Author: Sajjad Ali

Pakistani javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem has made history by winning the first individual Olympic gold medal for Pakistan in 40 years at the Paris 2024 Olympics. This monumental achievement has brought immense joy to the nation, ending a four-decade-long wait for Olympic glory. The 26-year-old athlete expressed his confidence after the victory, stating, “Today was my day. I was in rhythm and knew I could throw even further.” Arshad also thanked the Pakistan Olympic Association and his coach for their unwavering support. He acknowledged the immense pressure of being Pakistan’s sole hope for a medal in 32 years but rose…

KAKBUL: Afghanistan’s cricket board on Wednesday announced a five-year ban for former top-order batter Ihsanullah Janat after he confessed to engaging in “corrupt activities” during a domestic league. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) also revealed that three other unidentified players are under investigation for match-fixing. Janat, 26, who is the younger brother of former Afghan captain and selector Nawroz Mangal, had a promising career with three Test matches, 16 One-Day Internationals, and one Twenty20 International to his name. The ACB stated, “Janat has been banned from all forms of cricket for five years due to violations of the ACB and…

ISLAMABAD: Electricity consumers are set to face an additional financial burden as the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) announced a tariff increase of Rs 2.56 per unit on Thursday. According to NEPRA’s notification, the hike is part of the monthly fuel adjustment for June, and consumers will see the additional charges reflected in their August bills. The increase will not affect Lifeline consumers or K Electric customers. The Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA), which handles electricity procurement for distribution companies, had initially requested a higher increase of Rs 2.63 per unit. NEPRA, however, approved a slightly lower increase of…

DHAKA: Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus was sworn in as the chief adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government on Thursday. The ceremony, held at the presidential palace in Dhaka, was presided over by President Mohammed Shahabuddin and attended by political leaders, civil society figures, military officials, and diplomats. The role of chief adviser, which Yunus assumes, is equivalent to that of a prime minister. During the swearing-in ceremony, Yunus pledged to “uphold, support, and protect the constitution” and promised to perform his duties “sincerely.” In addition to Yunus, more than a dozen members of his cabinet took their oaths as advisers.…

Rawalpindi: The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) successfully conducted six operations across the country, seizing 188 kilograms of drugs and arresting six suspects, according to a spokesman from ANF Headquarters on Thursday. In one operation, 800 grams of ice were recovered from a Jeddah-bound passenger at Multan Airport. In another, 52.8 kilograms of opium and 61.2 kilograms of hashish were confiscated from a vehicle intercepted near the North Bypass in Peshawar, leading to the arrest of two suspects. In a separate operation, 48 kilograms of hashish were recovered from a parcel sent to Karachi from a courier office on Ring Road, Peshawar.…

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced a special 14% discount on seat bookings for flights from Toronto to Pakistan in celebration of Pakistan’s Independence Day. This limited-time offer is available for bookings made between August 1 and August 14, with travel dates spanning from August 15 to November 14. A PIA spokesperson highlighted that this initiative is designed to mark the nation’s Independence Day by offering passengers a more affordable travel option. The airline hopes the discount will not only encourage travel but also add to the festive spirit of the occasion. PIA anticipates that this promotion will be…

RAWALPINDI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has announced plans to march towards Murree Road on Thursday to protest against inflation, particularly the rising cost of electricity in the country. The party, which has been staging a sit-in in Rawalpindi, recently concluded the fourth round of “confidential” talks with the government, but no concrete resolution has been reached regarding their demands. Addressing a press conference at the Commissioner’s House on Wednesday, JI Deputy Emir Liaquat Baloch stated that the sit-in aims to provide relief to the public. “We will proceed with our march on Murree Road starting at 6 PM on Thursday. We will…

PARIS: Pakistan’s star javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem has vowed to make his country proud in the final of the javelin throw event at the Paris Olympics’ 2024 final scheduled for today. Arshad Nadeem qualified for the Javelin Throw final with an impressive 86.59-meter throw in his first qualification attempt. In an interview with a local television station, he stated, “I want to make Pakistan proud in the Olympic Games.” India’s Neeraj Chopra also secured his place in the final round with a massive 89.34-meter throw on his first attempt. Arshad Nadeem expressed hope that both he and Neeraj Chopra would…

MUMBAI: Rumors are circulating in India’s entertainment industry about the potential retirement of Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan, famously known as Mr. Perfectionist. Speculation regarding the actor’s retirement gained traction after an interview with his son, Junaid Khan, who is set to debut in the Netflix film “Maharaj.” In the interview, Junaid Khan mentioned that his father is considering retirement, which prompted him to formally embark on his own career in the film industry. He shared that his experiences on film sets, working behind the scenes on “PK,” and shooting ads have given him a comprehensive understanding of production. Junaid Khan…

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has appointed Pakistan’s current Ambassador to the EU and Belgium, Amna Baloch, as the new Foreign Secretary. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved the appointment based on a summary sent by the Foreign Office. The top position at the Foreign Office will become vacant in September, as the incumbent Foreign Secretary, Syrus Sajjad Qazi, is set to retire on September 10th this year. After consulting with his foreign policy team, which includes Deputy PM Ishaq Dar and SAPM Tariq Fatimi, the Prime Minister approved Amna Baloch’s appointment as the new Foreign Secretary. She will assume her responsibilities…