Author: newsdesk

  • ‘Babar is our batting leader, no one will challenge his position’: Shan Masood

    ‘Babar is our batting leader, no one will challenge his position’: Shan Masood

    Pakistan Test team captain Shan Masood has said that former captain Babar Azam, is an excellent batsman and the team’s batting leader, stressing that, “No one will challenge his batting position,” as the team readies for departure to Australia.

    While addressing a press conference in Lahore, Shan Masood said, “The Australian series is a challenge for all of us, the World Test Championship has started, and we are off to a good start and will try to play the final.”

    Regarding his return to the team, Shan Masood said, “I was dropped after the tour of New Zealand, It took me time to come back. I am back after a year and a half but I tried to contribute whenever I got a chance.”

    He said, “Playing for Pakistan is a big thing, captaining is even bigger but captaincy is a temporary thing, we should try to play well by showing responsibility, and we will try to perform well in Australia. Our team is not a brand-new team, it’s a balanced team.”

    Stating that Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafiq are playing well together, Masood said he plays at number three domestically. Talking about Saim Ayub, the captain said he is a talented youngster, his batting approach is excellent.

    The captain of the national team said. “We will take responsibility for the results, and we will improve what is not going well, there is criticism but we will definitely see constructive criticism.”

    Shan Masood said, “Captaining Multan Sultans in the presence of Andy Flower was the turning point for me and captaining Derbyshire also gave me a lot of experience.”

    On the question about Babar Azam, the captain of the national team said “The relationship with Babar Azam has always been good, we have been playing together for a long time, me and Babar have a very good understanding, Babar Azam is our batting leader.

    “Sarfraz Ahmed has been a successful captain, I have played a lot of cricket with Sarfaraz Ahmed and it is very good to have him in the team. The combination will be decided according to the conditions there.”

    Shaan Masood said, “Not having Naseem Shah is a big loss for us, I wish that Haris Rauf would also be a part of the team with us but he is not available.”

  • Why is #ElonToGaza trending on Twitter?

    Why is #ElonToGaza trending on Twitter?

    #ElonToGaza is one of the top trends on Twitter right now, appearing on the microblogging site after Elon Musk’s visit to Israel.

    The billionaire tycoon and owner of X (former Twitter), having made a number of controversial statements about the Gaza situation, went to Israel and met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Herzog. The tour took place after one of his tweets, dubbed anti-semitic by critics, went viral on social media. The contents of the tweet promoted the conspiracy theory that white people in the West are being “replaced” through immigration from the Global South with the help of progressive Jews – “the actual truth”.

    Details of the visit

    Accompanied by Prime Minister Netanyahu, the tech billionaire also visited a kibbutz that was raided by Hamas fighters on October 7, during an assault that left 1,200 people dead. He was also shown footage of the Hamas attack and met some of the families of people taken into captivity from Israel.

    Elon’s Twitter Space with Netanyahu

    “It was jarring to see the scene of the massacre,” said Musk later in an X Spaces conversation with Netanyahu, adding Israel has “no choice” but to eliminate Hamas.
    In the brief life-streamed conversation on X, Musk and Netanyahu agreed that Hamas needs to be eradicated. “You first have to get rid of the poisonous regime as you did in Germany, as you did in Japan. Yeah, in World War II,” said Netanyahu. Musk replied, “There’s no choice. There’s no choice.”

    Israeli President Isaac Herzog told Musk during a meeting that he had a huge role to play in the global fight against anti-Semitism.“We have to do whatever is necessary to stop the hate,” Musk replied, according to a statement released by Herzog’s office.

    Despite the fact that the Israeli Prime Minister condemned Musk for the tweet, he welcomed the visit by stating that Musk’s visit to Israel points to his solidarity with Israel.

    Purpose of the visit

    Musk reached an agreement with Israel “in principle” that internet access to Gaza may be provided through Starlink, but only using units operated by Israel and with the approval of the Israeli Ministry of Communications.

    In October, CEO Musk said that “Starlink will support connectivity to internationally recognised aid organisations in Gaza.”

    As Gaza plunged into darkness after its communications blackout in October, social media users pleaded with Musk to provide the besieged Gaza Strip with internet access through Starlink.

    Musk was prompted to provide internet connection in Ukraine through Starlink as it uses satellite and not cables to provide internet. People accused him of having “double standards” when it comes to Gaza where a brutal war is being inflicted by Israel. Even Israel has previously opposed Starlink connectivity for Gaza, contesting that Hamas would use it for “terrorist activities”.

    Now netizens are questioning Elon for not visiting Gaza despite the destruction and death that has befallen innocent civilians there.

    Hamas has also sent an invitation to Elon Musk.

  • Administrative oversights, thefts lead to millions in losses for Pakistan Steel Mills

    Administrative oversights, thefts lead to millions in losses for Pakistan Steel Mills

    In the fiscal year 2020–21, Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM), under state ownership, faced a significant financial setback, recording a staggering loss of Rs164.4 million.  

    The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) brought attention to the root causes behind this substantial financial downturn in its recently issued financial report for PSM. 

    Administrative negligence emerged as a primary factor contributing to the massive loss, with Rs164.4 million attributed to this oversight.  

    Furthermore, instances of theft exacerbated the financial strain, with stolen copper, brass, electric instruments, and cable resulting in a cumulative loss exceeding Rs6.49 million for the steel mills. 

    According to ARY News, the AGP’s report highlighted additional incidents of theft, including the disappearance of electricity poles, three high-tension (HT) wires of considerable value, a 132-KV transmission line, and tracks designated for freight trains.  

    The lapses in security arrangements by the PSM administration were underscored as a critical failure contributing to these losses. 

    Compounding the financial challenges, the report revealed that the PSM incurred a Rs5.62 million loss due to the unauthorised hiring of services from retired officers.  

    This improper utilisation of funds further strained the already precarious financial position of the state-owned entity. 

    Moreover, the PSM faced an additional financial setback of Rs4.33 million in terms of insurance services provided by a private company.  

    This multi-faceted financial downturn highlighted various areas where the PSM faced challenges, ranging from administrative oversights to security lapses and questionable financial decisions. 

  • Three new foreign coaches appointed for Pakistan cricket team

    Three new foreign coaches appointed for Pakistan cricket team

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the names of the Pakistan team management and coaching staff for the tour of Australia, after Mickey Arthur and his team departed following a dismal World Cup tour.

    The PCB has appointed three foreign coaches for the tour of Australia, namely, Adam Hollioake as Batting Coach, Simon Grant Helmot as High-Performance Coach, and Drikus Saaiman as strength and conditioning coach/Trainer.

    The Pakistan cricket team will leave for Down Under on November 30, where they will play a three-match test series. The first Test between Pakistan and Australia will be played in Perth from December 14 to 18. The second Test will be played in Melbourne from December 26 to 30, while Sydney will host the third Test from January 3 to 7.

  • On this day: International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

    On this day: International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

    November 29 is the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, observed by the United Nations every year.

    On this day, back in 1947, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution known as the Partition Resolution (Resolution 181), calling for the establishment of an Arab state and a Jewish state with Jerusalem as a separate body under a special international regime.

    This, however, never became a reality and only Israel was created as a free entity.

    Israel took over East Jerusalem and the West Bank in 1967 even though the Old City under the occupation is religiously significant for Muslims, Christians alongside Jews. While Israel has declared the annexation of East Jerusalem in 1980, the international community deems it an occupied territory to-date whereas Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of the state they are fighting for.

    In 1977, on November 29, the UN General Assembly adopted an official observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

  • Amir and Imad refused to play for Pakistan, claims Muhammad Hafeez

    Amir and Imad refused to play for Pakistan, claims Muhammad Hafeez

    Pakistan cricket team’s Director, former batsman Muhammad Hafeez, has revealed that he personally called fast bowlers Muhammad Amir and Imad Wasim but both refused to play for Pakistan again.

    “The first priority of centrally contracted players is availability for the country, Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir were also contacted but they were not available,” Hafeez said in press conference.

    He stated that Imad Wasim had not signed the central contract, so Hafeez called him and told him, “You are in our plan and we want you to represent Pakistan. He took time and replied two days later that he was not available for the tour of New Zealand, while two days after this message he announced his retirement from international cricket.”

    Hafeez then elaborated that he called fast bowler. Muhammad Amir and said that he wants to play for Pakistan, he should withdraw his retirement and play domestically and join the team after performing well. “I told Amir that you would be given equal opportunities, to which he refused and replied that I have moved on in life and think it is better to play international leagues instead of Pakistan team. Everyone including Ahmed Shahzad and Mohammad Zahid both are in our mind, everyone should wait for their turn in a positive manner, everyone will get a chance, no injustice will be done to anyone. I understand everything, I will definitely respond to criticism.”

    Calling the Australia tour “challenging”, Hafeez stressed that the team is ready for it. “Players will give the best results in Australia. All are eager to give a good performance, a clear mindset will bring better results,” he observed.

    He said that the job of the team director is to make a plan and the support staff to follow it, there is no need for a head coach in this setup.

  • Senior media manager quits PCB; joins Multan Sultans

    Senior media manager quits PCB; joins Multan Sultans

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) media manager Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi resigned from his position and has joined the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Multan Sultans.

    Ahsan shared a post on X (former Twitter) on Tuesday stating, “After working at the Pakistan Cricket Board for around 4.5 years, I have decided to move on. It has been an incredible journey, which provided me fabulous opportunities to witness how the game actually works, learn tricks of the trade by being right in the middle of the storm, and witness some historic and iconic developments.

    Getting to don the star has been a great honour and privilege for me. As it is the case in the role I worked in, I have had good and some not-so- good days. The high-pressure environments and last-minute crisis made the job super exciting, and I always made sure to deliver with dignity, integrity and by upholding the moral values which I hold dear to me.
    This note would be incomplete if I do not thank my colleagues at the board and the subsequent Pakistan teams – both men’s and women’s. They really turned this into a wonderful experience”.

    Ahsan has now joined Multan Sultans as the Head of Media and Communications.

    It is pertinent to mention that earlier during the World Cup 2023, Muhammad Rizwan dedicated the win against Sri Lanka to the victims in Gaza that stirred debate. Former cricketer Rashid Latif claims Rizwan faced pressure from authorities to delete the tweet which he refused to do leading to the dismissal of Media Manager Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi, who was replaced by Umer Kalson. Kalson, the incoming media manager following Nagi’s departure, was already under investigation for his visit to a casino during an official trip to Colombo.

  • Honda unveils its first electric bike in Pakistan 

    Honda unveils its first electric bike in Pakistan 

    Atlas Honda has revealed its first electric motorcycle, the Honda ‘BENLY e’, during a ceremony at the Sheikhupura plant to mark the company’s 60th year of operation in Pakistan. 

    Although the company did not specify the rollout date, Noriaki Abe, Chief Officer of Motorcycle and Power Products at Atlas Honda, announced that the Honda BENLY e will undergo test marketing. 

    The launch event emphasised the company’s commitment to delivering quality products based on market feedback. 

    Abe highlighted the integral role Honda products play in the daily lives of many Pakistanis, noting the significant contributions of the joint venture between Atlas Group and Honda Motor Company since 1963. 

    Meanwhile, Shinji Aoyama, Executive Vice President and COO of Honda Motor Company, expressed Honda’s readiness for the evolving mobility industry. 

    Saquib H. Shirazi, President and CEO of Atlas Honda, shared insights into the company’s achievements, including a 95 per cent localisation of its product line and the development of an extensive network of local auto parts manufacturers and dealers, generating employment for over 150,000 individuals. 

    Despite challenges in the motorcycle industry, such as a 5 per cent month-on-month and 11 per cent year-on-year decline in sales in October, Atlas Honda Limited reported a remarkable 152 per cent increase in net profit for the first quarter of the fiscal year 2023–24. 

    The growth was attributed to robust sales and additional income. Overall, motorcycle sales for the first four months of the fiscal year experienced a 10 per cent year-on-year decline to 371,000 units, influenced by higher bike prices and reduced consumer purchasing power. 

  • Pakistani rupee predicted to decline to Rs350 against US dollar in 2024

    Pakistani rupee predicted to decline to Rs350 against US dollar in 2024

    According to BMI, a Fitch Solutions Company, the Pakistani rupee is expected to depreciate to as low as Rs350 against the US dollar by the end of 2024. Similarly, Topline Securities Ltd., a brokerage firm, predicts a fall to Rs324. 

    Despite government efforts to combat smuggling and speculation, the local currency has already experienced a 20 per cent devaluation against the dollar, with analysts predicting a continued decline, as reported by Bloomberg. 

    John Ashbourne, a global economist at BMI in London, remarked, “This appears to be a currency that is set to adjust downwards.” 

    “It will be very hard in the long term to convince people to use the official rate if parallel markets offer more value for a dollar,” added Ashbourne. 

    He further stated, “The authorities can push against the tide for a certain amount of time, but they are not able to do that sustainably.” 

    As of Tuesday, the local unit closed at Rs285.52 against the dollar in the interbank market. 

    According to experts, Pakistan’s currency is poised to conclude 2023 as Asia’s worst-performing country in terms of currency performance. 

    In a temporary recovery effort in September, when the rupee was at a record low of Rs300, the caretaker set-up initiated aggressive measures against the illegal purchase and sale of the greenback at a premium exchange rate. 

    However, experts caution that this recovery is expected to be short-lived. 

  • Saudi Arabia lifts age limit, restores pre-COVID Hajj quota for Pakistani pilgrims 

    Saudi Arabia has granted approval to Pakistan’s request, ensuring equal quotas for all private Hajj tour operators during the upcoming pilgrimage scheduled to take place between June 26 and July 1, 2024.

    Saudi Arabia has reinstated Pakistan’s pre-coronavirus Hajj quota, allowing 179,210 pilgrims, and has lifted the previous age limit of 65 years for pilgrimage.

    Anticipating the participation of approximately 90,000 Pakistani pilgrims under the government scheme, an equal number will opt for private tour operators to fulfil this religious obligation.

    The revised scheme for private Hajj operators entails the formation of 180 groups, each comprising 500 people.

    Each private Hajj operator is now permitted to facilitate 100 pilgrims, resulting in diverse groups of pilgrims utilising services from five different operators.

    In a separate announcement, applications for Hajj 2024 under the government scheme are open from November 27 to December 12, 2023. Notably, there are no age restrictions for Hujjaj (pilgrims), and all applicants must possess a valid CNIC and a Machine-Readable Passport valid until December 16, 2024. Additionally, possessing a mandatory bank account is a prerequisite for all applicants.

    Pakistan is currently in talks with airlines to lower airfares for Hajj flights. Simultaneously, negotiations are ongoing with a mobile company to digitize Hajj 2024 through a dedicated cellphone app, showcasing efforts to enhance accessibility and streamline the pilgrimage experience.