City were found guilty of serious breaches of Premier League financial rules over nine seasons from 2009-10 to 2017-18, with the league alleging the club used “sham” commercial contracts to inflate revenue and understate costs by more than 900 million pounds ($1.19 billion).

The club has denied wrongdoing, saying the verdict contained material errors of law, principle and fact, and filed an appeal on Thursday against the independent commission ruling.

Marsch, who managed Leeds United from 2022 to 2023, said the disparity between the clubs had been apparent to him during his time in England.

“I think Manchester City should be punished severely. I think they should have to go down, and by the way, everyone knew about it. Everyone knew,” Marsch told the Guardian in an interview published on Sunday.

Marsch also pointed to the 2022 summer transfer window, when Leeds sold Raphinha to Barcelona and Kalvin Phillips to City, while both clubs reported making money.

“That summer (2022), us and Manchester City were the only teams that said we made money. For us, we did make money, because we sold Raphinha, we sold Kalvin Phillips. We had a lot left over from what we bought,” he said.

“At the time, we weren’t in a position financially to not save. Our ownership didn’t have deep pockets. Whereas when Manchester City says this, I was literally like, ‘Are you kidding me? Is this some kind of joke?’”

The American coach was also sceptical about City’s signing of Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund that summer.

“When they said they got Erling Haaland for 52m, it’s like: ‘Yeah, OK, sure!’ So, I knew there were inconsistencies in it, but what can you do? You just put your arms in the air and go, ‘This is football’,” Marsch said.

Reuters has contacted City for comment on Marsch’s remarks.

City’s appeal will be heard privately by an independent three-member board.

Potential sanctions include fines, points deductions and other sporting penalties, with relegation or the removal of titles also discussed as possible outcomes. It remains unclear whether any sanctions would be imposed before the appeal is decided.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2026

TOKYO: Defending cha­m­pion Carlos Alcaraz overcame early wobbles on his serve to outclass fellow Spaniard Jaume Munar 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 and reach the Japan Open final on Monday, taking a step towards his first singles title after his comeback from a wrist injury.

He will face Czech Jiri Lehecka in Tuesday’s final.

Alcaraz completed the career Grand Slam by capturing the Australian Open title in February but suffered the injury two mo­nths later and only came back at the US Open, where a quarter-final run hinted at a swift return to form.

The 23-year-old, who moved through the gears during Team Europe’s triumphant Laver Cup campaign last month, looked comfortable against qualifier Munar in Tokyo at 5-4 before gifting him the opening set with two shaky service games.

Alcaraz unleashed a barrage of big serves and aggressive returns to keep Munar off-balance and running along the baseline, occasionally mixing in delicate drop shots that wowed the packed crowd at the Ariake Colosseum.

Munar maintained his composure to stay competitive, especially late in the opening set, as Alcaraz hit shots wide and long and racked up four double-faults in that set alone.

Nevertheless, Alcaraz kept pressure on his opponent, showering him with precise forehands, fast volleys and drop shots, breaking Munar’s serve in the first, third and ninth games of the second set.

Alcaraz dominated the final set, wrapping up the match in two hours and 31 minutes.

“I don’t know what happened in the first set,” said top seed Alcaraz, who dropped 16 consecutive points at the end of it.

“I started the match well, got a break and was serving for the set, but I don’t know what happened. It seems like I’m struggling every first set.

“But the way that I come back every time, I think I’m just really happy about it. Jaume’s a pretty tough player and these conditions suit him pretty well. I just tried to stay there as much as I could.

“I made a couple of bre­a­ks that helped a lot to get a bit of confidence, then I star­ted to play more aggressively.”

Lehecka beat eighth seed Valentin Vacherot of Monaco 6-4, 6-2 to make the final and stay on course for his first trophy of the season.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2026

Mahatir defeated Suleman Rafiq 8-4 in the first round before beating Bilal Soomro 8-0 in the quarter-final, while Farhan overcame Wajid Khatak 8-2.

Ruhab Faisal also began his campaign with an 8-0 victory over Kazim Shabbir.

In the junior events, Umer Zaman, Zohha Imad, Reeha, Alina Rizwan and Shanaya Sheikh reco­rded victories on Monday, while the previous day’s programme saw Yahya Haleem, Mikael Asad, Syed Sufyan, Naayel Sohaib, Rayyan Jahangir and Hamza Sattar among those advancing.

Results:

Men’s singles: Mahatir Mohammad bt Suleman Rafiq 8-4; Ruhab Faisal bt Kazim Shabbir 8-0; Farhan Wahid bt Muneebur Rehman 8-2; Quarter-finals: Mahatir Mohammad bt Bilal Soomro 8-0; Farhan Altaf bt Wajid Khatak 8-2.

Boys U-18 singles: Yahya Haleem bt Zubair Ali 6-2, 6-0.

Boys U-14 singles: Mikael Asad bt Muhammad Izyaan Raheel 4-0, 4-1; Syed Sufyan bt Ayan Essa 4-1, 4-0; Naayel Sohaib bt Yasir 4-1, 5-4.

Boys U-12 singles: Ayan Essa Jee bt Aadam 4-1, 4-1; Naayel Sohaib bt Ebrahim Godil 4-1, 4-1; Mikael Asad bt Ali Zamin 4-5, 4-1, 4-2; Rahim Faisal bt Izyaan Raheel 4-0, 4-0; Quarter-final: Umer Zaman bt Ayan Essa Jee 4-0, 5-3.

U-10 singles, quarter-finals: Rayyan Jahangir bt Ibrahim Zaman 4-2, 3-5, 4-2; Hamza Sattar bt Sophie Allawala 4-0, 4-1.

Girls U-18 singles: Zohha Imad bt Alina Sheikh 6-1, 6-1.

Girls U-12 singles: Shanaya Sheikh bt Sophie Allawala 4-0, 4-0; Reeha bt Kavyashari Soda 5-4, 4-0; Alina Rizwan bt Anaya Farhan 4-2, 5-3.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2026

TOKYO: Japan ramped up their preparations for next year’s Asian Cup with a 2-1 win over New Zealand on Monday in the final of a four-team friendly football tournament in Tokyo.

Ritsu Doan scored a 71st-minute winner for Japan after New Zealand’s Ben Old cance­lled out Ayase Ueda’s opener in the first half.

Japan are looking to win the Asian Cup for the first time since 2011 when the tournament kicks off in Saudi Arabia in January.

Their win over New Zealand in front of over 60,000 fans at Tokyo’s National Stadium saw them lift the Kirin Cup, after beating Ecuador on penalties in the semi-finals last week.

Pan­a­ma beat Ecuador 7-6 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the third-place match earlier in the day.

Japan also beat Uruguay and Venezuela at home in this international window.

The matches were their first since being eliminated by Brazil in the last 16 at the World Cup in North America. Japan had several early chan­ces to take the lead against New Zealand, with forward Doan cau­s­ing havoc in the opposition’s defence.

Ueda eventually made one cou­nt just bef­ore the half-hour mark, slotting home from close range for his fourth goal in four games.

New Zealand looked like they could be in for a long evening, but instead they hit straight back when Old pounced for the equaliser four minutes later.

Japan pushed for a winner in the second half, and New Zeal­and goalkeeper Alex Paulsen denied Ao Tanaka with a fantastic acrobatic save.

But the home team stuck to the task and were rewarded when Doan swept home another slick passing move.

Japan have been drawn in a first-round group with holders Qatar, Thailand and Indonesia at the Asian Cup.

It will be coach Hajime Moriyasu’s last tournament in charge before he hands over to the incoming Go Oiwa.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Sindh Indus secured a place in the semi-finals of the PFF National U-17 Championship 2026 after coming from behind to defeat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Khyber 4-3 in a thrilling seven-goal encounter at Jinnah Stadium on Monday.

In the day’s other match, Balochistan Bolan and Islamabad Margalla played out a 1-1 draw.

Khyber dominated the opening stages and took the lead through Atif in the 23rd minute. Sindh, however, responded strongly as Moosa and Rafay struck to turn the game around.

Rafay scored again in the 79th minute to give Sindh a two-goal cushion, but Khyber refused to surrender. Atif scored his second four minutes later to reduce the deficit to 4-3 and set up a tense finish.

Sindh held on through the closing stages to complete the comeback and secure their semi-final berth.

The match was played at a high tempo, with Khyber’s intensity particularly evident in the first half. Sindh gradually found their rhythm after the interval, with their pace and technical quality causing increasing problems for the Khyber defence.

Both sides also benefited from goalkeeping errors during the contest. Sindh’s fourth goal came after the Khyber goalkeeper spilled the ball, while Atif’s second resulted from a misjudgement by the Sindh goalkeeper, who failed to deal with the flight of the ball.

In the second match, Islamabad Margalla took the lead through Shahzaib in the 24th minute before Sheraz equalised for Balochistan Bolan 10 minutes later.

Neither side could find a winner after the interval despite creating opportunities. Bolan were reduced to 10 men in the 67th minute when Faheem was sent off, but Islamabad were unable to take advantage of the numerical superiority.

The draw earned both sides a point, while Sindh’s victory confirmed their progress to the last four after an entertaining day’s football that produced eight goals.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2026

The Portuguese showed they did not need Cristiano Ronaldo, who walked out of the camp on Wed­nesday when coach Jorge Jesus relegated him to the bench.

Goncalo Ramos secured victory in the 86th minute after Joao Cancelo’s powerful finish had levelled Kristoffer Ajer’s stunning opener from outside the penalty area for World Cup quarter-finalists Norway.

After the game, Jesus said he was prepared to allow 41-year-old Ronaldo to return to the national team — but that it would have to be the player’s decision.

“If he wants to, he’ll return to the national team... we can talk before the next call-up, but Cris is the one who’s going to decide,” Jesus told reporters.

“In my first call-up, I said, ‘I need you, I need you to be close to me, playing or not playing, I need you’. And now I’m saying the same thing.”

Portuguese Football Feder­ation President Pedro Proenca also said Ronaldo remained part of the team’s plans, describing the episode as a misunderstanding that should be resolved internally.

“He is in the national team on sporting merit, and that must be unquestionable,” Proenca told RTP. “We have to pay tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo.”

Jesus, who also coached Ronaldo at Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, expects the forward to be available for the next International window if he wanted to return.

Portugal next host Denmark on Nov 14 before visiting Wales three days later.

Klopp’s Germany failed to break down a resolute Greek side in a goalless stalemate in Thessaloniki.

Germany had the ball in the net through Eintracht Frankfurt forward Jonathan Burkardt in the first half, but his effort was disallowed.

Klopp’s record as new German boss now reads: lost one, won one, drawn one.

Meanwhile, the Netherlands beat Serbia 2-1 thanks to Joshua Zirkzee’s winner to mo­ve to the top of their Nations League group. The Manchester United forward was a second-half substitute in Eindhoven and applied the decisive touch with a tap-in from Tijjani Reijnders’ cross.

The match also marked Virgil van Dijk’s 100th international appearance.

New Netherlands coach Xavi Hernandez is unbeaten after four games, with two wins and two draws.

“We fought like a family. We really had to suffer,” Xavi said. “We had to defend, but we actually wanted to play possession football. However we couldn’t do that, and we couldn’t get a grip on the game because of Serbia, who did that really well.

“But when we switched to a different formation, things got better,” the Spanish World Cup winner added.

Israel’s players wore black armbands in their 1-1 draw against Ireland to commemorate the victims of Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack, after Irish players had worn them in the previous match in Hungary to protest the war in Gaza.

The simple black armbands worn by the Israelis were inscribed with the numbers “7.10” to mark the date of the attack.

Just as in last week’s first match, which Ireland won 3-0, the Irish players again bowed their heads during the Israeli anthem and the teams refused to shake hands before the match in the small Serbian town of Backa Topola.

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) had refused to host Israel on Irish soil for security reasons, following boycott calls.

On Sunday, Troy Parrott put Ireland ahead from the penalty spot 39 minutes after Dor Peretz fouled Jimmy Dunne.

But Peretz stabbed in an equaliser two minutes after half-time, sending it in from close range after a shot deflected off Ireland defender Liam Scales and into his path.

The result complicates Ireland’s qualification task as they now lie third in Group 3 of League B behind Austria and Kosovo. Israel are bottom with two points.

Wales lost again, as Rasmus Hojlund slotted in a 75th-minute penalty to earn Denmark a 1-0 win in Cardiff.

Welsh goalkeeper Danny Ward had kept the Danes at bay with a string of saves, but he conceded the penalty when he fouled Denmark midfielder Gustav Isaksen.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2026

SENCUR: The 2024 Olympic road racing gold medallist Remco Evenepoel said on Sunday taking the European championship title helped him to get over failing to claim the world crown earlier this month.

The Belgian pipped Italian Giulio Ciccone at the finish line in Slovenia having finished with the elite clique that trailed winner Brandon McNulty home at the worlds last Sunday in Montreal.

Ciccone’s compatriot Christian Scaroni was third almost a minute behind.

“It’s incredible,” the 2022 world champion Evenepoel said. “I thought I had won, but you can never be sure.

“This performance was honestly really tough for me after the disappointment of the worlds.

“It’s a big relief to be back on a good level today and to complete my championship jerseys so it feels amazing,” the 2019 and 2025 European time trial gold medallist added.

Evenepoel was the pre-race favourite with the all-conquering Tadej Pogacar, who won the race 12 months ago, missing due to injury with the race held in his home country.

Other stand-out riders like Dane Jonas Vingegaard, Paul Seixas, Tom Pidcock and Mathieu van der Poel were also absent.

Despite not competing, joint-record five-time Tour de France champion Pogacar was still present, with the starting gun in the Slovenian capital Ljubljana, as he appeared from the window of a car on the route, to the joy of local fans.

With 36 of the 196km to go, in the postcard setting of the Alps, Belgium launched Red Bull-Bora hansgrohe’s Evenepoel with Ciccone following on.

Evenepoel then slid on the tarmac on a corner but caught up with Ciccone, who had slowed down to save energy going into the final kilometres.

The pair were neck and neck until the end in Sencur, the location for five laps of 22.1km, before Evenepoel needed a photo finish to complete his European-worlds double, having finished second in the continental race in 2021 and last year.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2026

After more than two decades of service to his country, the 39-year-old superstar will hand over the captain’s armband for good as he makes his final appearance in the Albiceleste jersey at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.

Messi will be joined for his international swansong by 85,000 spectators and several of the team-mates with whom he reached the pinnacle of football at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, alongside members of Argentina’s emerging generation.

The friendly marks a symbolic passing of the torch for a player whose international legacy includes a World Cup title, two Copa America crowns and the Finalissima.

Messi also bows out as Argentina’s record appearance-maker and leading scorer, with 125 goals in 207 games, as well as a record 68 assists.

His farewell comes two and a half months after Argentina’s ill-tempered World Cup final defeat to Spain in New Jersey, where Messi exited in tears after making little impression.

“I gave it my all; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are great young players coming up who deserve their chance,” Messi wrote when announcing his international retirement in August.

Messi remains under contract with Inter Miami until 2028, although following the death of his father, Jorge, two months ago, he revealed he may hang up his boots for good sooner than anticipated.

FRIENDS REUNITED

Members of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad — the players who delivered the country’s third star — and their families will join Messi for Tuesday’s farewell against Benin, ranked 93rd in the world.

Veterans of that Doha triumph such as Angel Di Mara, who retired from international football in 2024, will be there to witness the passing of the torch to a new generation charged with extending the Albiceleste’s golden era.

Several of the newcomers, including Franco Mastantuono and Leonel Flores, were not even born when “La Pulga” (The Flea) made his Argentina debut in 2005 for a team whose history had for so long been dominated by Diego Maradona.

“It’s going to be an unforgettable day for everyone. Everyone wants to be at this match, and now it’s just about enjoying it,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said.

Argentina’s new generation has already shown what it can do without its captain, although nobody is pretending replacing a man regarded by many as the greatest footballer in history will be straightforward.

“Collectively, we will try to fill the void left by Leo,” said Scaloni, who is negotiating a contract extension after leaving his future unresolved following the World Cup defeat in July.

Scaloni, who mastered the art of building the right supporting cast around Messi, will also say goodbye on Tuesday to 38-year-old vice-captain Nicolas Otamendi.

Like Messi and Otamendi, midfielders Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso were called up solely for the Be­n­in game, raising the possibility that neither will represent Argentina again.

NEW GENERATION

Those certain to be involved, at least from the bench, include other veterans of the 2022 World Cup who will be the standard-bearers for Arg­e­ntina after Messi: defender Cristian Romero, midfielders Alexis Mac Alli­s­ter and Enzo Fernandez, and forwards Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez.

Tenacious centre-back Romero is set to inherit the captain’s armband, first worn by Messi at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and Lau­taro Martinez are next in the captaincy hierarchy. They have already begun to rally around Messi’s heirs, who showed their appetite for success in Argent­ina’s first game since the World Cup final, against Bolivia in Cordoba on Wednesday.

Argentina swept the Bolivians aside 4-0, with young talents Nico Paz and Jose Manuel Lopez among the scorers.

They followed that victory with a 7-0 rout of Burkina Faso at the Mon­umental on Saturday, with Mastan­tuono and Gianluca Prestianni scoring their first international goals.

While Argentina’s future is beginning to take shape, one small but symbolically significant question remains: who inherits Messi’s number 10 shirt?

“We won’t give the number 10 to anyone until Leo’s match takes place,” Scaloni said. “After that, we’ll see.”

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2026

The MoU is expected to be signed on Tuesday, with HMC Mayor Kashif Ali Shoro telling Dawn on Monday that the agreement was being finalised. Hyde­rabad Divisional Commissioner Fayyaz Abbasi, who has also been coordinating with the PCB on the matter, confirmed that the board’s officials would arrive in the city for the signing.

PCB Chief Operating Officer Sumair Ahmed Syed is expected to lead the board’s delegation.

Although the HMC has not made the proposed MoU public, Dawn has learnt that the PCB will undertake renovation, upgradation and construction work at the stadium to make it capable of hosting international matches.

Under the proposed agreement, the PCB will have exclusive use, possession, management and control of the stadium. It will pay the HMC a token annual rent of Rs10,000 and share 25 per cent of gate receipts generated from national and international cricket activities at the venue.

A joint condition survey and inventory of the stadium premises will also be carried out by the two parties before the handover.

One of the clauses of the proposed MoU states that the PCB “shall carry out the renovation, upgr­adation and construction” of the stadium so that it meets international standards and is capable of hosting international cricket matches.

The development follows a series of exchanges between the HMC and the PCB over the future of the stadium. During a visit to Niaz Stadium on Nov 29, the PCB’s director of domestic operations had expressed an interest in the board taking over the venue.

PCB COO Sumair subsequently wrote to Mayor Shoro on Jan 15, pro­mpting the mayor to call for a formal meeting to discuss the proposal.

Niaz Stadium has not hosted international cricket since the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore, after which Pakis­tan’s home international matches were moved overseas for several years. Despite an earlier agreement under which the PCB had undertaken to develop the Hydera­bad venue, the stadium failed to receive the required upgrades.

In April 2018, the then Muni­cipal Committee Qasimabad took back control of the stadium. The committee was headed by Shoro at the time. Niaz Stadium has also not hos­ted a first-class match since then.

The venue’s cricketing prospects received a fresh boost in February when Hyderabad Kings­men were inducted into the Pakis­tan Super League as the seventh franchise. The franchise is owned by Fawad Khan, a Hyderabad-born businessman based in the United States.

Shoro said he hoped the new agreement would finally lead to the redevelopment of the stadium.

“We have developed substantially for holding cricket matches and I sincerely hope that PCB will live up to the expectations of the people of Hyderabad by developing it at par with international venues because this is the only international stadium for Sindh after Kar­a­chi and people have an emotional attachment with it,” he told Dawn.

Niaz Stadium was inaugurated in 1961 and has hosted Test and One-day International cricket, but its prolonged decline has left Hyderabad without a venue capable of staging top-level international matches.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2026

Bracewell, who has played 105 times for New Zealand across all three formats, will feature in the limited-overs series against India beginning this month.

The 35-year-old joins Mark Chapman, Finn Allen, Lockie Ferguson, Adam Milne and Tim Seifert among players who have opted for the casual contract system, which allows them to play in high-paying Twenty20 leagues while remaining available for national duty.

“As a white-ball only player, this felt like too good of an opportunity to pass up,” Bracewell said in a statement.

“I’m still very much committed to the Black Caps and can’t wait to be involved in the upcoming India tour and future white-ball series.”

Batter Nick Kelly will replace Bracewell on NZC’s central contract list.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2026

With fitness doubts over pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada and three other bowlers ruled out with hamstring injuries, Nortje is set to return to red-ball cricket for the first time since South Africa’s Test victory over West Indies in March 2023.

That match, in which he took 5-36 in the first innings, was Nortje’s last first-class appearance.

A succession of injury setbacks, as he struggled with back and hip problems, subsequently led him to focus on the shorter formats, where bowling in brief spells has helped reduce the strain on his body.

The 32-year-old has evolved into a T20 specialist, but said on Sunday he had been working on his red-ball skills.

“It’s been quite a bit of a focus for me to try and execute skills with the red ball, to build loads gradually and in the right way try and get the overs up,” he told reporters on Sunday.

“It’s something that I’ve been doing for quite some time,” Nortje said. “There’s been quite some effort put in to try and upskill again, and improve from where I left off.

“I’ll be very excited if I can put my test cap on again. Growing up, it’s the format you want to play. It’s the motivation when you train,” he added.

Nortje has featured in 19 Tests with a bowling average of 26.71 and regularly bowled at speeds in excess of 145kph with his action taking a heavy toll on his body.

“You don’t think of the tough times in T20 cricket. You just think about executing skills there, whereas in Tests, you think about the tough times, the good times, the hard work and think that gets you through some sessions.

“There’s just that little bit of extra X-factor that comes out, or fire that comes out, and energy that comes out,” Nortje added. “Guys want to do well, and everyone wants to perform. It is a big series.”

South Africa started an intra-squad match on Sunday and late Monday will cut their preliminary squad from 18 to 15, with Nortje expected to make the cut despite his lengthy absence.

“The guys have grown quite a bit, he said of the test side which has since gone on to win the World Test Championship, beating Australia in mid-2025.

“They’ve played a lot and they’ve done really well. Hopefully, I can just add on to that. I’m very keen to get going and be on the park and try to do well for the country,” he added.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2026

LAHORE: Sahibzada Farhan will lead Pakistan in the three-match Twenty20 International series against Sri Lanka, while Shaheen Shah Afridi has retained the One-day International captaincy for the subsequent tri-series involving Engl­a­nd and Sri Lanka, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Monday.

The T20Is will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Oct 9, 11 and 13 before Pakistan host England and Sri Lanka in a seven-match ODI tri-series.

The first three matches of the tri-series will be played in Rawalpindi, with the tournament then moving to Lah­ore for the remaining league matches and the final.

Farhan, who captained Pakistan at the recently concluded Asian Games in Japan, takes over the T20I captaincy from Salman Ali Agha, who has been omitted from the shortest format. Salman, however, remains part of the ODI squad.

The T20I squad also does not include Babar Azam and Shaheen, with the two retai­ned for the ODI assignment.

The 15-member squad includes uncapped all-roun­ders Razaullah and Moham­mad Imran Randhawa. Razaullah recently made an impact on his Test debut against England, scoring 81 off 63 balls with nine sixes and taking four wickets.

Imran, who also made his Test debut during the England series, has been included as a medium-pace bowling all-rounder.

Maaz Sadaqat has retai­ned his place after featuring prominently in Pakistan’s Asian Games campaign, while Abdul Samad returns to the T20I side after last representing Pakistan in the format in March 2025.

Hasan Nawaz has also been rewarded for his performances at the Asian Games, where he was Pakistan’s leading batter and finished the tournament as its highest run-scorer with 123 runs.

He made 96 off 51 balls, including five fours and seven sixes, in Pakistan’s defeat by India in the final as the team settled for the silver medal.

Fast bowler Naseem Shah returns to the T20I squad after last playing the format for Pakistan against Sri Lanka in February 2026.

Shadab Khan, Fakhar Za­m­an, Saim Ayub and Abr­ar Ahmed are among the other established players in the squad.

The 16-member ODI squad, meanwhile, retains a more experienced core under Shaheen, with Babar, Salman, Haris Rauf and Faheem Ashraf included.

Hasan also returns to the ODI setup, and so does Razaullah.

Wicket-keeper-batter Saad Baig, the former Paki­stan Under-19 captain who scored more than 1,000 runs in the 2025-26 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, has earned his maiden ODI call-up.

Left-arm wrist-spinner Sufiyan Moqim is the other notable addition, while Mohammad Ghazi Ghori is also included as a wicket-keeper-batter.

The PCB also announced a change to the coaching staff, with former Australia fast bowler Shaun Tait returning as bowling coach in a consultancy capacity.

Tait previously served as Pakistan’s bowling coach during 2022-23 and will replace Ashley Noffke, who stepped down following the Asian Games to take up the head coach’s position with the Netherlands.

T20I squad: Sahibzada Farhan (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Arafat Minhas, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, Khawaja Nafay (wicket-keeper), Maaz Sadaqat, Naseem Shah, Razaullah, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Shadab Khan and Sufiyan Moqim

ODI squad: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fak­har Zaman, Mohammad Ghazi Ghori (wicket-keeper), Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Razaullah, Saad Baig (wk), Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan and Sufiyan Moqim.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2026

BEIJING: Novak Djokovic advanced to the China Open final on Monday after Daniil Medvedev was disqualified in the second set, when a ball that came off the Russian’s racquet hit a spectator.

A man sitting in the stands behind Medvedev’s side of the court was seen holding his face and escorted out of his seat after being hit, as Djokovic was serving for the match with the score at 7-5, 5-3.

Eleventh-ranked Djokovic will play world number nine Alex de Minaur for the title on Tuesday in Beijing.

The Australian had advanced over Hubert Hurkacz after the 29-year-old from Poland retired from their semi-final with an adductor strain.

Medvedev hit the ball with a backhand at the edge of the stands when he failed to return a point, with the chair umpire stopping play.

“Terribly sorry to the spectator, first of all,” he told reporters afterwards, adding it was “100 per cent an accident” and that he wished to apologise to the fan in person.

“The ball was bouncing back, so I tried to, like, just hit it anywhere, so it doesn’t go out from the court,” he said.

It had been a physical battle before Medvedev’s disqualification.

Djokovic was red-faced and hunched over between points, with both players forcing each other through gruelling rallies, until the Serbian took control in the second set.

A valiant Djokovic, 39, put on a dazzling performance and saved 16 break points across the match, diving at the baseline and sprinting to the net.

“I didn’t see what happened, to be honest,” he told the crowd after the fan was hit.

“I’m sure that Daniil didn’t… do it intentionally. It happened by accident. Sorry for the crowd,” he said, adding that it had been a tough match.

“I know the feeling,” Djokovic told reporters later, recounting his own disqualification from the 2020 US Open after accidentally hitting a ball at a line judge. “It’s horrible… but it happens,” he said.

Although Djokovic was three points away from winning the match, he said victory wouldn’t have come easy and that he got “lucky” in a “very exhausting” battle.

‘GAVE EVERYTHING’

In the women’s draw, third-seeded Coco Gauff dispatched Chinese teenager Sun Xinran 7-5, 6-1 to secure a meeting with Belgium’s Elise Mertens in the round of 16.

“Today was really just about feeling,” said the 22-year-old American, adding that it could be tough to play young players with styles largely unknown.

“I was just trying not to get frustrated out there,” Gauff added, with a loud crowd behind the 16-year-old.

Earlier, former world number one Iga Swiatek staged a comeback to advance to the last 16, while home hope Zheng Qinwen survived another three-set test.

Swiatek overcame frustration to cling on as her opponent served for the set, dominating a must-win tie-break to beat Croatia’s Donna Vekic 4-6, 7-6(7/0), 6-2.

“I was just angry, wanted to change something, because clearly it wasn’t working,” the 25-year-old from Poland said on court.

“Sometimes if you care a bit less because you’re… probably going to lose, it also helps you a bit,” she later told reporters.

She will face American teenager Iva Jovic for a spot in the quarter-finals.

China’s Zheng was tested by Marie Bouzkova, enduring her third three-setter of the tournament to beat the Czech player 7-6(7/3), 4-6, 7-5.

Zheng voiced frustration in each set at movement outside the court, including as she tried to salvage the second set on Bouzkova’s serve.

But she pulled out some of her most accurate tennis to clinch the last two games and win the match when 27th-ranked Bouzkova fired long.

“I gave everything,” said Zheng, who had already spent more than five hours on court in the first two rounds.

“Truthfully speaking, I felt a lot of pressure today,” the 23-year-old told her home crowd, thanking fans for their support.

Zheng, the current world number 54, next plays 118th-ranked Alina Charaeva, who sent out top seed Elena Rybakina in the second round.

Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova also advanced and will face Ekaterina Alexan­drova in the last 16.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2026

Amid uncertainty, jittery investors rushed to sell, driving market capitalisation down by a staggering Rs261 billion in a single session. Persistent geopolitical tensions and elevated oil prices also threatened economic stability.

Topline Securities Ltd said the KSE-100 index recorded a sharp sell-off, hitting an intraday low of 2,391 points at 165,764.21 before closing at 165,867.32, down 2,288.17 points or 1.36 per cent in the first session of the week.

The decline was primarily driven by a lack of fresh positive catalysts, while renewed political uncertainty weighed on investor sentiment. The opposition’s march began after government-opposition talks failed to reach an agreement, raising concerns about further political disruption.

KSE-100 index sheds 2,288 points on hasty selling

Meanwhile, international crude oil prices remained a key concern, adding to macroeconomic uncertainty and keeping investors cautious. In the absence of strong market catalysts, investors trimmed positions, leading to broad-based selling across the market.

Ali Najib, Deputy Head of Trading at Arif Habib Ltd, said the index extended last week’s decline amid heightened regional and domestic political uncertainty and elevated oil prices, triggering risk aversion and selling across key sectors, and breaching the 166,000 level, a key support.

Moreover, Yemen launched a military campaign against Houthi-held territory amid escalating regional tensions.

On the sectoral front, cement despatches rose 6pc year on year to 4.62m tonnes in September, driven by stronger domestic demand. 1QFY27 despatches increased 4pc to 13.14m tonnes.

PTI began a march toward Islamabad after talks with the government broke down over demands including access to Imran Khan, while authorities blocked key routes.

On the index contribution front, United Bank, Engro Holdings, Habib Bank, Hub Power, Pakistan Petroleum, Oil and Gas Development Company, Fauji Fertiliser, National Bank, Pakistan Stock Exchange and Bank Al-Habib dragged the index down by 1,114 points.

Investor participation weakened as trading volume fell 10.53pc to 441.89 million shares and turnover value dipped 10.18pc to Rs15.7bn. First National Equities Ltd led the volume chart with 50.2m shares.

Analysts expect the equities market to remain volatile and range-bound amid heightened geopolitical and domestic political uncertainty. Elevated oil prices continue to threaten external balances, fuel inflation, and pressure corporate margins. However, positive developments in local or regional politics could support market momentum in the near term.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2026

According to official data compiled by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), services exports have continued to expand, maintaining uninterrupted growth since the start of FY27, in contrast to mixed trends in goods shipments.

In absolute terms, services exports totalled $1.81 billion in July-August FY27, up from $1.41bn in the corresponding months of last year. In August, services exports rose 28.97pc to $873.01 million, from $676.91m in the corresponding month last year. Telecomm­unications, computer and information services have driven growth since the beginning of the fiscal year.

According to data compiled by the State Bank of Pakistan, exports of telecommunications, computer and information services grew 17.36pc to $811m in 2MFY27 from $691m a year ago.

Exports of other business services surged 38.62pc to $420m in 2MFY27, from $303m in the same period last year. Similarly, exports of transport services increased by 35.87pc to $178m from $131m a year earlier.

However, exports of travel services surged 146.66pc to $222m from $90m in 2MFY26.

At the same time, services imports rose 9.77pc to $2.37bn in 2MFY27, from $2.16bn in the corresponding period last year. In August, services imports rose 2.53pc to $1.15bn, from $1.13bn a year ago.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2026

Brent crude futures settled $1.93, or 1.89pc, lower at $100.32 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude lost $1.68, or 1.84pc, at $89.43.

Middle Eastern crude exports rose above pre-war levels in four of the seven days of the final week of September, shipping data showed on Monday, despite attacks on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. “Although tankers are still at risk, the ho­pe is that at the end of the day more oil re­a­ches the market,” said Andrew Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2026

The board meeting, held on Monday and chaired by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation Muhammad Ali, was informed that it had received 11 expressions of interest (EoIs) for acquiring 51 per cent to 100pc shareholding, along with management control.

After evaluating the submissions against the approved prequalification criteria, the financial adviser recommended nine interested parties for prequalification and progression to the next stage of the transaction.

The prequalified parties include three Turkish energy companies, alongside leading Pakistani business groups and investment consortia, reflecting continued domestic and international investor interest in Pakistan’s electricity distribution sector.

The nine prequalified parties will now proceed to the next stage of the transaction under the approved process, including access to the Virtual Data Room (VDR) for detailed buy-side due diligence, a press release said.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2026

This came at a public hearing convened by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), whose case officers reported that the average power supply cost now stood at Rs32 per unit, compared with Rs22.98 per unit offered to industrial consumers on Dece­mber 10 last year under the Incremental Consum­ption Package.

The Power Division team led by additional secretary Mehfooz Bhatti and Naveed Qaiser, however, warned that its retrospective correction from June 9, as demanded by wider in­dustrial consumers thro­ugh interventions, would need to be legally examined.

The government team generally appeared on the back foot, as Mr Bhatti said the incremental package was announced after almost a year of hard work on industry demand, but nobody could have anticipated a ‘war scene’ that changed ‘economic fundamentals’.

Not only the industrial representatives Rehan Javed, Amir Shaikh, Arif Bilwani and Tanveer Barry but also Nepra members Amina Ahmad, Ghulamullah Shaikh and Maqsood Anwar wondered why the government team had not applied for review of the package on completion of the mandatory six-month period and why it did not work out the latest or average marginal cost.

Rehan Javed protested that he had been highlighting the fault since February through 48 emails and multiple representations at monthly public hearings, but both the power division and Nepra had turned a deaf ear.

He said the package rate was frozen at Rs22.98, while the cost averaged Rs34.26 per unit.

As a result, other consumers paid about Rs11.28 per unit, cross-subsidising fewer industrial consumers who benefited from the below-cost rate.

Mr Rehan and Mr Shaikh made a strong case for suspending the incremental package and its readjustments to consumers with effect from June 9, when the review was legally due.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2026

Data released by the State Bank of Pakistan on Monday showed that Gulf countries, particularly the UAE, invested $129.8 million in long-term Pakistan Investment Bonds (PIBs) in the first 25 days of September.

Foreign investors have remained reluctant to invest in the country due to factors such as political uncertainty, lack of domestic investment and poor growth. Pakistan could attract foreign investment from Gulf countries facing serious security problems. These countries have been facing disruptions in their oil trade as Iran claimed to have closed the Strait of Hormuz, while their earnings have declined since the war started on Feb 28.

Some financial experts said the Gulf countries have invested billions of dollars in the United States, particularly in tech companies, but the changing situation in US-Iran relations and unpredictable US ties with other Gulf countries have created uncertainty about where to keep their money safe. However, investment in domestic bonds is considered “peanuts” compared to their investment capacity.

Higher yields, risk-free returns cited as key attraction

In September, the UAE invested $110m in PIBs, and $5m in treasury bills. Simi­larly, Bahrain invested $10m in PIBs and $14m in T-bills during the same month.

During the first quarter, from July 1 to Sept 25, total investment in PIBs stood at $203.7m, with an outflow of $115m, while investment in T-bills stood at $161m, with an outflow of $171m.

“Most of the maturing amount is being reinvested in domestic bonds, with a small additional amount. However, the sign is good that domestic bonds are attractive and the Gulf countries could see this opportunity as a good option,” S.S. Iqbal, a money market expert, said, adding that the government should try to make them more attractive for Gulf investors.

Moreover, he said, Pakistan needs to build its foreign exchange reserves faster to assure potential investors that their investment is safe.

The government is also making efforts to promote long-term PIBs to avoid frequent repayments. If foreign investors, including overseas Pakistanis, buy PIBs, it could help the government sell more.

Overseas Pakistanis can buy PIBs, as reflected in remittances that may reach $44 billion in FY27. They keep their savings in European and American banks as their trust was largely destroyed when their foreign exchange reserves in Pakistani banks were frozen by the then government in 1998, following nuclear tests and the imposition of international sanctions.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2026

He also approved restructuring the livestock sector along corporate lines and preparing and implementing reforms with the help of private-sector experts.

The decisions were taken at a meeting chaired by the prime minister to review ongoing reforms in the livestock sector.

“Specialised farms should be established for livestock exports,” the prime minister directed.

Seeks duty-free breed imports, value-chain upgrade

He said high-breed, high-yield livestock should be imported and raised at these farms for export, and ordered that imports of livestock for the specialised farms be exempted from duties.

To ensure that livestock raised at these farms is exported, he said, a modern animal-tagging system should be introduced.

He also directed that the livestock sector be reorganised along corporate lines to modernise it and that the private sector’s expertise be utilised for reforms.

More than 60 per cent of Pakistan’s agricultural sector is based on livestock, which has significant export potential, the prime minister noted.

He directed authorities to prepare and submit within two weeks a roadmap with specific targets for eliminating foot-and-mouth disease from the country.

He also ordered international certification of slaughterhouses across the country and third-party validation to ensure compliance with international standards.

The Ministry of National Food Security and Research should work with provincial governments to eliminate livestock diseases, he said.

The premier directed authorities to improve the entire value chain to further develop meat and livestock exports and ordered that targets for exports of meat, livestock and related products be prepared and submitted.

The meeting was given a detailed briefing on the livestock sector and proposals were presented for its development and increasing exports.

Officials told the meeting that Pakistan has around 245 million livestock animals with a combined value of about Rs5.5 trillion ($19.6 billion). The livestock sector accounts for 14.97pc of the national economy and 63.6pc of the agricultural economy, while annual production stands at about 74.69m tonnes of milk and 6.31m tonnes of meat. Around 8m rural households are associated with livestock, the meeting was told. However, small-scale livestock farming and fragmented supply chains remain obstacles to fully exploiting the sector’s export potential.

Pakistan has significant room to increase meat exports, officials said. Meat exports stood at around $530m in 2025-26, with the bulk going to Gulf markets including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar.

Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, China and other countries offer significant potential as new and expanded export markets, the meeting was told.

The government has taken several measures to boost livestock and meat exports, including a national programme for animal disease surveillance, prevention and traceability; establishment of foot-and-mouth disease-free zones and compartments; vaccination and digital disease surveillance; export-grade farms; and international health and halal certification systems.

The government is also focusing on feedlot farming, cold-chain infrastructure, deboning, value-added products and export infrastructure, officials said.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2026

According to the July-December 2025 SOEs Monitoring Report, released on Monday by the Ministry of Finance, the power sector remains the weakest performer, but the aggregate loss profile of loss-making SOEs is estimated at about Rs2.8 billion per day, while fiscal support through subsidies, grants, loans, and equity injections has reached nearly Rs6.6bn per day. Power sector circular debt increased by Rs374bn, driven by inefficiencies and poor recoveries.

This is “equivalent to approximately 11pc of total federal budgetary receipts (on the six-month period)”, the MoF deplored, adding that “this persistent fiscal burden continues to crowd out developmental expenditure, compress fiscal flexibility, and weaken sovereign fiscal buffers”.

The broader SOE balance sheet also remains highly leveraged, with debt exposures exceeding Rs10tr, including about Rs2.5tr in foreign currency-denominated liabilities or Foreign Relent Loans (FRLs), exposing the sovereign to elevated exchange rate pass-through risk, refinancing pressure, imported sensitivity, and external account volatility.

Earnings fall 30pc as all performance indicators deteriorate

Collectively, these risks indicate that Pakistan’s SOE sector is no longer merely a governance challenge, but a high-impact sovereign balance sheet vulnerability with direct implications for fiscal sustainability, sovereign creditworthiness, debt dynamics, external financing dependence, and long-term macroeconomic stability.

In the first core area of aggregate profitability and losses, the report noted that the situation deteriorated. “During the first half of FY26 (July-December 2025), the SOEs experienced a mild contraction in financial performance. Aggregate profits declined by 7pc, dropping from Rs457.2bn in HY2025 to Rs423.3bn in HY2026”. On the loss front, cumulative losses across SOEs remained broadly stable, edging down marginally from Rs342.9bn in HY2025 to Rs342.8bn in HY2026.

“Combined, these movements resulted in a net adjusted profit of Rs80.5bn for HY2026, representing a 30pc contraction from the Rs114.3bn net aggregate profit recorded in HY2025”, the Central Monitoring Unit (CMU) of the MoF said.

Despite a marginal consolidated profit, the report said the narrowing spread between profits and losses signalled rising fiscal and operational pressures within the federal SOE portfolio. On the second parameter of the aggregate balance sheet, the report noted a modest contraction across key financial indicators. Total equity declined by 3pc, falling from Rs6.629tr in HY2025 to Rs6.407tr in HY2026. Liabilities also edged lower, down 1pc from Rs31.092tr to Rs30.7tr.

As a result, total assets contracted by 2pc, declining from Rs37.721tr in HY2025 to Rs37.107tr in HY2026, underscoring a modest weakening in the overall financial position of the SOE sector.

“However, the reduction in equity alongside elevated leverage levels continues to expose the portfolio to heightened fiscal and refinancing risk, particularly in capital-intensive sectors such as power, infrastructure, and transport”.

The dominance of a handful of SOEs in driving aggregate profitability highlights a material concentration risk within the federal portfolio. A substantial portion of overall earnings remains dependent upon the Oil & Gas and financial sectors, thereby exposing the broader SOE ecosystem to commodity price volatility, exchange-rate movements, regulatory adjustments, and macroeconomic cyclicality.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2026

NCCIA, Quetta, Additional Director Khalid Baqi said most gangs involved in financial fraud through mobile phones and social media were operating from southern Punjab and the riverine areas. QCCI President Ahmed Gul Kakar, Senior Vice President Mirza Khan Khilji, Vice President Jangiyan Dashti and other office-bearers and members attended the meeting.

The NCCIA official said that around 2,000 inquiries were currently pending with the agency and were being processed, appreciated the fact that none of the accused nominated in 158 cases belonged to Balochistan.

The QCCI representatives said members of the business community had suffered financial losses amounting to millions of rupees through online banking, microfinancing and other digital payment channels. They expressed concern over the growing use of fake accounts and social media platforms for blackmailing, character assassination and financial exploitation. They proposed forming a joint team comprising representatives of the QCCI, FIA and NCCIA to ensure prompt action on complaints.

The NCCIA official said the purpose of his visit to the QCCI office and the session was to understand the problems, experiences and suggestions of the business community so that an effective strategy could be developed to combat cybercrime.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2026

A delegation comprising Justice Irfan Saadat Khan and Justice Naeem Akhter Afghan represented Pakistan’s Supreme Court at the seventh congress of the Association of Asian Constitutional Courts (AACC), held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

The congress adopted the Samarkand Declaration, reaffirming the supremacy of the constitution, judicial independence, human rights and the rule of law as fundamental pillars.

The declaration recognised the potential of digital technology to improve transparency, timeliness, quality and equal access to justice.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2026

The commitment was made during a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Tomasz Siemoniak, Minister, Member of the Council of Ministers and Coordinator of Special Services of the Republic of Poland, who is currently on an official visit to Pakistan.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the prime minister expressed satisfaction over the positive trajectory of relations between Pakistan and Poland and reiterated Pakistan’s desire to transform their longstanding friendship into a robust, long-term and multifaceted partnership.

The prime minister took note of recent interactions between the two countries and underscored the importance of leadership-level exchanges as a catalyst for expanding bilateral relations.

He also underlined the need for both countries to encourage greater interaction between their respective business communities.

The prime minister appreciated Poland’s support for Pakistan under the EU’s GSP Plus scheme and expressed confidence that the two countries would continue to strengthen ties across all sectors.

The two sides also exchanged views on major regional and international developments, including the situation in the Middle East.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2026

According to a notification issued by the Balochistan Home Dep­artment, Section 144 will remain in force for three months at identified sensitive locations within the jurisdictions of Surab, Khuzdar and Wadh districts along the N-25.

The notification said that repeated protests and demonstrations on the National Highway had disrupted traffic flow, causing difficulties for passengers, transporters, patients, traders and the general public.

Balochistan govt notification says ban imposed for parts of Surab, Khuzdar and Wadh districts will stay for three months

The government said road blockades also affected the movement of essential goods, services and people and could create complications for the law-and-order situation.

Under the order, blocking the N-25 or creating any obstruction to traffic, holding protests, sit-ins, rallies or gatherings that disrupt traffic flow has been prohibited. Parking vehicles or placing barriers or any other objects on the highway in a manner that obstructs traffic has also been banned.

Deputy commissioners and police officials in Surab, Khuzdar and Wadh have been directed to ensure implementation of the order and maintain uninterrupted traffic flow on the N-25.

The notification said the restrictions would remain in effect for three months from October 3, 2026.

Balochistan Home Department Adviser Babar Yousafzai said Section 144 had been imposed in Surab, Khuzdar and Wadh to prevent protests and road blockades on the N-25 national highway.

He said that protests, sit-ins and any obstruction to traffic flow on the highway would remain prohibited for three months.

Mr Yousafzai said that ensuring uninterrupted movement on national highways was among the priorities of the Balochistan government, adding that closures of the N-25 caused severe difficulties for patients, passengers, traders and transporters.

He said effective measures were being taken to address public difficulties and maintain smooth traffic flow, while the relevant district administrations and police had been directed to ensure effective enforcement of Section 144.

The home adviser said enforcement of the law and maintenance of peace and order would be ensured, adding that the Balochistan government was committed to public convenience and safety and uninterrupted traffic flow on national highways.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2026

GWADAR: The Balochistan Assembly’s Standing Committee on Fisheries advanced consultations on the “Balochistan Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill 2026” on Monday, seeking stakeholder input on reforms aimed at modernising the fisheries sector.

The consultation was held in Gwadar, where lawmakers, government officials, fishermen and other stakeholders reviewed the draft legislation and discussed measures to promote sustainable fisheries and aquaculture development.

The meeting was chaired by Standing Committee Chairman MPA Maulana Hidayatur Rehman Baloch. Members of the committee, including Provincial Minister for Planning and Development Mir Zahoor Ahmed Buledi, MPA Abdul Majeed Badini and MPA Zafar Agha, attended the session.

The committee examined various aspects of the proposed legislation aimed at establishing an effective legal and administrative framework for the fisheries sector while ensuring the protection of fishermen’s interests and marine life.

The meeting marked the first time an official session of the Balochistan Assembly’s Standing Committee on Fisheries was held outside Quetta, representing a significant step towards directly involving coastal communities in legislative decision-making.

Participants were informed that multiple consultations had been conducted over the past two to two-and-a-half years with experts, fishermen and relevant institutions at various levels to prepare the draft bill.

During the session, local fishermen described illegal trawling, wire nets and other banned fishing gear as serious threats to marine ecosystems and the environment, calling for their complete elimination.

Participants also agreed on developing a scientifically backed “Fish Season Closure Policy” based on fish breeding cycles to ensure the sustainable protection of marine resources.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2026

Addressing the launch of the Pakistan ESG Policy Report 2026, Ms Rehman said ESG could no longer be treated as a corporate branding exercise or a narrow reporting requirement. Instead, it needed to be integrated with Pakistan’s climate, legal, political and economic frameworks.

“We have to talk about ESG not in isolation, but in terms of climate, political and legal frameworks,” she said, calling for closer coordination among policymakers, regulators, businesses and technical experts.

Ms Rehman said the key question was no longer whether Pakistan needed ESG, but what kind of framework it wanted and how compliance would be enforced. She said legislation was particularly important as Pakistan’s regulatory system increasingly had to interact with international markets and stakeholders.

Environmental, Social and Governance Policy Report 2026 launched

Highlighting the gap between awareness and implementation, the PPP senator noted that around 537 companies were listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange, yet only a limited number provide detailed and verifiable information on their carbon footprints, resource consumption, circularity and environmental impacts.

The issue is becoming more urgent for export-oriented businesses as international markets introduce stricter climate-related trade rules, particularly the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.

She questioned the value of ESG reports if the information contained in them was neither independently verified nor linked to actual performance. She asked who verifies corporate disclosures, who inspects companies and what consequences should follow when reported performance does not match conditions on the ground.

“The biggest polluters are often the ones producing the biggest ESG reports,” she said, warning that sustainability reporting could otherwise become another paperwork exercise driven by reputation management and green branding.

However, Ms Rehman cautioned against imposing another punitive regulatory burden on Pakistan’s already heavily taxed private sector. Instead, she advocated a system combining mandatory disclosures with incentives and a clearly defined pathway towards compliance.

“There should be a regime of incentives which are open to immediate realisation,” she said, while also calling for credible penalties where companies deliberately fail to meet required standards.

Pakistan Green Taxonomy

A central component of the proposed ESG architecture, she said, should be the Pakistan Green Taxonomy, being developed through collaboration involving the State Bank of Pakistan, the Ministry of Climate Change and international partners, including the World Bank.

She described the taxonomy as a common language for businesses, financial institutions and regulators, enabling them to identify and finance genuinely sustainable economic activities.

“What we need is almost a dictionary for sustainability,” she said, arguing that businesses should be able to align their operations, supply chains and financial decisions with climate-resilient standards.

She also stressed that Pakistan must make cleaner production economically viable. Industries such as cement manufacturing, she said, would need incentives to invest in cleaner technologies, energy efficiency, waste management and lower-emission production systems.

“If we want companies to reduce emissions, we have to give them a pathway to do so,” she said.

She urged businesses and technical experts to engage with Parliament before legislation was enacted rather than resisting regulations after the fact.

She called on industry groups to submit practical alternatives, measurable performance indicators and transparent verification mechanisms.

“Resilience comes from people, not governments,” she said, adding that government could provide the framework, parliament the law, regulators the standards, and businesses the innovation and investment.

Without collective ownership, she warned, ESG would remain “a report rather than a reality”.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2026

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2026-27 judicial year, Justice Akram said implementation of judicial decisions is essential for maintaining public confidence in the justice system.

“The golden principle of justice is that justice must be seen to be done,” he said, adding that a court verdict that can’t be implemented does not provide effective relief to litigants.

Justice Akram said the AJK Supreme Court had issued clear orders against constructing commercial plazas on land designated for residential purposes, but he was informed the Mirpur Development Auth­ority routinely allows such construction.

“[It seems some] Mirpur Development Authority officials are involved in this illegal business,” he alleged. He added that the court drew the AJK prime minister’s attention to the issue and asked the government to take action against those involved.

Delays or violations in implementing decisions, whether by state institutions or private individuals, undermine public trust in the state, he said.

On food safety, he said the court ordered the establishment of a food authority, but some officials were allegedly using court orders to harass traders. “Any official involved in such activities will face action,” he said.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2026

The maritime police force of Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland said last week that it had recovered the MT Honour 25, a Palau-flagged oil tanker with 19 crew members on board, including 10 Pakistanis, which had been hijacked by Somali pirates in April.

The Foreign Office subsequently confirmed that three Pakistanis had died and several others were injured during the operation, later identifying the deceased as Rafiullah Khan, Syed Kashif Umer and Mahmood Ahmed Ansari. Four Pakistanis injured in the operation had arrived in Karachi on Sunday, with the remains of those killed.

In a post on the social media platform X, Dar said three crew members, Imran Ali, Muhammad Yasin and Syed Husain Yousuf, have been “successfully rescued” and flown to Addis Ababa — the capital of Ethiopia — accompanied by a team from the Pakistan embassy in Djibouti.

“The three crew members will be received in Addis Ababa and depart for Pakistan on the first available Ethiopian Airlines flight to Karachi,” Dar said, adding that this flight would be expected on Oct 7 (Wednesday).

He expressed his gratitude to the government of Somalia and the European Union Naval Force Operation Atalanta for their assistance and cooperation in securing the crew’s release.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2026

ATC Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain summoned the DSP and Judicial Complex’s secu­rity head after being told that the IO was out of town.

At the outset of the hearing, the judge questioned DSP Naeem Yousuf about IO’s whereabouts and the case record, directing him to provide documentary evidence instead of making verbal assertions.

The DSP told the court that the IO was in Gilgit-Baltistan and produced a printout of a WhatsApp message in support of his claim. The judge refused to accept the printout and ordered the official to produce an original document.

DSP Yousuf then said the IO’s mobile phone was switched off and that it could take 10 to 15 days to establish contact with him.

The judge warned that if the required record was not produced, he could send both the DSP and SP to jail for six months. “You ought to be ashamed; you people have turned this into a display of high-handedness,” the judge remarked, questioning the manner in which the investigation was handled.

At one point, the court ordered handcuffs to be brought into the courtroom and summoned the security head.

The judge warned the DSP could be arrested if he failed to provide accurate information.

Defence counsel Riasat Ali Azad argued the court had already rejected the request for Ms Mazari and Mr Chattha’s physical rema­nd and that there was no justification for delaying the bail proceedings just due to IO’s unavailability.

Advocate Zafar Khokhar objected to the IO taking the record away with him.

The judge later adjour­ned the hearing until Oct 13.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2026