The seismic activity, however, intensified each time Babar Azam arrived at the striker’s end. The “Babar, Babar” chants reverberated across the venue mightily each time the bowler ran towards the crowd’s favourite player.

Each time Babar’s bat met the ball, that clap of the willow merged into the consequent, deafening cheers. And when that hit turned into a boundary, 32,000 fans turned raucous.

Deprived of attending PSL matches owing to the government’s austerity measures all season until they were allowed to do so for the playoffs, the fans wanted a gift and Babar gave them one.

The Peshawar Zalmi skipper added the fireworks to the festive night, hitting a blistering century to lead his side to the PSL final after a 70-run win over a hapless Islamabad United in the Qualifier.

The right-hander hit 103 off 59, smashing 12 fours and four sixes as Zalmi made their fifth PSL final with the hope of winning their first title after their 2017 crown.

Babar’s masterclass began from the very first over. Facing pacer Richard Gleeson, he caressed a straight drive for two, punched a boundary through midwicket with authority, and guided another single.

The tone was set. In the second over, he sliced a short ball aerially over backward point and unfurled a majestic swivel pull that raced to the midwicket boundary.

A flick off the pads over midwicket for six in the third over showcased his class, taking him to 22 off just 12 balls.

Mohammad Haris provided explosive support at the other end, hammering Imad Wasim for a monstrous six over cow corner and sweeping boundaries with audacity. The opening stand raced to 72 in a little more than six overs before Haris (35 off 16) holed out to long-off off Shadab Khan.

Zalmi were 80-1, already looking ominous on a flat pitch. Kusal Mendis joined Babar and the pair added 84 runs in quick time. Mendis, aggressive as ever, dealt in boundaries, including a delightful ramp over the keeper off Faheem Ashraf.

Babar, meanwhile, eased into his groove. He brought up his half-century off 40 balls with a boundary off Imad in the 11th over, a moment greeted with thunderous applause.

The partnership flourished until the 15th over when Mendis (41 off 26) miscued a pull off Faheem and was caught at midwicket.

Disaster struck immediately. Sha­dab (3-42), bowling with venom, clai­m­ed Michael Bracewell and Abdul Samad in consecutive deliveries — a hat-trick ball that Aaron Hardie survived.

Zalmi suddenly wobbled at 165-4 in the 16th over, with Babar on 79. But the captain refused to yield.

Off Faheem, he slashed a boundary past backward point, drove another straight over the bowler’s head, and punched through covers to move into the nervous nineties.

The crowd sensed history. In the 17th over, facing Gleeson, Babar got under a fuller delivery outside off and flayed it over covers. Then, on the fifth ball, he met a pace-off delivery in the slot, presented the full face of the bat and muscled it straight down the ground for six.

Helmet off, arms aloft, a sprint of joy followed by a leap and a heartfelt prostration on the turf — Babar had reached his fourth PSL century off 58 balls, joining Usman Khan as the joint-highest century-maker in a single PSL season.

He also equalled the record for most runs in a PSL campaign as the stadium erupted in pure ecstasy. Babar fell soon after but his departure did not stall Zalmi’s momentum as Hardie unleashed a late onslaught, smashing 20 off 10 balls, including a six and two fours to help Zalmi to a formidable 221.

In response, United made a promising start. Devon Conway and Sameer Minhas, the latter in blistering form, put on 58 in the powerplay. Sameer, particularly aggressive, hammered seven boundaries in his 44 off 23 balls, including crisp cover drives and powerful pulls. Conway contributed 20 off 14 with two sixes before Michael Bracewell induced a soft leading edge to cover in the fifth over.

The real damage, however, was inflicted by Hardie. Introduced in the eighth over, the Australian all-rounder struck immediately, having Sameer caught at mid-off by Babar.

Hardie’s variations in pace and bounce proved lethal on a pitch that offered just enough for the seamers. He returned to claim Shadab with a clever lap scoop that went straight to short fine leg, then accounted for Haider Ali, who sliced to Sufiyan Muqeem at cover.

Hardie finished with impressive figures of 3-24, triggering a middle-order collapse that left United reeling at 114-7 inside 14 overs.

Sufiyan complemented Hardie beautifully, removing Mohsin Riaz (25) with a stunning catch by Samad at long-off and later dismissing Mark Chapman at short third-man.

A run-out of Faheem added to the misery. Chris Green and Imad offered brief resistance, but the asking rate had climbed beyond 20. Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Basit mopped up the tail efficiently, with Basit claiming the last two wickets in the 19th over as United folded for 151.

Scoreboard

PESHAWAR ZALMI:
Mohammad Haris c Chapman b Shadab 35
Babar Azam c Mohsin b Salman 103
Kusal Mendis c Sameer b Faheem 41
Michael Bracewell c Green b Shadab 2
Abdul Samad c Faheem b Shadab 0
Aaron Hardie lbw b Gleeson 20
Iftikhar Ahmed not out 3
Farhan Yousaf c Faheem b Gleeson 0
Khurram Shahzad not out 4

EXTRAS (LB-5, NB-1, W-7) 13
TOTAL (for seven wickets, 20 overs) 221
DID NOT BAT: Sufiyan Muqeem, Mohammad Basit
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-72 (Haris), 2-156 (Mendis), 3-164 (Bracewell), 4-164 (Samad), 5-200 (Babar), 6-214 (Hardie), 7-217 (Farhan)
BOWLING: Gleeson 4-0-45-2 (1nb), Imad 4-0-38-0 (1w), Salman 3-0-35-1, Shadab 4-0-42-3 (6w), Faheem 3-0-36-1, Green 2-0-20-0

ISLAMABAD UNITED:
Devon Conway c Samad b Bracewell 20
Sameer Minhas c Babar b Hardie 44
Mohsin Riaz c Samad b Sufiyan 25
Shadab Khan c Basit b Hardie 6
Mark Chapman c Khurram b Sufiyan 4
Haider Ali c Sufiyan b Hardie 8
Faheem Ashraf run out 1
Chris Green c Babar b Khurram 8
Imad Wasim c&b Basit 22
Salman Mirza c Haris b Basit 5
Richard Gleeson not out 1

EXTRAS (W-7) 7
TOTAL (all out, 18.4 overs) 151
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-58 (Conway), 2-81 (Sameer), 3-98 (Shadab), 4-100 (Mohsin), 5-109 (Haider), 6-111 (Chapman), 7-113 (Faheem), 8-126 (Green), 9-150 (Imad)
BOWLING: Iftikhar 2-0-25-0 (2w), Khurram 3-0-38-1 (2w), Basit 3.4-0-19-2, Bracewell 2-0-20-1, Sufiyan 4-0-25-2 (1w), Hardie 4-0-24-3 (2w)
RESULT: Peshawar Zalmi won by 70 runs
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Babar Azam

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026

The biggest World Cup in history will be held across the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.

One of the clearest concerns is cost.

The sheer scale of staging a tournament across North Ame­rica, with long-haul travel, differing tax regimes and significant operational demands, has prompted unease among some participating nations.

UEFA has passed on concerns from several European associations that teams could find it difficult to break even unless they progress deep into the competition.

FIFA, for its part, is expected to point to the unprecedented commercial strength of the tournament.

The governing body has indicated it is prepared to raise prize money and participation payments beyond already record levels, presenting the expanded World Cup as a vehicle for wider redistribution rather than simply a bigger payday for the strongest teams.

Its argument is that more nations, more matches and greater revenues will ultimately mean more money flowing into development programmes and solidarity funding across the global game.

Iran’s participation is the most politically sensitive item on FIFA’s agenda.

Iran have qualified for the World Cup, but security and travel concerns around their matches in the United States have prompted officials in Tehran to seek guarantees and request alternative venues.

FIFA has rejected any change to the schedule, saying teams are expected to play as planned.

Visa access and travel restrictions are also expected to be closely watched.

Officials from the Palestinian Football Association were recently denied entry to Canada for a pre-congress meeting, underlining the practical obstacles that can arise when sport, border policy and international politics collide.

However, Palestinian association vice president Susan Shalabi and president Jibril Rajoub have both now been granted visas and are expected to attend the congress, FIFA told Reuters on Monday.

Shalabi has already arrived in Vancouver while Rajoub is expected on Tuesday.

FIFA says it is working with host governments to help facilitate access for delegations, although the final list of attending associations will not be confirmed until the congress begins.

The wider logistics of the 2026 World Cup remain a defining theme. A tournament spread across three countries, multiple time zones and vast distances will test teams, supporters, broadcasters and organisers in ways no previous World Cup has.

Some federations have raised concerns privately, but FIFA argues that a multi-host model is essential for a 48-team event and reflects the future scale and ambition of the competition.

For Vancouver, then, the task is not only to celebrate the appr­oach of a landmark World Cup but to smooth the final edges before the June 11 kickoff.

FIFA expects the 2026 tournament to be the largest and most lucrative in its history, with projected revenues of around $13 billion for the current cycle. The challenge now is to ensure that its expanded vision of the World Cup feels not only bigger, but workable, fair and genuinely global.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026

While Kingsmen just made it to the playoffs stage on better net run-rate than earned by Lahore Qalandars, the journey of Sultans, placed third in the initial league stage, has been relatively smoother.

The winners of today’s match will meet Islamabad United who suffered a 70-run loss at the hands of Peshawar Zalmi in the Qualifier between the top two teams of the table on Tuesday at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi.

Interestingly, both Sultans and Kingsmen preferred to rest on Tue­sday ahead of the crucial match.

Sultans hold an edge on the basis of their experience, and know what it takes to win the league, having clinched it once — in 2021 — besides ending as runners-up thrice in 2022, 2023 and 2024. On the other hand, Hyderabad are competing in the league for the first time.

Glancing at the show produced by both the teams in the ongoing edition, it becomes obvious that while Kingsmen’s performance graph improved significantly in the second half of the 10-match initial-stage stretch during which the Marnus Labuschagne-led side won four games while losing only one, Sultans declined in their last five league-stage matches.

The Ashton Turner-captained Sultans played top-class brand of cricket in the earlier stage of the league phase and even topped the eight-team points table at one stage. However, four losses in the last five matches checked their progress.

Sultans’ batting line-up comprising Steven Smith (10 matches, 367 runs), Sahibzada Farhan (nine matches, 365), Shan Masood (10 matches, 298) and Turner (10 matches, 211) look strong.

In bowling, they have veteran pacer Peter Siddle who has claimed 13 wickets in 10 matches, while left-arm orthodox spinner Arafat Minhas has taken nine for 204 runs in 10 outings. Pacer Mohammad Ismail has bagged nine wickets in six matches while wrist spinner Faisal Akram has seven wickets in five fixtures.

For Kingsmen, their main batter is Labuschagne, having amassed 274 runs while Usman Khan (256) is their second best. While Saim Ayub has struggled with the bat so far, belligerent Australian batter Glenn Maxwell who joined the team after four PSL matches may prove a trump card.

In bowling, Kingsmen look better having pacers Mohammad Ali (13 wickets,), Hunain Shah (12 wickets), Akif Javed (eight wickets) in the ranks along with Hassan Khan and Asif Mahmood.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026

The stands were no more deserted as echoing chants replaced deafening silence.

While the National Bank Stadium has been home to HBL Pakistan Super League action for the last 20 days, it was only on Tuesday evening when cricket was well and truly back at the historic venue as Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United clashed in the Qualifier.

The colourful seats of the arena were finally occupied by real people, adding life to the Karachi breeze, that swept through the stadium gently.

But these enthusiastic lovers of the sport had hard-earned the privilege of attending the match almost 24 hours after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif gave the go-ahead to allow fan entry in the PSL playoffs following a ban due to the government’s fuel-saving measures taken in the wake of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Responding to the premier’s green light, arrangements had to be made hurriedly by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the circumstances had their effect on the fans’ experience of buying the tickets.

Many were left frustrated by the glitchy website of the courier company which was the responsibility to sell the tickets online.

Others toiled in queues outside the courier company’s two designated centres under the blazing sun since before afternoon.

At the box office was set up at the China Ground, a dusty parking space across the road from the National Bank Stadium.

Fans had started reaching the location as early as 10:00am. And to the frustration of many, who “had literally filed the whole ground” — as per one of the workers of the ticket vendor told Dawn — the sales, which started at 12:00 noon were stalled in an hour after “people started getting violent”.

The ticket sales at the China Ground resumed by 3:00pm again, but there were still issues of Computerised National Identity Card registrations while sole fans stood confused after not receiving their tickets despite having paid online.

They were reportedly promised a refund, but still had to buy physical tickets to be able to attend the match.

The complications, however, relented with time, especially after PSL chief executive officer Salman Naseer visited the China Ground.

“I understand there have been issues and that has been mainly due to the fact that we had to make arrangements [for entry of fans] on a very short notice,” he told reporters, adding that organisers were focused on preparing for Sunday’s final, for which fans were allowed two days earlier.

As the sun started coming down, the tiredness on the fans’ faces gradually turned into relief and eventually to delight as they flaunted their tickets while crossing the pedestrian bridge that lead to the National Bank Stadium’s Gate No. 12.

And not long after the match’s first ball was bowled, the stands were filled to capacity.

Now, it was the noise that turned deafening and there was a quiet realisation that the normal, after all, is so special.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026

Atletico have reached three European Cup finals in their history two during Simeone’s near 15-year tenure but have never lifted the continent’s top prize. They are the only team to lose three finals without having won the competition.

This season has offered little domestic comfort, with the club fourth in La Liga, 25 points behind leaders Barcelona and effectively out of the title race since January.

Defeat on penalties to Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey final less than two weeks ago has left the Champions League as Atletico’s sole remaining shot at silverware this season and they could be heading for five trophyless seasons in a row.

Yet Simeone was in no mood to look back at past failures after defeats by Bayern Munich (1974) and Real Madrid (2014, 2016) in the final of Europe’s elite club competition.

“There’s no pressure, there’s a sense of responsibility, and there’s a special sense of anticipation,” he told a press conference on Tuesday.

“At the end of the day, it’s a football match and the players are the ones who decide the outcome. We have to prepare well. We want to play the game we’ve envisaged and take the match to a stage where we can cause Arsenal problems.”

Asked whether the competition owed Atletico something after three final defeats, Simeone said: “We’re all human. If you ask us, everyone has a different opinion. But a competition doesn’t owe anyone anything.

“Things have to be earned and achieved. You have to work hard, go out and get them and hope Lady Luck is on your side.”

The Argentine pointed to Atletico’s approach in recent knockout ties as their greatest asset.

“What we’ve been doing in the knockout stages, whether in the (Spanish) Cup or the Champions League ... Playing with intensity, with our style of play, with our attacking initiative. That’s how we’ll go about it,” he said.

For a club chasing a first Champions League crown, there is a temptation to dream but Simeone prefers deeds to daydreams.

“Dreaming is all well and good, but reality is what happens on the ground. Reality is what we do and what God wills. That’s how we behave,” he said.

“We’re in another semi-final. It’s extraordinary to reach it for the fourth time in 14 years. It’s incredible.

“That faith, that excitement, that infectious spirit will do us a world of good. We’re facing a tough match but we’re going there full of hope.”

On the flip-side, Arsenal are also chasing their first European crown and midfielder Declan Rice urged the Gunners to embrace the weight of history.

Arsenal have never won Europe’s elite club competition, with their lone final ending in defeat against Barcelona in 2006.

Just seven games separate Arse­nal from the club’s greatest ever season.

They sit three points clear of second-placed Manchester City in the Premier League title race, with four matches to play and five for Pep Guardiola’s men. Three games remain in the Champions League if Arsenal reach the final.

“We’ve played in tough games in the last three or four years at the highest level, so we know what to expect and what’s to come,” the midfielder said.

“That’s what it’s been all season, and that’s what we want it to be tow­ards the end of the season. We’re Cha­m­pions League semi-finalists, let’s embrace it, enjoy it and bring it on.”

Arsenal are sweating on the fitness of Eberechi Eze and Kai Havertz for the trip to Madrid after they limped off last weekend.

The England midfielder has been a rare source of attacking inspiration in a side whose success has been build on a solid defensive foundations.

And Rice is desperate for his international team-mate to be fit to face Simeone’s side.

“That’s what he’s been brought here to do. I said a few weeks ago, his ball striking is unbelievable,” he said. “What a player, what a guy. He’s going to be massive for us these next few weeks. We really need him.”

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026

In a rare 11:00 am start on Tuesday, Sinner moved past British 19th seed Cameron Norrie 6-2, 7-5 to reach the quarter-finals.

He explained he was put on first on Manolo Santana Stadium so that Jodar, his potential next opponent, would be scheduled in the afternoon to give the Spaniard time to recover from his three-set win over Joao Fonseca that ended at 1:00 am on Monday morning.

“It’s quite unusual for me,” Sinner told Tennis TV about his early kick-off.

“I don’t know the last time I played at 11. But for me it doesn’t matter what time. I try to do my best. There was a question if it would be me or Jodar to play at 4. But I think it’s right he plays at 4, because he finished very, very late.

“But at the same time, I feel like we need to make some adjustments to the scheduling of the day. Two matches (starting) from 8pm is very late.

“Even though you have one day in between. But still it’s very, very late.

“You finish at 1:30am, and you need to eat, you need to have treatment, so it’s very late. But we try to adapt ourselves, our bodies, our minds, so from my side it was a good performance today.”

In his first-ever meeting with Norrie, Sinner won 81 percent of his first-serve points, and 63 percent of the points behind his second delivery on his way to notching a 25th consecutive victory at the Masters 1000 level.

Sinner, who is bidding to reach the semi-finals for the first time in the Spanish capital, will next face 19-year-old Jodar in what will be a highly-anticipated last-eight showdown.

The Italian world number one is just the second man in series history to win his first 20 Masters 1000 matches of the season, joining Novak Djokovic, who achieved that feat twice, in 2011 and 2015.

Later in the day, Jodar’s dream run on home soil continued with a convincing 7-5, 6-0 thumping of world number 66 Vit Kopriva.

The Madrid-born wildcard adv­a­n­ced to the biggest quarter-final of his young career, and improved to 12-1 on clay so far this season.

Casper Ruud fought back from the brink to keep his title defence alive with a 6-7(4/7), 7-6(7/2), 7-6(7/3) victory over former finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas.

In a high-quality three-hour contest, Tsitsipas led 5-3 in the decider, holding two match points, and served for the victory at 5-4, but Ruud, who was 0/11 in break points up until then, found a way to take down the Greek’s serve and went on to clinch the tie-break.

Last week’s Barcelona champion Arthur Fils advanced to the quarter-finals at the Caja Magica with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Argentine 25th seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry.

Fils has made the quarter-finals in six of the seven tournaments he has contested so far in 2026.

The Frenchman will take on Jiri Lehecka, who beat sixth-seeded Italian Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-3, for a place in the last four.

In WTA action, ninth-seeded Mirra Andreeva gave herself an early birthday gift, defeating Canadian Leylah Fernandez 7-6(7/1), 6-3 to reach her first Madrid semi-final.

The Russian teenager, who turns 19 on Wednesday, awaits defending champion Aryna Sabalenka or American Hailey Baptiste, A recent champion in Linz, Andreeva improved her clay-court record to 11-1 this season.

On Monday, Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina fell to a shock 7-6(10/8), 6-4 defeat by Anas­tasia Potapova in the fourth round.

Both players secured two breaks in the first set before Potapova edged Rybakina in the tie-break.

In the second set Rybakina captured her fifth break point of a long fifth game to nose ahead but lost the eighth and 10th games as Potapova triumphed.

In the men’s section, two-time former Madrid champion Zverev, ranked third in the world, showed his quality as he defeated Atmane 6-3, 7-6(7/2) to reach the fourth round.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026

Participating in the tournament through a wild card, Abubakar was in control (6-3, 3-2) against Nep­al’s Abishek Bastola 6-3, 3-2 before the latter retired due to cramps, sending the former to the next round.

Mohammad Abid, anot­her Pakistan player, dow­ned Abdul­aziz Usmonjonov of Uzbekistan 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 to advance to the second round.

Results (first round): Dmitrii Shirokii (Russia) bt Lawrence Bataljin (Australia) 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(11-9); Nikita Ianin (Russia) bt Ivan Iutkin (Russia) 5-7, 7-6(5), 7-5; Kerem Yilmaz (Turkey) bt Mikaeel Ali Baig (Pakistan) 6-2, 6-2; Matas Vasiliauskas (Lithuania) bt Muzammil Murtaza (Pakistan) 7-6(5), 6-3; Essa Qabazard (Kuwait) bt Ahmed Nael (Pakistan) 6-3, 6-3.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026

The 33-year-old replaced Heather Knight as all-formats captain in April last year and the T20 World Cup will be her second major International Cric­ket Council (ICC) event as captain and her first at home.

Sciver-Brunt led the team at the 50-overs World Cup last year in India and Sri Lanka, where they were knocked out in the semi-finals by South Africa.

“We would have liked to have won a lot more than we have done and we’d obviously like that to change this summer,” she told BBC Sport on Monday.

“A win could change what women’s cricket looks like in this country. Just the carrot of that is enough to motivate anyone really. It certainly could change what this team is about.

“We didn’t really do it after 2017, but being a consistently good team is something that everyone tries to do. I’m hoping we can be a consistently good team and we’d love to start off with a T20 World Cup win.”

England are drawn in Group ‘B’ alongside defending champions New Zeal­and, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Ireland and Scotland. They open their campaign in the 12-team tournament against Sri Lanka on June 12.—

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026

Russia took a seventh-minute lead through Aleksandr Braginets’ low drive from the right. Pakistan goalkeeper Naveedullah kept his side in the game, while Muhammad Hanzala saw his effort saved just before half-time.

Pakistan equalised in the 50th minute. Danish Masih won a header that Russia goalkeeper Arseniy Rihelgof could only push into the path of Shahraz Khan, who scored.

The match turned in the 72nd minute when Pakistan midfielder Essa received a second yellow card. One minute later, Maksim Ivanov scored what proved to be the winner for Russia.

Head coach Mohammad Essa said his side had shown improvement after their opening 4-1 loss to Kazakhstan.

“It was a much-improved performance,” Essa said. “We fought for every ball, we went for every tackle. It is a result that gives us a lot of heart heading into our last game of the tournament against Azerbaijan.”

Pakistan’s players went toe-to-toe with their higher-rated opponents for large periods, creating chances and defending resolutely until the red card shifted the balance.

Pakistan will face Azerbaijan in their final group match.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026

The new system, ratified by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) at its annual general meeting on Saturday, means players will need 15 points to win a game instead of 21, with matches played under a best-of-three format.

The BWF has said the change is aimed at producing shorter and more interesting matches, benefiting players through reduced physical load while offering broadcasters and organisers scheduling flexibility.

China’s world champion Shi Yuqi said he would need some time to adjust to the system.

“Shorter matches mean less demand on physical conditioning, but at the same time, the pressure from opponents, especially younger ones, will be stronger,” he added. “I will need to be more mentally focused and fully engaged from the start.”

China’s Zheng Siwei, who won mixed doubles gold at Paris 2024, said the switch would not be welcomed by everyone.

“The current top players, especially the younger ones, I don’t think they want this kind of reform,” Zheng said. “For them, shorter games will make the advantage much more obvious. For older players, it may actually extend their careers. With 15-point games, we’re going to see new styles and tactics, and perhaps unexpected champions emerge.”

Former world number one Lee Chong Wei, who retired in 2019, was sceptical about the change.

“If this 15-point system is really going ahead, I wouldn’t be surprised if 36-year-old Chou Tien-chen keeps playing or even if I end up coming back to the court myself,” the 43-year-old said.

Hong Kong mixed doubles player Tse Ying Suet had previously indicated she might retire after this year’s Asian Games but said she may reconsider that decision.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026

Sri Lanka Cricket is the country’s richest sporting body but it has been plagued by allegations of corruption and mismanagement. A board official said that its president, Shammi Silva, convened a special meeting to announce his resignation, with 11 months remaining in his fourth two-year term.

“The committee resigned to make way for an interim management team headed by a former investment banker, who is also an opposition politician,” the official told AFP, asking not to be named.

A government official said Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had met with Silva over the weekend to discuss the future of the board under a new management. Sri Lanka made an early exit from the T20 World Cup, which it co-hosted with India in February-March.

The ICC, the sport’s world governing body, suspended Sri Lanka’s membership in November 2023, citing political interference in the running of the national board. That suspension had been lifted at the end of January 2024, and Silva’s committee was restored. He subsequently won a fourth term uncontested as president.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026

The defender, 31, joined City from Everton in 2016, becoming manager Pep Guardiola’s second signing, and has made 293 appearances to date, scoring 19 goals.

The England international has won six Premier League titles and the Champions League among multiple trophies and there may be more silverware to come this season, with City chasing a domestic treble.

Guardiola’s men, who have already won the League Cup, are battling with Arsenal for the Premier League title and will face Chelsea in next month’s FA Cup final.

“It has been my home for the past 10 years and it will be my home for the rest of my life,” Stones said in an emotional social media post. “It’s been a rollercoaster in many ways.

“I came as a kid and I’m now leaving as a man — becoming a father, a husband and, on the pitch, a very fulfilled player I suppose in living all my dreams out and lifting all the things that I came here to achieve.

“At the start of my career here I never would have thought I would be in this position. Firstly, to achieve everything but to have the love, the bond with everyone. Every dream has been smashed out of the park.”

The centre-back joined City for 47.5 million ($64 million), a fee that made him the world’s second-most expensive defender at the time.

Stones, whose contract expires at the end of the season, hailed City boss Guardiola as the best manager in the world.

“I don’t think it would have been anywhere near as successful... if it wasn’t for him,” he said.

“I’m so grateful that I’ve been able to spend so long with him, win everything with him and share and have so many incredible moments together,” he added. “I feel lucky and grateful for what he’s done.”

Stones, expected to be in England’s World Cup squad, is the second long-serving player at City to announce his impending departure after club captain Bernardo Silva.

Injuries have restricted Stones to just 16 appearances in all competitions this season.

City paid tribute to the player on their website, saying: “The 31-year-old’s huge contribution across the most sustained and successful era in the club’s history stands without question.

“Now the club and all of our supporters will take the time to deliver a fitting tribute and farewell to a superb servant of City at the end of the season.”

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026

Casemiro headed United in front in the early stages at Old Trafford after Fernandes’s corner was nodded on by Harry Maguire.

Fernandes helped United double their lead just before half-time with a surging run and pin-point pass to Benjamin Sesko, who fired home in clinical style.

Carrick’s side survived Mathias Jensen’s late strike to secure a second successive victory, cementing their grip on third place in the Premier League.

Brentford are ninth on 48 points among several clubs still in with a chance of making the Europa League.

Brazilian veteran Casemiro, who is set to leave when his contract expires at the end of the season, now has four goals in his last six games, underlining his enduring value to United.

Fernandes is even more important, the United captain making his 19th assist of the campaign to move within one of the single-season Premier League record currently held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.

Carrick knows the value of his midfield pair and the United interim boss said: “Casemiro has scored some big goals for us. Bruno and Casemiro have a good relationship.

“We have scored nearly every game and Bruno is a big part of that. He could have maybe had one more assist and scored himself.”

When Carrick took over until the end of the season, United were languishing in sixth place, with a Champions League berth far from assured.

But the former United midfielder has impressively steadied the ship following the turbulent reign of Ruben Amorim.

United now need just two points from their last four games to seal their place in Europe’s elite club competition for the first time since 2023-24.

“It wasn’t a given, at certain stages we weren’t favourites. Now we are in a good position and want to finish as high in the league as we want to keep pushing for that,” Carrick said.

“I thought the spirit, effort and togetherness of the players was fantastic. It’s the time of year when it’s a result business and we needed to take points.

“It’s a tough finish in a tough league. To get the amount of wins we have, we are delighted with that.

“Today was all about the three points for us. We have an important game coming up against Liverpool and we can look forward to that.”

Liverpool are three points behind United in fourth place, with the two rivals meeting at Old Trafford on Sunday.

“We have to push until the last minute. It’s important to bring the energy we brought today and we believe we can manage it,” goal-scorer Sesko said of his side being on the cusp of qualifying for the Champions League.

“It was tough, because we knew we faced a difficult team but we managed to hold the score until the end and we deserved the victory.”

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026

The lack of an immediate resolution to the US-Iran conflict continued to weigh on the global economy, especially in Pakistan, which relies on oil and LNG supplies from the Middle East. As a result, the benchmark KSE 100 index remained under selling pressure, falling below pre-war levels.

Topline Securities Ltd reported a lacklustre session on the PSX, affected by the SBP’s hawkish move, which raised the policy rate by 100bps to 11.5pc. This unexpected tightening dampened investor confidence, leading to cautious trading and widespread profit-taking across major sectors.

The benchmark index remained under pressure throughout the session, sliding to an intraday low of 1,326 points before closing at 168,412, down 1,085 points or 0.64pc, as higher rates dampened risk appetite and curtailed near-term equity appeal.

Index falls 1,085 points as rate hike hits sentiments

Key index heavyweights, including Fauji Fertiliser, United Bank, Lucky Cement, National Bank, and Sazgar Engineering Works, remained under sustained selling pressure, collectively eroding 733 points from the index.

Market activity remained relatively subdued, with investor participation driven by panic selling. Trading volume surged by 52.56pc to 1,190 million shares, while traded value increased modestly by 3.35pc to Rs34.5 billion. Cnergyico PK Ltd led the volume chart, trading 265 million shares.

Ali Najib, Deputy Head of Trading at Arif Habib Ltd, said that after the policy rate hike, the market remained volatile, oscillating in both directions, but ultimately closed the day lower.

On the macro front, the Karachi Interbank Offered Rate jumps up to 99 bps after SBP hikes interest rates to 11.5pc from 10.5pc.

On the corporate front, Nishat Power Ltd declined by 5.17pc and Nishat Chunian Power Ltd by 6.67pc, reporting 9MFY26 results with earnings per share of Rs4.69 and Rs4.3, respectively, along with a dividend per share of Rs1.5 each, largely aligning with expectations. Nonetheless, heightened market anticipation of significantly stronger earnings led to selling pressure after the results were released.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026

At a public hearing on an insignificant 27 paise per unit fuel cost adjustment (FCA), the government also reported that it was considering removing the petroleum levy on furnace oil to shield the power consumers from high tariffs because of the unavailability of liquefied natural gas (LNG), subject to clearance from the International Monetary Fund.

Chief financial officer of Power Planning and Monitoring Company (PPMC), Naveed Qaisar, said there was no shortage in Karachi, but K-Electric was following revenue-based loadshedding in high-loss areas.

He also confirmed revenue-based loadshedding in the rest of the country, otherwise the circular debt would increase by over Rs400bn, which already stood at Rs1.798tr at March 31, when compared to Rs1.161tr at the start of FY26.

Power Division vows to continue practice

Nepra member Amina Ahmed said the revenue-based loadshedding was illegal. Asked where the law stood when something declared illegal in multiple decisions and announced at the public hearing by the regulator was not only confirmed to be in vogue by the regulated entities on the same occasion, but also announced to continue in future as well. Members of the regulator conducting the public hearing remained silent despite reminders from other intervenors.

Mr Qaiser said the gas supply to the power sector had increased to 140 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) from 80 MMCFD, while an LNG cargo was expected to start delivering about 100 MMCFD more within days, further increasing the gas supply to about 250 MMCFD.

He said the government was examining options for how to address the expansion of the protected consumer category through tagging.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026

The association, in a formal representation submitted to FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial, warned that weaknesses in system design, governance, and statutory alignment could undermine the objectives of ongoing digitisation reforms.

The PTBA identified multiple operational issues, including inconsistencies between digital processes and legal provisions, incomplete integration of HS codes, and the absence of formal mechanisms for correcting digital records. To address these concerns, the association put forward 12 recommendations to the FBR.

As recommended, the association asked FBR to ensure that all laws, rules, and SROs are fully and accurately translated into the IRIS system, rather than partially implemented. Second, it called for a systematic audit of the digital system’s alignment with statutory provisions, beginning with SRO 297(I)/2023, followed by timely corrective action.

Demands legal alignment, 72-hour complaint fixes

It was recommended to establish a clear roadmap for the full integration of HS codes across return annexures and invoicing modules. It was proposed to review and rationalise the application of units of measurement in sales tax returns to ensure consistency with the Sales Tax Act 1990.

The association emphasised the need to develop and operationalise a formal mechanism for digital correction and rectification, including provision for structured amendments with audit trails. It recommends developing and integrating a framework to raise, track, and resolve technical and system-related issues.

The framework should be transparent, multi-tiered, fully auditable, and provide direct access to designated PRAL technical representatives, relevant FBR IT wing officers, and a clearly defined escalation path to senior governance levels.

The PTBA proposed a mandatory, time-bound grievance redressal framework, suggesting a 48- to 72-hour resolution window for system-related issues. It was recommended to restore an independent and empowered Member IT position within the FBR to strengthen governance of the digital tax infrastructure. The association urged the development of jointly agreed standard operating procedures between FBR and Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited for dispute resolution and system grievances.

The PTBA proposed periodic public disclosure of system performance indicators, including uptime, error rates, and complaint resolution timelines, to improve transparency.

It called for establishing a clear accountability framework defining the respective roles of FBR and PRAL in managing the digital tax system.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026

The consortium submitted its financial instruments on time, with April 28 being the deadline for the offer submission process.

The consortium had acquired a 75pc stake in the national flag carrier for Rs135 billion, while the remaining 25pc will cost Rs45bn.

The consortium’s total investment amounts to Rs180 billion, including Rs55 billion paid to the government and Rs125 billion invested in PIA.

The consortium expects that all procedural requirements are expected to be completed without delay so the acquisition process can proceed smoothly toward completion.

The development marks a significant step in PIA’s long-running privatisation process, with the consortium signalling its readiness to take control once regulatory formalities are cleared.

“The Arif Habib group has submitted bank guarantee that the money would be available in 12 months,” Shahid Ali Habib, CEO of Arif Habib Ltd, told Dawn.

The consortium, which includes Fatima Fertiliser, Fauji Fertiliser, AKD Group, and Lake City Holdings, now holds 100pc of the airline.

Management changes and full private control are expected by early May, freeing the airline from government-appointed board members.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026

The development comes two days after the Power Division, facing severe public criticism for “taxing sunlight,” directed Nepra to abolish the requirements.

In compliance with the directive, Nepra issued a notification stating that prosumer regulations had been amended and that there would be no licensing fee for up to 25kW of distributed generation. It said higher capacity prosumers would have to deposit a one-time fee of Rs1,000 per kilowatt.

“This notification shall be applicable and deemed to be effective from Feb 9,” the order said.

Nepra restores 2015 rules for small net-metering users

Earlier in the day, Nepra member Amina Ahmed said the regulator was considering the government’s proposal but could not hold a press conference or “leak policy decisions” at public hearings.

Then, within hours, Nepra issued the notification in compliance with the Power Division’s directives.

On Sunday, the Power Division said in a statement that it had “formally asked” Nepra to abolish the requirement, following instructions from Power Minister Awais Leghari. It recalled previously alerting Nepra to the negative effects of enforcing the licence and fee requirements and requesting that the regulator align its decision with the old regulations.

For his part, Mr Leghari had stated in a post on X: “Our government is pro-solar, pro-consumer, and committed to clean energy. We want to remove unnecessary barriers, reduce costs, and provide as much relief as possible to the people of Pakistan.”

Under the previous 2015 regulations, distributed generation facilities of 25kW or below did not require a licence from Nepra. Applications were processed directly by power distribution companies (Discos) without any fee, serving as a major fiscal incentive for residential users.

However, the new Prosumer Regulations centralised the approval authority with Nepra and imposed an application fee even on small users.

The Power Division noted in its Sunday statement that the Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) had flagged the regulatory shift and requested Nepra to maintain consistency with the earlier approvals regime for systems of 25 kW or below.

Additionally, during public hearings, the Pakistan Solar Association, Primage (Pvt) Ltd, the Pakistan Alternative Energy Association, and Siddiq Renewable Energy (Pvt) Ltd had formally objected to the changes, arguing that removing approval authority from Discos would create unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026

By shortening market operating hours, the government sought to decrease energy use, promote earlier shopping to shift demand, reduce peak electricity loads, and encourage early daily routines aligned with Western practices.

Chain Store Association of Pakistan (CAP) Chairman Asfandyar Farrukh told Dawn that overall consumption has not declined, as peak-hour demand persists after 7:00pm due to increased evening consumer footfall.

He said informal markets and many other sectors stay open late at night, thus increasing undocumented transactions, reducing general sales tax and income tax collections, and lowering POS collections.

Rs100bn weekly activity lost

Mr Farrukh said there are limited energy savings because restaurants, entertainment areas and malls remain active while efficient commercial users shut early. “Consumption has not reduced. It has shifted to the undocumented economy,” he said.

Pointing out three solutions, he said one is to extend retail hours until 10:00pm to align with consumers’ post-work routines and regional benchmarks to maximise documented sales.

Secondly, align retail, restaurant and entertainment opening hours to reduce distortions and improve energy efficiency. Thirdly, he urged the government to implement daylight saving time by advancing the clock by one hour, which would yield estimated annual savings of approximately $500 million.

Malls in Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Indonesia, Malaysia and Egypt remain open until 10pm to 11pm, with shopping hours extended during peak season, he said.

War impact

Mr Farrukh ruled out any panic buying of commodities due to the Middle East conflict. Consumers with cash liquidity are keeping their stocks as full as possible, expecting price hikes and possible shortages, he said, adding that those facing a cash crisis are compelled to buy unbranded, low-quality items.

“Actually, panic buying means overbuying and emptying of shelves, but the markets do not see such types of situations,” he said.

But because of low purchasing power, he said many people are trading down brands/quality instead of buying the same brand/quality as before. Also, until one week ago, people thought the conflict would end quickly.

“Now many people are expecting the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to last longer and possibly result in price hikes and shortages of essential goods,” the CAP chief said.

Rida Fatima at Sherman Securities expects headline inflation in April to be 10.2 per cent year-on-year compared with 7.3pc in the previous month. The average CPI is estimated at 6.1pc during 10MFY26. On a monthly basis, CPI is expected to increase by 1.8pc, she said.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026

Commodity prices could rise even further if hostilities in the region escalated and supply disruptions lasted longer than expected, the global development bank said in its latest Commodity Markets Outlook.

The bank said its baseline scenario assumed that shipping volumes through the crucial Strait of Hormuz waterway would gradually return to near pre-war levels by October, but said the risks were “markedly tilted” toward higher prices.

The bank’s baseline projects a 16pc increase in overall commodity prices in 2026, given soaring energy and fertiliser prices and record-high prices for several key metals.

Sees fertiliser costs jumping 31pc amid ME crisis

Oil prices continued to rise on Tuesday as efforts to end the US-Iran war stalled and the Strait of Hormuz remained largely shut, keeping energy supplies, fertiliser and other commodities from the key Middle East producing region out of the reach of global buyers.

Attacks on energy infrastructure and shipping disruptions in the strait, which before the war carried 35pc of global seaborne crude oil trade, have triggered the largest oil supply shock on record, the World Bank said.

It said Brent crude oil prices remained more than 50pc higher in mid-April than they were at the start of the year. Brent oil is forecast to average $86 a barrel in 2026, up sharply from $69 a barrel in 2025, the bank said.

Brent oil prices could average as high as $115 a barrel this year if critical oil and gas facilities suffered more war damage and export volumes were slow to recover, it said.

“The war is hitting the global economy in cumulative waves: first through higher energy prices, then higher food prices, and finally, higher inflation, which will push up interest rates and make debt even more expensive,” World Bank chief economist Indermit Gill said. The shock would hit the poorest hardest, adding to the woes of highly indebted developing countries.

Pressure on food supply

Fertiliser prices were projected to increase by 31pc in 2026, driven by a 60pc jump in the price of urea, the most widely used solid nitrogen fertiliser, which is produced by converting natural gas to produce ammonia and carbon dioxide.

The surge in fertiliser prices would put pressure on food supplies, eroding farmers’ incomes and threatening future crop yields. The World Food Programme estimates that 45 million more people could face acute food insecurity this year, if the war continues for a prolonged period.

It said inflation in developing economies was now projected to average 5.1pc in 2026, under the baseline scenario, up from 4.7pc last year and a full percentage point higher than pre-war forecasts. But inflation could rise as high as 5.8pc in developing economies if the war is prolonged. Growth would also take a big hit, the bank said. Developing economies were now projected to grow by just 3.6pc in 2026, down from a pre-war forecast of 4pc growth.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026

In the first incident, three people were killed in a village in Babakot area of Nasirabad district during heavy rain and thunderstorm that lashed the area.

Officials said that in another incident over 200 heads of cattle perished, and a man was killed when lightning struck a house in the Balakot area of Nasirabad.

They said that during heavy rain and thunderstorm lightning hit a house of one Mohib Ali in Palyani village, killing three people, two of them miners, and injuring another.

Lightning also struck another area Manjoshori, killing a man and injuring another. “Their makeshift house also caught fire, perishing 200 livestock,” the officials said.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026

According to police officials, unidentified assailants on motorcycles threw a hand grenade at a house, which exploded in the backyard and injured five labourers.

“The injured individuals are from Punjab who were working on a daily wage,” police officials said.

Security forces rushed to the site shortly after the incident and shifted the injured to Prince Fahad Hospital.

Police added that the windowpanes of the affected house and nearby homes were also damaged.

An investigation has been launched, and no gro­up has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026

In a strongly worded statement, IBC Vice Chairman Ch Asif Irfan and Exe­cutive Committee Chairman Muhammad Zafar Khokhar demanded a “structured, periodic and across-the-board rotation policy” for IHC and subordinate court judges based on uniform criteria.

“The council has taken serious notice of the recent transfer of three judges from the IHC, which appears to be lacking transparency and raises concerns of mala fide intent,” the statement said. The council did not name the judges or specify when the orders were issued.

Under Article 200 of the Constitution, the president may transfer a high court judge to another high court on the chief justice’s advice. The bar argued that “isolated and non-uniform transfers, undertaken without any disclosed objective criteria” damaged public confidence and judicial integrity.

“Any rotation policy must be based on objective, uniform and transparent criteria, applicable equally to all judges,” the council said, adding that transfers must be “free from arbitrariness or extraneous considerations”.

Separately, the Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) also took note of the recent transfers. While acknowledging that such measures are undertaken within the constitutional framework, the association emphasised that they should be exercised with uniformity, transparency and principled consistency across the board.

“The IHCBA underscores that decisions impacting the composition of the courts carry significant institutional importance and must be approached with due care. It is imperative that such measures do not, in any manner, undermine the independence of the judiciary, which remains a cornerstone of the rule of law and public confidence in the justice system,” the association said.

The association reaffirmed its commitment to upholding judicial independence and expected that all relevant authorities would continue to be guided by these fundamental principles.

The bar urged “competent authorities” to formulate a comprehensive rotation mechanism in the interest of “fair and transparent administration of justice”.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026

The meeting also discussed the head money policy recently introduced by the government for the arrest of most wanted terrorists and criminals in Balochistan.

Presided over by Provincial Home Minister Ziaullah Langove on Tuesday, the meeting reviewed implementation of the government’s policy to control law and order and considered various suggestion to ensure its effective enforcement.

Provincial Education Minister Raheela Durrani, DIG Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Aitzaz Ahmed Goraya, and senior officials of the Home Department attended the meeting.

Officials briefed the participants on the progress made under the policy and the future course of action.

Speaking on the occasion, Langove said that restoration of law and order in the province remains the top priority of the government and all available resources are being utilized to achieve this goal.

He directed authorities concerned to ensure strict implementation of government decisions to safeguard the lives and property of the people.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026

Speaking at a session of the party’s council meeting in tehsil Buleda Zamran on Tuesday, NP President Dr Abdul Malik Baloch and senior leader Senator Jan Mohammad Baloch said that the National Party’s mandate had been forcibly taken away and anti-Baloch elements imposed on the people. They alleged that nepotism and corruption had reached alarming levels in Kech district, and national wealth was being looted for personal and group interests.

They said that so-called development projects in Buleda were being used only as a cover for corruption. They claimed that the Rs13 billion city project had fallen victim to corruption and that even a two-kilometre road had not been completed so far. They also alleged that millions of rupees had been misappropriated under the name of compensation.

The NP leaders demanded a thorough inquiry into all projects and called for legal action against the responsible project directors and the contractor mafia. They said the national and political interests of Balochistan and the Baloch people remain the party’s top priority.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the meeting was held at the Prime Minister Hou­se. The delegation was led by Peteris Ustubs, Director (Asia Pacific) of the European Com­mis­sion’s Direc­tor­a­te-Gen­eral for Inter­nat­ional Partner­ships, and inclu­ded Ms. Thourya Triki of the European Invest­m­e­­nt Bank and senior executives from leading Eu­­ropean companies, inc­luding Manuel Pauser, Vice President of Adi­das; Vice President of And­ritz, Karl Schloegel­bau­­er; and Regional Dire­c­tor of IKEA, Dieter Metkke.

The delegation is visiting Pakistan to attend the EU-Pakistan Busi­ne­­ss Forum. The Ambas­sador of the European Union to Pakistan, Raimundas Karoblis, was also present.

The prime minister welcomed the EU delegation and thanked them for participating in the EU-Pakistan Busi­ness Forum. He said the EU is Pakistan’s largest trading partner and the destination for the highest volume of Pakistani exports.

Appreciating the convening of the forum, the prime minister expres­sed hope that it would further enhance trade and investment ties between Pakistan and the EU. He assured the delegation that the government would continue serious efforts to facilitate the growth of trade relations with the EU.

He reaffirmed the go­­vernment’s commitment to stabilising the economy despite regional challenges, including the recent spike in oil prices due to the situation in the Middle East.

Lauding the PM’s role in peace efforts, the EU delegation expressed gratitude to the government for its support in hosting the EU-Pakistan Business Forum.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari, who is currently on an official visit to China, on Tuesday visited Shaoshan, hometown of Chairman Mao Zedong, the founder of the People’s Republic of China.

During the visit, President Zardari laid a wreath at Statue Square and paid tribute to China’s revolutionary leader.

Earlier, the president was received by Li Jiyang, senior party leader of Xiangtan People’s Congress, and Ms Zhang Xihui, director of the Shaoshan Administration Bureau of Hunan Province, who apprised him of the life and struggle of Chairman Mao Zedong, highlighting his early years in Shaoshan and the influences that shaped his political thought.

The president was also briefed on the role of memorial institutions in preserving historical material and promoting public understanding of China’s revolutionary history. Follow­ing the wreath-laying ceremony, the president visited the Mao Ze­­dong Memorial Muse­um, where he was briefed on the life, thought and political legacy of the founding leader of China.

Arrives in trade hub of Sanya; will attend commissioning of Pakistan Navy submarine

President Zardari paid tribute to Chairman Mao Zedong’s role in China’s historical transformation and acknowledged his contribution to the country’s str­uggle, unity and development.

Later, he arrived in Sanya, a city in the Hainan province which is a globally recognised tourist destination, and also plays a key role in the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port.

During his visit, President Zardari is expected to hold discussions with the provincial leadership on enhancing economic, trade, and strategic cooperation, as well as advancing progress on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

The president will also attend the commissioning ceremony of Pakistan Navy submarine ‘Hangor’ in Sanya.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026

In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the missile sy­­stem was “equipped with advanced avionics and state-of-the-art navigation aids”. It added that the launch was aimed at training troops, validating various technical parameters and evaluating the performance of different sub-systems incorporated for “improved accuracy and enhanced survivability”.

The ISPR said the lau­n­­ch was witnessed by senior officers from the Stra­t­e­­gic Plans Division, Army Rocket Force Command and Pakistan Army, as well as scientists and engineers from “strategic organisations”.

“The forum commen­ded [the] successful training fire of [the] indigenously developed missile of Fateh series,” the statement added.

According to the ISPR, President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, as well as services chiefs, lauded the “technical prowess, dedication and commitment” of the team.

In Sept 2025, Pa­­k­­istan Army had successfully conducted the training launch of the cruise missile Fatah-4 at a range of 750kms.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026

During the hearing, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani warned that if the official was not appointed by May 18, the PM would be required to appear in person and explain the delay.

The court also directed the cabinet secretary and the law secretary to ensure their presence at the next hearing on May 18. However, Justice Kayani was transferred by the Judicial Commission of Pakistan a couple of hours after issuing the said order.

At the previous hearing, the assistant attorney general informed the court that a retired judge had been appointed as a tribunal member. However, Justice Kayani criticised the trend of appointing retired judges to tribunals, remarking that such practices had not been beneficial and that retired judges frequently seek positions in various tribunals.

Judge says he will seek explanation if PTA tribunal member not appointed by next hearing

In its written order spanning two pages, the court noted that the federal government had been seeking repeated adjournments over the last four hearings regarding the appointment of the finance member.

Granting a final opportunity, the court stated that failure to make the appointment by the next hearing would result in the PM being summoned in his personal capacity.

The court directed that, in case of non-compliance, the cabinet secretary and the law secretary must also appear and explain the obstacles in the appointment process. The federal government, once again requesting time, informed the court that the summary for the appointment had been returned after objections were raised.

It is worth noting that the Telecommunications Appellate Tribunal, established under the Telecommunications Appellate Tribunal Act 2024, was formally notified on September 28, 2024. However, the key position of the finance member remained vacant. The hearing has been adjourned until May 18, 2026.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026

• Total number of Pakistani heritage sites on the list rises from 25 to 29
• Move marks first time an entire living community, its culture have been included

PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD: The Kalash valleys in Khyber Pakhtun­khwa are among four heritage sites in Pakistan added to the Unesco World Heritage Tentative List, mar­king a milestone in heritage conservation, it emerged on Tuesday. The other three sites are the Kot Diji, Naukot and Umerkot forts in Sindh.

With these additions, the number of heritage sites in Pakistan on the Tentative List has increased from 25 to 29.

According to Unesco’s website, a country must prepare an inventory of important natural and cultural heritage sites within its boundaries, known as the Tentative List. “It is an important step since the World Heritage Committee cannot consid­­er a nomination for inscription on the World Heritage List unless the property has already been included on the State Party’s Tentative List,” it says.

Kalash — an enclave of three remote and inaccessible valleys of Bumburet, Birir and Rumbur — is located in KP’s Chitral district and is inhabited by over 4,000 indigenous people who profess a polytheistic religion and maintain unique cultural practices.

KP Director General of Archaeology and Museums Dr Abdul Samad told Dawn that the development was a significant achievement towards the preservation of Kalash culture. “It is the first time an entire community and its cultural practices have been included on the Unesco Tentative List,” he said.

He said his department had been working for more than a decade to have the Kalash cultural landscape placed on the UN agency’s heritage list. He said the enlistment would contribute to the preservation of both the tangible and intangible aspects of Kalash culture.

Dr Samad explained that the first step involved acceptance of a submission by the World Heritage Centre on the Tentative List, followed by formal notification by the UN body. However, he added that after tentative enlistment, a dossier must be submitted to the UN body, incorporating bylaws and other necessary requirements.

He said inclusion on the Tentative List had placed Kalash culture on the national and international cultural map, facilitating bylaws, community development, and preservation of tangible and intangible heritage; therefore, it was a major achievement.

KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, in a post on X, welcomed the development, terming it a “major milestone”. He noted that KP was “home to some of the world’s most breathtaking landscapes and unique cultural traditions, and this recognition is long overdue”. “A well-deserved moment that brings global attention to the beauty and heritage of our region,” he added.

According to Unesco’s website, “The Kalasha Valley cultural landscape possesses outstanding universal value (OUV) as an extremely rare and exceptionally well-preserved example of a living indigenous cultural system.”

It said this system has continued without interruption for centuries within its original geographic and cultural setting. Despite historical changes, outside influences, and soc­ial pressures, the Kalasha co­­m­munity has successfully mai­ntained its distinct identity.

“These features are not abstract ideas or symbolic re­ferences to the past, as they are actively practised and clearly connected to the physical landscape, where specific places serve as designated locations for particular ceremonies and ritual activities. The landscape itself is directly involved in sustaining and expressing cultural life.”

It said the tangible heritage includes more than 140 recorded ceremonial structures, ritual platforms, ancestral graveyards featuring distinctive wooden carvings, and traditional villages. Each of these places has its own name, purpose and meaning within the memory and identity of the community.

A vital step

Dr Tahir Saeed, former director at the Department of Archaeology and Museums, said the inclusion of four sites was a vital step towards future nominations to the prestigious World Heritage List.

Dr Saeed, who was engaged by the archaeology departments of Sindh and KP to prepare and submit proposals to Unesco, told Dawn that the inclusion strengthens Pakistan’s po­sition in global heritage conservation.

According to him, an evaluation team from the World Heritage Centre is expected in August/September this year to inspect the Port of Bhambhor, following Pakistan’s request to include the site — dating from the first century BC to the 13th century AD — in the World Heritage List.

“If approved by the evaluation team, the Port of Bhambhor could be added to the list by 2027,” he said, adding that he had prepared the nomination dossier.

The last time a property of arch­aeological significance from Pakis­tan was declared a World Heritage Site was nearly three decades ago. “Rohtas Fort was included in the World Heritage List in 1997,” he said.

Pakistan currently has six sites on the World Heritage List: Lahore Fort and Shalimar Gardens, Taxila, the remains of Makli Necropolis, Takht-i-Bahi, Mohenjo Daro, and Rohtas Fort.

The last time Unesco accepted Pakistan’s request to include properties on the Tentative List was a decade ago, in 2016.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026