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Pakistan’s Sohail Adnan defeats Egypt’s Moez Elmoghazy to win British Junior Open Squash final

Pakistan’s Sohail Adnan defeats Egypt’s Moez Elmoghazy to win British Junior Open Squash final
Pakistan’s Sohail Adnan gestures after earning a point against Egyptian opponent Moez Elmoghazy in the final match in the British Junior Open Squash Championship in Birmingham on January 6, 2025. (Photo Courtesy: British Junior Open)
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Updated 06 January 2025
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Pakistan’s Sohail Adnan defeats Egypt’s Moez Elmoghazy to win British Junior Open Squash final

Pakistan’s Sohail Adnan defeats Egypt’s Moez Elmoghazy to win British Junior Open Squash final
  • Adnan demonstrated exceptional skill and won the final 3-2, with a scoreline of 11-5, 5-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-5
  • PM Shehbaz Sharif says Adnan’s victory reminds them of Pakistan’s brilliant achievements in the field of squash
Updated 06 January 2025
Arab News Pakistan
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Sohail Adnan defeated Egyptian opponent Moez Tamer Elmoghazy on Monday to win the final of the British Junior Open Squash Championship Under-13 category in Birmingham, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif saying the entire Pakistani nation was proud of him.
Adnan demonstrated exceptional skill and won the final 3-2, with a final scoreline of 11-5, 5-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-5.
The championship kicked off in Birmingham on Jan. 2 and the event was held at the University of Birmingham Sport and Fitness, which features an all-glass show court.
Adnan stormed into the final after beating Egyptian Amr Moustafa 3-0 in the semifinal on Sunday.
“Sohail Adnan won an important squash championship for Pakistan after 18 years and made the country famous all over the world,” PM Sharif said in his message after Adnan’s win.
“Adnan’s victory reminded us of Pakistan’s brilliant achievements in the field of squash.”
Pakistan has always been counted among top squash-playing nations, and has introduced the world to legends like Jahangir Khan, Jansher Khan, Azam Khan and Qamar Zaman. Between themselves, Jansher Khan and Jahangir Khan won the World Squash Open title 14 times for Pakistan during the ‘80s and the ‘90s.
In Dec., Jansher Khan was inducted into the Professional Squash Association (PSA) Hall of Fame. A key part of the Pakistani dominance of the sport throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Jansher Khan won the World Championships eight times – a record in the men’s game – and also added six British Open titles to a glittering trophy haul. A World No.1 for 97 months throughout his career, Jansher’s final professional title count of 99 is the greatest of any player since records began.
Last month, Pakistani squash player Azan Ali Khan also clinched the Under-17 Scottish Junior Open Championship 2024 in Edinburgh after beating Switzerland’s Landro Wagle in the final.

Topics: Sohail Adnan British Junior Open Squash

Trump administration weighs travel restrictions on Pakistan, several other countries, memo says

Trump administration weighs travel restrictions on Pakistan, several other countries, memo says
Updated 7 sec ago
Reuters
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Trump administration weighs travel restrictions on Pakistan, several other countries, memo says

Trump administration weighs travel restrictions on Pakistan, several other countries, memo says
  • A total of 26 countries including Belarus, Pakistan and Turkmenistan would be considered for a partial suspension of US visa issuance
  • A US official cautions there could be changes on the list and that it was yet to be approved by the administration of President Trump
Updated 7 sec ago
Reuters

WASHINGTON: The Trump administration is considering issuing sweeping travel restrictions for the citizens of dozens of countries as part of a new ban, according to sources familiar with the matter and an internal memo seen by Reuters.
The memo lists a total of 41 countries divided into three separate groups. The first group of 10 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba and North Korea among others, would be set for a full visa suspension.
In the second group, five countries — Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar and South Sudan — would face partial suspensions that would impact tourist and student visas as well as other immigrant visas, with some exceptions.
In the third group, a total of 26 countries that includes Belarus, Pakistan and Turkmenistan among others would be considered for a partial suspension of US visa issuance if their governments “do not make efforts to address deficiencies within 60 days,” the memo said.
A US official speaking on the condition of anonymity cautioned there could be changes on the list and that it was yet to be approved by the administration, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The New York Times first reported on the list of countries.
The move harkens back to President Donald Trump’s first term ban on travelers from seven majority-Muslim nations, a policy that went through several iterations before it was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.
Trump issued an executive order on January 20 requiring intensified security vetting of any foreigners seeking admission to the US to detect national security threats.
That order directed several cabinet members to submit by March 21 a list of countries from which travel should be partly or fully suspended because their “vetting and screening information is so deficient.”
Trump’s directive is part of an immigration crackdown that he launched at the start of his second term.
He previewed his plan in an October 2023 speech, pledging to restrict people from the Gaza Strip, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and “anywhere else that threatens our security.”
The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

Topics: US travel ban Pakistan US Ties US President Donald Trump

Death toll in Pakistan’s train hijacking rises to 31, army says

Death toll in Pakistan’s train hijacking rises to 31, army says
Updated 12 min 34 sec ago
Reuters
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Death toll in Pakistan’s train hijacking rises to 31, army says

Death toll in Pakistan’s train hijacking rises to 31, army says
  • Militants took over the Jaffar Express in a remote mountain pass in Balochistan province, blowing up train tracks in the attack
  • Army spokesperson Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry said soldiers killed 33 insurgents, rescued 354 hostages and brought the siege to a close
Updated 12 min 34 sec ago
Reuters

ISLAMABAD: The death toll from a militant hijacking of a train in Pakistan’s southwestern mountains has risen to 31 soldiers, staff and civilians, the military said on Friday as it accused India and Afghanistan of backing the insurgents.
The separatist Baloch Liberation Army, which claimed responsibility for Tuesday’s attack, released a statement saying its fighters had escaped with 214 hostages and since executed all of them, without giving any evidence to back that up.
Militants took over the Jaffar Express in a remote mountain pass in Balochistan province, blowing up train tracks in the attack then holding passengers hostage in a day-long standoff.
Army spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said soldiers killed 33 of the insurgents, rescued 354 hostages and brought the siege to a close. He added there was nothing to suggest the BLA had taken other hostages from the scene.
A final count showed 23 soldiers, three railway employees and five passengers had died in the attack and rescue mission, Chaudhry said, up from a previous estimate of 25 casualties.
He added that Pakistan had evidence that India and Afghanistan had backed the insurgents, echoing accusations made by the foreign ministry after the attack. Both countries have denied the accusation.
The separatist group released a statement in response to the army, saying it had killed all the hostages in its custody. Pakistani officials have accused the group of making exaggerated claims in the past.
“This battle is not over yet but has intensified,” the BLA said in its statement.
The BLA is the largest and strongest of several ethnic Baloch insurgent groups which have been fighting for decades to win independence for the mineral-rich province, home to major China-led projects including a port and gold and copper mines.

Topics: Jaffar Express Balochistan Attacks Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) militancy in Pakistan Pakistan Army

UN Security Council urges global cooperation to bring perpetrators of Pakistan train attack to justice

UN Security Council urges global cooperation to bring perpetrators of Pakistan train attack to justice
Updated 22 min 11 sec ago
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UN Security Council urges global cooperation to bring perpetrators of Pakistan train attack to justice

UN Security Council urges global cooperation to bring perpetrators of Pakistan train attack to justice
  • Pakistan’s military has called India the main sponsor of ‘terrorism’ in Balochistan after the attack
  • It has also claimed BLA militants were in touch with ‘handlers’ in Afghanistan during the hostage crisis
Updated 22 min 11 sec ago
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Friday condemned a militant attack on a passenger train in southwestern Balochistan province, the Pakistani foreign office said in a statement, calling on all countries to actively cooperate with Islamabad in bringing those responsible to justice.
The separatist Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) bombed part of a railway track and stormed the Jaffar Express on Tuesday afternoon in Mushkaaf, a rugged area in the mountainous Bolan range of Balochistan. The group took hundreds of hostages before security forces launched a rescue operation that ended the crisis after 36 hours.
“Members of the UN Security Council through a press statement today have condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack on Jaffar Express Passenger Train,” the foreign office said in its statement.
It added the council members “underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice.”
The UNSC further “urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with the Government of Pakistan in this regard.”
The Pakistan military maintained the BLA fighters remained in contact with their “handlers” in Afghanistan throughout the hostage standoff, reiterating its longstanding claim that Afghan authorities back anti-Pakistan groups. The administration in Kabul has denied the allegation.
During a media interaction on Friday, Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry, also called India the main sponsor of “terrorism” in Balochistan, claiming that New Delhi had a “nexus” with the BLA. Indian authorities have previously denied such allegations.
He further accused Indian mainstream news organizations of “glorifying” the hostage crisis and pushing a narrative of instability in Pakistan.
The foreign office said the UNSC reaffirmed that militant violence in all its forms constituted a serious threat to international peace and security and stressed the need for states to combat it through all means permissible under international law.
In addition to that, it expressed condolences to the victims’ families and extended sympathies to the people and government of Pakistan.
The UNSC also reaffirmed that acts like the attack on the passenger train were “criminal and unjustifiable,” regardless of the motivation behind them.

Topics: Jaffar Express Balochistan Attacks Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) UN Security Council (UNSC)

Pakistan PM orders crackdown on sugar hoarders creating ‘artificial shortage’ in Ramadan

Pakistan PM orders crackdown on sugar hoarders creating ‘artificial shortage’ in Ramadan
Updated 44 min 42 sec ago
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Pakistan PM orders crackdown on sugar hoarders creating ‘artificial shortage’ in Ramadan

Pakistan PM orders crackdown on sugar hoarders creating ‘artificial shortage’ in Ramadan
  • Shehbaz Sharif says the country has ample sugar reserves, dismisses genuine shortfall concerns
  • He directs officials to work with sugar mills to monitor the commodity’s supply and consumption
Updated 44 min 42 sec ago
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday ordered strict action against hoarders creating an “artificial shortage” of sugar during the holy month of Ramadan, directing officials to coordinate with sugar mills to monitor its supply and consumption across the country.
Food prices in Pakistan often surge during Ramadan due to increased demand and supply chain inefficiencies. However, a major factor is hoarding and speculative pricing by traders who artificially inflate market rates to maximize profits.
Last month, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb warned the government would not spare hoarders, whose actions contribute to annual spikes in the cost of essential commodities during the holy month.
“We will not allow anyone to hoard sugar or manipulate prices through speculative trading,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement quoting Sharif.
He directed authorities to crack down on profiteers and hoarders creating “artificial shortages” and present a report on the action taken.
“Strict monitoring of sugar supply and consumption must be ensured,” he added.
Sharif also instructed officials to establish coordination mechanisms with sugar mills to oversee the distribution of the commodity and prevent its artificial shortages.
He assured that the country had ample sugar reserves, dismissing concerns of a genuine shortfall.
“Those creating a false crisis must be brought within the ambit of the law,” he said. “During the holy month of Ramadan, we will not allow ordinary citizens to be exploited by the market mafia.”
Sharif directed the chief secretaries of all four provinces to ensure sugar was made available to the public at government-set prices during a high-level meeting in the federal capital.
The meeting, attended by federal ministers, senior government officials and provincial representatives via video link, reviewed sugar supply, consumption and pricing trends.
Officials also briefed the prime minister on the current stock levels and market conditions.

Topics: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sugar industry sugar mills Ramadan in Pakistan

Pakistan eyes leadership in digital finance as it launches crypto council to regulate digital assets

Pakistan eyes leadership in digital finance as it launches crypto council to regulate digital assets
Updated 14 March 2025
ISMAIL DILAWAR 
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Pakistan eyes leadership in digital finance as it launches crypto council to regulate digital assets

Pakistan eyes leadership in digital finance as it launches crypto council to regulate digital assets
  • The council will help integrate blockchain innovations into Pakistan’s financial framework
  • Pakistan’s finance chief says government wants responsible crypto ecosystem for economic growth
Updated 14 March 2025
ISMAIL DILAWAR 

KARACHI: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Friday his country wanted to be a leader in digital finance as the government officially launched the Pakistan Crypto Council to establish regulatory guidelines for crypto adoption.
The newly established council is a government-backed initiative that seeks to integrate blockchain and cryptocurrency innovations into Pakistan’s financial and economic framework. Led by key policymakers, regulatory heads and industry experts, it plans to establish a progressive digital asset ecosystem.
The government’s decision to launch the council marks a shift in Pakistan’s stance on cryptocurrencies, moving from previous resistance to a more open and regulatory-focused approach.
“The world is moving rapidly toward digital finance, and Pakistan wishes to be a leader in the space,” an official statement circulated after the launch quoted the finance minister as saying.
“The establishment of the Pakistan Crypto Council is a step toward embracing innovation while ensuring that we create a regulatory framework that protects investors and the financial system,” he continued. “We are committed to fostering a responsible and progressive crypto ecosystem that can contribute to Pakistan’s economic growth.”
Earlier this month, the government appointed Bilal Bin Saqib as lead adviser to the finance minister to develop policy measures ahead of adopting digital currencies.
Saqib will serve as the council’s CEO, bringing his expertise in blockchain technology, investment strategy and digital innovation to spearhead the initiative.
“Our goal is to ensure that Pakistan becomes a competitive player in the global digital economy while prioritizing security, transparency and innovation,” he said at the launch. “By bringing together key stakeholders, we aim to strike a balance between progressive policymaking and fostering an environment where entrepreneurs and businesses can confidently explore the potential of blockchain technology.”
As the council begins operations, it aims to prioritize engagement with international crypto and blockchain organizations to ensure best practices.
It will also collaborate with fintech startups, investors and blockchain developers to encourage responsible innovation and safeguard consumers through a strong legal and compliance framework.

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