Three of the last four teams, PSG, Bayern and Arsenal, are top of their domestic leagues and the German side have clinched the Bundesliga, losing one game, having also lost once in Europe.

While PSG and Atletico Madrid had to come through the playoffs, Arsenal and Bayern were the top two in the league phase. In the last 16 and quarter-finals, PSG netted 12 goals and Bayern 16.

“It’s not just about attacking statistics, but if you look at the defensive ones too, these are the best teams in Europe,” Luis Enrique told reporters ahead of Tuesday’s first leg at home.

“Arsenal have done an incredible job this season also, in terms of consistency. Bayern are a bit ahead of us because they have only lost two games, but if we speak about what we have shown as a team, we’re right up there.

“And no team is better than us. I said this after we didn’t finish in the top eight in the league phase that I didn’t see any teams better than us.”

Last season, PSG also finished outside the top eight in the league stage before going on to lift the trophy, and in Ligue 1, having battled with Lens for long periods, they are six points clear.

“Every coach wants to head into the run-in in the best possible conditions,” the PSG manager said.

“It’s the magic of the Champions League which gives special energy to the players, everyone wants to be there and to make the most of this time.”

Luis Enrique is well aware of the attacking threat posed by Bayern, including wingers Luis Diaz and Michael Olise, but that will not change the way his side approach the tie.

“We won the Champions League last season with [full-backs] Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes doing what they do,” he said.

“Of course they have to defend as well, but we know that they have to attack more than they defend if we want to win.

“We know how difficult it will be and we have to know how to defend well.”

The French club had long set their sights on winning the Champions League, and having finally realised that dream last season, there is no chance of a less ambitious PSG this time.

“The first run was a relief, now it’s a different source of motivation because last year was great,” Luis Enrique said. “We made history. And now, we’re hungry for more.”

KANE PROPELLING BAYERN TO GLORY

For Bayern, the team-first approach of Harry Kane, having decisively ended his own silverware drought with back-to-back Bundesliga titles, has been the key.

Whoever makes it through Bayern’s Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain will be the favourites for the final in Budapest in May.

Last season’s Bundesliga title was Kane’s maiden team trophy, at the age of 31. Having added another league crown this season, Bayern’s habit of hoovering up trophies is already rubbing off on the England captain.

As always, Kane’s individual statistics this year have been stunning. The former Tottenham forward has 53 goals in 45 games in all competitions, the most by an Englishman in any league in almost a century.

And this time around, Kane’s goals have come at crucial moments of big games.

Against Real in Madrid, his long-range strike proved to be the winner.

In the second leg, Kane’s first-half goal brought Bayern level on the night and put them ahead in a quarter-final tie which was in danger of getting away from them.

Kane left England 47 goals shy of Alan Shearer’s Premier League scoring record, with some commentators wondering why he would leave with the mark in sight.

But while Kane developed a reputation at Spurs for stacking up individual records rather than team honours, in hindsight the striker’s pursuit of goals was a clear example of his team focus.

Since moving to Bayern, a club with quality across the pitch and a number of threats, Kane often drops to help in the build-up, sometimes deep into midfield.

Kane’s willingness to sacrifice individual honours for team objectives has never been more evident than in recent weeks, when Bayern had the league largely wrapped up and needed to focus on Europe.

After Bayern beat Dortmund in February, Kane had scored four consecutive braces. With 30 goals in 24 games, he looked on course for Robert Lewandowski’s single season record of 41 goals.

But since then, Kane has started just one of Bayern’s seven league games, as Vincent Kompany has wra­pped him in cotton wool for the big stage.

After coming off the bench to help Bayern come from three goals down to win 4-3 at Mainz on Saturday, Kane told reporters where his true focus lay.

“It’ll be tough,” Kane said of chasing down Lewandowski’s record. “Obviously I’m here to try and win the Champions League and try and win the German Cup.

“So, ultimately that takes priority. All I can do is when I’m on the pitch, try and score, try and impact the game.”

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026

Spanish media reported that the 27-year-old France captain could miss the rest of Real’s season after picking up the injury during the 1-1 draw at Real Betis on Friday.

“Following the tests carried out today on our player Kylian Mbappe by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with an injury to the semitendinosus muscle in his left leg. Awaiting progress,” the club said in a statement.

Real visit Espanyol on Sunday before travelling to Barcelona on May 10. The record 15-time European champions are enduring a disappointing season, trailing Barcelona by 11 points after 33 LaLiga matches and eliminated from the Champions League at the quarter-final stage by Bayern Munich.

The World Cup, to be co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico, starts on June 11.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026

The winner shall make it to the final. The loser, though, will have a second bite at the cherry in the Eliminator.

In the decade-long history of the tournament, United repeated their title-winning feat twice since their run for the maiden title. Zalmi, meanwhile, have not even featured in a final for the last five years.

This season, however, the “Yellow Storm” has taken over with brute force, winning eight of their 10 matches in the league stage to finish top of the table ahead of the playoffs -- their last fixture, against Lahore Qalandars, their only loss.

One match ended without a result for the Babar Azam-led side, with rain washing out their clash against United only in the early stages of the season.

Scheduled to play only once against each other in the league stage this time, the two teams finally have the chance to fight for not only a place in the decider, but the tag of the strongest team of this season as well.

While Zalmi have dominated nearly throughout, United have had hiccups, but have shown their ability to fight back after each setback.

Captained by Shadab Khan, their four-wicket win over Multan Sultans on Sunday to book the Qualifier spot along with their eight-wicket drubbing of Hyderabad Kingsmen earlier were statement victories.

But if it is about making a statement, no opportunity to do so can get bigger than the Qualifier against Zalmi, who have managed to build a near-flawless team combination.

Babar is in the midst of it all, sandwiched between the explosive Mohammad Haris and the impeccable Kusal Mendis, the leading run-scorer of the tournament with 500 to his name, just 15 more than Babar.

Getting rid of that heavily-loaded top-order brings forth Michael Bracewell’s power, Aaron Hardie’s ruthlessness and the belligerence of Abdul Samad and Iftikhar Ahmed, who has been impressive with the ball as well.

He links the batting line with a bowling attack featuring the fiery Ali Raza — the pacer becoming the youngest Pakistan player to take a T20 hat-trick against Karachi Kings recently — newcomer Mohammad Basit and especially left-arm wrist spinner Sufiyan Muqeem, the highest wicket-taker this season with 19 to his name.

What brought Zalmi to the Qualifier, however, won’t mean anything if it is not emulated in the match, according to the team’s bowling coach Azhar Mahmood.

“It is true that we have been playing good cricket, but we still need to continue that if we are to win the tournament,” said the former Pakistan all-rounder, who was a part of the United coaching staff last season.

“I’ve worked with United and I know the players inside-out, worked with a few in the Pakistan team [as Test coach], so there is definitely an advantage and a slight edge,” Azhar admitted, adding that the Zalmi players would still need to execute the plans based on the available insights.

United, who preferred golf over training unlike Zalmi on the eve of the Qualifier, however, would place their bets on batters Sameer Minhas — the Pakistan U-19 sensation — and the dangerous Mohsin Riaz up top along with the reliable New Zealander Devon Conway.

Then there would be the likes of Mark Chapman and Shadab Khan — who did well against the Sultans on Sunday — for Zalmi to deal with ahead of their seasoned attack featuring Imad Wasim, Salman Irshad and spinner Chris Green.

“It’s shaping up to be a really exciting match, and I’m looking forward to the challenge, especially bowling against a strong batting line-up,” Green told reporters on Sunday about playing against Zalmi. “They have a lot of quality players, and we’ll be aiming to restrict them to a low total while taking wickets along the way.”

The National Bank Stadium has been home to two nearly opposite kind of pitches this season; one of them a batting paradise, the other a sluggish, bowling friendly surface. The former is likely to favour Zalmi, but if the latter is to host the Qualifier, it may deliver a thrilling encounter.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026

Led by Gianni Infantino, world football’s governing body came under fire for awarding its inaugural peace prize to US President Donald Trump in December at the draw for the 2026 World Cup.

The FIFA peace award was seen by many as a consolation prize for Trump, who has said on numerous occasions that he should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and whose country will co-host this year’s World Cup with Canada and Mexico.

“We [the NFF] want to see it [the FIFA peace prize] abolished. We don’t think it’s part of FIFA’s mandate to give such a prize, we think we have a Nobel Institute that does that job independently already,” Klaveness told an online press briefing.

“We think it’s important for football federations, confederations and also FIFA to try to avoid situations where this arm’s-length distance to state leaders is challenged, and these prizes will typically be very political if you don’t have real good instruments and experience to make them independent, with juries and criteria et cetera.

“That is full-time work, it’s so sensitive, I think from a resource angle, from a mandate angle, but most importantly from a governance angle I think it should be avoided also in the future,” she said.

The 45-year-old lawyer said the NFF board would be writing a letter saying it supported calls for an investigation into the awarding of the prize by non-profit organisation FairSquare, which has alleged that Infantino and FIFA may have breached their own ethical guidelines regarding political impartiality in awarding the prize.

“There should be checks and balances on these issues and this complaint from FairSquare should be treated with a transparent timeline, and that the reasoning and the conclusion should be transparent,” Klaveness said.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026

The decision was taken after a meeting between the prime minister and Mohsin Naqvi, who later announced that approval had been secured for public attendance at the Qualifier and both Eliminators as well.

“However, this comes with an important condition… that fans are strongly encouraged to use public transport or minimise fuel consumption while attending the matches, in line with the ongoing national austerity efforts,” Naqvi said in a post on X, adding that the prime minister also conveyed his best wishes to the teams competing in the playoffs.

Spectators had initially been barred from attending matches under the government’s fuel conservation measures introduced in view of the ongoing West Asia crisis, which disrupted oil supplies from the Middle East. As a result, the entire league stage of this season was played behind closed doors.

The tournament, originally scheduled to be staged across multiple cities, was also restricted to venues in Lahore and Karachi due to the prevailing situation.

Earlier, the prime minister had allowed spectators only for the May 3 final at the Gaddafi Stadium. Monday’s decision, however, extends that permission to the entire playoff phase.

The Qualifier between Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi will be the first fixture to be played before spectators under the revised policy. The match is scheduled for Tuesday at the National Bank Stadium, with the toss at 6:30pm and the first ball at 7:00pm.

Eliminator 1 will follow on Wednesday in Lahore between Multan Sultans and Hyderabad Kingsmen. Eliminator 2 — featuring the loser of the Qualifier and the winner of Eliminator 1 — will also be played at the same venue on Friday, before the final brings the tournament to a close on May 3.

The announcement came just over 24 hours before the Qualifier, leaving limited time for arrangements related to ticketing and crowd management.

The move is expected to bring spectators back to the stands for the decisive phase of the competition, which had so far been conducted without crowds due to the austerity measures.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026

Bangladesh reached their target of 183 at the Chattogram stadium with two overs to spare to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

The win surpassed their previous best home chase of 171 against Ireland in November last year.

Hridoy anchored the innings with an unbeaten 51 off 27 balls, his sixth T20 fifty. Shamim provided a fitting finish with 31 not out off just 13 balls, including three fours and two sixes.

The left-handed Shamim took New Zealand seamer Matthew Fisher apart in the 17th over, plundering 25 runs to enthral the home crowd.

Captain Litton Das scored a brisk 21 off 15 balls before Parvez Hossain Emon smashed 28 off 14 to set the platform for the chase.

For New Zealand, leg-spinner Ish Sodhi took two wickets, while Josh Clarkson and Nathan Smith claimed one each.

Batting first, Katene Clarke and Dane Cleaver gave New Zealand a flying start, despite an early mix-up that saw Tim Robinson run out in the second over after a direct throw from Hridoy.

Clarke and Cleaver responded emphatically, using their fine footwork to take New Zealand to 61 at the end of the powerplay.

They added 88 runs off 50 balls before both fell to leg-spinner Rishad Hossain.

Clarke, who was dropped by Saif Hassan on 44, made 51 off 37 balls, with seven fours and one six, for his first T20 fifty.

Cleaver was the more aggressive of the two, scoring 51 off just 28 balls, with seven fours and a six.

Stand-in captain Nick Kelly contributed 39 off 27, while Clar­kson struck an unbeaten 27 off 14.

Rishad was the pick of the Bangladesh bowlers with 2-32.

SCOREBOARD

NEW ZEALAND:

K. Clarke c Tawhid b Rishad 51

T. Robinson run out 0

D. Cleaver lbw Rishad 51

N. Kelly c Tanzim b Shoriful 39

B. Jacobs c Rishad b Tanzim 1

D. Foxcroft b Mahedi 3

J. Clarkson not out 27

N. Smith not out 2

EXTRAS (LB-4, W-4) 8

TOTAL (for six wickets, 20 overs) 182

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-11 (Robinson), 2-99 (Cleaver), 3-110 (Clarke), 4-117 (Jacobs), 5-130 (Foxcroft), 6-162 (Kelly)

DID NOT BAT: I. Sodhi, M. Fisher, B. Lister

BOWLING: Shoriful 4-0-36-1 (3w); Tanzim 4-0-40-1 (1w); Ripon 4-0-39-0; Mahedi 4-0-31-1; Rishad 4-0-32-2

BANGLADESH:

Saif Hassan c Jacobs b Smith 17

Tanzid Hasan c Smith b Sodhi 20

Litton Das b Sodhi 21

Tawhid Hridoy not out 51

Parvez Hossain c Robinson b Clarkson 28

Shamim Hossain not out 31

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-2, NB-2, W-7) 15

TOTAL (for four wickets, 18 overs) 183

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-41 (Hassan), 2-66 (Das), 3-77 (Tanzid), 4-134 (Parvez)

DID NOT BAT: Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan, Shoriful Islam, Ripon Mondol

BOWLING: Smith 3-0-33-1 (3w); Fisher 4-0-53-0 (2w, 2nb); Lister 4-0-23-0 (1w); Sodhi 4-0-40-2; Clarkson 3-0-28-1 (1w)

RESULT: Bangladesh won by six wickets.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Tawhid Hridoy

SERIES: Bangladesh lead three-match series 1-0.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026

The Marseille hierarchy hoped a verbal blast from sporting director Medhi Benatia following a pitiful 2-0 defeat to Lorient last weekend would fire the players to a desperately-needed three points to relaunch their bid for a top-four place in Ligue 1.

Captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg put them ahead with a diving header in the second half, but Elye Wahi grabbed a point for the visitors with a ‘panenka’ penalty in the 88th minute.

To rub salt into Marseille’s wounds, Wahi was one of their high-profile signings in 2024 before leaving the club after just six months.

The draw leaves Marseille sixth and staring at a financially damaging failure to qualify for Europe’s top club competition.

The top three teams in France earn Champions League places while the fourth-placed club goes into the qualifying rounds.

Marseille are four points behind Lyon and Lille, who both have 57 points, and three behind Rennes.

Lille secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory away to Paris FC on Sunday to stay firmly in contention for an automatic Champions League place.

Belgian forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo converted a 26th-minute penalty after a foul on Romain Perraud, sending former Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Kevin Trapp the wrong way with his spot kick.

The win puts Lille level on 57 points with third-placed Lyon, who beat Auxerre 3-2 on Saturday.

However, Lille will rue their narrow victory as they now have the same goal difference as Lyon, but the run-in favours Lille who will face lower-table clubs Le Havre and Auxerre.

Lyon, on the other hand, still have to play Rennes, who have their own European aspirations.

Elsewhere, Metz staved off relegation for at least another week with an entertaining 4-4 draw away to Le Havre.

Gauthier Hein was Metz’s saviour, scoring in the 85th minute to bring the scores level having earlier netted from the penalty spot.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026

Maximilian Beier, Serhou Guirassy, Ramy Bensebaini and Fabio Silva all scored for Dortmund, who are 10 points clear of fifth-placed Hoffenheim with three games to play.

Dortmund drew 1-1 with Frei­burg earlier in the season but have now scored three goals or more against the Black Forest club in eight of their past nine meetings.

“We’ve made sure of the Cha­m­pions League so of course now we want to lock in second spot,” Beier told DAZN. “The sun is shining, we’ve qualified for the Champions League, it feels good.”

Freiburg sit in eighth place but are through to the Europa League semi-finals, where they face Braga.

Dortmund lead after just eight minutes as Bensebaini lofted a long pass over the midfield to an onrushing Beier, who collected the ball before guiding a shot across the face of goal.

They added another six minutes later when Guirassy turned in a lovely dipping pass from Julian Brandt.

Bensebaini headed in a Julian Ryerson corner just after the half-hour mark.

Ryerson now has 13 assists this season, nine of which have come from corners.

Freiburg’s hopes of kick-starting a comeback took a hit when Lukas Kuebler’s goal was chalked off by VAR for offside 10 minutes into the second half.

Silva added a late fourth for only his second Bundesliga goal.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026

Third seed Coco Gauff was eliminated in a three-set battle with Linda Noskova decided on a final set tie-break.

Sabalenka, who has claimed titles at Miami, Indian Wells and Brisbane this year, was tested by her Japanese opponent in the fourth-round clash but came back from a set and a break down to triumph. The first set between the two four-time Grand Slam winners was tight, with only one break point forced, by Sabalenka, which Osaka saved to hold for 2-1.

Osaka dominated in the tie-break, ripping into a 5-0 lead and then triumphing when Sabalenka lashed a return wide.

Sabalenka stepped up a gear in the second frame, although world number 15 Osaka dug deep to survive three break points and then managed to engineer a break for herself to take a 2-1 lead.

However, the Belarusian immediately broke to love and then again in the eighth game, serving out to take the second set. Sabalenka dominated in the third set, securing breaks in the fifth and seventh games.

Sabalenka sealed her victory serving to love with an ace to reach the last eight, where she will face American Hailey Baptiste, who beat Belinda Bencic in three sets, including losing a tie break 16-14 in the second.

World number three Gauff of the US fell to a 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7/5) loss by Noskova of the Czech Republic.

In the men’s third round, Daniil Medvedev beat Nicolai Budkov Kjaer 6-3, 6-2. Casper Ruud eased to a 6-3, 6-1 win over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina to reach the last 16, while Stefanos Tsitsipas defeated Daniel Merida 6-4, 6-2.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026

Leading just after the hour mark through two headed goals from Marcus Thuram and Yann Bisseck, Inter looked set to stroll to victory in Turin.

But Giovanni Simeone got Torino back into the match out of nowhere in the 70th minute when he dinked a finish over Yann Sommer, and Nikola Vlasic earned the hosts a point from the penalty spot nine minutes later.

“You think everything is easy and that you have everything under control when you’re two goals ahead. Then you concede to make it 2-1 because of a mistake while playing out from the back and you get nervous,” Inter coach Cristian Chivu said.

“To be honest it could have been worse.”

Sunday’s draw should only be a bump in the road for Inter who will secure a 21st league crown if they beat Parma at the San Siro next weekend.

With four games left in the season, Inter are 10 points ahead of their nearest challengers Napoli, who won the Scudetto last year.

Chivu’s side will be heavy favourites to seal the deal next weekend in front of their home support as Parma are a team with nothing left to play for this season.

Inter are also on for a domestic double after coming back from two goals down to win a thrilling Italian Cup semi-final with Como on Tuesday.

Luciano Spalletti said that the battle for a top-four spot “will go down to the wire” following a drab match at the San Siro which left Milan and and his Juventus team looking over their shoulders.

Juve sit fourth and are three points ahead of both Como, 2-0 winners at Genoa earlier on Sunday, and sixth-placed Roma.

Milan are three points ahead of Juve in third and should have a big enough gap separating them from Como and Roma to return to the Champions League after going without European football this season.

“Roma and Como both won so we still have a few matches we need to win before we can say we deserve our place in that tournament,” said Spalletti.

One of the biggest matches of any Serie A season was played out in front of a punchy atmosphere in which Milan’s hardcore fans protested a sharp rise in the cost of tickets.

Before kick-of a section of supporters used the torches on their phones to spell out “EUR139” — the cost of a ticket in the traditional cheap seats behind the goal — with a banner underneath which read “for a fairer, working-class football”.

Milan’s hardcore ultras blasted what they consider “a form of legalised touting” in which fans are encouraged to sell on their season tickets via a club platform in exchange for 60 percent of the resale value in the form of a voucher for future ticket purchases.

There was more action in the stands than on the pitch as Milan and Juve slugged it out in a match which featured precious little artistry.

Khephren Thuram thought he had put Juve ahead in the 36th minute when he slid home Francisco Conceicao’s low cross, but his goal was ruled out for offside.

Four minutes later Conceicao shot straight at Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan after jinking his way into the area, while Alexis Saelemaekers had the hosts’ best chance shortly after half-time when he clattered the crossbar from close range.

Substitute Dusan Vlahovic nearly scored his first goal since November in stoppage time when he flashed across a low shot which Maignan kept out with his boot, and that was that from a forgettable encounter.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026

Leo Borg, the son of legendary Swedish player Bjorn Borg, is the top seed of the event.

Results (men’s singles third qualifying round): Ivan Iutkin (Russia) bt Ivan Matveev (Russia) 6-3, 6-1; Barkatullah (Pakistan) bt Adam Farag-Cao (Canada) 7-5, 2-0 — retired; Mohammad Abid Ali (Pakistan) bt Muyou Zou (China) 6-1, 6-1; Ahmad Nael (Pakistan) bt Arkhip Kozlov (Russia) 6-1, 6-3; Adam Bajurko (Poland) bt Fedor Dorokhov (Russia) 6-2, 6-4; Abhishek Bastola (Nepal) bt Egor Khotchenkov (Russia) 7-6(2), 6-2; Artem Bukin (Russia) bt Josh Roe Flannelly (Ireland) 7-6(5).

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026

It is the first time the major will have been played at the links course, near Blackpool in England’s north-west, since 2012.

“Royal Lytham and St Annes is widely renowned as one of the world’s finest links courses and has witnessed many great championship moments since the Open was first played there in 1926 when the legendary Bobby Jones won,” said Mark Darbon, chief executive of the R&A.

“This is one of golf’s most cherished and historic venues and the Open’s return to these famous links will spark huge interest among fans to be part of one of the world’s great sporting events.”

The 156th British Open will take place slightly later than normal, between Aug 3 and 6, to accommodate the 2028 Olympics, being held in Los Angeles.

Royal Birkdale will host this year’s event, with attendance set to surpass 300,000 for the first time, before returning to St Andrews in 2027.

Darbon said the R&A was still open to hosting their landmark event at Turnberry, but off-course logistical challenges rem­ain to be resolved.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026

Villarreal continued their strong season with a 2-1 victory over Celta Vigo to tighten their grip on third place.

Luis Garcia Plaza’s Sevilla took the lead through Neal Maupay in the 69th minute but Raul Garcia pulled the hosts level and Alejandro Catena struck in stoppage time to deal a blow to the Andalucians’ survival hopes.

The seven-time Europa League winners are 18th, a point behind Mallorca in 17th, after the islanders lost at Alaves on Saturday.

“I have a knot in my throat,” said Sevilla defender Gabriel Suazo. “We have to keep moving forward, we have to keep fighting, there are five finals left, and whoever gets to play — if it’s me — I’m going to put my life on the line for this club.”

Elche moved up to 13th with their victory, three points above the drop zone, but are still looking nervously over their shoulders.

Only six points separate Athletic Bilbao, 10th, from Sevilla, with the remaining five rounds of fixtures offering plenty of intrigue as to who will ultimately drop out of the top flight.

The only side cut badly adrift are Oviedo, who are seven points from safety with only 15 left to play for.

At the other end of the table high-flying Villarreal defeated Celta to move five points clear of fourth-place Atletico Madrid.

Gerard Moreno’s early penalty sent the Yellow Submarine ahead and Nicolas Pepe doubled their lead to give them a comfortable advantage at half-time.

Celta, seventh, still have hope of qualifying for European football next season and pulled one back through a Borja Iglesias spot-kick, retaken after encroachment when his first effort was saved.

Ferran Jutgla hit the post for the Galicians but they could not find an equaliser, suffering a fifth consecutive defeat across all competitions.

Earlier, Alemao struck deep in stoppage time to secure Rayo Vallecano a thrilling 3-3 draw against Copa del Rey winners Real Sociedad.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026

Expectations were divided on whether monetary policy would be tightened or eased amid war-related jitters and their impact on the economy, with already high fuel prices making it difficult for the industry to remain competitive.

On Friday, the government raised the ex-depot prices of petrol and diesel by Rs26.77 per litre to Rs393.35 and Rs380.19 for the week ending on May 1.

Diesel is regarded as the most inflationary commodity because of its extensive role in freight transportation.

The International Mone­­tary Fund’s executive board is set to meet on May 8 to approve the disbursement of over $1.2 billion under two ongoing programmes.

Ali Najib, Deputy Head of Trading at Arif Habib Ltd, said the PSX had a range-bound session, with the benchmark KSE-100 index declining by 1,175 points, or 0.69pc, to close at 169,497, having slipped below the 170,000-point milestone.

The market remained volatile, moving both ways, but ultimately settled lower ahead of the monetary policy anno­uncement.

Later in the evening, after trading closed on the PSX, the State Bank of Pakistan delivered a 100-bps hike, pushing its policy rate to 11.50pc after keeping it steady at 10.5pc for over three years, citing rising inflationary risks driven by supply-side pressures amid geopolitical tensions.

United Bank, Oil and Gas Development Com­pany Ltd, National Bank of Pakistan, Lucky Cem­ent and Pakistan Petr­oleum Ltd shed 672 points, while Habib Bank, Meezan Bank, Thal Ltd, Interloop Ltd and Engro Fertiliser added 239 points collectively.

Topline Securities Ltd said the index reached an intraday high of 171,306 points and an intraday low of 169,268 points, as investor sentiment remained cautious ahead of the policy rate decision.

Investor participation weakened sharply, with total trading volume plunging 34.55pc to 780 million shares and traded value dipping 15.76pc to Rs33.3 billion. Bank of Punjab topped the volume chart with 126.6 million shares traded.

The market might face short-term pressure from the unexpected policy rate increase. Neve­rth­eless, any market decl­ine could be viewed as a buying opportunity, as valuations remain appealing and medium-term fundamentals remain strong.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026

In a stock filing, IMC said that a Rs4.1bn investment to localise parts and components is underway and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

IMC said the additional Rs1bn investment would be completed by the end of 2027.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026

Earlier this month, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) announced a significant policy change, legalising and encouraging the use of virtual assets through the enactment of the Virtual Assets Act 2026. Under the act, PVARA is the statutory authority responsible for licensing, regulating, supervising, and overseeing virtual asset activities in Pakistan.

In an advisory published on Monday, the authority said it had noted recent public announcements by financial institutions regarding memoranda of understanding, pilots and partnerships involving virtual assets, including the use of stablecoins for remittances and cross-border payments.

“Under the Virtual Assets Act 2026, the provision of virtual asset services to users in Pakistan, including the issuance, transfer, custody, exchange, or arrangement of virtual assets, stablecoins, and allied blockchain-based solutions, falls within the regulatory ambit of PVARA,” the authority said.

“Any agreement or announced pilot that results in, or directly enables, the provision of such services requires prior authorisation from PVARA,” it added.

It further emphasised that public announcements of such initiatives without prior engagement with the authority might “give rise to regulatory, reputational and Financial Action Task Force (FATF) compliance risks”, including the possibility that the proposed activity might “not lawfully proceed”.

It said that it was committed to enabling “responsible innovation”.

“Any person (whether natural or legal) contemplating virtual asset pilots, stablecoin use cases, blockchain-based allied solutions, or tokenisation structures should engage early with PVARA through the regulatory sandbox, no-action relief letters, or the no-objection certificate process, and seek prior authorisation,” it said.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026

Chairing a review meeting to align Pakistan’s gemstone mining and processing sector with international standards and enhance exports, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also directed policy measures to boost gemstone exports by utilising domestic resources.

The premier said Pakistan had been blessed with abundant natural resources, including precious stones, and stressed that the sector has strong potential to increase exports by leveraging local resources.

The meeting was informed that three centres of excellence were being established to provide international-standard training in cutting, polishing, and preparing gemstones for use in jewellery.

Three excellence centres to boost processing standards

The prime minister stressed that transparency must remain a key element in the establishment of the centres of excellence.

Mr Sharif assigned the Ministry of Planning the task of formulating a comprehensive strategy to boost exports of processed gemstones. The ministry was expected to present the plan soon, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.

He also appreciated the efforts of his Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar and his team for promoting the development of the sector, terming their initiatives commendable.

Pieces of land had already been identified for the establishment of such centres in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, while work was underway to identify a site in Islamabad. The meeting was further informed that Pakistan would host its first international gemstone exhibition in July. Additionally, initiatives were underway in collaboration with Sri Lanka and China to train skilled manpower in specialised gemstone processing.

The officials also briefed the prime minister on measures taken by the ministry of petroleum to promote mining practices that minimise wastage. It was highlighted that joint projects were being launched in consultation with local communities, and around 1,000 individuals were being trained in internationally compliant mining techniques.

The prime minister was also briefed on the timelines and progress of the projects and he directed the ministry of planning to expedite the preparation of a comprehensive roadmap to increase exports from the sector.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026

Both main international oil contracts were up around three per cent, with Brent crude rising to near $109 a barrel as the crucial Strait of Hormuz waterway remained largely closed, though lingering hopes that a deal could eventually be reached tempered gains.

Equity investors were cautious, with Wall Street’s main indices down in late morning trading.

Europe’s main markets also ended the day lower, while Asian stocks were mixed. “It may be that hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough were pretty faint to start with, and markets are now in wait-and-see territory ahead of a heavy week of earnings and economic touchpoints,” said Derren Nathan, head of equity research at Hargreaves Lansdown.

With energy prices remaining high, the US Federal Reserve is expected to keep rates steady on Wednesday, followed by similar moves from the European Central Bank and Bank of England.

“There are no expectations of rate cuts from any of these central banks,” said Trade Nation.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026

In a letter to SBP Governor Jameel Ahmed on Monday, OCAC General Secretary Dr Syed Abbas Zaidi stated that “such a facility will continue to support industry in securing cargo efficiently and ensure the uninterrupted availability of petroleum products across the country”.

Last month, the SBP granted temporary permission for CIF-based imports for 60 days in view of the extraordinary geopolitical situation in the Middle East.

The council, while appreciating the decision, stated that the situation in the region remains volatile, with no meaningful de-escalation or restoration of normal shipping and insurance conditions.

The constraints highlighted earlier, particularly the limited availability and exorbitant cost of marine and war-risk insurance, coupled with the continued reluctance of shipowners and suppliers, still persist. Freight rates and war-risk premiums remain elevated, and the operational challenges in executing imports under C&F arrangements have not eased, it says.

With the circular’s validity set to expire on May 10, the oil industry anticipates considerable challenges in maintaining uninterrupted supply chains if the current relaxation is discontinued at this stage

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026

The ECC gave its approval after taking up a summary submitted by the Food Security Division. It approved a proposal for the disposal of existing inventory in accordance with export protocols.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb chaired the meeting. The chief economist briefed the participants on recent trends in key economic indicators, particularly price movements of essential commodities and overall inflation dynamics.

The meeting noted with satisfaction that “inflationary pressures are easing”, with prices of essential commodities declining and overall trends pointing towards “a gradual stabilisation” after recent volatility.

The presentation noted that inflationary pressures were showing “signs of moderation”, with emerging trends pointing toward “improved price stability”.

Weekly monitoring data reflects that, after a temporary uptick, the pace of increase in prices of essential items has slowed.

Technical supplementary grants

The ECC approved a number of proposals, including technical supplementary grants (TSGs) across ministries and divisions. These included Rs100 million to the Cannabis Control & Regulatory Authority (CCRA) for renovation of its facilities, Rs311m to the Balochistan government under the Finance Division to support an incentive package for federal government officials posted in provinces; Rs372m to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to support digital transformation and implementation of AI-based systems; and Rs30m to the Ministry of Inter- Provincial Coordination for grant of financial rewards to the national hockey team, which recently qualified for the World Cup.

PIA’s liabilities

The ECC discussed a summary submitted by the defence ministry regarding the allocation of Rs5.98 billion in favour of PIA Holding Company for settlement of liabilities of Pakistan International Airlines Corporation.

Out of the total amount, the ECC approved funding for reimbursement of medical and pension payments as well as for salary disbursements.

The ECC approved a summary submitted by the Commerce Division for amendments to the Import Policy Order in line with Pakistan’s commitments under International Labour Organisation conventions to introduce a prohibitory clause on import of goods produced through forced labour.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026

They argued that it came at a delicate stage when the country was recovering and stabilising amid the Middle East conflict.

They noted that even when inflation was on the lower side, the policy rate remained elevated at 10.5pc. The industry had repeatedly urged the central bank to bring it down to single digits, in line with regional benchmarks, but these appeals were ignored.

Offering a different view, Secretary General of the Overseas Investors Chambers of Commerce and Industry (OICCI), M. Abdul Aleem, told Dawn that the 100-bps hike was largely expected and necessary for the overall sustainability of the economy.

OICCI backs move, cites sustainability over manufacturing strain

While the OICCI is concerned about the increased financial pressure on the manufacturing and other key sectors, “we prioritise overall macroeconomic stability as the only sustainable path for the growth of the economy and for foreign investment”.

“We expect accelerated structural reforms — particularly in the energy sector and in tax-base broadening — to offset these rising capital costs and protect fragile industrial growth. Overall, challenging times lie ahead,” Mr Aleem said.

Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) President Atif Ikram Sheikh said the continued tightening of monetary policy would deal a crippling blow to the struggling industrial and export sectors, as Pakistan no longer needs contractionary, regressive monetary or fiscal policies.

A high-interest-rate environment fundamentally contradicts the government’s stated goals of economic revitalisation, export growth and job creation — rendering Pakistani products uncompetitive on regional and international markets, he said.

Industries simply cannot survive, let alone expand, under such an exorbitant cost of borrowing while competing with regional economies with much lower interest rates. He said the rate hike would only escalate the cost of doing business, choke private-sector credit even further, and potentiate the pressures of de-industrialisation.

FPCCI’s Senior Vice President Saquib Fayyaz Magoon said the decision would effectively shut the door on affordable access to finance for SMEs. With exorbitant energy tariffs and heavy compliance costs, this monetary tightening will push many manufacturers toward default or complete closures, making the Federal Board of Revenue’s ambitious revenue targets unachievable.

Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) President Muhammad Rehan Hanif said prior to the Middle East war, inflationary pressures were relatively subdued and well within a manageable range. Despite a slight rise in inflation due to geopolitical developments, this could not be a valid basis for tightening monetary policy.

“Under the prevailing circumstances, there was ample room for the SBP to maintain the status quo rather than resorting to an increase,” he said.

Several countries in the region, despite facing similar external shocks and geopolitical uncertainties, have maintained the policy rates between 5pc and 8pc to support economic activity and industrial growth, while Pakistan’s higher interest rate regime places its business and industrial sectors at a distinct disadvantage, Mr Hanif stressed.

SITE Association of Industry President Abdul Rahman Fudda said the increase in borrowing costs would further discourage investment and tighten already-constrained working capital cycles.

Inflationary pressures in Pakistan are primarily driven by supply-side constraints, exchange rate volatility, and administered price adjustments. Aggressive monetary tightening, he warned, risks exacerbating these challenges.

Mr Fudda said that hiking interest rates would send a negative signal to investors. Consistency and predictability in policy direction are critical for long-term investment planning.

Korangi Association of Trade and Industry President Muhammad Ikram Rajput said inflation cannot be controlled through interest rate hikes alone, and supply-side reforms, lower energy costs, and an improved business environment are also essential.

Current inflationary pressures are driven by high energy prices, taxes, and import costs, and can be addressed more effectively through administrative and policy measures rather than monetary tools, he said.

North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry President Faisal Moiz Khan pointed out that the single-digit interest rate in regional economies is eroding Pakistan’s industrial competitiveness and driving investors away.

High petroleum product prices have already driven up industrial production costs considerably, threatening manufacturers’ financial viability. The latest rate hike would add fuel to an already raging fire, Mr Khan said, adding that the export sector desperately needs relief during these turbulent times, but unfortunately, those hopes are fading.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: World military expenditure reached $2,887 billion in 2025, rising for an 11th straight year, while Pakistan’s military spending rose by 11 per cent to $11.9bn, according to new data published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

The report said global spending increased by 2.9pc in real terms over 2024, although the pace of growth slowed compared with the 9.7pc rise recorded a year earlier. The global military burden — measured as a share of gross domestic product (GDP) — climbed to 2.5pc, its highest level since 2009.

The United States, China and Russia remained the top three military spenders, accounting for a combined $1,480bn (51pc) of the global total. While US spending declined, increases across Europe and Asia drove overall growth.

“Global military spending rose again in 2025 as states responded to another year of wars, uncertainty and geopolitical upheaval with large-scale armament drives,” said Xiao Liang, a researcher with SIPRI’s Military Expenditure and Arms Production Programme.

Military spending in the United States fell by 7.5pc to $954bn, largely because no new military financial assistance for Ukraine was approved during the year.

This contrasted sharply with the previous three years, when $127bn in aid had been authorised. Despite the decline, the United States continued investing in nuclear and conventional capabilities to maintain dominance in the Western Hemisphere and deter China in the Indo-Pacific.

“The decline in US military expenditure in 2025 is likely to be short-lived,” SIPRI programme director Nan Tian said. “Spending approved by the US Congress for 2026 has risen to over $1 trillion and could rise further to $1.5tr in 2027 if President Donald Trump’s latest budget proposal is accepted.”

Europe recorded the sharpest regional increase, with military spending rising 14pc to $864bn. The surge was driven by continued war-related expenditures by Russia and Ukraine, as well as rearmament efforts among NATO members. Russia’s spending rose by 5.9pc to $190bn, while Ukraine increased its expenditure by 20pc to $84.1bn, equivalent to 40 pc of its GDP.

“In 2025, military expenditure as a share of government spending reached the highest level ever recorded in both Russia and Ukraine,” a SIPRI researcher Lorenzo Scarazzato said. He added that spending is likely to keep growing if the war continues.

NATO’s 29 European members spent a combined $559bn, with 22 countries meeting or exceeding the alliance’s 2pc of GDP benchmark. Germany led the increase, boosting its military spending by 24pc to $114bn, pushing its military burden above 2pc for the first time since 1990.

Asia and Oceania also saw significant growth, with spending rising 8.1pc to $681bn — the fastest increase since 2009. China, the world’s second-largest military spender, increased its expenditure by 7.4pc to $336bn, marking its 31st consecutive annual rise. Japan’s spending grew by 9.7pc to $62.2bn, while Taiwan recorded a 14pc increase amid heightened tensions.

“US allies in Asia and Oceania are spending more not only due to long-standing regional tensions but also because of growing uncertainty over U.S. support,” senior researcher Diego Lopes da Silva said.

In the Middle East, military expenditure remained relatively stable at $218bn, just 0.1pc higher than in 2024.

Israel’s spending fell by 4.9pc to $48.3bn following a reduction in the intensity of the Gaza conflict after a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, although it remained 97pc higher than in 2022. Turkey’s spending rose by 7.2pc to $30bn, while Iran’s expenditure declined by 5.6 pc to $7.4bn due to high inflation, despite a nominal increase.

“Despite recent conflicts, Iran’s military spending decreased in real terms due to economic difficulties,” said SIPRI resear­cher Zubaida Karim, noting that official figures likely understate actual spending.

Elsewhere, India increased its military spending by 8.9pc to $92.1bn, maintaining its position as the world’s fifth-largest spen­der. Saudi Arabia’s expenditure rose by 1.4pc to $83.2bn, ranking eighth globally.

Military spending in Africa grew by 8.5pc to $58.2bn, with Nigeria recording a sharp 55pc increase amid worsening insecurity. Guyana’s spending rose by 16pc due to tensions with Venezuela.

The SIPRI report underscores a continued global trend of rising military expenditure driven by conflict, insecurity and strategic competition, even as growth rates vary across regions.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026

WASHINGTON: Britain’s King Charles III began a state visit to the United States on Monday, even as transatlantic tensions simmer over the Iran war, and despite a shooting two days earlier at a dinner attended by his host, President Donald Trump.

The four-day trip by Charles and Queen Camilla is intended to honour historic ties between the two countries as the US marks its 250th anniversary, according to the British government. Charles will be the first British monarch to address Congress after his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, add­ressed lawmakers in 1991. He and Queen Camilla will have tea with Trump, attend a state dinner, visit the 9/11 memorial in New York on Wednesday, and then head to Bermuda on Thursday for his first visit to a British overseas territory as monarch.

Buckingham Palace confirmed the US visit would proceed despite the previous night’s gala shooting, with Charles “greatly relieved” that Trump, Melania, and other guests were unharmed.

Britain’s ambassador to the US, Christian Turner, assured that “all appropriate security measures are in place” following extensive discussions.

Controversy

Charles’s first US visit as monarch, requested by the UK government and President Trump, has stirred controversy due to tensions from the US-Iran war affecting London-Washington relations.

Trump criticised UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for opposing the war and his immigration and energy policies. They spoke by phone on Sunday with Starmer sending “best wishes” after the gala incident.

They also discussed resuming shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, crucial for the global economy and living costs worldwide, according to Starmer’s office.

Starmer has publicly criticised the war, but defended the state visit. An early April YouGov poll found 48 percent of Britons support cancelling it.

“Often what the monarchy is able to do, through the bonds that they build, is reach through the decades in a situation like this,” Starmer told MPs when asked why the trip was going ahead.

Trump told the BBC on Thursday the visit could “absolutely” help repair relations.

“He’s a friend of mine for a long time, so he’s coming, and we’re going to have a great time, and he represents his nation like nobody else can do it,” Trump told Fox News on Sunday.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026

The meeting comes amid reports that TTAP leaders, who are also the opposition leaders in the National Assembly and Senate, respectively, were not being involved in the decision-making process.

It took place at Mr Achakzai’s residence in Islamabad and was also attended by former NA speaker Asad Qaiser and TTAP leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar.

In a statement shared on X, TTAP spokesperson Hussain Ahmed Yousafzai said: “Upon the directives of PTI founder Imran Khan, CM Afridi had an important meeting with Mehmood Khan Achakzai at his residence.”

Opposition leaders agree to adopt joint strategy to address national issues

Mr Yousafzai added that during the meeting “detailed discussions were held on the health and medical treatment of former prime minister Imran Khan, concerns regarding his access to justice, restrictions on signing legal documents, the upcoming federal budget, the National Finance Commission [NFC] Award, provincial rights, the overall political situation in the country, and politically motivated cases”.

Joint strategy

“The meeting agreed on adopting a joint strategy to address national issues and emphasised the need to further strengthen coordination among opposition parties,” the spokesperson said.

During a public rally in Mardan last week, CM Afridi had reiterated that the PTI founder instructed him to consult Mr Achakzai and Mr Abbas in the decision-making process, adding that he would remain mindful of this.

Meanwhile, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram, while criticising Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan, said that the party had to “bring back” Mr Achakzai and Mr Abbas as they had become “disheartened”.

It is worth mentioning that both Mr Achakzai and Mr Abbas were nominated by Mr Khan as the opposition leaders in the National Assembly and Senate. The PTI founder had also instructed his party leadership to consult both of them and mandated them to hold talks with the government.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026

GAZA: Palestinians are using war rubble to repave streets destroyed during Israel’s assault on Gaza, crushing concrete and metal into pavement under a UN-run project they hope will mark a first step toward rehabilitating their damaged cities.

The project run by the United Nations Development Programme comes as progress stalls in US President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan, meant to build on an October Israel-Hamas ceasefire by surging aid and rebuilding the enclave from scratch. It marks a bid by the UN and Palestinians to use locally available machinery to clear mountains of rubble that officials say is blocking access to water wells and hospitals and making it difficult to get the economy going again.

Crushing and reusing rubble

Alessandro Mrakic, head of UNDP’s Gaza office, said the territory faces one of the largest post-war clearance challenges in memory with an estimated 61 million tons of rubble.

“Beyond the collection [of rubble], we have started sorting, we have started crushing, and, as such, reusing it,” Mrakic said. “We have used almost the same amount that we have collected.” Mrakic said UNDP teams, staffed by Palestinian workers, were using the rubble “to rehabilitate roads and pave areas for shelter and community kitchens”.

In Khan Yunis in southern Gaza, Palestinians were operating heavy machinery to tear through mountains of destroyed concrete, sending plumes of dust into the air as workers picked through the twisted steel and rubble of damaged buildings.

Progress is being slowed by dangers hidden beneath the debris, officials say. Before rubble can be removed, sites must be checked for unexploded ordnance, in coordination with the UN’s mine service.

For Palestinian workers, the risks are tangible.

“I can’t find any other source of income, that is why I do this work. [You] could get hurt,” said Ibrahim al-Sarsawi, 32. He said the work site’s location near the Israel-Hamas armistice line meant he could be exposed to stray Israeli fire.

‘Tip of the iceberg’

Gaza rubble clearance could take seven years to complete, UNDP says, assuming accelerated, unimpeded access for heavy machinery and consistent fuel supplies, which are generally scarce in Gaza under Israeli restrictions.

Israel cites security concerns for its restrictions in Gaza, where it launched its assault following Hamas-led raid on October 7, 2023. The UNDP has so far removed about 287,000 tons of rubble — but that is just the “tip of the iceberg”, according to Mrakic.

Recovery and reconstruction in the tiny territory will require $71.4 billion over the next decade, according to a final Gaza Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment released this month by the European Union, United Nations, and World Bank.

“The war is over, but [this] is the beginning of a new war,” said Sobhi Dawoud, 60, a displaced Palestinian living in a tent encampment in Khan Yunis.

This “new war”, he added, is one “of reconstruction, the beginning of removing the rubble, and [fixing] infrastructure”.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026

Any such inquiry could have serious implications for Starmer’s future. If the prime minister is found to have knowingly misled par­­­liament, his position would likely become untenable.

House of Commons Spe­aker Lindsay Hoyle said he approved a request from opposition Conser­vative Party leader Kemi Bade­noch for a debate and vote on whether the Committee of Privileges should investigate the matter.

The controversy stems from Starmer’s decision to hire Mandelson, who was fired last September after his relationship with the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was found to be deeper than previously known.

The incident has raised doubts about Starmer’s judgement, particularly after it was revealed a security vetting body was leaning against granting clearance for the appointment — a decision foreign ministry officials overruled without telling the prime minister.

A spokesperson from Starmer’s office described the push for a vote as a “des­­perate political stunt” ahe­ad of local elections on May 7.

The government also published a letter from a former senior civil servant saying he concluded “that appropriate processes were followed”. If approved, the inquiry would focus on Starmer’s statements that due process was followed when hiring Mandelson.

The same committee found that former prime minister Boris Johnson had knowingly misled parliament over parties held during Covid, a report that pre­­­c­eded his resignation.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026

LONDON/TEHRAN: Amid the US-Iran conflict that led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, only seven ships, mostly dry bulk vessels, crossed the vital maritime route in one day compared to an average of 140 ships that used to pass through the strait before the US-Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb 28.

The vessels included ships leaving from Iraqi ports and one dry bulk vessel from an Iranian port, according to ship-tracking data from Kpler and separate satellite analysis from data analytics specialists SynMax.

“Iran has attacked and detained ships for not adhering to its required transit requirements, while the US has continued to enforce its blockade,” ship broker Clarksons said in a note on Monday.

The US Central Command has redirected 37 vessels since a blockade was imposed on Iran on April 13, the military said. Six Iranian tankers returned to Iranian ports and sailed back through Hormuz in recent days with some 10.5 million barrels of oil, according to satellite analysis from TankerTrackers.com. The US military has not provided a complete breakdown of the type of ships it has diverted or the precise location of the interceptions.

However, two tankers carrying around four million barrels of Iranian oil managed to sail past the blockade on April 24 bound for Asia, the data from TankerTrackers.com showed. But their fate was uncertain. Analysts said US forces have been diverting Iran-linked ships as far east as the Malacca Strait, so it is unclear whether those cargoes will reach buyers or be intercepted and redirected back to Iran.

‘Hostile vessels’ in Hormuz

Meanwhile, Iran asserted its ownership over Hormuz, with a top official saying that Iran’s armed forces would be the authority responsible for the Strait of Hormuz under the country’s proposed law for managing the waterway.

Ebrahim Azizi, head of the national security commission in Iran’s parliament, told state television that the armed forces were already in control of the strait and were seeking to prohibit the passage of “hostile vessels”. He also said the proposed law states that financial gains from the strait should be paid in the local rial currency.

The UN chief, however, asked both sides to open the energy route. “I appeal to the parties: open the strait. Let ships pass. No tolls. No discrimination. Let trade resume. Let the global economy breathe,” Antonio Guterres said, addressing a high-level UN Security Council debate on maritime security.

UAE lambastes neighbours

Meanwhile, a senior United Arab Emirates official criticised its Gulf allies over their response to Iranian retaliatory attacks in the region following the Israeli-US strikes that launched the Middle East war.

Presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said the Gulf states had supported each other logistically in the crisis, but he lambasted their political and military response.

“The GCC’s stance was the weakest historically, considering the nature of the attack and the threat it posed to everyone,” he said, referring to the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council.

Tehran fired hundreds of missiles and drones at the GCC nations — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE — after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28.

The UAE, which has been the most heavily targeted country, has adopted a more forceful tone towards Iran, while its neighbours appear more measured.

Likewise, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz rebuked Donald Trump for having no exit strategy, saying that Iran’s leadership was humiliating the US and getting officials to travel to Pakistan, and then leave without results.

“The Iranians are obviously very skilled at negotiating, or rather, very skilful at not negotiating, letting the Americans travel to Islamabad and then leave again without any result,” he said during remarks in the town of Marsberg.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Pakis­tan and China on Monday signed three memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to strengthen bilateral cooperation in water desalination, agricultural technology, and the tea industry.

President Asif Ali Zard­ari, who is on a week-long visit to China until May 1, witnessed the signing of the MoUs between Pakist­ani and Chinese entities. The MoUs reflect a focused effort to advance practical collaboration in key sectors.

The first MoU was concluded between the Sindh local government and Lucion Environmental Technology Group for collaboration on a seawater desalination project in Karachi, aimed at increasing the city’s water supply.

The MoU was signed by Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon and Lucion Group’s Chairman Yuhui, also the secretary of the Party Branch.

Mr Memon also signed an MoU between the Sindh local government and Long Ping Hi-tech Inf­o­rmation Company for coo­peration in agricultural technology with the firm’s chairman, Chen Zhixin.

The third MoU was signed between Meskay & Femtee Trading Company, Hunan Tea Group and Jiaolong International Tec­h­nology (Hainan) to promote cooperation acr­oss all areas of the industry, with a view to supporting the development of the tea industry in both countries and strengthening economic, trade and people-to-people ties.

The MoU was signed from the Pakistani side by Senator Saleem Mandvi­walla and from the Chi­nese side by Hunan Tea Group Chairman Zhou Chon­gwang and Hao Jiaolong, Chairman of Hainan Jiaolong Intern­ational Trade Technology.

MNA Naveed Qamar, Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Asif Hyder Shah, and Pakistan’s Amb­assador to China Khalil Hashmi were also present on the occasion.

President confers award

Separately, President Zardari conferred the Sitara-i-Pakistan award on Professor Pan Xiangbin in Changsha, “recognising his contributions to cardiac care, including treatment of Pakistani children with congenital heart disease and training of local medical professionals”, the Presi­dency said.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: The Indus River Basin, the lifeline of Pa­­k­­­istan, is facing a looming thr­eat of water scarcity, as snow cover across the Hindu Kush-Himalaya (HKH) region has fallen to 27.8 per cent below the long-term average, thus pos­ing an immediate and escalating threat to water security for nearly two billion people who depend on the 12 major bas­ins originating in the region.

The decline in snow cover has broken last year’s record low and marks the fourth consecutive year of below-normal snow persistence, according to the Snow Update Report 2026 released by the International Centre for Integrated Moun­tain Develo­pment (ICIMOD). Snow persistence has been bel­ow normal in 10 of the 12 major river basins in the HKH reg­ion, including the Indus Basin.

The report reveals that the Indus Basin continues to experience a reduction in snow per­­­s­istence by 18pc. This ste­ady decline in seasonal snow, combined with below-normal spring precipitation, may lead to reduced runoff, increased groundwater extraction, and heightened risks of drought across the region.

From a high of 19.5pc in 2020, the Indus Basin saw a sharp drop to 24.5pc below normal in 2024 — the lowest level recorded in the past 24 years. The deficit persists in 2026, rec­orded at 18.1pc below normal. This decline is likely to exacerbate early summer water scarcity in a basin where nearly half of runoff co­mes from meltwater. It threatens almost 300 million people and underscores the need for stronger water management strategies, the report warns.

The persistent decline signals a systemic collapse of seasonal snow reserves across the world’s highest mountain ran­ge, posing an escalating thr­eat to water security for nearly two billion people depe­n­dent on HKH river basins. Ten of these basins now have below-normal snow persistence, with the Me­­k­ong, Tarim, and Tibe­tan Plat­eau recording their lowest levels in 24 years of monitoring.

These conditions are alarming for downstream water availability in early summer.

Water management

The ICIMOD has recommended that authorities prepare adaptive water management strategies and strengthen drought preparedness. Early warning systems, optimised water allocation, and coordinated efforts among agencies will be critical in mitigating the impact of potential shortages. The report also calls for effective drought response mechanisms to ensure timely relief and sustained water supply in snow-dependent regions of South Asia.

The HKH region relies heavily on the cryosphere, frozen water on the Earth’s surface, as a key source of freshwater for over two billion people. On average, snowmelt contributes around 23 pc of total river runoff in the region, with its share increasing from east to west.

Seasonal snowmelt is crucial for water availability. Snowmelt contributes significantly to runoff in the Amu Darya (74.5pc), Helmand (77.5pc), Indus (39.7pc), and Tarim (23.9pc).

“What we are seeing is a persistent trend where the seasonal snow reservoir is shrinking year after year,” said Sher Muhammad, author of the HKH Snow Update 2026. “The 2026 data confirm a breaking point: 10 out of 12 basins are below normal, and several have reached their lowest recorded levels in two decades.”

Farmers in the Indus, Helmand, and Amu Darya basins are likely to face irrigation shortfalls during early growing seasons. Hydropower operators in the Mekong, Yangtze, which is home to the Three Gorges Dam, and Brahmaputra should anticipate below-normal generation in early summer.

Compounding the crisis, consecutive low-snow years have hindered groundwater and soil moisture replenishment, increasing vulnerability to future droughts. “Every dry spell will hit harder,” the report warns. “Regional cooperation on these interconnected issues has now become urgent. We need to shift from emergency response to proactive, science-based governance.”

Only two basins, the Ganges and Irrawaddy, recorded above-normal snow persistence, while severe deficits persist in the Mekong, the Tibetan Plateau, and the Salween.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026

LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly on Monday passed the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2026 with a majority vote, without incorporating an amendment seeking the annulment by a court of a child marriage consummated after abduction and/or forced conversion of the victim.

A heated debate erupted in the house after lawmakers were asked to pass the key bill without being provided copies, prompting strong objections from Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari, who termed the situation “unprecedented” and demanded transparency in the legislative process.

Raising the issue on the house floor, Ms Bokhari said it was the first time members had been seated in the assembly without receiving copies of a bill under consideration. She stressed that it was essential for all lawmakers to be fully informed before any legislation is passed.

Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan subsequently directed that copies of the bill be immediately distributed among members.

The controversy arose during deliberations on the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2026, which was later passed by a majority vote. The bill, presented by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, sought to raise the legal age of marriage to 18 years.

Ms Bokhari expressed concern that she had neither received the bill, nor been informed of its amend­­ments. She argued that both mental and physical maturity should be considered before marriage and emphasised the need for proper documentation, such as national identity cards or birth certificates, to verify age.

During the debate, ruling party member Zulfiqar Ali Shah suggested that individuals under 18 should be allowed to marry with court permission, a proposal that triggered strong protest from Ms Bokhari.

Mr Shah also urged lawmakers not to place legislation above societal values and raised concerns about moral implications if early marriages were entirely rest­ricted.

Ms Bokhari countered by highlighting the risks faced by young girls, stating that many are married off without understanding the consequences. She criticised practices where girls are used to settle disputes and questioned whether women should continue to bear the burden of societal injustices.

Referring to legal precedents, she noted that the Federal Shariat Court had encouraged similar legislation passed by the Sindh Assembly.

Following extensive debate by both treasury and opposition members, the bill was approved with a majority vote, marking a significant step toward curbing child marriages in Punjab.

The House also passed an amendment to the bill, making the best interests of the child a primary consideration in all actions under the law — from investigation and prosecution to bail, sentencing, and protective custody.

Moved by MPA Ijaz Augustine and co-signed by 13 members from both treasury and opposition benches, the amendment marks a rare moment of cross-party consensus on child protection.

The amendment provides that no child shall be treated as an offender merely for being a contracting party to a child marriage, and that a child’s statement or purported consent to reside with the adult contracting party shall not be determinative of where the child has been taken, enticed, coerced, or trafficked.

It further clarifies that the voluntary consent of a person below 18 shall not, by itself, oust the protective jurisdiction of the court — a provision long sought by child rights advocates, who have highlighted how findings of “willing” consent often undermine trafficking and abduction prosecutions.

However, another important amendment — which sought to allow courts to declare void a marriage consummated after the abduction of an underage child — was not adopted, as its movers, including Tariq Masih and Ayesha Javed, withdrew the motion after opposition from Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman.

UNFPA congratulates Punjab govt

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) congratulated the provincial government on the promulgation of the “landmark Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Ordinance 2026”.

Lauding Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s “decisive political will and visionary leadership”, it said the ordinance “further strengthens Punjab’s protective framework for its most vulnerable children especially girls”.

“The passage of this ordinance is a milestone, but the real work begins now. The ordinance is already operative — and this window before permanent enactment is precisely the decisive moment both for the legal reform followed by its implementation.”

Lending support to the provincial government’s efforts, it added that the agency is pleased to “share all knowledge products developed including policy briefs, advocacy notes, and infographics”.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026