Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) President Tariq Bugti has revealed that the national hockey team has gone to China using loaned tickets to participate in the Asian Champions Trophy.
He said, “The Congress has approved strict action against parallel federation builders. I will withdraw the charge of the Edhi Hockey Stadium and establish the writ of the federation. IG Sindh is writing a letter to take charge of the stadium.”
Bugti demanded that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif give a special grant to promote hockey and said, “Hockey is not being given the status and respect that this national sport deserves. There is a dire need to focus on the national game now.”
Hockey is Pakistan’s national sport, but inattention and vested interests have seen the game languish. The four-time world champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist team could not even participate in the Paris Olympics 2024.
One month after passing misogynistic remarks against renowned television anchor Gharidah Farooqi, Dr Omer Adil has publicly apologised.
On a podcast hosted by Zohaib Butt, Dil Ki Baat, in July, film critic and orthopaedic surgeon Adil claimed that female anchors in Pakistan’s media industry are “handpicked by a seth or somebody else to go and host a stupid program”, adding that they are treated extraordinarily in comparison to their male counterparts.
He made these comments during a segment of the podcast that primarily targeted Gharidah Farooqi and used derogatory language, including vulgar abuse. He further claimed that the producers had ‘no guts’ to criticise women anchors for their mistakes.
This was followed by a massive backlash from the journalist community across Pakistan, particularly women who are, time and again, subjected to harassment and sexist commentary.
On August 6, Gharidah Farooqi updated on X (formerly Twitter) that Dr. Adil had been arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
On August 24, Dr Omer Adil posted an “unconditional, wholehearted and sincere apology” to Gharidah Farooqi.
But speaking with The Current, Gharida Farooqi revealed that it is not the first time that Omer Adil apologised to her.
“Dr. Umar Adil contacted me many weeks ago, shortly after he was granted bail following his arrest by the FIA after I filed a complaint. He called and apologised for about 20 to 30 minutes, insisting that he had been trapped and ended up saying things in the podcast that he did not intend.
He seemed to be playing the victim,” she recalls.
Gharidah then demanded that he issue an apology on his official YouTube channel for a duration equal to the time he spent making those offensive remarks on the podcast, to which he agreed.
The apology, however, was delayed due to alleged technical issues. During this time, he posted a brief video but then vanished again.
Although the case was receiving widespread attention, the FIA only detained Adil after Farooqi filed a complaint, which ultimately led to his public apology.
Fight against digital violence
Ghareeda Farooqi has long been subjected to online violence. From rape threats to even death threats, she has been targeted by “malicious campaigns”.
“I have been fighting against not just cyberbullying but cyberviolence against myself since 2014. I was the first female journalist who was made the victim of digital violence against women, as well as planned campaigns organised by political parties”, she says.
Women Press Freedom has documented at least a dozen organised troll campaigns against Gharida, reportedly the “highest number of organised digital violence we have ever documented against a journalist in the region” after Indian journalist Rana Ayyub.
“People have forged videos and pictures using my face, including pornographic content,” she recalls.
“So far, I have filed almost ten complaints with the FIA; not even one has been addressed, and no culprit has been arrested.”
Pakistan plans to raise up to $4 billion from Middle Eastern commercial banks by the fiscal year 2026, according to the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Jameel Ahmad.
In his first interview since assuming office in 2022, Ahmad revealed that Pakistan is also in the final stages of securing an additional $2 billion in external financing, which is essential for the approval of the $7 billion bailout programme from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The IMF and Pakistan reached a preliminary agreement on the loan in July. However, the agreement still needs approval from the IMF’s executive board and confirmation of financing assurances from Pakistan’s development and bilateral partners.
Ahmad expressed confidence that Pakistan’s financing needs will be met smoothly in the next fiscal year and in the medium term. Historically, Pakistan has depended on long-time allies like China, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE to extend loans rather than demand immediate repayment. Ahmad expects similar support for the next three years, giving the government more time to stabilise its finances.
He also mentioned that Pakistan’s financing needs might be lower than the 5.5 per cent of GDP projected by the IMF. This is because the country’s external financing requirements have been declining, and the IMF’s projections were based on a higher current account deficit than what has materialised.
Regarding monetary policy, Ahmad noted that recent interest rate cuts have successfully reduced inflation, which stood at 11.1 per cent in July, down from over 30 per cent in 2023. He emphasized that future interest rate decisions would be based on economic developments. Pakistan’s central bank had reduced interest rates from a record high of 22 per cent to 19.5 per cent and will review its monetary policy again on September 12.
Ahmad, reflecting on his first year as governor, described it as challenging but expressed optimism that the situation has improved, with a focus now on growth, digitalisation, and financial inclusion.
Jay Shah, the current secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has been elected the new, unopposed chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). He will officially assume his position on December 1, 2024.
At this moment, he said, “I am honoured to be nominated as the Chair of the International Cricket Council.”
“I am dedicated to working closely with the ICC team and our member nations to expand cricket globally. We are at a crucial moment where it’s essential to balance various formats, embrace new technologies, and bring our key events to new international markets. We aim to make cricket more inclusive and popular than ever,” he said.
“While we will build on what we’ve learned, we must also embrace new ideas and innovation to grow the love for cricket worldwide. Including cricket in the LA 2028 Olympics is a major milestone, and I’m confident it will help cricket advance in exciting new ways.”
Former ICC Chairman Greg Barclay announced on August 20 that he won’t contest again for his post to seek an extension of his tenure and will step down in November.
Lahore’s local theatre is bringing the inspiring journey of Pakistan’s Olympic gold medalist, Arshad Nadeem, to the stage with the play ‘Achu Nezebaaz’.
Since its debut on August 23, the play has received acclaim for portraying Nadeem’s journey from a small-town enthusiast to an Olympic champion.
The role of Arshad Nadeem is masterfully played by the talented theatre artist Saqi Khan.
The production, which has been well-received by audiences, is produced by Muhammad Yusuf and directed and written by Dr. Ajmal Malik.
Arshad Nadeem made history at the Paris Olympics 2024 this month by winning an Olympic gold medal and setting a new Olympic record with a 92.9-meter javelin throw, ending a 29-year wait for Pakistan’s gold in the sport.
Mani and Hira, a well-known couple in the entertainment industry, have been making waves with their talents and love for each other.
Recently, Mani was invited as a guest on ‘Mazaq Raat’ hosted by Imran Ashraf.
“You are an artistic writer and involved in direction, and Hira is an artist. How easy or difficult is it for two artists with different styles to work together?” Ashraf asked.
Mani replied, “It’s easy because this is what we do in my family. We all work in this field; my father, even my sister, has worked in theatre.”
The host then asked about their love marriage.
“In our love marriage, we have a big fight every two weeks. I think it’s a very normal thing, and if you survive those fights, that’s when your marriage works,” Mani said.
Salman Saqib Shaikh, aka Mani, married Hira on 18 April 2008. The couple has been working in the entertainment industry for 20 years.
In a recent podcast appearance with Reha Chakraborty, Indian actor Aamir Khan, known for perfectionism, made a surprising admission. He acknowledged that his performance in the movie Laal Singh Chaddha was subpar, which contributed to the film’s failure.
The anchor was taken aback by his honesty, remarking that no actor or star ever admits to their own performance being the reason for a film’s poor reception.
Khan responded by saying, “Yes, my performance was not up to the mark, and I have a lot to learn from it. But I’m confident that my next movie will showcase a better performance.”
Interestingly, Aamir Khan also mentioned that Laal Singh Chaddha is one of his favorite films, despite his own performance not meeting expectations. He attributed the film’s failure to the audience’s inability to connect with it.
On a positive note, Aamir Khan also spoke about his upcoming film, Sitaray, which he claims is an excellent movie that he thoroughly enjoyed working on. His candid confession and willingness to learn from his mistakes have earned him praise from fans and critics alike.
The Pakistani rupee (PKR) appreciated by 9.62 paisa, or 0.03 per cent, against the US dollar during Tuesday’s interbank session, closing at PKR 278.32 per USD, compared to the previous rate of PKR 278.42.
Throughout the session, the currency fluctuated, with an intraday high of PKR 278.40 and a low of PKR 278.20. In the open market, exchange companies quoted the dollar at PKR 279.12 for buying and PKR 280.00 for selling.
Currency
Change (Paisa)
Closing rate (PKR)
Previous rate (PKR)
Euro
+37.19
310.87
311.24
British Pound
+23.5
367.59
367.36
Swiss Franc
-46.25
328.34
328.81
Japanese Yen
+1.46
1.9197
1.9343
Chinese Yuan
-6.78
39.03
39.10
Saudi Riyal
-2.56
74.18
74.20
UAE Dirham
-2.62
75.80
75.78
Exchange rates
In relation to other major currencies, the PKR gained 37.19 paisa against the Euro, closing at PKR 310.87, up from the previous value of PKR 311.24.
The Saudi Riyal closed at PKR 74.18, down by 2.56 paisa from its previous value of PKR 74.20. Similarly, the U.A.E Dirham decreased by 2.62 paisa, closing at PKR 75.80 from PKR 75.78 a day earlier.
The British Pound became slightly more expensive, rising by 23.5 paisa to close at PKR 367.59, compared to the previous close of PKR 367.36. The Swiss Franc saw a loss of 46.25 paisa, closing at PKR 328.34, down from PKR 328.81.
Against the Japanese Yen, the PKR gained 1.46 paisa, closing at PKR 1.9197, compared to PKR 1.9343 the previous day. The Chinese Yuan lost 6.78 paisa, closing at PKR 39.03, down from PKR 39.10 in the previous session.
During the current financial year, the PKR has appreciated by 2.01 paisa, or 0.01 per cent, against the US dollar. Meanwhile, in the current calendar year, the PKR has strengthened by PKR 3.54, or 1.27 per cent.
Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi has claimed that extensive operations are not required to fight against militants and that they can be dealt with by a Station House Officer (SHO).
Later, however, when a journalist questioned his statement, he clarified that it was “symbolic.
Responding to the inquiry of militants challenging the state, Naqvi said, “Militants assaulted secretly and conspiringly.”
He asserted that there is no science required to counter these militants; “they are terrorists, and our civil armed forces, armed forces, and police know how to combat them”.
“Balochistan incident is unbearable, and our hearts are aggrieved,” he added.
Chief Minister Balochistan Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti remarked, “Terrorists find an inch of the road out of four thousand kilometre road and kill innocents.”
“Militants attack the softest target after finding the weakest place,” he stated.
Iran has sent a final notice to Pakistan before approaching the Paris Arbitration Court (PAC) regarding the delay in the gas pipeline project even after the extended 180-day deadline, a government official told The News.
In 2009, a Gas Sales Purchase Agreement (GSPA) was signed under French law. The project was delayed for ten years due to United States sanctions. However, the French arbitration court does not accept the US embargos.
The agreement read, “The Inter-State Gas Systems (ISGS) of Pakistan and the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) inked the revised contract in September 2019, and under that contract, Iran would not approach any international court if there was a delay in the construction of the pipeline. However, Pakistan would erect its pipeline by 2024, after which it would have an intake of 750 million cubic feet of gas from Iran daily.”
Under the French GSPA, if Iran does not exercise its right to move the arbitration court till September 2024, it will lose its battle for legal rights against Pakistan.
