Author: newsdesk

  • Pakistan trounces New Zealand, scores 500th ODI win

    Pakistan trounces New Zealand, scores 500th ODI win

    Pakistan defeated New Zealand by five wickets on Thursday night at the Rawalpindi Pindi Cricket Stadium to register their 500th One-Day International (ODI) victory, becoming the third team in the world to achieve the feat.

    The landmark was achieved after the Green Shirts played 949 50-over matches.

    Pakistan has won 92 ODIs against Sri Lanka, 73 against India, 63 against West Indies, 57 against New Zealand, 54 against Zimbabwe, 34 against Australia, 32 against England, and 32 against Bangladesh.

    Apart from Pakistan, Australia has won 594 50-over matches in 978 fixtures, while India has secured victories in 539 matches in 1,029 fixtures.

    Pakistan was able to register its 500th win with the help of Fakhar Zaman’s blistering knock in the run chase.

    Needing 289 to win, the opening pair of Fakhar and Imam-ul-Haq provided a solid 124-run opening stand. Imam was soon dispatched after scoring his 15th ODI half-century.

    He was trapped leg-before by Ish Sodhi in the 22nd over for 60 after facing 65 balls, which included five fours and one six. After Imam’s departure, Captain Babar Azam and Fakhar got together to add 90 runs for the second wicket and during the course of the partnership player of the match Fakhar also scored his ninth ODI century in the 35th over.

    Babar, who was all set to score big tonight, missed out on his 25th half-century and got caught behind off the bowling of Adam Milne for 49 off 46 balls in the 36th over.

    The top ODI batter in the ICC rankings struck three fours and a six at a strike-rate of 106.52. Milne went on to pick Shan Masood (1, 12b) in the 38th over to put pressure back on the home side, as suddenly the required run-rate climbed to six runs an over with 12 overs remaining. But Fakhar and Rizwan struck five boundaries and a six between them in the next three overs to bring the required rate back to under-five an over.

    Right-arm fast Naseem Shah was the most economical bowler for the hosts, as he gave away only 29 runs off 10 overs and took two wickets – both on the final two balls of the innings.

    Match Highlights
    Pakistan beat New Zealand by five wickets

    New Zealand 288-7, 50 overs (Daryl Mitchell 113, Will Young 86; Naseem Shah 2-29, Shaheen Shah Afridi 2-63, Haris Rauf 2-65)

    Pakistan 291-5, 48.3 overs (Fakhar Zaman 117, Imam-ul-Haq 60, Babar Azam 49, Mohammad Rizwan 42 not out; Adam Milne 2-60)

    Player of the match – Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan)

  • US urges Pakistan to implement IMF reforms as economic crisis deepens

    The United States has urged Pakistan to take urgent action to implement the necessary reforms required by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to address the country’s rising economic crisis. Inflation has been a major issue for Pakistan, and discussions between the two parties have been ongoing since January to find a consensus on multiple conditions before signing a deal that includes external financing from friendly nations.

    Elizabeth Horst, the State Department official in charge of Pakistan, stressed the importance of Pakistan’s compliance with the IMF’s agreed-upon reforms to ensure the country’s financial stability and avoid falling further into debt. She emphasised that although the reforms may not be easy, they are essential for the growth of Pakistan’s economy.

    Horst also expressed the US government’s concern over Pakistan’s economic situation and promised support for the country, particularly in policy, business, and transparency. She pointed out that the trade relationship between the two countries is already worth over nine billion dollars and will continue to increase.

    Highlighting the close cooperation between the US and Pakistan in areas such as trade and investment, climate change, and security, Horst revealed that the Pakistan-US Green Alliance has been initiated to further enhance these relations. She emphasised the importance of Pakistan’s sovereignty and that it is free to make its own choices.

    The State Department official also emphasised that both countries are working together to ensure regional security, counter-terrorism, and counter-narcotics. She expressed concern over the rising number of terrorist incidents in Pakistan and stressed the importance of continuing cooperation between the two countries to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a haven for terrorists.

    Horst concluded by stating that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan is in the interest of both Pakistan and the US. She emphasised the importance of pushing the Taliban to fulfill their promises for peace and stability, as thousands of lives have already been affected by terrorism.

  • Here are the winners from the 68th Filmfare Awards

    Here are the winners from the 68th Filmfare Awards

    The 68th annual Fimfare awards took place yesterday with several A-listers like Alia Bhatt, Vicky Kaushal gracing the red carpet and Salman Khan playing host. Some of the biggest winners of the night were ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ and Baddhai Do, the two films that walked away with the most awards. Here is a list of all the winners from last night:

    Best Actress: Alia Bhatt for Gangubai Kathiawadi

    Best Actor: Rajkummar Rao for ‘Badhaai Do’

    Best Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali for ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’

    Best Actor In Supporting Role: Anil Kapoor in ‘Jug Jug Jeeyo’

    Best Actress in Supporting Role: Sheeba Chaddha in ‘Badhaai Do’

    Best Screenplay: Akshat Ghildial, Suman Adhikary and Harshavardhan Kulkarni for Badhaai Do

    Best Dialogue: Prakash Kapadia and Utkarshini Vashishtha for Gangubai Kathiawadi

  • Country could face constitutional crisis if elections not held on May 14, warns Imran Khan

    Country could face constitutional crisis if elections not held on May 14, warns Imran Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan appeared before Islamabad High Court on Friday to seek bail in a case pertaining to allegations against top officers of state institutions and inciting mutiny. The court approved Imran Khan’s interim bail till May 3.

    During an informal conversation with journalists after appearing at the Islamabad High Court, Imran Khan expressed concerns that if the upcoming elections were not held on May 14 as scheduled, it could result in a constitutional crisis.

    He stated that a failure to hold elections in a timely manner would amount to a violation of the constitution, suggesting that if the constitution were to be breached, the outcome would be determined by whoever was the strongest.

    Imran further said that any discussion of elections in September or October would be pointless. He emphasised that the government should take action and hold elections as soon as possible, as the constitution should always take precedence over the parliament. The responsibility of holding timely elections now rests with the government, the former Prime Minister observed.

    On Thursday evening, Imran Khan tweeted that a “bizarre” FIR has been registered against him because of “Tauheen-i-Dirty Harry and Tayheen-i-Psycopath”.

    It is pertinent to mention that Khan has often referred ro Major General Faisal Naseer as Dirty Harry and accused him of being involved in assassination attempt on his life.

  • Mattel introduces Barbie doll with Down’s syndrome

    Mattel introduces Barbie doll with Down’s syndrome

    On Tuesday, powerhouse toy producer Mattel unveiled their first-ever Barbie doll that represents an individual with Down’s syndrome. The doll was developed in collaboration with the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) to ensure that it accurately depicts a person who has the genetic disorder. Mattel consulted with the NDSS to incorporate specific design features and clothing that carry significance to represent the community.

    “Barbie plays an important role in a child’s early experiences, and we are dedicated to doing our part to counter social stigma through play,” said Lisa McKnight, executive vice president and global head of Barbie and dolls at Mattel.

    “Our goal is to enable all children to see themselves in Barbie, while also encouraging children to play with dolls who do not look like themselves,” she added in a statement.

    Down’s syndrome is a genetic condition that results in the presence of an additional chromosome, leading to differences in physical and cognitive development. Mattel had previously introduced a range of Barbie dolls that honored feminists and other inspiring figures. With the introduction of the new Down syndrome Barbie, the total number of different looks available in the Barbie collection is 175, according to Mattel.

  • PTI wants general elections in July, amendment in constitution and much more

    PTI wants general elections in July, amendment in constitution and much more

    The Pakistan Democratic Movement-led government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) finally sat together to discuss the matter of elections on Thursday.

    According to Geo News, the former ruling party PTI has put forward three conditions for reaching a consensus. One of them is that they want general elections in July instead of October.

    Other than this, PTI has asked the government to dissolve Balochistan and Sindh Assembly as well as National Assembly (NA) in May. Thirdly, the party wants an amendment in the constitution for simultaneous elections and for that, the resignations of their Member of National Assembly (MNA) have to be withdrawn.

    The first round of the negotiations lasted for two hours while the second round will be held today.

    It is important to mention that Supreme Cout (SC) gave May 14 as the date for polls in Punjab and KP, but later asked the political parties to negotiate with each other to reach a conclusion.

  • Pakistan’s economic stability remains fragile despite increase in forex reserves

    Pakistan’s economic stability remains fragile despite increase in forex reserves

    As the country tries to find ways to secure external financing and keep itself afloat, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP)-held foreign exchange reserves recorded a meagre rise. The SBP, in its weekly bulletin, mentioned its reserves have jumped by $30 million to $4.46 billion as of April 20, which will provide an import cover of less than a month — a position that has been the same for several months now.

    The net foreign reserves held by commercial banks stand at $5.56 billion, $1.1 billion more than the SBP, taking the total liquid foreign reserves to $10.02 billion. Although the central bank did not specify the reason behind the increase, there was a $300 million rise in the reserves last week — which was due to the loan provided by the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China.

    The $350 billion economy is in turmoil amid financial woes and the delay in an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that would release much-needed funding crucial to avoid the risk of default.

    The government has been in talks with the Washington-based lender since end-January to resume the $1.1 billion loan tranche that has been on hold since November, part of a $6.5 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) agreed upon in 2019. A deal with the IMF will also unlock other bilateral and multilateral financing avenues for Pakistan to shore up its foreign exchange reserves.

    Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said earlier this week that Pakistan has “fulfilled all the conditions” of the IMF and hoped that the Fund would soon sign the staff-level agreement. Speaking to Geo News, Dar said both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have informed the IMF about their commitments to provide $3 billion to Pakistan.

    Riyadh will provide $2 billion while Abu Dhabi has promised $1 billion to Pakistan, Dar said, adding that the Washington-based lender has also been informed in this regard.

    The finance minister said all the conditions for the staff-level agreement between Pakistan and IMF have been fulfilled. “Pakistan is hopeful that IMF will soon sign the SLA and get it approved by its Executive Board,” Ishaq Dar added.

  • Pakistan set to receive cheap Russian oil, says PM Shehbaz

    Pakistan set to receive cheap Russian oil, says PM Shehbaz

    During a National Assembly session on Thursday, Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, announced that the country is set to receive cheap oil from Russia.

    Minister of State for Petroleum, Musadik Malik, had previously confirmed that the government had made its first purchase of Russian crude oil, and a shipment is expected to arrive at Karachi port in May.

    Malik also revealed that the country aims to import 100,000 barrels of Russian crude oil per day, subject to the success of the first transaction.

    In the initial stages, Pakistan Refinery Limited will conduct a trial run to refine the crude oil, with other refineries, including Pak-Arab Refinery Limited, set to follow suit.

    This move marks a significant step forward for Pakistan’s oil industry, which has traditionally relied on imports from the Middle East.

  • Pakistan’s first female architect Yasmeen Lari receives Royal Gold Medal from King Charles

    Pakistan’s first female architect Yasmeen Lari has been granted the prestigious Royal Gold Medal for architecture from King Charles, making it the first architecture medal of his reign.

    The renowned Lari received the award in recognition for her role in designing homes for Pakistan’s vulnerable and poverty striken community, after retirement from her practice:

    “Whilst recognising the importance of her role in practice, as a symbol of change in Pakistan, it is the work she has undertaken since her retirement in 2000 that the Royal Gold Medal celebrates.”

    “In the last 23 years Lari and The Heritage Foundation of Pakistan, which she founded with her husband, have reacted imaginatively and creatively to the physical and psychological damage that a number of major natural disasters, earthquakes, floods and conflicts have inflicted on the people of Pakistan.”

    Lari was born in Dera Ghazi Khan and shifted to London with her family when she was 15, where she studied at the Oxford Brookes University, moving back to Karachi in 1964 and opening Lari Associates alongside her husband.

    The duo also founded the Heritage Foundation of Pakistan in 1980, which has been spearheading conservation projects around rural villages in Pakistan, earning it the Recognition Award from the United Nations.

    She received the Sitara-e-Imtiaz in 2006 and the Fukoka Award in 2016 for her services to arts and culture.

  • PM Shehbaz Sharif smoothly wins vote of confidence

    PM Shehbaz Sharif smoothly wins vote of confidence

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has managed to secure a vote of confidence from the National Assembly (NA) on Thursday.

    A total of 180 lawmakers reposed confidence in the prime minister. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari presented a resolution in the House for the prime minister to seek a vote of confidence.

    The counting of vote of confidence lasted less than 10 mins.

    After IK, PM Shehbaz to seek vote of confidence today

    Earlier, PM decided to take a vote of confidence from the NA.

    According to several media reports, the premier consulted with allies on the matter and they advised him to take a vote of confidence.

    They also affirmed their confidence in him and assured him that he can always take a vote of confidence from the House.

    Reportedly, this development is to send a message to dispell the image that the Prime Minister is weak or that the parliament is not with PM Shehbaz.

    However, reports from earlier in the week that a vote of confidence would take place were rubbished by Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb.

    PM Shehbaz isn’t seeking vote of confidence, clarifies minister

    In a tweet, she said, “The prime minister did not decide to take a vote of confidence. There were no such consultations and there is no need for the vote of confidence.”

    The minister termed Shehbaz as the “unanimous” candidate of the people, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and its coalition parties. 

    She also asked the media not to run such news stories “without verification”.

    The last time a PM took a vote of confidence was in April 2022 when Imran Khan was ousted from power, becoming the first premier to be removed from government in such a manner.