Islamabad, Karachi Blues scored 280 to secure a slender first-innings lead of 39 runs over Sialkot Blues, who closed the day at 13 without loss. Mohammad Ghazi Ghori top-scored for Karachi with 88.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2026

Maliha Ali defeated Veronika Drozdova, a two-time European champion and, at 19, by split decision in their featherweight (65.8kg) bout at the world championships of amateur mixed martial arts.

Maliha, who is also a wushu champion and a national kickboxing gold medallist, came into the tournament off a silver medal at the IMMAF World Cup in Angola earlier this year.

The fight was won early and nearly lost late.

Fighting from a southpaw stance, Maliha started cautiously before closing the distance and pinning the Russian against the cage. She landed clean strikes to finish the opening round strongly, though Drozdova found a couple of overhand lefts.

Maliha dominated the second. She secured a takedown, taking the fight to the floor, and moved into full mount, sitting astride her opponent’s torso, to land heavy blows from the top.

But she had spent much of her energy in those two rounds and appeared to tire in the third, where Drozdova took her down and controlled the action on the ground.

The round went to the Russian, but the first two belonged to Maliha. The judges agreed.

When the final bell rang, the Pakistan fighter stood with her arms raised, not in certainty, but in hope.

OPPONENT’S GAME PLAN

When her name was announced, Maliha let out a roar. Omar Ahmed, president of the Pakistan MMA Federation, leapt with joy from her corner. With this win, Maliha qualified for the quarter-finals.

She hugged her opponent, then dropped to the mat in prostration, the Pakistan flag draped over her shoulders: a moment of faith and gratitude after a hard-fought battle.

“I was listening to the corner and the coach’s instructions during the fight,” Maliha told Dawn. “We worked on our opponent’s game plan, how she fights, and executed our strategy. And thankfully it worked.”

Omar said the federation held a six-week camp and brought in an international jiu-jitsu and grappling coach after spotting weaknesses during Maliha’s silver-medal run in Angola earlier this year.

“There were some holes in their game which we spotted during the event in Angola,” Omar told Dawn. “The coach worked on the mistakes that she made during her previous fights, and we saw the improvement today.”

He acknowledged the disparity in resources between the two nations.

“Russia has one of the most well-funded MMA programmes,” Omar said.

“Compared to them, we are the most underfunded and probably the least-resourced federation competing in this event because of the sports policy in Pakistan. But still, we manage to eke out victories against such formidable opponents.”

For Omar, each victory against the odds carries a deeper meaning.

“Watching our fighters win against such tough opponents brings me joy which I cannot put into words,” he added. “We come from almost nothing; the only thing we have is our grit and desire to succeed, and I guess that’s what matters at the end of the day.”

It is a familiar position for the federation. Pakistan’s campaign at last year’s championships, also held in Tbilisi, was reported to be entirely self-funded through private sponsorship, with no government money.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2026

Starc was the leading wicket taker in the recently concluded series in South Africa, picking up 15 wickets in three Tests.

Although Australia lost the final Test to lose a thrilling series 2-1, Starc finished with nine wickets in the match which included a first-innings haul of 6-72.

Jansen had claimed the top position in the bowlers’ and all-rounders’ rankings only last week after a superb performance with the bat and ball in the second Test, before being displaced by the Australian.

South Africa’s Simon Harmer climbed nine places to seventh.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2026

Kenin lost in three sets to British teenager Mika Stojsavljevic at the Hong Kong Open and within minutes the American’s Instagram page began receiving abusive and offensive messages.

Among the comments were references to the 27-year-old’s appearance and remarks about her parents, much of it graphic and littered with swear words.

A comment from an account set to private and with no profile picture or followers wrote: “You’re not even human. Do you realise how many families you’ve bankrupted around the world?”

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) believes that there is clear evidence linking betting and some of the more serious abuse.

“Protecting players and the wider tennis family from online threats and abuse is a key priority for the WTA,” said a spokesperson.

Boulter last year spoke out about the scale of the online hate, including death threats, directed at her and other players.

“I think it just kind of shows how vulnerable we are,” Boulter told the BBC, saying it was hard sometimes to work out what was a real-life threat and what wasn’t.

The 30-year-old Boulter followed Kenin in being defeated in Hong Kong on Wednesday, with abuse starting to roll into her Instagram page even before her match with the American Claire Liu finished.

On Tuesday, Boulter’s fellow Briton Jodie Burrage suffered a first-round exit at the Chennai Open in India.

The 27-year-old later shared a story on her Instagram page showing the abuse, including death threats, that she was sent in the aftermath.

Much of the abuse players get is through direct messages.

Germany’s Eva Lys tagged the WTA from her Instagram handle and asked: “When will something be done?”

The WTA said it has given Burrage extra support, including on the ground in Chennai, while investigations are under way to identify those responsible.

Women tennis players were subjected to more than 12,000 abusive posts and messages on social media in 2025, according to a report in July.

Among the steps that the WTA has taken along with other tennis bodies is the establishment in 2023 of an online monitoring service.

Through that system, abusers can be identified, investigated and in serious cases reported for prosecution.

Abusive comments can also be flagged for removal from the relevant websites, although social media platforms have been accused of not doing enough.

AFP has contacted Meta, which owns Instagram, for comment.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2026

Robinson spent over two years out of favour with the England selectors before making a memorable comeback this year.

The 32-year-old seam bowler took 28 wickets at an average of just 9.32 in Test matches against New Zealand and Pakistan.

Middlesex seamer Naavya Sharma, currently in the West Indies with England Lions, took the young cricketer of the year award after a breakout season.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2026

Chelsea defender Aaron Anselmino, 21, earned his first senior call-up, while River Plate’s Gonzalo Montiel and Parma defender Mariano Troilo return to the squad as Scaloni begins shaping the team without its long-time captain.

The squad also includes several key players, including Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez and Julian Alvarez.

Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was included despite suffering a fractured jaw while playing for Chelsea, although his fitness will need to be assessed before the matches.

There was no place for Rodrigo De Paul or Giovani Lo Celso, while striker Lautaro Martinez and defender Cristian Romero are among the notable absentees through injury.

Argentina will host Uruguay on Nov 13 at La Bombonera before facing Costa Rica on Nov 17 at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium in Cordoba.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2026

The eight-team 50-over tournament, which starts on Thursday, comprises two groups. Pakistan, UAE, India and Nepal are in Group ‘A’ while Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Malaysia form Group ‘B’.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals, scheduled for Nov 12. The final will take place on Nov 14.

Pakistan will be led by Farhan Yousuf, who also captained the side in the previous edition when Pakistan defeated India by 191 runs at the ICC Cricket Academy Ground in Dubai.

Following their opening match, Pakistan will face traditional rivals India on Sunday before taking on Nepal in their final group game on Tuesday.

Talking exclusively to PCB Digital, Farhan said, “Our preparations [for the U-19 Asia Cup] have been progressing really well. The PCB’s initiative to send us to Oman ahead of the tournament has been extremely beneficial, allowing us to assess the weather, pitches and playing conditions.

“As defending champions, we understand the responsibility that comes with the title. We are not taking anything for granted and are determined to carry forward the positives from last year with the same hunger, commitment and winning mindset.

“The morale within the squad is very high and the players are confident heading into the tournament. We had a strong squad last year and the addition of new players has further strengthened the team,” he added.

Pakistan squad: Farhan Yousuf (captain), Abdul Qadir (wicket-keeper), Abdul Subhan, Ahmed Hussain, Ali Raza, Hamza Zahoor (wicket-keeper), Hasnain Abbas Dar, Hayam Khan, Huzaifa Ahsan, Jahangir Bilal, Mohammad Huzaifa, Mohammad Seyam, Niqab Shafiq, Rizwanullah, Usman Khan.

Player support personnel: Shahid Anwar (head coach & team manager), Rao Iftikhar Anjum (fast bowling coach), Zohaib Khan (spin bowling coach), Humayun Farhat (fielding coach), Ubaid Ullah (physio), Ibrar Ahmed (trainer), Ali Hamza (performance analyst).

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2026

AUCKLAND: Virat Kohli hit a brilliant 74 to lead India to a five-wicket win over New Zealand in their first one-day international at Auckland’s Eden Park on Wednesday.

The veteran right-hander hit his 80th ODI fifty off just 35 balls, showing his enduring class on a night when no other batsman was able to flourish.

In a rain-affected match, India chased down a reduced 143 for victory with 56 balls remaining after New Zealand stuttered to 185 all out in the first innings, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-game series.

Kohli, who turns 38 on Thursday, strode to the middle at the end of the first over, after former captain Rohit Sharma departed for a duck.

He immediately found his timing on a quick and bouncy wicket, playing a stunning array of pulls and hooks which left New Zealand’s pace attack flummoxed.

Kohli hit 13 fours and a six in his 51-ball stay, frequently attacking the short ball.

Indian captain Shubman Gill and Kohli combined for a 113-run partnership, Gill adding 37 from 56 deliveries.

Rain interrupted the chase in the 11th over, when India were at 54-1, and then again an over later at the end of the 12th, with the tourists having added a further 10 runs.

When they returned a third time, India were targeting a total of 143 runs in 32 overs under Duckworth Lewis – that is, a further 79 runs in 20 overs.

Kohli hit double digits from the next three overs to effectively kill the chase.

Jacob Duffy took three wickets for New Zealand.

India won the toss and chose to field, after brief showers caused a 10-minute delay to the start.

New Zealand steadily reached 73-2 in the 14th over despite Will Young and Henry Nicholls both falling cheaply.

Tim Seifert, playing in place of Devon Conway after he was concussed in a freak collision with Matt Henry in training on Tuesday, departed for 38, mistiming a pull shot to mid-on.

His would be the highest score for New Zealand, with Daryl Mitchell’s 28 and Glenn Phillips’s 30 the next-best scores until a blistering 34 from 23 balls by last man Blair Tickner.

Arshdeep Singh took 4-70 from his 10 overs, while Gurnoor Brar had 3-44 in 9.2 overs, as New Zealand were bowled out for 185 in the 41st over.

The second game of the five-match series is in Wellington on Saturday.

Scoreboard

NEW ZEALAND:

W. Young c Iyer b Singh9

T. Seifert c (sub) b Brar38

H. Nicholls c Dhir b Singh9

D. Mitchell run out28

T. Latham c&b Brar3

G. Phillips c Iyer b Singh30

M. Santner b Kamboj4

N. Smith c Kohli b Kamboj1

K. Jamieson c Kohli b Singh1

J. Duffy not out15

B. Tickner c Rahul b Brar34

EXTRAS (LB-4, NB-1, W-8)13

TOTAL (all out, 40.2 overs)185

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-22 (Young), 2-40 (Nicholls), 3-73 (Seifert), 4-84 (Latham), 5-97 (Mitchell), 6-113 (Santner), 7-115 (Smith), 8-131 (Jamieson), 9-146 (Phillips)

BOWLING: Singh 10-0-70-4 (2w), Nabi 6-0-33-0, Kamboj 10-2-22-2 (1w), Brar 9.2-0-44-3 (1w, 1nb), Patel 5-0-12-0

INDIA:

R. Sharma c Santner b Jamieson0

S. Gill c Latham b Smith37

V. Kohli c Seifert b Duffy74

S. Iyer c Nicholls b Duffy15

A. Patel c Phillips b Duffy0

K.L. Rahul not out3

N. Dhir not out5

EXTRAS (LB-1, W-8)9

TOTAL (for five wickets, 22.4 overs)143

DID NOT BAT: A. Kamboj, A. Singh, A. Nabi, G. Brar

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-1 (Sharma), 2-114 (Gill), 3-124 (Kohli), 4-124 (Patel), 5-136 (Iyer)

BOWLING: Jamieson 7-0-34-1 (2w), Duffy 7-0-49-3 (2w), Tickner 4-0-38-0, Smith 4.4-0-21-1

RESULT: India won by five wickets.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Anshul Kamboj

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2026

Noor Zaman, ranked 25th in the PSA standings, led the way with a gripping 11-8, 7-11, 11-8, 11-6 win over Jeongmin Ryu, before Mohammad Ashab Irfan sealed the result with an 11-9, 11-8, 11-8 triumph over Jooyoung Na.

Mohammad Asim Khan then completed the sweep, taming Seojin 11-9, 11-9, 11-3.

In the women’s tie, Sana Bahadur and Mehwish Ali both suffered straight-game defeats against Hong Kong players.

Sana, 20, was routed by Lee Ka Yi 11-3, 11-8, 11-3, before Tse Yee Lam Toby dispatched Mehwish 11-2, 11-5, 11-0.

With the result already decided, Mahnoor Ali displayed grit to avoid the clean sweep but could only manage to take one game, as she lost 11-8, 12-10, 10-12, 11-3 to Cheng Nga Ching.

Results:

Women’s (Iran bt South Korea 2-1): Fereshteh Eghtedari (Iran) bt Mingyeong Heo (South Korea) 11-8, 6-11, 11-7, 11-3, Hwayeong Eum (South Korea) bt Najmeh Boushehrizadeh (Iran) 11-5, 11-9, 11-7, Baran Mohammadpoor (Iran) bt Dami Kim (South Korea) 2-11, 11-9, 14-12, 11-4

Men’s (Malaysia bt Hong Kong China 3-0): Joachim Chuah (Malaysia) bt Lau Tsz Kwan (Hong Kong) 13-11, 11-6, 19-17, Siow Yee Xian (Malaysia) bt Leung Chi Hin Henry (Hong Kong) 12-10, 11-9, 11-3, Duncan Lee (Malaysia) bt Lai Cheuk Nam Matthew (Hong Kong) 15-17, 11-6, 11-5, 6-11, 14-12.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2026

KARACHI: Hopes of easing tensions in the Middle East following a sweeping midterm election defeat for Donald Trump’s Republican Party helped lift investor sentiment. The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) staged a spectacular rally on Wednesday, propelling the benchmark KSE-100 index above 172,000 and crossing four resistance levels in one go.

With oil prices falling and inflationary pressures easing, investors stepped up buying at attractive valuations, anticipating a pickup in economic activity.

Topline Securities Ltd said the PSX extended its bullish momentum for the third consecutive session, building on the previous session’s strong recovery amid improving investor confidence and renewed institutional participation.

The index surged 3,994.62 points, or 2.38 per cent, to close at 172,013.48 points, decisively crossing the psychological 170,000-point milestone and reflecting strong buying interest across the market.

Index rallies 3,995 points as easing Mideast tensions boost investor confidence

Positive momentum was driven mainly by optimism about potential progress in US-Iran diplomatic negotiations, relative stability in international oil prices, and renewed accumulation in heavyweight stocks.

Buying activity remained broad-based, with key sectors, including commercial banks, fertilisers, cement and energy, drawing significant investor interest. Overall, the session reflected improved market sentiment and a strengthening risk appetite among investors.

United Bank, Fauji Fertiliser, Hub Power, Lucky Cement and National Bank emerged as the leading positive contributors, collectively adding approximately 1,215 points and providing substantial support to the market’s overall performance.

Investor participation turned robust, with trading volume surging 62.67pc to 841 million shares and traded value rising 70.94pc to Rs35.3 billion.

Ali Najib, Deputy Head of Trading at Arif Habib Ltd, said the market opened on a positive note amid a sharp decline in international oil prices, following the Democrats’ sweeping victory in the US midterm elections. WTI crude fell below $95 per barrel from the previous session’s high of $98, while Brent declined to $102.50 per barrel from $107.34 per barrel.

This development impr­oved investor sentiment, triggering broad-based buying and helping the benchmark index reclaim the 172,000 level for the first time since Sept 23.

Mr Trump said he had no immediate plans to launch military strikes against Iran after the Democrats’ victory in the mid-term elections, further easing near-term geopolitical concerns.

Analysts expect the market to sustain its bullish momentum as geopolitical concerns ease and oil prices decline. However, profit-taking at higher levels remains possible, while investors continue to monitor global developments.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2026

Presiding over a review meeting at the Commissioner’s Office on Wednesday, the minister detailed a series of farmer-centric interventions, noting that Rs150 billion has been allocated under the Kissan Card to facilitate the purchase of agricultural inputs, alongside Rs425bn in interest-free loans disbursed over the past two and a half years.

He added that 45,000 tractors have been distributed at subsidised rates under the Green Tractor scheme, complemented by a Rs450 million subsidy on certified wheat seeds provided through the Punjab Seed Corporation.

Reviewing the division-specific metrics, Lahore Division was assigned a target of 1.35m acres, an increase of 50,000 acres from the previous year, according to Secretary Agriculture Punjab Shakeel Ahmad Mian.

Mr Kirmani directed the field officers to ensure that approved 50kg wheat seed bags are retailed at a fixed price of Rs7,000, adopting a zero-tolerance stance against hoarding, profiteering, black marketing, and canal water theft.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2026

Brent crude oil futures were down 9 per cent at $94.50 a barrel as investors weighed Washington’s next move in talks to end the wars in Ukraine and Iran against worries that recent attacks in both conflicts could further disrupt supplies.

In a major setback to President Donald Trump, Democrats scored sweeping victories in Republican strongholds for the first time in generations. The breadth of the party’s success was underscored by gains in districts long considered safely conservative, highlighting a political shift that may have caught some investors off guard.

On Wall Street, all three main indexes were trading higher, with communication services, consumer discretionary, and consumer staples stocks driving gains. Energy shares were the biggest losers on the day with crude prices down as Trump acknowledged that the Iran war had played a role in his party’s sweeping defeat.

Investors expect more political certainty after Democrats’ win

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 2.89pc, the S&P 500 was up 1.85pc, and the Nasdaq Composite gained 2.13pc.

“Markets hate uncertainty, and even though a lot of what the result was had been priced in ahead of time, getting confirmation of that last night brings certainty to markets,” said Clayton Allison, portfolio manager at Prime Capital Financial.

“Now this brings questions as to what actually gets done in Washington over the next two years. But the markets love to see that there is a resolution to a catalyst event.”

Opinion polls have sho­wn Democratic voters favo­uring more control over AI, and investors expect the Democratic-controlled Congress to apply more scrutiny to the sector.

The MSCI All-World index was up 1.56pc, while Europe’s STOXX 600, which has acted as a hedge against AI-related risks, jumped 1.87pc to two-month highs.

AI stocks in Asia initially led a decline in equity markets before finishing higher overnight. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.41pc.

Safe haven bid

Treasuries rallied as investors expect gridlock in Washington to cut government spending, with AI regulation also possibly slowing growth and reducing the need for rate hikes.

The yield on the benchmark US 10-year Treasury note fell 5.18 basis points on the day to 4.90pc, down as much as 6bps to 4.89pc overnight, which, in turn, weighed on the dollar.

The broadly weaker dollar left the euro up 0.38pc at $1.1235 and the pound up 0.45pc at $1.3472.

The yen and the Swiss franc both safe-haven currencies also notched gains. The Swiss franc was up 0.50pc against the dollar at 0.817 francs. The Japanese yen rose 0.27pc to 158.24.

In cryptocurrencies, bitcoin gained 3.22pc to $80,316.07. Ethereum rose 5.8pc to $2,425.26.

Spot gold rose 3.57pc to $4,068.62 an ounce.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2026

Overall exports to Europe dipped modestly, with a slight increase in proceeds from southern and northern European countries during the July-September quarter, raising serious concerns for policymakers.

The ongoing Middle East conflict has accelerated the decline in exports to these markets, along with the European Union’s preferential market access offered to India, one of Pakistan’s key competitors in textiles.

Data compiled by the State Bank of Pakistan showed that exports to European countries contracted 1.84pc to $2.350 billion in 1QFY27 from $2.394bn a year ago.

Trade analysts warn that the Middle East conflict could further dampen export demand, as rising energy costs are likely to squeeze consumer spending in Europe, which is already under strain from the economic fallout of the Ukraine war.

Exports to northern Europe increased by 21.07pc to $236.321m in 1QFY27 from $195.191m a year ago.

Exports to southern Europe grew 5.26pc to $879.896m in 1QFY27 from $835.862m in the corresponding period last year. In this region, exports to Spain rose 17.78pc to $451.244m from $383.122m in the preceding year.

Exports to Italy declined 8.49pc to $298.731m in 1QFY27, compared with $326.460m in the same period last year. Exports to Greece grew 3.52pc to $34.961m during the months under review, compared with $33.774m over the previous year.

However, exports to eastern Europe fell 15.05pc to $168.761m in 1QFY27 from $198.677m.

Before Brexit, the United Kingdom was Pakistan’s major export destination. In the post-Brexit period, Pakistan’s exports to the UK increased 6.64pc to $612.305m in 1QFY27 from $574.171m a year ago.

Western Europe, which includes countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, France, Italy, and Belgium, accounts for the largest share of Pakistan’s exports to the EU. However, exports to this region shrank 8.51pc to $1.065bn in 1QFY27 from $1.164bn in 1QFY26.

Exports to Germany dipped 12.77pc to $389.116m in 1QFY27 from $446.100m. Similarly, exports to the Netherlands, the second-largest market for Pakistani goods, fell by 3.07pc to $370.005m from $381.752m a year ago.

Exports to France fell by 0.47pc to $136.030m in 1QFY27 from $136.686m, followed by a 7.57pc decline to Belgium’s $127.431m against $137.871m.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2026

“The super tax rate has already been reduced by two percentage points, and work has now begun on its gradual elimination,” he said while addressing the members of the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (Kati) on Wednesday.

The FBR aims to improve the tax system and facilitate the business community, he said, announcing plans to establish an FBR office at Kati to address tax-related issues faced by industrialists in Korangi Industrial Area.

He added that the board would consult relevant stakeholders to address shortcomings in the raw material import system. The FBR help desk’s scope would also be extended from Karachi to Sukkur.

According to Kati’s press release, the FBR chief further said meetings would be held to resolve border trade-related issues faced by the leather industry.

He also discussed implementing a model similar to the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) for the pharmaceutical industry to make the Track and Trace System more effective.

He urged industrialists and the country’s business community to cooperate with the FBR to identify and eliminate tax evasion so the tax system could be more transparent and effective.

Earlier, Kati President Sheikh Umer Rehan proposed establishing a joint committee to ensure prompt resolution of industrialists’ tax-related issues and strengthen institutional coordination.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2026

A division bench comprising Justice Jawad Hassan and Justice Abid Hussain Chattha issued the ruling allowing petitions filed by Qaiser Shabbir and others.

The petitioners challenged the notices issued by the FIA in response to complaints by financial institutions under Section 20(7) of the Financial Institutions (Recovery of Finances) Ordinance 2001.

In each case, the institutions had already sued the petitioners for recovery.

LHC bars agency from proceeding ‘unilaterally’, rules that banking court must make its determination first

The suits were decreed, many by consent, or were pending in appeal or execution when the institutions complained to the FIA.

The petitioners’ lawyers argued that the ordinance’s civil and criminal remedies are interwoven and that wilful default must first be established before the banking court.

They said a customer cannot be termed a defaulter or a wilful defaulter within the scope and ambit of the ordinance unless the allegations in this respect, in terms of breach of obligations, have been conclusively determined by the banking court and the appellate court.

On the other hand, the respondents’ lawyers argued that each limb of the offence is independent. They said the FIA enjoys exclusive jurisdiction under Rule 5 of the Rules 2018, and that the notices merely sought information.

They argued that direct complaints before the FIA had rightly been filed after the financial institutions issued notices for payment of defaulted amounts, as ordained by the ordinance.

They said the impugned notices to the petitioners, directing an investigation into the alleged offence of ‘wilful default’, had been issued appropriately.

The judgement, authored by Justice Chattha, first rejected the objection to the petitions’ maintainability.

The judge observed that notices issued under Section 160 of CrPC are normally not challengeable, but judicial review is open where they are issued without jurisdiction, with mala fide intent or against the parent statute.

On the merits, the judge held that wilful default is a ‘distinct species’ of default with both civil and criminal dimensions.

“A recovery suit only fixes the amount payable and does not establish wilful default,” the judgment maintained.

It noted that the law requires a 30-day payment demand before a complaint and the punishment is tied to the amount of default.

The bench disagreed with a 2019 ruling of a three-member LHC bench (Mian Ayaz Anwar and others versus State Bank of Pakistan etc.) to the extent it held that Sections 2(g)(ii) and (iii) of the ordinance need no prior civil determination.

It also rejected the approach of letting criminal proceedings start and then staying them.

The bench observed that this would give institutions an unfettered, unilateral, discriminatory, and coercive tool to recover undetermined sums through FIRs and arrests.

The bench held that the FIA’s powers come from the ordinance and the 2018 Rules, not the FIA Act.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2026

A meeting of the ECC, presided over by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, also allowed the continuation of gas supply to two Punjab-based fertiliser plants — Fatima and Agritech — until Dec 31, subject to availability.

An official statement said the ECC approved three summaries submitted by the Defence Division. The first summary pertained to supplementary grants of Rs54bn under three different heads of the Defence Services project. These included over Rs31bn for the Special Security Divisions of North and South (SSD-N and SSD-S), Rs11.88bn for various Pakistan Navy projects and Rs10bn for internal security duties and allowances.

The second summary approved Rs1.094bn for the induction of a luxury executive jet (Lineage L-1000 aircraft) into the army fleet, while the third allocated Rs29.139bn for Project Istaqlal. “The approvals are aimed at meeting essential operational requirements and supporting national security priorities,” the official statement said.

Approves Rs275bn for five water projects, Rs84bn for armed forces

The ECC also approved supplementary grants of Rs275bn for important water sector projects currently under implementation and facing financial constraints under the Ministry of Water Resources. The funds will be specifically allocated for the Diamer-Bhasha Dam, Mohmand Dam, Greater Karachi Water Supply (K-IV), Chashma Right Bank Canal and Kacchi Canal. They will be disbursed gradually in line with Wapda’s requirements under its payment plan for project implementation.

The government had allocated about Rs103bn for these water sector projects in the 2026-27 budget, but Wapda had been complaining of implementation difficulties due to financial constraints. Wapda Chairman Muhammad Saeed had told a parliamentary panel that the allocated funds were insufficient and that his requests for the provision of adequate funds had been approved by the prime minister and the Ministry of Finance.

The federal government had secured about Rs1.035 trillion in additional funds from the four provinces outside the National Finance Commission in June to meet strategic national requirements, including those relating to the water sector and national security.

“The allocation will support the development of key water infrastructure and help advance the implementation of ongoing projects,” the statement said.

The ECC also approved Rs3.71bn for the Frontier Corps Balochistan (North), on the request of the Narcotics Control Division, to meet the maintenance requirements of helicopters.

The committee further approved the transfer of Rs15.625bn in savings generated through austerity and fuel conservation measures to the Prime Minister’s Austerity Fund 2026, reinforcing the government’s commitment to fiscal discipline and prudent management of public resources, the statement said.

On a summary submitted by the Commerce Division, the committee approved restrictions on the import of camera-enabled smart glasses. It also recommended that provincial governments and the Islamabad Capital Territory develop appropriate workplace regulations to govern the use of such devices.

The ECC approved relaxation of the applicable Exploration and Production (E&P) Rules for the extension and renewal of 89 petroleum rights, subject to fulfilment of prescribed conditions. It also approved a grant of Rs1bn for the gasification of villages located within a five-kilometre radius of gas production fields during FY27. The approval will facilitate the development of gas infrastructure and improve access to natural gas in communities near producing fields.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2026

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif will hear the appeals, as the court granted Barrister Salman Safdar a final opportunity to commence his arguments.

Barrister Safdar had earlier objected to a lack of access to his incarcerated clients for being unable to proceed with the appeals. However, this objection is no longer relevant following his meeting with the couple.

In July, too, the court while granting a final adjournment to the counsel in the £190m case had warned him that no further delay would be tolerated and the appeals would be decided on the basis of available record. The case itself pertains to the Al-Qadir Trust settlement, in which NAB alleged the PTI founder and his wife obtained billions of rupees and land.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2026

The cold front sent residents rushing to local markets to buy warm clothing as showers fell across Quetta, Kolpur, Harnai, Chagai and Dalbandin.

The sudden drop in temperatures in the provincial capital and northern districts compounded existing hardships for households already enduring low gas pressure and frequent load-shedding.

With piped natural gas largely unavailable, families turning to liquefied petroleum gas as an alternative fuel face steep financial hurdles. The consumers struggle to secure LPG at government-regulated rates, with local shopkeepers reportedly charging arbitrary prices ranging between Rs550 and Rs600 per kg.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2026

He expressed these concerns while chairing the third Senate meeting of the Balochistan University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Khuzdar.

The governor stressed the need for a comprehensive and attract­ive strategy to retain existing PhD scholars and senior professors while attracting new academics and researchers to public-sector universities across the province.

He said effective measures were urgently required to prevent the loss of experienced faculty members and strengthen academic and research capabilities. Retaining qualified scholars, he added, was essential for improving university performance and equipping students with modern knowledge and research skills.

Notes more than 100 scholars have already left Balochistan

While appreciating the efforts of Vice Chancellor Prof Maqsood Ahmed and his team, Mr Mandokhail observed that much remained to be done to improve the higher education sector.

He also emphasised that the establishment of new universities and campuses should be based on local needs and ground realities rather than individual preferences. He called for a review of existing campuses to determine whether they should be retained, merged or closed through informed policy decisions.

Pointing out an imbalance in faculty distribution, the governor said some modern academic disciplines faced a serious shortage of senior faculty members, while certain traditional departments had more staff than required in relation to student enrolment. He called for better human resource planning and balanced faculty distribution.

He said improving higher education required effective policymaking, prudent use of available resources and continuous improvement in academic and research standards.

The meeting was attended by Justice Najamuddin Mengal of Balochistan High Court, Opposition Leader Mir Younis Aziz Zehri, Education Minister Raheela Hameed Khan Durrani and others.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2026

The development came after Maulana Fazl’s new tirade against the government and state institutions on issues concerning main opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and terrorism.

According to a NAB notice, the bureau is investigating alleged irregularities in appointments made at Pakistan Post during Mr Mahmood’s tenure as federal minister between 2022 and 2023. The ex-minister is accused of making as many as 4,252 appointments against fewer approved vacancies, with discrepancies in the number of sanctioned posts in Pakistan Post.

The anti-graft watchdog has directed Mr Mahmood to appear before its investigation team on Nov 10 at 11am.

Bureau to probe excessive appointments allegedly in violation of cabinet committee’s direction

Mr Mahmood had served as federal minister during the last PML-N-led Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government in 2022-23. The PDM had formed the government after toppling the Imran Khan government, which had served from 2018 to 2022, through a vote of no-confidence.

The notice stated that the Establishment Division had authorised recruitment against 3,938 posts at Pakistan Post. However, 4,252 people were allegedly appointed, exceeding the approved number. The NAB said that 2,646 appointments were made against posts that had already been abolished, in violation of the directions of a cabinet committee.

The bureau said a large number of permanent appointments were made against the recommendation for recruitment on a contractual basis only. The investigation also covered allegations that the appointments placed an additional financial burden on Pakistan Post. The aspect of alleged political affiliations among some selected candidates is also being examined.

Other allegations include the use of fake and forged documents, recruitment of candidates over the prescribed age limit and violations of the domicile quota during the hiring process. The NAB has warned that failure to comply with the summons could result in legal action under Section 31 of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999.

FIA probe

The notice by NAB has been issued at a time when the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is also investigating alleged corruption and irregularities in Pakistan Post recruitments.

The FIA’s Anti-Corruption Circle in Islamabad had separately issued a notice summoning Mr Mahmood to record his statement in connection with the case.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2026

Following a request from Mr Bugti, the Punjab chief minister issued directives to the relevant authorities to provide institutional support and assistance to strengthen the Balochistan Safe City Authority.

Under the proposed joint venture between the Safe City authorities of the two provinces, both sides will work together to improve security monitoring systems, provide technical assistance, build staff capacity and facilitate the exchange of expertise and experience.

The development was discussed at a meeting of the Balochistan Safe City Authority, chaired by Mr Bugti. Additional Chief Secretary Home Muhammad Hamza Shafqaat briefed the meeting on ongoing projects and their progress, informing participants that work on Safe City projects was under way in nine cities across the province.

Punjab will provide technical assistance, staff training and expertise to Balochistan

Punjab Safe City Authority Director General Ahsan Younas said his organisation would extend technical assistance to Balochistan, including staff training, capacity building and the transfer of modern expertise to ensure the effective operation of the projects.

Addressing the meeting, Mr Bugti said Safe City projects were not merely surveillance systems but the foundation of modern security infrastructure aimed at protecting the lives and property of citizens.

‘Safe environment’

He stressed that the use of advanced technology and effective security monitoring systems was essential to maintaining law and order, preventing crime and providing a safe environment for the people of Balochistan.

The chief minister said modern surveillance systems would help monitor the movement of criminal elements, identify suspicious activities in a timely manner and improve the response of law enforcement agencies.

He thanked the Punjab chief minister and the Punjab Safe City Authority for extending cooperation and support to Balochistan, saying institutional collaboration and the exchange of experience between provinces would help achieve shared public safety objectives.

The meeting was attended by Provincial Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove, Balochistan Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan, Additional Chief Secretary Hamza Shafqaat, Inspector General of Police Muhammad Tahir Khan, Balochistan Safe City Authority Director General Muhammad Ashfaq, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Imran Zarkoon, Finance Secretary Jahangir Khan, IT Secretary Ayaz Khan Mandokhail and other senior officials.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2026

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to seek Turkiye’s technical support for developing Pakistan’s indigenous FMD vaccine production capacity.

The proposed cooperation was also linked to Pakistan’s ambition to establish disease-free zones and strengthen access to international meat markets.

Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain and Ambassador of Turkiye Dr Irfan Neziroglu in a meeting on Wednesday discussed concrete measures for strengthening bilateral cooperation in agriculture, livestock, vaccine production, human resource development and value-added food exports.

Since livestock development and domestic production of FMD vaccine emerged as major priorities, the envoy expressed Turkiye’s willingness to extend technical cooperation to Pakistan.

The two sides also discussed the findings of recent exchanges between livestock experts of both countries. Both sides recognised that improved animal health standards and domestic vaccine production would contribute to expanding Pakistan’s livestock and meat export potential. The two sides also agreed to translate the longstanding strategic partnership between Pakistan and Turkiye into practical initiatives through institutional linkages, technical collaboration and direct engagement between relevant ministries, universities and experts.

A key focus of the meeting was capacity building and technical training. Pakistan informed the Turkish side of its plan to send an initial group of around 30 participants to Turkiye under the proposed training programme for 100 trainees.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2026

He shared this information with Syedaal Khan Nasar, the deputy chairman of Senate, during a meeting.

The existing mechanism for issuance of passports, institutional performance, security features and facilities being provided to the public came under discussion during the meeting.

The meeting also discussed the proposed introduction of passport issuance facilities through the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) in the near future, further strengthening passport security and measures to improve the country’s ranking.

Senate deputy chairman lauds promotion of using technology to facilitate public

Mr Nasar appreciated the government’s initiatives aimed at improving the passport issuance system, promoting the use of modern technology and enhancing public facilitation.

He termed the performance of the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports and its efforts towards institutional reforms commendable, emphasising the need to further modernise the system in line with contemporary requirements.

Mr Nasar said the use of modern technology, digital systems and automation should be expanded at all stages of passport issuance to make the entire process, from submission of an application to passport delivery, faster, more transparent and accessible.

He emphasised that citizens should not face unnecessary delays, prolonged waiting periods or administrative complications, adding that an effective mechanism must be ensured for the prompt resolution of complaints.

“Effective use of modern technology and improved administrative strategies could further strengthen public confidence in the institution,” Mr Nasar added.

Meets tribal elders, lawyers

The deputy chairman also met tribal elders, lawyers, representatives of civil society, students and other prominent personalities from different walks of life. During these interactions, matters relating to problems faced by the masses and the prevailing political situation were discussed.

Mr Nasar briefed the delegations about measures taken by the government to promote economic growth, control inflation and provide relief to the nation.

He cited the reduction in fuel prices as one such step and expressed the hope that it would have a knock-on effect on the prices of other commodities.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2026

The bench comprising Justice Tariq Mahmood Bajwa and Justice Ahsan Raza dismissed Execution First Appeal No. 05 of 2025 along with connected appeals arising from the same land acquisition proceedings.

The dispute concerns the acquisition of 29,199 kanals and 18 marlas in the revenue estates of Burhan, Jallo and Islam Garh in tehsil Hassan Abdal, Attock district.

The acquisition notification under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, was published on July 1, 1990, while the final award was announced on Aug 18, 1992.

Of the acquired land, 548 kanals in Burhan belonged to the respondents, who challenged the compensation determined by the Land Acquisition Collector. The Supreme Court also dismissed the challenge on Dec 21, 2019, while a subsequent review petition was also rejected by the court on July 18, 2023.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2026